Serial data transmission standards

Serial data communications standards - RS-232, RS-422, &

RS-485 were widely used for data transfer providing easy
connectivity for the time and they can still be found today.

Serial data transmission standards including RS232, RS422,

RS423, and RS485 were widely used for many data links, proving
effective connectivity for the day. Although not nearly as widely
used today, they can still be found in some areas.

Serial data transmission links used cables with a variety of different

functions to enable data to be sent reliably between two equipments.
Although a number of different wires were often used within a cable,
they did not require nearly as many as the systems that sent parallel
data.

Serial data standards background

The first of the RS standards was RS232, or more correctly RS-232.

This was developed in 1962 when the need for forms of transmitting
data from modems attached telephone lines to remote
communications equipments became apparent.

The 'RS' stands for Recommended Standard, although later these

standards were formally adopted by the EIA / TIA in the USA.

The EIA is the Electrical Industries Association and the TIA is the
Telecommunications Industries Association. Once RS-232 was
established an equivalent standard was written for the ITU
(International Telecommunications Union) to provide a more
international standard. This would enable the same standards to be
used worldwide and also give manufacturers access to a global
market using just one product. This standard was known as V.24
and is totally compatible with RS-232.

With RS232 well established and the need for faster

communications and over longer distances, further standards
beyond RS232 were introduced. Although a number of standards
were introduced, the most widely used are RS-422 and RS485.

Serial data standards summary

  RS232 RS-232 is the most widely used serial standard that
is in use. Many laptop computers incorporate a serial interface,
and it was also used on many printers, although much less so
now. . . . Read more about RS232.
 RS422 This standard gives a much higher data rate than
RS232, but it uses differential transmission techniques. Many
RS422 devices are compatible with RS232. . . . Read more
about RS422.
 RS485 RS-485 is a standard that allows high speed data
transmission along with multiple transmitters and receivers and
this makes it able to be incorporated as a network solution. . . .
Read more about RS485.
Comparison of serial data standards

COMMON RS SERIES SERIAL DATA TRANSMISSION STANDARDS

PARAMETER RS232 RS422 RS485

Cabling Single ended Differential Differential
Number of devices One transmit Five 32 transmitters and 32
and one transmitters receivers
receive and ten
receivers
Communication mode Full duplex Full duplex / Half duplex
half duplex
Maximum distance 50 feet at 4000 feet at 4000 feet at 100 kbps
19.2 kbps 100 kbps
Maximum data rate 19.2 kbps at 10 Mbps at 50 10 Mbps at 50 feet
50 feet feet
Signalling mode Unbalanced Balanced Balanced
Mark (1) -5 to -15 V 2 V to 6 V 1.5 V to 5 V max. (B>A)
max. (B>A)
Space (0) +5 to +15 V 2 V to 6 V 1.5 V to 5 V max. (A>B
max. (A>B)
Output current 500 mA 150 mA 250 mA
capability
Each of these standards meets a different requirement. RS232 still
being very widely used despite the fact that it has been in use for
over 40 years. However the other standards that have been
introduced more recently provide higher levels of performance that
are very useful in may applications.