thinder@nswc-wo.ARPA (09/01/88)
This is an open question to this group. If there is a more
appropriate group to post this to, please tell me. I am a
govenment employee at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Silver
spring MD. We operate a fairly large Broadband LAN, and as you
might expect make "lots" of connections via RS232 cables. I am
directly involved in auditing the work performed by the contractor
and this includes the cables that they make. We "understand" the
standards as they apply to the connector and the signals, what we
don't have is a standard that relates to the finished product, the
completed cable and its assembly. If a group of us were to
"disect" a cable we "might" aggree as to the "goodness" of a
particular cable. What we seek is a standarnd that discribes in
detail, tests that will adequately determine the quality of the
completed product. Currently we use three types of connectors,
solder type, AMP crimp pin, and a crimp pin type made by Terminal
Data. These differnet connectors are used to meet differing cable
requirements.
In my research, I called several cable manufacturers and was
"surprised" that they adhere to no single FED/MIL/EIA/other
standard. The people at Black Box simply said they "only make
good cables". So if anyone on this interest group has any ideas,
please E-mail me your answers.
Thanks,
Tom Hinders
Naval Surface Warfare Center
Silver Spring, MD 20902
301 394 4225
thinder@nswc-oas.arpa