lmc@denelcor.UUCP (Lyle McElhaney) (11/01/83)
My copy of the RS-232C standard (dated August of 69) says: "3.1 The interface between the data terminal equipment and the data communication equipment is located at a pluggable signal interface point between the two equipments. The female connector shall be associated with, but not necessarily physically attached to the data communication equipment and should be mounted in a fixed position near the data terminal equipment.... An extension cable with a male connector shall be provided with the data terminal equipment. .... 3.1.1 When additional functions are provided in a separate unit inserted between the data terminal equipmentand the data communication equipment, the female connector, as indicated above shall be associated with the side of this unit which interfaces with the data terminal equipment while the extension cable with the male connector shall be provided on the side which interfaces with the data communications equipment." The pin assignments for 25 pins are described (of course), but the physical description of the connector is not given. Appendix I states: "While no industry standard exists which defines a suitable interface connector, it should be noted that commercial products are available which will perform satisfactorily as electrical connectors for interfaces specified in RS-232C, such as those connectors meeting Mil Spec MIL-C-24308 (MS-18275) or equivalent. It is not intended that the above reference be considered as part of RS-232C or as a standard for the devices to which reference is made." As Lazarus Long says: "What are the facts? Again and again and again - what are the facts? Shun wishful thinking, ignore devine revalation, forget what the stars fortell, avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, nevermind the unguessable "verdict of history" - what are the facts, and to how many decimal places? You pilot always into an unknowable future; facts are your single clue. Get the facts!" :-) Lyle McElhaney ...(hao,nbires,brl-bmd)!denelcor!lmc