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