About Custom serial cable, Serial cable is one of the major types of data transfer cables you observe in almost every computer system.
Although modern USB cables have replaced them in some uses, their applications are still limited.
As the area of usage varies, the demand for cable specs also differs.
You can always go for the custom serial cable and make it how it suits you.
This article gives you an in-depth view of the serial cables and the types of connectors you can attach. Let’s dive into it.
What is the serial cable?
A serial cable transfers data between the two devices with the help of serial communication protocols.
The port determines which connector best suits a certain use and connects accordingly.
There is also a term known as “null modem cable,” which directly refers to a link between the two DTEs.
In the past, serial ports and cables were standard on the old computers through which peripheral devices like keyboards, mice, modems, etc., were attached.
Moreover, MacBook also had the privilege of using serial ports for connecting the printers.
These computers used RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485 serial protocols for industrial networks.
Types of Serial Cables
Here are the types of serial cables that engineers mostly use for data networks.
RS232 Cable
RS232 wires use the EIA-RS-232 protocol for data transfer and are popular for connecting most serial peripherals.
It can transmit at 9600bps for 15 meters while going for up to 19200bps speed.
These wires can transmit asynchronously while controlling the hardware and software flow and checking parity.
Thus, many digital control interface equipment, gears, and other communication devices have RS232 interfaces.
RS422 Cable
RS422 cables, unlike the RS232, provide transmission over longer distances and has multiple connection points.
It uses differential transmission and thus can communicate at higher data rates for up to 10Mbps at more than a kilometer distance.
Moreover, the RS422 is a four-wire, full duplex protocol that can be used with the RS485 full duplex devices.
RS485 Cable
RS485 cables are ideal for situations where distances from one device to another increase to many kilometers.
It uses balanced transmission and differential recipients to avoid the common-mode interface and can detect lower voltages like 200mV from a kilometer distance.
Furthermore, the engineers use these wires in places where you need to control multiple devices instead of one.
It uses three-way communication instead of two-way but still works with the RS422 interfaces.
Moreover, the bus topology is two-wire while making an inexpensive network.
USB Cable
Most devices use USB or Universal Serial Bus cables to link peripheral devices like mouse keyboards with computers.
It features different versions like USB 2.0, USB 2.1, USB 3.0, lighting connectors, etc., while having mini and micro categories in each of these versions.
Fiber Channel Cable
Fiber channel wires can comprise a coaxial, twisted-pair, or fiber optic technology while using the serial data transmission architecture.
These cables are utilized in the SCSI devices’ FC-AL or Fiber Channel Arbitrated Loop typology.
Moreover, these typologies support full duplex data transmission for up to 100 Mbps.
FireWire / IEEE 1394 Cable
IEEE 1394 or FireWire cables are best for uses with a very high data transmission rate, like gaming or live video streams.
Its application can include computer connections to SSDs, CD-ROM, graphic cards, fast scanners, and direct video streamers.
Caption: USB connector on the serial cable
Connector Type
You can pair the following connector types with the serial cables.
- BNC or Bayonet-style connectors are best for AV applications and can be found on old devices and third-party monitoring systems.
- DB connectors have various pin arrangements; thus, they can connect many peripheral devices to desktops and laptops.
- DVI connectors can transfer multiple signal types that, include DVI-A (analog), DVI-D (digital), or DVI-I (analog and digital), making it the most common connector of all time.
- DIN connector design follows the standard of a German national organization, Deutsches Institut für Normung, thus the name DIN.
- HSSDC (High-speed serial data connection) connectors facilitate faster data transmission with lower noise and radioactive interference.
- SCSI (Small computer systems interface) connectors are designed to intelligently connect the devices with a system for smooth signal transfer.
- RJ connectors (typically RJ45 and RJ11) are the most common connectors for internet connections. Hence, you can find it on every telephone and Ethernet cable.
- USB connectors are another popular connector type that most devices use to connect. They can also charge smaller devices such as cellphones, laptops, tablets, power banks, etc.
- Centronics Connectors are usually what Centronics devices use to connect their peripherals with larger systems.
- FireWire® connectors have various configurations, including 4, 6, or 9-pin settings, which increases their application window.
Custom solutions
Here are some custom solutions for the serial cables that Cloom offers.
Basic DTE-DCE
DTE-DCE serial cable is what you will find between the data terminal and data communication equipment.
Usually, the DTE is the terminal or initial point that starts a session, and DCE is the forward point of communication.
The basic DTE-DCE cable can have 9 to 25-pin and 25-to-25-pin configurations as an end connector.
For example, these cables link the modem card and the computer.
Here, the computer acts as the DTE or termination equipment, while the modem card is the DCE or communication equipment.
Null-Modem Cable
Null modem cables are best for connections that involve two computers and no modem.
The name refers to the situation where the communication is without the DCE (modem), and the link is DTE to DTE.
Furthermore, these cables use the handshaking process, which involves signaling to stabilize the connection.
A serial cable with the adapter with cross-linked transmission and reception lines configures the null modem medium.
These cables have 9 to 9, 9 to 25, and 25 to 25 pin settings at their connectors.
Two-Wire DTE-DCE
Two-Wire DTE to DCE is similar to its basic version. The computer and DTE modem never start the transmission after handshaking.
The end of this link cannot send an acknowledgment packet. These cables also have 9 to 25 and 25 to 25 pin configurations for the connector.
V.35 Crossover
Using the V.35 crossover interface, similar nodes like DCE to DCE and others can be connected.
This interface also offers increased data rates of up to 64 kbps using 34 to 34-pin layouts at both the transmission and receiving ends.
The V.35 interface follows RS232 and RS449 standards, while V.28 and V.11 are its successors in these domains.
Serial Printer
Serial Printer cables connect the printer to a computer or laptop via its serial port.
This cable also has a 9 to 25-pin configuration connecting the computer as DTE and the printer as DCE.
However, these cables cannot work if both devices are DTE; you can use a Null-modem cable for such a system.
Conclusion
Serial cables come with a variety of wire and connector types. These modifications change the signal transmission and the mechanism behind it.
At Cloom, you can get custom serial cables per your application and liking.