KeepItSimpleStupid
- Joined Mar 4, 2014
- 5,088
Tranceivers are "hardened" somewhat. e.g. they are designed to be plugged an unplugged a lot, can operate over moderate distances, maybe tolerent to ESD, It will meet an acceptable standard.
As an example, The Macintosh used an RS422 port. You could manipulate the signals and get an ersatz RS232 signal that worked most of the time. e.g. To connect to modems a few feet away. Well, I tried to connect to a motion controller. It would not work. I had to use a real converter.
RS232 was specified to work with +-25 V signal levels with +-3V a dead zone.
So,, 3.3 Logic levels won't cut it at all. You do see +-5V RS232 which mostly works.
As an example, The Macintosh used an RS422 port. You could manipulate the signals and get an ersatz RS232 signal that worked most of the time. e.g. To connect to modems a few feet away. Well, I tried to connect to a motion controller. It would not work. I had to use a real converter.
RS232 was specified to work with +-25 V signal levels with +-3V a dead zone.
So,, 3.3 Logic levels won't cut it at all. You do see +-5V RS232 which mostly works.