Lost in the dim reaches of time, long before Hurricane Katrina destroyed my home, Heathkit sold an RS-232 analyzer kit. If I remember correctly, it featured 3 slide switches and a number of LEDs. The analyzer was connected in-line between 2 RS-232 devices, and the slide switches were operated until the maximum number of LEDs were lit. That interconnected the various signal lines for the highest probability of communication between the 2 devices. If the devices did indeed work, the case openings for the slide switches displayed the wiring arrangement, and a custom RS-232 cable could be wired based on that information. The analyzer was then available for another test scenario.

Does anyone have 1) the Heathkit part number of the kit; and/or 2) a copy of the manual for the kit? Google searches for "heath/heathkit rs-232 analyzer" have turned up nothing relevant. I imagine just knowing the part number of the kit would help.

 

There doesn't seem to be much out there but I found a catalog page that sounds like your device. Heath P/N PP-100. It was made by IQ Technologies and shows up on eBay as
Vintage IQ Technologies SC817 Smart Cable RS232 Universal Interface.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-IQ...32-Universal-Interface-Untested-/233668605643

That's all I got.. Hope it helps.

 

There doesn't seem to be much out there but I found a catalog page that sounds like your device. Heath P/N PP-100. It was made by IQ Technologies and shows up on eBay as
Vintage IQ Technologies SC817 Smart Cable RS232 Universal Interface.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-IQ...32-Universal-Interface-Untested-/233668605643

That's all I got.. Hope it helps.

JohnInTX -

Thanks for the response, but that's not the device I was seeking. The particular kit I'm looking for had 1 male and 1 female DB-25 connector attached to the circuit board, but no ribbon cable. Other connector configurations were achieved with gender-benders or DB-25-to-DB-9 adapters (not included in the kit). If memory serves, it had three 3-position slide switches, and silk-screened next to the opening for each slide switch was a graphic of the wiring configuration selected by the associated slide switch position. I think the end switches controlled loop-back connections, and the middle switch controlled cross-over functions. I do not recall how many LEDs were used, but the kit that I assembled had a metal cover with grey finish, and contrasting (red? black?) silk-screening. Thanks anyway - I'll continue searching. I am hoping to acquire a copy of the assembly manual so I can replicate the gadget from the schematic. Some of the archives of Heath manuals do not have verbal descriptions - only the catalog number.

-- penguinpete50

 

In the interests of completion and closure, I wish to add one final note to this thread:

Purely by accident, I ran across the exact item I had been seeking on Ebay. Heathkit called it a "Traffic Cop" (for some perverse reason). It was Model SK-204, and the Heath stock number (or SKU, if you refer) was 595-3682. I was able to acquire it for cheap, and was further able to obtain a reproduction of the manual, including schematic, from Vintage Manuals (www.vintagemanuals.com) My thanks to all who offered information and suggestions during my search.

 

I know this is very late but I hope it may be helpful to others.

I have been researching RS232 interfacing & put together some notes on test & wiring accessories. I only have a poor image of a Heath / Heathkit BK-204 Traffic Cop from a Heathkit catalog but it was clear enough to make out the wiring details.

The Heath / Heathkit BK-204 Traffic Cop is functionally identical to the Beckman Industries Model 708 Easy Cabler.

Beckman Industries was purchased by Wavetek around 1995 which retired the name & the product range although they did produce their own range of RS-232 testers. Devices were made under both brand names with the same model number & identical features, & some Beckman devices were sold with Wavetek instruction manuals.
Wavetek did not use the "Easy" terminology used by Beckman such as "Easy BOB", "Easy Cabler", "Easy Patch", "Easy Cabletester", & I do not know if they produced a Model 708.

There are a few traps to watch out for.

When using Breakout Boxes there IS NO STANDARD FOR THE COLOUR OF LED Indications despite the statements in some
books, magazines, & web sites. Some manufacturers use "Red for Positive" while others use "Green for Go."

It is easy to test your device to determine which standard it uses, & to ensure the test equipment is fully functional.
A simple test, that will not damage test equipment, is to use a 9 volt battery with bare battery snap leads - poke them directly into socket holes or fit a spare unused solder type plug or socket & touch the exposed solder terminals to light each LED.
If dual Red & Green LEDs or BiColour LEDs are used then swap the Battery wires over to change polarity & test both colours.

Why are RS-232 Cabling Items needed?

The problem with RS232 was that it was a "Recommended Standard" originally designed for teletypes that had no logic & needed explicit control signals for each function. The standard was adapted for later equipment that included logic & buffers & did not need all the control signals, but the standard did not specify which control signals should be present or how many of them.
The black magic of RS-232 interfacing was making a cable that either used all of the control signals required, or connected other control signals of the correct voltage so that the equipment at each end was "fooled" into thinking that all of the control signals are present.

Beckman Industries Easy Cabler Model 708 3 Switches, 6 LEDs
Heath / Heathkit BK-204 Traffic Cop​

The Beckman Industries Easy Cabler Model 708 is a quick cabling accessory that has twenty-five pin D connectors in & out on short fixed ribbon cables with three switches to configure seven of the lines most commonly needing configuration (TD, RD, RTS, CTS, DCD, DSR, DTR) & six LEDs to monitor TD, RD, RTS, CTS, DTR & DSR.

The Heath / Heathkit BK-204 Traffic Cop also has the same six LEDs & three switches which appear to have identical functions but it has two D25 pin connectors on the housing ends..

The Computer Accessories RS-232C Enhanced Quick Tester appears similar but has a few wiring variations.

The IQ Technologies Smart Cable SC821 Plus has a similar function but is enhanced with more LEDs, different switching & an extra seven position DIP Switch. It is far easier to find on eBay than the other devices.

Pins affected: TD – Pin 2, RD – Pin 3, RTS – Pin 4, CTS – Pin 5, DSR – Pin 6, DCD – Pin 8, DTR – Pin 20.

Monitor LEDs: TD – Pin 2, RD – Pin 3, RTS – Pin 4, CTS – Pin 5, DSR – Pin 6, DTR – Pin 20.

LEDs (6): LEDs are connected to TD – Pin 2, RD – Pin 3, RTS – Pin 4, CTS – Pin 5, DSR – Pin 6 & DTR – Pin 20.
(Same LEDs as RS-232C Enhanced Quick Tester)

Switches (3): Three Switches configure seven of the lines most commonly needing configuration:
TD – Pin 2, RD – Pin 3, RTS – Pin 4, CTS – Pin 5, DSR – Pin 6, DCD – Pin 8 & DTR – Pin 20.

Switch A. The TD (Transmit Data) & RD (Receive Data) have a two position switch that configures them straight through or crossed over.

Switch B. The RTS (Request To Send), CTS (Clear To Send) & DCD (Data Carrier Detect) are configured straight through, or in two other configurations.

The centre position connects the DCD straight through but loops the RTS to CTS on each side, while the RS-232C Enhanced Quick Tester connects the DCD straight through but crosses the RTS to the CTS on the other side.

The right hand side switch position joins RTS & CTS on each side with the DCD from the opposite side (same as the RS-232C Enhanced Quick Tester).

Switch C. The DSR (Data Set Ready) & DTR (Data Terminal Ready) have a two position switch that configure them straight through, or crossed over. The extra position on the three position switch on the RS-232C Enhanced Quick Tester loops the DSR back to the DTR on each side.

DTE Data Terminal Equipment ie Computer
DCE Data Circuit Equipment ie Modem, Printer

TD Transmit Data also known as TxD or Tx
RD Receive Data also known as RxD or Rx
RTS Request To Send
CTS Clear To Send
DCD Data Carrier Detect also known as CD or RLSD - Received Line Signal Detect
DSR Data Set Ready Raised by DCE to indicate Ready
DTR Data Terminal Ready