Retrocomputing Stack Exchange
Retrocomputing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [rs232]

For questions regarding the RS232 serial interface standard - its control and usage.

The Electronic Industry Association (EIA) defined the RS232 standard in 1962. RS232-C, which predominates in computing, in 1969.

The standard has been used ever since to enable interoperability of computer systems and peripherals.

Use the tag for questions regarding how the standard works, either in general or on a specific retrocomputer or peripheral.

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Why was RS-232 12V?

Is there a particular reason RS-232 uses 12V signals (well, sort of) rather than some (any?) other value? It was formally defined in 1960, so that places it before the era of any standardized ICs like RTL that would have suggested lower voltages.…
Maury Markowitz
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RS232 Tape Recorder Emulator?

I need to interface between an older system that uses an RS232 port for reading/writing to a tape and a more modern computer that can manipulate the data and send it back. Is there a software+hardware combo to do this? I work at a place that uses a…
Zeda
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