Fundamental Concepts of

Data Communications
(Serial Interface and MODEM)
Universal Asynchronous Rx/Tx

Serial Interface
A communication interface between two digital systems that transmits data as a series of
voltage pulses down a wire.
Originally designed as the primary link between Data Terminal Equipment and its Data
Communication Equipment.
Now used for multiple applications requiring serial-by-bit transmission between digital
equipment and peripherals.
The first standardized serial interface was published as a recommended standard RS-232
by the EIA in 1962.
Serial Interface

Serial Interface
A serial interface standard must provide the following:
A specific range of voltages for transmit and receive signal levels
Limitation for the electrical parameters of the transmission line.
Standard cable and cable connectors.
Functional description of each signal on the interface.
RS-232 Serial Interface
Officially named Interface Between Data Terminal Equipment and Data
Communications Equipment Employing Serial Binary Interchange.
Introduced by the EIA at a time when there was considerable diversity in the serial
interfaces manufactured by different data communication equipment providers.
 It specifies the mechanical, electrical, functional, and procedural descriptions for the
interface between DTEs and DCEs.
Similar to the ITU-T V.28 electrical specifications and the V.24 functional description
designated for transmission up to 20 kbps over a maximum distance of 50 ft.
RS-232 Physical Characteristics
Cable. A sheath containing 25 wires with two connectors called the DB25P-compatible
male connector (plug) on one end and a DB25S-compatible connector (receptacle) on the
other end designed to transmit synchronous or asynchronous data.
DB9P and DB9S connectors can alternately be used for asynchronous data transmission.

DB25 and DB9 Pinout

RS-232 Electrical Characteristics
Driver load impedance: 3k 7k
Maximum capacitive load: 2500 pF
Maximum data rate: 20 kbps
Maximum length: 15 m (50 ft.)
Logic voltages:
RS-232 Electrical Characteristics
 RS-232 Equivalent Circuit
RS-232 Functional Characteristics

RS-232 Functional Characteristics

RS-232 Procedural Characteristics

 Null Modem Connection
RS-232 Procedural Characteristics
Example. Draw the timing diagram for a null modem connection with the following
specifications:

RTS/CTS Delay : 40 mS for Switched Carrier

20 mS for Cont. Carrier
RLSD Delay : 20 mS ON, 10 mS OFF
Primary Carrier Option : Switched Carrier and RTS
Secondary Carrier Option : Switched Carrier and RTS
Propagation Time (Downstream) : 20 mS
Propagation Time (Upstream) : 20 mS
Secondary Turnaround Time : 40 mS
Secondary Message Length : 40 mS
Primary Message : 60 mS
Primary On time : 0 mS

Other Serial Interface Standards

The RS-449 standard was designed in 1977 as a 37 wire cable to replace the RS-232
interface.
The RS-449 circuits were divided into two categories: Category I were circuits (pins)
compatible with the RS-232 standard while the remaining circuits were under Category
II.
The RS-449 Standard specifies 10 circuits not specified in the RS-232 standard: LL(10),
RL(14), SF(16), TM(18), RC(20), IS(28), SS(32), NS(34), SB(36), SC(37).
The RS-422 and RS-423 specify the electrical specifications of the RS-449 serial
interface.

Other Serial Interface Standards

 The RS-422A standard specifies a balanced interface cable capable of spanning 15 meters
at 10 Mbps data rate but could extend to 1200 meters at slower speeds.
The RS-423A standard specifies a balanced interface cable capable of operating at a
maximum rate of 100 kbps and maximum length of 90 meters.
The RS-530 standard was introduced by the EIA in 1987. This cable uses the same 25-
pin connector of the RS-232 and uses the electrical specifications outlined by either the
RS-422A or the RS-423A standards.
The RS 530 standard operates at data rates between 20kbps and 2 Mbps.

Data Communication Modems

1. Data Communication Modems.
Devices principally designed to interface computers, computer networks and other
digital terminal equipment to analog communication facilities necessary when
transmitting signals over long distances.
Modems perform digital to analog conversion prior to modulation at the transmitter and
analog to digital conversion after demodulation at the receiver.
2. Telephone Loop or POTS Modems.
Modems used to interface DTEs through a serial interface to standard voice-band
telephone lines at data rates from 300 bps to 56 kbps.
Data Communication Modems

Data Communication Modem Block Diagram

Data Communication Modems

 Modem Specifications.

Data Communication Modems

Modem Synchronization.
Achieved by sending a special internally generated bit pattern called the training
sequence to synchronize/ train the receive modem at the other end of the
communications channel. The training sequence accomplishes one or more of the
following:
- Initializes the communication channel (i.e. disabling echo and AGC gain)
- Verifies continuity
- Initializes receive modem descrambler circuits
- Initializes receive modem automatic equalizers
- Synchronize receive carrier to the transmit carrier
- Synchronize receive clock to the transmit clock
Data Communication Modems
1. Modem Equalizers.
- Circuits designed to reduce the phase delay and amplitude distortion inherently
present on telephone communications channels.
2. Compromise Equalizers.
- Located at the transmitter modem to provide pre-equalization by shaping the
transmitted signal (altering delay and gain characteristics) before the signal
reaches the telephone line. May affect: 1. Amplitude Only, 2. Delay Only, 3.
Amplitude and Delay, or 4. Neither Amplitude nor Delay.

3. Adaptive Equalizers.
 - Located at the receiver modem to provide post-equalization to the signal by
automatically adjusting gain and delay characteristics to compensate for phase
and amplitude impairments introduced by the communication channel.
4. ITU-T Modem Recommendations.
- V-series of recommendations published by the ITU-T in the late 1980s as
transmission standards for data modems outside the United States.

GROUP WORK: Make a comparative table of the important V-series standards mentioned by
Tomasi namely: V.29, V.32, V.32bis, V.32terbo, V.32(Vfast), V.33, V.34+, V.42, V.90, V.92.
Specify important parameters such as: year of publication, transmission speed, maximum cable
length, type of modulation, error coding, etc.