It is always a good idea to terminate any unused signal lines. Floating signals can generate interrupts and drastically degrade system performance. The Sealevel SeaCOM…
What is the maximum distance I can communicate using a standard RS-232 serial cable?
Practically, it depends on your application and environment. The RS-232 standard specifies transmitting data up to 50 feet at 9600 bits per second (bps).
Do you have sample Windows programs for writing to a serial port?
We offer serial programming samples with source code in the archive link below. Examples of programming samples include: a simple terminal program; a program…
Will a standard RS-232 DB25 to DB9 adapter or cable work with my RS-422, RS-485 board?
No. Standard DB25 to DB9 adapters and cables are made to convert an RS-232 DB25 pin out to an RS-232 DB9 pin out. As such,…
How can two serial devices communicate without using a PC?
The simplest method is to use a null modem cable (Item# CA213), which reverses the transmit and receive signals between the serial devices. This method…
What application utilities do you recommend for writing serial communication programs?
PortMon for Microsoft Windows is a very useful tool. This utility monitors all serial port activity, shows how an application uses a port, and…
Does Sealevel offer kits for customizing serial cables?
Sealevel offers several accessories for interfacing many serial connections. The universal D-Shell Converter Kit (Item# DB101) includes DB9 and DB25 Male and Female connectors, D-sub…
What kind of cable should I use for RS-485 communications?
A good economical solution for field wiring is to use CAT5 or CAT6 twisted pair cable. Connect each twisted pair to the same set…
What 3rd party software programs work with my Sealevel product?
Sealevel products are tested with many popular software programs. The 3rd Party Software Support page has a list of these programs with links to application…