RS232

Sep 20, 2007 6 Replies

Is it possible to connect 2 PCs to another device using a splitter cable.



At the moment, the device sends a string of characters, approx 20, to a PC at 19200bps. The PC sends no information back. Could I simply make a splitter cable and connect the 2 PCs to this device, or would this degrade the signal or make it unusable in any way.



Thanks.


Yes, generally.

Should be OK as long as cables are not too long. The load will be a bit higher, but should not matter unless you are already on edge of reliable operation.

John Devereux

Have you ever used a question mark.

With one transmitter and two receivers, yes, but don't tie two transmitters together.

Hope This Helps! Rich

You need to ensure that the only lines which are used are those which are outputs on the device and inputs on the PC, i.e. TxD on the device, RxD on the PC. Do not "combine" output lines from the two PCs; you can't use TxD or RTS, so you cannot use flow control (you shouldn't need it).

IOW, the cables should be two wire, with just device-TxD-to-PC-RxD and ground. If the device needs the flow-control lines active, connect CTS and RTS together at the device end.

What you need is called a null-modem cable.

JM

No, he does not; "The PC sends no information back."

He just wants to broadcast the signal to two computers.

OOPS! Sorry, you're right.

JM

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