How to know DCE equipment /what serial cable to buy

[shenandoah75]

How do you know per application whether to use null modem or straight through?


PC <-> PC = null modem
PC <-> DCE = straight through


My Equipment: elk serial expander / global cache / pc
Down the road, hopefully a denon and other controllable AV equipment...

So, on the GC/Elk/Denon - Are these all considered "DCE"?
such that PC to any of them would be stright through?
between each other would be null?


thx
-brad

 

[WayneW]

The two types of serial equipment are DCE and DTE. The primary difference is if they transmit on pin 2 versus pin 3. I find it very difficult to keep serial cables organized and tagged, so when I am testing something I just use whatever cable I have handy. If it doesn't work, I add a null modem adapter. It has to work one way, with or without the adapters, so you always have a 50/50 shot of getting it right the first time, assuming baud, etc are correct. If you are wiring something permanently, then you can acquire the proper cable, if desired.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.js...rentPage=search but there are lots of online sources for these around $2 each.