I am attempting to control a device with RS232 commands.

The device has a control box that accepts RJ45 cable.

I am sending my commands via a Global Cache iTach WF2SL device which has a DB9 serial port.

I am attempting to connect the two devices using a Cat-6 T-568B cable, and a RJ45 to DB9 adapter.

The WF2SL pinout uses 2 - RX, 3 - TX, and 5 - Ground.

The control box expects what is in the image below:

Screen-Pinout462×336 35.3 KB

The adapter has the following pinout definitions:

Adapter Diagram831×771 47.9 KB

I’ve been trying to research this to determine the correct pinout but have become pretty much completely confused at this point.

I have ensured that the WF2SL is configured with the correct baud rate and additional settings.

I have tried quite a few different combinations of pinouts with no success.

Would anyone be able to dumb this down for me, and help me get the right pinout on the adapter, using the Cat-6 cable I have, to work with what the device is expecting?

Thanks in advance.

Answer from kevinicus on community.spiceworks.com
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Juniper Networks
juniper.net › documentation › us › en › hardware › mx2020 › srx4600 › topics › concept › port-rj45-db9-adapter-pinout.html
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The console port on a Juniper Networks device is an RS-232 serial interface that uses an RJ-45 connector to connect to a management device such as a laptop or a desktop PC. If your laptop or desktop PC does not have a DB-9 plug connector pin and you want to connect your laptop or desktop PC ...
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The console port is an RS-232 serial interface that uses an RJ-45 connector to connect to a management device such as a PC or a laptop. If your PC or laptop has a DB-9 plug connector pin, you can use a combination of the RJ-45 cable and RJ-45 to DB-9 adapter (p/n 720-014126) supplied with the ...
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US Converters
usconverters.com › downloads › support › db9_rj45_assembeling_guide.pdf pdf
DB9 RJ45 adapters
The correct solution is to start with some additional wire, as near the same gauge as the others, and · make the clip about 1/4" from the end of the DB9 pin. You'll need this extra wire because when you push · the DB9 pin into the hole none of the brass pin remains visible.
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DB9 to RJ45 Pinout Guide | PDF | Computer Science | Electrical Components
Pinout Rs232 Db9 a Rj45 v3 - Free download as Excel Spreadsheet (.xls / .xlsx), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. The document describes the pinout configurations for connecting various ports, including: - DB9, RJ45, and DB25 male and female ports - The pin assignments for crossover and direct connections between DB9 and RJ45 - The loopback pinout configurations between DB9 male and female ports which remain the same except for orientation
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5-1 Cisco ASA 5585-X Adaptive Security Appliance Hardware Installation Guide
Appendix 5 Cable Pinouts · DB9 Connector · DB9 Connector · Table 5-2 lists the cable pinouts for RJ-45 to DB-9. Table 5-2 · Cable Pinouts for RJ-45 to DB-9 · Signal · Console Port · RJ-45 Pin · DB-9 Pin · Signal · RTS · 1 · 8 · 7 · CTS · DTR ·
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This informational video provides a detailed overview of common interface wiring sequences, specifically focusing on DB9 serial connectors and RJ45 Ethernet cable standards (T568A and T568B). Learn about the pin definitions for DB9 male and female connectors, and the color-coded wiring sequences ...
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To connect a host PC to the Console RJ45 port on the Quantum Maestro Orchestrator A scalable Network Security System that connects multiple Check Point Security Appliances into a unified system. Synonyms: Orchestrator, Quantum Maestro Orchestrator, Maestro Hyperscale Orchestrator. Acronym: MHO., an RS232 harness cable (DB9 to RJ45) is supplied.
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sfcable.com › db9-female-to-rj45-modular-adapter-color-black.html
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This modular adapter has a DB9 Female connector that plugs into DB9 RS232 serial port and converts it to an RJ45 connection. RJ45 Pinout: · Pin1 -- Blue · Pin2 -- Orange · Pin3 -- Black · Pin4 -- Red · Pin5 -- Green · Pin6 -- Yellow · Pin7 -- Brown · Pin8 -- White · Gold plated pin 28AWG wire Molded adapter Thumb screw · Black color ·
Price   $1.54
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Port & Cable Pinouts | WTI - Western Telematic, Inc.
WTI offers a comprehensive assortment of cable adapters and cables that can help to simplify the process of connecting devices. If the cables or adapters described here don't fit your needs, WTI can also create custom cable adapters per your request. For more information, please contact WTI Tech Support. 72-3383-01 Cisco Rollover Console Cable, Blue, DB9 to RJ45, 6 Foot
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snapav.com › shop › en › snapav › binary-trade-db9-male-to-rj45-modular-adapter
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Just make up a custom length network cable using Cat5e/6, then put an adapter on each end to convert from RJ45 to the appropriate gender DB9 connector. It's that easy! You shouldn’t have to struggle with simple connections. Longer pins extend beyond the adapter, allowing you to tighten and loosen the adapter with ease. Please see the pinout diagrams on our support tab.
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communication - I need pinout help for RS232 - DB9 to RJ45 - for home automation - Internet of Things Stack Exchange
January 23, 2025 - I am using a T568B (straight) cable, but figured I could adjust the pinout on the adapter as necessary to get the same result. I have ensured I'm using the correct baud rate (115200). Can anyone assist on this or point me in the right direction? Most of what I've been able to find online has not been very clear or consistent. ... The path of transmission when a command is sent is: IP2SL male DB9 port -> DB9 to RJ45 Adapter Female DB9 Port -> DB9 to RJ45 Adapter Female RJ45 port -> Ethernet Cable -> Screen Masking Control Box Female RJ45 port (marked RS232).
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Digi International
digi.com › support › knowledge-base › using-an-rj45-adapter-to-connect-to-a-db9-connecto
Using an RJ45 Adapter to Connect to a DB9 Connector | Digi International
Select your product for firmware, drivers, software, knowledge base articles and manuals · An example application for these adapters would be to extend the RS232 serial connection so that the radio modem might be located closer to the antenna location so that the antenna cable will be as short ...
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RJ45 to DB9 Adapter Pinouts - Computer How To
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Top answer
1 of 2
3

Update

As I originally predicted, the wiring is proprietary and the flow control signals are a mess. @SofaKng has reversed engineered the official cable and produced this table (reproduced here):

RJ45 pin,   DB9 pin (female)
----------------------------
  1           1
  2           6 + 8
  3           2
  4           5
  5           5
  6           3
  7           4
  8           7

Original

You missed a key detail. Their RJ-45 patch cable is null modem wired. That means it is reversed. You got all of your pairs backwards (you connected TX to TX, RX to RX, etc...)

Assuming you are using a straight-through patch cable...

  • as you indicated that you are with your comment "standard TIA-568B"
  • you must use TIA-568B ordering on both ends of your patch cable

...it goes this way:

Device Signal, RJ-45 Pin#, DB9 Pin#, PC Signal
----------------------------------------------
> DTR 1 --- 6 DSR   
> GND 2 --- 5 GND
> RTS 3 --- 8 CTS
> TxD 4 --- 2 RXD
> RxD 5 --- 3 TXD
> DSR 6 --- 4 DTR
> GND 7 --- 5 GND <-- note: repeats, bussed to device #2
> CTS 8 --- 7 RTS
> RI  9 --- 9 RI  <-- doesn't actually fit in an RJ-45 (only 8 signals), probably safe to ignore if I read their diagram correctly

The DB9 on a PC is pinned out this way (see figure). Note how it is null-modem reversed from the table listing you provided. That's because their RJ-45 cable is null-modem reversed to cancel it out. Tricky and silly, but that's how they chose to implement it.

Some other thoughts...

Actually, I noticed from tracing in the diagram that they do some very strange stuff with the flow-control signals. For example, they short CTS and DSR on the PC side, but not on the other side. They route RTS on the PC side to DSR on the device side. And other weirdness.

This may be bad documentation, but I suspect they have implemented custom firmware/software that makes use of the flow-control signals in non-standard ways as a means of ensuring that you only buy and use their cables and adapters.

I would suggest that you make two half cables. On one end go RJ-45 to unterminated wire and the other go DB9F to unterminated wire. Then you can twist your way through all of these weird configurations until you get it right. I would start with my suggested mapping. If that doesn't work, report back and I'll give you my mapping for all of their weirdness in the flow-control lines.

Good luck! =)

2 of 2
2

I ended up ordering a premade cable and adapter from Pacific Custom Cables and they worked so I checked the pin-out of the RJ45 (null-modem) to DB9.

Based on their pin-out, I made a new cable (crimped RJ45 on one end, soldered DB9 female on the other end) and here is the working pin-out:

RJ45 pin,   DB9 pin (female)
----------------------------
  1           1
  2           6 + 8
  3           2
  4           5
  5           5
  6           3
  7           4
  8           7

I don't understand why that is the pin-out but that's what works and the pin-out from "official" cables and adapter.

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Pinout Guide
pinoutguide.com › SerialPortsCables › Cisco_RJ-45_to_DB-9_conso_pinout.shtml
Cisco RJ-45 to DB-9 console cable pinout signals @ PinoutGuide.com
October 14, 2020 - According to 1 reports in our database (1 positive and 0 negative) the Cisco RJ-45 to DB-9 console cable pinout should be correct.