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GlobalSpec
globalspec.com › learnmore › electrical_electronic_components › wires_cables › serial_cables
Serial Cables Selection Guide: Types, Features, Applications | GlobalSpec
They support communication standards such as RS232, RS422, and RS485, as well as Fibre Channel, IEEE 1394 or FireWire® (Apple Computer, Inc.), and universal serial bus (USB). The Engineering360 SpecSearch database contains information about these types of serial cables.
networking cable used for serial communication
Serial cable - Wikipedia
A serial cable or RS-232 cable is a cable used to transfer information between two devices using a serial communication protocol. The form of connectors depends on the particular serial port used. … Wikipedia
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Serial_cable
Serial cable - Wikipedia
March 20, 2026 - This does not correspond to a fixed length of cable since varying cables have different characteristics. Empirically tested combinations of bit rate, serial ports, cable type, and lengths may provide reliable communications, but generally RS-232-compatible ports are intended to be connected ...
Discussions

Types of serial cable configuration - Industrial Networking - Industrial Automation, PLC Programming, scada & Pid Control System
What is the serial cable? A serial cable is a data transfer cable that sends data between two devices using the serial communication protocol. The serial port determines the type of connectors to be utilized. The term “null modem cable” refers to a connection that connects two DTEs directly. More on forumautomation.com
🌐 forumautomation.com
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0
April 28, 2022
Understanding serial communication
Understanding this is a good start: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_model Some standards refer to different "layers" of communications - sometimes it's electrical, sometimes it's data format, sometimes it's some combination that spans layers. A lot of words get used interchangeably - but then most of the time that's because it doesn't actually matter what you call it, everyone knows what you mean. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/embedded
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January 25, 2023
What cable is usually used on serial ports of cisco routers.
Serial isn’t used much anymore, as the highest bandwidth it’s supports is 45Mbps (DS3). “Frame Relay” was the protocol used by this, but it was historically replaced by ATM (155Mbps OC3), SONET (10Gbps OC-192), and now Ethernet (100Gbps currently). Traditionally these protocols were used because of distance limitations of Ethernet, but now that problem is solved. Most business will simply use an Ethernet connection to attach to the WAN as opposed to a legacy serial connection. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/ccna
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1
February 20, 2019
ELI5: The difference between a Null Modem Cable and a Straight Through Serial Cable
A straight trough cable is connected as it is named - every pin on one side is connected to the same pin at the other end. The RS232 serial interface has separated lines for transmit (TX) and receive (RX) - a Nullmodem cable switches these two lines. Which allows the two connected devices to exchange data. If you use a straight trough cable to connect two devices both TX are connected together and both RX are connected - imagine talking to another person and instead of whispering in their ear, you whisper to their mouth and listen at their ear - this does not work. Handshake is a technology where the receiver can pause the sender - like you, when you write things down and ask the speaker to stop, cause you cannot write as fast as the speaker can speak. (This does not necessarily has something to do with a Nullmodem cable.) More on reddit.com
🌐 r/explainlikeimfive
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October 27, 2014
People also ask

-- How Many Types of USB Cables Are There?
There are about 8 types of USB cables such as USB type-A, type-B, type-C, micro-A & B, lightning, and mini-A & B. However, not every USB cable is in active use today. For example, lots of micro-B cables which are widely seen in small items like speakers, microphones, etc, are upgrading to USB type-C cables to get a faster and safer transfer.
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anker.com
anker.com › home › blog center › cables › how to identify different usb types: a brief guide
USB Types Guide 2026: What Are They and What They Do? - Anker US
-- How Do I Know If I Have a USB 2.0 or 3.0 Cable?
Every USB cable’s connector has a plastic block on which the data and power pins sit. If the plastic block is black, it is a USB 2.0 cable. If it is blue, then the cable is USB 3.0. And if the plastic block is red, this tells that the cable is of USB 3.2 standard. Usually, you can tell a USB 2.0, USB 3.0, or USB 3.2 cable in this way for branded cables.
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anker.com
anker.com › home › blog center › cables › how to identify different usb types: a brief guide
USB Types Guide 2026: What Are They and What They Do? - Anker US
-- Can I Use a 3.0 USB Cable With a 2.0 Device?
Yes! Every USB 3.0 cable is backward compatible with USB 2.0 devices. So, a USB 3.0 cable can be used with a USB 2.0 device in a plug-and-play manner. But, remember that using a USB 3.0 cable with a USB 2.0 device provides data transfer speed up to the standards of USB 2.0 only.
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anker.com
anker.com › home › blog center › cables › how to identify different usb types: a brief guide
USB Types Guide 2026: What Are They and What They Do? - Anker US
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RS Components
nz.rs-online.com › web › content › discovery › ideas-and-advice › serial-cables-guide
A Comprehensive Guide to Serial Cables | RS
April 29, 2024 - Here are some of the most common types: RS-232, also known as serial port or COM port cables, are perhaps the most recognizable type of serial cables. They are widely used for connecting peripherals such as modems, printers, and mice to computers.
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Auvik
auvik.com › franklyit › blog › history-of-serial-cables
The Little Cable That Could: The Surprising History of the Serial Cable
April 30, 2024 - There’s a lot of variations on serial cables. I mean, here is just a small list of different types of RS-232 cables alone!
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O'Reilly
oreilly.com › library › view › pc-hardware-in › 059600513X › ch22s03s01.html
22.3.1. Common Serial Cable Types - PC Hardware in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition [Book]
July 24, 2003 - Common Serial Cable TypesCommonly used serial cables fall into one of the two following general categories:Straight-through serial cables Straight-through serial cables are used to... - Selection from PC Hardware in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition [Book]
Authors   Robert Bruce ThompsonBarbara Fritchman Thompson
Published   2003
Pages   874
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Forumautomation
forumautomation.com › industrial networking
Types of serial cable configuration - Industrial Networking - Industrial Automation, PLC Programming, scada & Pid Control System
April 28, 2022 - What is the serial cable? A serial cable is a data transfer cable that sends data between two devices using the serial communication protocol. The serial port determines the type of connectors to be utilized. The term “…
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Anker
anker.com › home › blog center › cables › how to identify different usb types: a brief guide
USB Types Guide 2026: What Are They and What They Do? - Anker US
December 5, 2024 - In application, USB comes in different connector types, such as USB-A, USB-B, USB Mini, USB Micro, and USB-C. In this guide, we will walk you through the differences between those USB types and share useful tips when buying · USB cables...
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HANDSOME Cable
handsomecable.com › home › what type of cable is serial cable? find detailed serial cable types
What type of cable is serial cable? Find detailed serial cable types - HANDSOME CABLE
March 5, 2024 - DTE devices, like computers, usually have a female connector, while DCE devices, like modems, typically have a male connector. Ensure that your cable’s wiring corresponds to the roles of the connected devices. RS-232 serial communication uses different signal voltage levels, such as RS-232C, RS-232D, and RS-232E.
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Firewall.cx
firewall.cx › networking › network-cabling › network-serial-cable.html
Serial Direct Cable Connection, DB9, DB25, COM Ports and Pinouts
This article covers the popular serial ports on workstations, servers and laptop computers. We cover serial data transfer, port pinouts, port speeds, serial interface types (DB9 & DB25), null modem cables and much more.
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ShowMeCables
showmecables.com › by category › serial
Serial Cables - DB9, DB15, DB25, DB37 & Cisco | ShowMeCables.com
ShowMeCables offers a wide variety of serial cables, including serial adapters and extension cables. Available in male-male, female-female, and male-female genders, they feature several pinout options, including AT Modem, Cisco, Null Modem, and straight through.
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Computer Cable Store
computercablestore.com › home › info center › articles › network tools and adapters
RS-232 Serial Cables | Signals, Pinouts, and Applications | Computer Cable Store
Learn how RS-232 serial cables work, including signal definitions, DB9 and DB25 pinouts, cable types, and distance considerations for serial communication.
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Cisco
cisco.com › support › product support › routers › cisco 800 series routers › troubleshooting technotes
Serial Cable Connection Guide - Cisco
With the answers to these questions, along with the model of your router, you can find the part number of the cable required from the tables that follow. Devices that communicate over a serial interface are divided into two classes: DTE and DCE. The most important difference between these types ...
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It Still Works
itstillworks.com › types-serial-cables-5860713.html
Types of Serial Cables | It Still Works
January 10, 2019 - This cable is configuration specific; that is, a 9-25 pin cable is used when both printer and computer act as DTE and a 25-25 pin cable is used when computer and printer act as DTE and DCE, respectively. When both devices are DTE, a null-modem cable can work; however, if a serial printer is connected to a computer through it, it is ineffective.
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Decisive Tactics
decisivetactics.com › support › view
Crossover or "Null Modem" vs. Straight Through Serial Cable - Decisive Tactics, Inc.
Crossover or "Null Modem" vs. Straight Through Serial Cable · The RS-232 specification defines two types of serial devices, DTE and DCE.
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Grokipedia
grokipedia.com › serial cable
Serial cable — Grokipedia
January 17, 2026 - A serial cable is a type of electrical cable designed to enable serial communication between electronic devices, transmitting data one bit at a time sequentially over one or more dedicated lines, typically using standards such as RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485 to ensure compatibility and reliable signal integrity.[1][2] Originating in the early days of computing, serial cables trace their roots to the 1960s when the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) introduced the RS-232 standard in 1960—later revised as TIA-232-F in 1997—to connect data terminal equipment (DTE), such as computers or termina
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Eaton
tripplite.eaton.com › products › rs-232-serial-to-usb-adapters
RS232 Cable and Connectors Explained - Tripp Lite - Eaton
Everything you need to know about RS232, RS422 and RS485 cables and connectors before you buy
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Serial_port
Serial port - Wikipedia
May 1, 2026 - Some miniaturized electronics, particularly graphing calculators and hand-held amateur and two-way radio equipment, have serial ports using a phone connector, usually the smaller 2.5 or 3.5 mm connectors and the most basic 3-wire interface—transmit, receive and ground. 8P8C connectors are also used in many devices. The EIA/TIA-561 standard defines a pinout using this connector, while the rollover cable (or Yost standard) is commonly used on Unix computers and network devices, such as equipment from Cisco Systems.
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Lammert Bies
lammertbies.nl › home › tutorials on computer interfacing › cables for data interfacing › rs232 serial cables pinout
RS232 serial cable pinout information - Lammert Bies
August 18, 2021 - RS232 serial cables and adapters. Pinout and wiring layout for many situations. DB9 to DB25 conversion and null modem wiring diagrams.
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SFCable
sfcable.com › blog › db9-cables-types-working-simplified
DB9 Cables, Their Types, and Working Simplified!
January 4, 2024 - Now that you have known what DB9 cables, let us understand about the most popularly sold types and their utilities. This 12 inches Male to Female serial RS232 Splitter Cable works perfectly for transferring signals from computer to mono monitor, scanner, DB9 serial mouse etc.
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SFCable
sfcable.com › blog › db9-serial-cable-vs-null-modem-understanding-key-differences-and-applications
DB9 Serial Cable vs. Null Modem: Understanding the Key Differences and Applications
August 23, 2024 - A null modem cable has pin 2 connected to pin 3 and pin 3 to pin 2, while a DB9 serial cable normally has all the pins connected in a straight manner, that is, pin 2 is connected to pin 2, and so on. That said, depending on the particular type of null modem cable, other control leads such as RTS and CTS could be crossed as well.