In-Line Rs-232 Monitor

IN-LINE RS-232 MONITOR by A. Rigby Serial links between computers and peripheral equipment based on the RS-232 standard are notoriously difficult to get going for the first time. Much of the frustration computer users suffer while connecting-up serial equipment is caused by their inability "to see what is going on" on the data and handshaking lines. The small in-line signal monitor discussed here largely solves this awkward problem for almost any equipment sporting an RS-232 input or output. Connections, computer ports and cables claimed to comply with the RS-232 standard are so common these days that the original application of this serial in- terface is often forgotten or not even known. In computer land, it is a gener- ally accepted fact that virtually all "non- standard" RS-232 links - even those of the so-called zero-modem" type - take a lot of valuable time to get operational. Not surprisingly, it is often desired to have a simple tool available for monitor- ing the acti...