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I reveiced this from Crazy J on fidonet node 1:3600/7: (attempts to contact
the author at CServe have been futile)
Non-techno-jocks stop reading now.
DL-232 -- A New Standard
by Dave Lyons
(CompuCenter Iowa: JoeApple; CompuServe 72177,3233)
I may never understand how the designers of the RS-232 "standard"
for serial communication managed to use 25 wires where only 3 are really
necessary. Maybe they made a deal with the companies that make cables,
connectors, and switch boxes...I just don't know.
Well, I thought of a few things that the RS-232 standard lacks, and
since there are already so many extra signals, a few more can't hurt
anybody, right? Heck, let's go for 50-pin connectors and cables and add
the following new signals. (Just to make sure this isn't compatible
with any old equipment, all OLD signals are moved up one pin number
(Carrier Detect becomes 9 instead of 8, etc., and pin 25 goes to pin 1).
Pin Name Description
--- ---- -----------
26 XCAT Should be connected to chassis of devices. Used with
the next two signals, this provides protection against
cats who haven't learned not to walk on floppy disks or
serial equipment. This signal should supply about 2000
volts (at a VERY low current level; wouldn't want to
HURT the cute little thing, just teach it not to walk on
anything in the computer room).
27 CATGND Cat ground. Used with pin 26. This signal should be
connected to another part of the chassis or the
tabletop.
28 CTD Cat detect.
29 SD Self-destruct. This signals causes the device to
destroy itself.
30 SDACK Self-destruct acknowledge. Acknowledges that the device
has destroyed itself.
31 VADIC This signal indicates to a computer that the device on
the other end is a modem that uses VADIC protocol.
(Note: CompuCenter Iowa users should jumper this signal
to SD and then buy a decent modem.)
32 STBIT1 Stutter bits. With pin 33, sets the number of "stutter
bits" (0 to 3 of them) to be included before each byte
transmitted. This may reduce the number of people who
feel inferior to computer equipment by showing them that
computers have problems communicating with each other.
33 STBIT2
34 CABR Cable ready. It's not enough to know that the Data Set
is ready (DSR) and the Data Terminal is read (DTR). We
also need to know that the CABLE connecting them is
ready.
35 GRR Gremlins ready. Not everybody knows it, but there are
little green guys inside most modern computer equipment.
Most of the time they sleep, but other times they cause
trouble. The next 6 signals are for dealing with gremlins.
36 220A Used with pin 37, supplies 220 volt power for the
gremlins' air conditioning. On hot days when gremlins
can't sleep, applying power to these pins may solve your
problems.
37 220B
38 110H 110 volts, hot side. When the 220 volt power doesn't
help and gremlin problems persist, use this with pin 39
to supply 110 volts for the gremlins' TV and video game
center.
39 110N 110 volts, neutral side.
40 MOON Indicates the phase of the moon. Sometimes solves
mysterious problems.
41 LHI Pins 41 through 45 can be used to implement the "like"
protocol when the normal RTS/CTS protocol isn't enough.
This one means "Like HI" and is used to establish a
connection.
42 LHTY2 Like HI to You Too. Acknowledges pin 41.
43 LLTT Like Listen To This. Requests permission to send data.
44 LOK Like OK. Grants permission to transmit data.
45 LWOW Like WOW. Acknowledges receipt of data.
46 HEY Pins 46 to 50 may be used to implement the "Eighties"
protocol when RTS/CTS and "Like" protocols won't do the
job. This signal is similar to RTS (Request to Send).
47 NP No Problem. Acknowledges HEY.
48 HUH? Signals that data was not received correctly
(possibly wrong number of stutter bits).
49 YEAH Acknowledges data received.
50 KMG365 Like YEAH, but for avid Emergency One fans.
That makes 50! Let's hear your suggestions for MORE serial signals.
Maybe we can get 100 and REALLY make the cable manufacturers happy.
(From the "Rest" of RHF)
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