RS-423, also known as TIA/EIA-423, is a technical standard originated by the Electronic Industries Alliance that specifies electrical characteristics of a digital signaling circuit. Although it was originally intended as a successor to RS-232C offering greater cable lengths, it is not widely used.
RS-423 systems can transmit data on cables as long as 1,200 meters (3,900 ft).[dubious – discuss] It is closely related to RS-422, which used the same signaling systems but on a different wiring arrangement: RS-423 differed primarily in that it had a single return pin instead of one for each data pin.[1]
RS-423 specifies an unbalanced (single-ended) interface, similar to RS-232, with a single, unidirectional sending driver, and allowing for up to 10 receivers.[2] It is normally implemented in integrated circuit technology and can also be employed for the interchange of serial binary signals between DTE & DCE.
Standard scope
RS-423 is the common short form title of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard ANSI/TIA/EIA-423-B Electrical Characteristics of Unbalanced Voltage Digital Interface Circuits and its international equivalent ITU-T Recommendation T-REC-V.10,[3] also known as X.26. These technical standards specify the electrical characteristics of the unbalanced voltage digital interface circuit.[4] RS-423 provides for data transmission, using unbalanced or single-ended signals, with unidirectional/non-reversible, terminated or non-terminated transmission lines, point to point, or multi-drop.
Characteristics
Guidelines for data rate versus line length
RS-423 is closely related to the RS-422 standard, both of which use the same overall signaling system, but differ in that RS-422 has a dedicated return line for every data pin, while RS-423 uses a single return line. Use of a common ground is one weakness of RS-423 (and RS-232): if devices are far enough apart or on separate power systems, the ground will degrade between them and communications will fail, resulting in a condition that is difficult to trace.[5]
RS-423 specifies the electrical characteristics of a single unbalanced signal. The standard was written to be referenced by other standards that specify the complete DTE/DCE interface for applications which require a unbalanced voltage circuit to transmit data.[citation needed]
These other standards would define protocols, connectors, pin assignments and functions. Standards such as EIA-530 (DB-25 connector) and EIA-449 (DC-37 connector) use RS-423 electrical signals.[citation needed]
^Buchanan W.J. (2004) RS-422, RS-423 and RS-485. In: The Handbook of Data Communications and Networks. Springer, Boston, MA.ISBN978-1-4757-1067-0 page 627
