The RJ-45 connector is now defined in the RS-232 standard, as is the
DE-9 and DB-25.
Of course, Ethernet also uses the RJ-45 connector, as do multi-line
telephone sets. Those are *not* interchangeable functions. You would
not want to plug an RJ-45 RS-232 cable into your RJ-45 ethernet router
jack or into your multi-line telephone system.
Make no assumptions about connectors, for they are a "just a connector".
Another example:
The older PCs used the DB-25 for a printer port. How do you tell the
difference between a printer port and a 25 pin serial port connector? -
you refer to the manual for the device in question and look for a
clearly defined label.
At our church, there is a sound console that has a DB-25 connector -
should I assume that is a printer port, or a serial port just because
those are connectors commonly used for those applications - of course
not - the connector on the sound console is for expansion devices.
So, know what you are plugging into before connecting cables (even if
they fit) - if it is labeled as RS-232, then plug away, but if it is
labeled with anything different, check the manual before plugging. That
fact goes for any device with a connector, it is not just for the K2.
As another parallel, RCA jacks are used for many purposes - antenna
connections, audio connections, and yes even power connections. Would
you plug anything into an RCA jack assuming it was an audio connector
without carefully heeding the label or referring to the equipment manual?
A connector is "just a connector". Just because it looks like the
connector in one piece of gear that you happen to be familiar with does
not mean it serves the same purpose on everything else. Take DIN
connectors as an example - they are common on many pieces of ham gear.
Why would one assume that a 6 pin DIN connector on a Yaesu transceiver
has the same pinout as that on an Icom. I hope I have made my point and
will belabor it no more.
73,
Don W3FPR
On 8/22/2015 8:31 PM, Bob McGraw - K4TAX wrote:
The K3S has a RJ-45 connector for the RS-232 communications. Now
that's different! Of course they supply a cable with a RJ-45 on one
end and a DB-9F on the other. And then to keep everybody happy, there
is what appears to be a 15 pin VGA connector that is the ACC connector
to provide band data and such. The manual clearly states "This is not
a VGA video connector".
Yes it is very important to read and understand the manual before
plugging or inserting any connector into any hole on any radio today.
It seems most hams think if it plugs in, then it should work.
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