Document ID: 46800 |
Introduction
This document provides the technical specifications for the EIA/TIA-232 serial cables.
Prerequisites
Requirements
There are no specific requirements for this document.
Components Used
This document is not restricted to specific software and hardware versions.
The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. If your network is live, make sure that you understand the potential impact of any command.
Conventions
For more information on document conventions, see the Cisco Technical Tips Conventions.
EIA/TIA-232 Speed and Distance Limitations
As with all signaling systems, EIA/TIA-232 signals can travel a limited distance at any given bit rate; generally, the slower the data rate, the greater the distance.
The table below gives the EIA/TIA-232 speed and distance limitations.
| Data Rate (Baud) | Distance (Feet) | Distance (Meters) |
|---|---|---|
| 2400 | 200 | 60 |
| 4800 | 100 | 30 |
| 9600 | 50 | 15 |
| 19200 | 50 | 15 |
| 38400 | 50 | 15 |
| 57600 | 25 | 7.6 |
| 115200 | 12 | 3.7 |
Serial Cable CAB-232MT
This section presents the cable assembly and pinouts for the CAB-232MT serial cable.
Note: The cable itself identifies the Cisco router as a data terminal equipment (DTE) or data communications equipment (DCE) device to other devices in the network; for this reason, it is important to select the correct product number from the table below.

The cable gender for this product (part number 72-0793-01) is Male - Male, mode - DTE.
The CAB-232MT cable is used in the Cisco 7000 family, Cisco 4000 series, Cisco 3600 series, Cisco 2500 series, Cisco 1600 series, Cisco access servers, and AccessPro PC cards. This cable has a male DB-60 connector on the Cisco end and a male DB-25 connector on the network end.
EIA/TIA-232 Serial Cable Assembly

EIA/TIA-232 DTE Cable Pinouts
The table below shows the EIA/TIA-232 DTE cable pinouts (DB-60 to DB-25).
Note: The arrows indicate signal direction:
-
---> indicates DTE to DCE
-
<--- indicates DCE to DTE
| 60 Pin1 | Signal | Description | Direction | 25 Pin | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J1-50 J1-51 J1-52 | MODE_0 GND MODE_DCE | Shorting group | - | - | - |
| J1-46 | Shield GND | Single | - | J2-1 | Shield GND |
| J1-41 Shield | TxD/RxD - | Twisted pair no. 5 | ---> - | J2-2 Shield | TxD - |
| J1-36 Shield | RxD/TxD - | Twisted pair no. 9 | <--- - | J2-3 Shield | RxD - |
| J1-42 Shield | RTS/CTS - | Twisted pair no. 4 | ---> - | J2-4 Shield | RTS - |
| J1-35 Shield | CTS/RTS - | Twisted pair no. 10 | <--- - | J2-5 Shield | CTS - |
| J1-34 Shield | DSR/DTR - | Twisted pair no. 11 | <--- - | J2-6 Shield | DSR - |
| J1-45 Shield | Circuit GND - | Twisted pair no. 1 | - - | J2-7 Shield | Circuit GND - |
| J1-33 Shield | DCD/LL - | Twisted pair no. 12 | <--- - | J2-8 Shield | DCD - |
| J1-37 Shield | TxC/NIL - | Twisted pair no. 8 | <--- - | J2-15 Shield | TxC - |
| J1-38 Shield | RxC/TxCE - | Twisted pair no. 7 | <--- - | J2-17 Shield | RxC - |
| J1-44 Shield | LL/DCD - | Twisted pair no. 2 | ---> - | J2-18 Shield | LTST - |
| J1-43 Shield | DTR/DSR - | Twisted pair no. 3 | ---> - | J2-20 Shield | DTR - |
| J1-39 Shield | TxCE/TxC - | Twisted pair no. 6 | ---> - | J2-24 Shield | TxCE - |
1Any pin not referenced is not connected.
Serial Cable CAB-232FC
This section presents the cable assembly and pinouts for the CAB-232FC serial cable.
The cable gender for this product (part number 72-0794-01) is Male DB-60 to Female DB-25, mode - DCE.

This cable is used in the following systems: the Cisco 7000 family, Cisco 4000 series, Cisco 3600 series, Cisco 2500 series, Cisco 1600 series, Cisco access servers, and AccessPro PC cards. This cable has a male DB-60 connector on the Cisco end and a female DB-25 connector on the network end.
EIA/TIA-232 DCE Cable Pinouts (DB-60 to DB-25)
The table below shows the EIA/TIA-232 DCE cable pinouts (DB-60 to DB-25).
Note: The arrows indicate signal direction:
-
---> indicates DTE to DCE
-
<--- indicates DCE to DTE
| 60 Pin | Signal | Description | Direction | 25 Pin | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J1-50 J1-51 | MODE_0 GND | Shorting group | - | - | - |
| J1-46 | Shield GND | Single | - | J2-1 | Shield GND |
| J1-36 Shield | RxD/TxD - | Twisted pair no. 9 | <--- - | J2-2 Shield | TxD - |
| J1-41 Shield | TxD/RxD - | Twisted pair no. 5 | ---> - | J2-3 Shield | RxD - |
| J1-35 Shield | CTS/RTS - | Twisted pair no. 10 | <--- - | J2-4 Shield | RTS - |
| J1-42 Shield | RTS/CTS - | Twisted pair no. 4 | ---> - | J2-5 Shield | CTS - |
| J1-43 Shield | DTR/DSR - | Twisted pair no. 3 | ---> - | J2-6 Shield | DSR - |
| J1-45 Shield | Circuit GND - | Twisted pair no. 1 | - - | J2-7 Shield | Circuit GND |
| J1-44 Shield | LL/DCD - | Twisted pair no. 2 | ---> - | J2-8 Shield | DCD - |
| J1-39 Shield | TxCE/TxC - | Twisted pair no. 7 | ---> - | J2-15 Shield | TxC - |
| J1-40 Shield | NIL/RxC - | Twisted pair no. 6 | ---> - | J2-17 Shield | RxC - |
| J1-33 Shield | DCD/LL - | Twisted pair no. 12 | <--- - | J2-18 Shield | LTST - |
| J1-34 Shield | DSR/DTR - | Twisted pair no. 11 | <--- - | J2-20 Shield | DTR - |
| J1-38 Shield | RxC/TxCE - | Twisted pair no. 8 | <--- - | J2-24 Shield | TxCE - |
Related Information
| Updated: Jan 30, 2006 | Document ID: 46800 |
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