Re: How long can a serial cable be on my GS?

[dalloff@freenet.columbus.oh.us (Dave Althoff)]

(wants to run serial cable rouchly 100 feet)
At the radio station where I work, there are two serial-data services
which come off of satellite modems, then run to several PC computer
serial-port inputs.  For these runs, we're using 2-pair+shield audio
cable.  I wish I could remember the Belden number.  Anyway, we've got two
pair (without handshaking lines) running one direction, connecting the
modem data out to the computer data in.  You'll need to use both pair for
your single line, since (I assume) you need bi-directional communication. 
The cable we use for serial data has a nice grey sheath around two pair of
22gauge stranded cable.  Each pair is wrapped in a seperate foil shield,
and there is an uninsulated bare wire braided into the cable.  As for
shielding, connect your data lines to the serial ports, and you may want
to take the bare shield wire and connect it to the chassis (power supply
ground) of one of the machines.  In audio wiring, it is considered
good procedure to only connect the shield at one end of a line, in order
to provide a full shield and not introduce interference between devices. 
I don't know if this rule applies to computer data.

Good luck!
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
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