Advanced Communication Laboratory

Experiment No: 11
Data transmission using Serial Communication
AIM:
To learn the basics of serial communication ports, protocols and transmit data.
EQUIPMENTS REQUIRED:
Data Communication Trainer (DCT-03)
THEORY:
Need for serial communication:
Within a system data is transferred in parallel because it is the fastest way to do so. For
transferring over large distances, however, parallel data transfer requires too many wires.
Therefore, data to be sending long distances is usually converted to serial form from parallel
form so that it can be sent on a single wire or a pair of wires. Serial data received from a distance
source is converted to parallel form so that it can be easily transferred to system bus. Three terms
often encountered in serial communication are simplex, half duplex, full duplex.
A simplex data line can transmit data only in one direction. A mouse sending data to CPU
is an example of simplex communication. Half duplex communication means that the
communication can take place in either direction between two systems but only one at a time. An
example of half duplex communication is the walky-talky system. The term full duplex means
that each system can send and receive data at the same time. A normal phone conversation is an
example of a full duplex operation.
EIA-RS232 Standard:
Topology
RS232 standard is defined for a point to point communication. The data transfer is
defined between DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) and the DCE( Data Communication
Equipment)
DCE- Data Communication Equipment such as modem in analogy network or Network
Terminating Unit in digital network. A minicomputer can be a DCE if it is located at
network boundary.
DTE-Data Terminating equipment such as computer port or computer terminal in a
network.
Protocol
RS232 communication is asynchronous. That is a clock signal is not sent with the data.
Each word is synchronized using its start bit and an internal clock on each side keeps tabs on the
timing.

The above diagram shows the expected waveform from the UART(Universal Asynchronous
Transmitter Receiver) when using the common 8N1 format. 8N1 signify 8 data bits No Parity
bits 1Stop bit. The RS232 line when idle is in the mark state (logic 1). A transmission starts with
a start bit, which is (Logic 0). Then each bit is sent down the line one at a time. The LSB is sent
first. A Stop bit is then appended to the signal to make up the transmission.
Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering

Advanced Communication Laboratory

Block Diagram

Procedure
1. Connect the power supply with proper polarity to the kit DCT-03 and while connecting,
ensure that it is off.
2. Connect 9 pin D connector cable between PC1 Com port and CN3 connector on DCT-03
kit and second pin D connector cable between PC2 Com Port and CN4 connector on
DCT-03 kit.
3. Connect the TD1 post to RD2 post.
4. Connect the RD1 post to TD2 post.
5. Keep the switch setting of SW4 as in figure.
6. Switch on the power supply.
7. Run DCT software and select serial communication link on both PCs.
8. This will provide link to the hyper terminal software.
9. Select a file transfer protocol using hyperlink on both PCs.
10. Put the flow control on XON/XOFF & repeat the procedure of file transfer for the XMODEM, Y-MODEM, Z-MODEM, KERMIT protocol.
Result:
Hence forth a file transfer using serial communication is learnt.

Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering