RS232 to RS232 Serial Port Optic Electric Isolator to Protect You PC and RS232 Device

Cheap alternative to Actisense for feeding NMEA data into a PC.

Typically for ham radio use, the DTE side (Female 9-pin connector) is connected to a PC serial port and receives power from the DTR signal on pin 4 (a 9-pin plug on the PC). PC radio software has setup options to power this pin. When running Linux, remember to add yourself to the "dialout" Group or nothing will work.You must also provide power to the DCE side of this isolator (Male 9-pin) on pin 4 from a source common to the isolated equipment (e.g. a rig interface). If a setup parameter on the rig interface does not offer this option, a 9V battery negative (-) side to pin 5, positive (+) side to pin 4 through a 10k resistor will work. This is on the side facing into the serial port of the rig interface.Upon testing, the isolator will run with voltage from 3 - 9 Volts on pin 4. Please verify documentation of the rig interface to be certain there is not a conflict. Product literature included with the DTech isolator indicates it can also be powered via RTS on pin 7. That was not tested.Overall, this product performs as advertised. I did not inject a 2500 VAC pulse or 500VDC to test isolation.MY REQUEST TO DTech: Please let us know what isolator IC you use inside! Verification would have been much simpler and more complete.

The optocouler worked good at baudrates below 57600, unfortunatly for my application this would not work.

I had industrial equipment connected to a laptop about 50 feet away via RS232 with USB adapter into laptop.I had many issues of laptop freezing or com port/usb issues related to this connection. I simply placed this device inline with RS232 near the laptop and no more problems. This is a very quick, inexpensive and amazing fix. The device somehow magically powers itself from the communications - no need for external isolated power sources... Works Great. I use mine at 19.2K baud, but it is rated for much higher speed...

It seems to work! I am using this in an industrial setting to prevent static and shocks from reaching an RFID reader and a PC. So far it is transmitting the serial communications without any issues.

Works flawlessly with my communications radio-to-computer connection at 9600 bps. No surge damage during several storms, with the radio connected to a ground system separate from the power entry safety ground.