Date   : Tue, 28 May 1996 13:34:26 +0200
From   : deweger@... (Mark de Weger)
Subject: Re: Unidentified subject!

> The usual way to handle this situation is to loop back DTR to DSR and DCD 
> locally, and cross-wire RTS and CTS in the same way as RD and TD.  Your
> solution is probably fine as well, albeit a bit unconventional.

:)

Well, the point of my mail was that different solutions may work depending
on the (handshaking of the) protocol you use. Considering the handshaking
most protocols use (both in practice and in theory), they treat
the DTR pin as the pin for the initial handshaking signal (like the
Beeb's RTS) and the DSR pin for the return signal (like the Beeb's
CTS). The RTS/CTS handshaking is used in some protocols for a 
second handshake. (Read the CCITT V.42--I think--standard for
an explanation of the functions of the pins.)

Therefore, I'd say the solution I gave is more conventional in the
sense that (most likely) it will work with most protocols. (Yours
will work with these protocols, too, only if they don't use
secondary RTS/CTS handshaking, you will be left without handshaking
at all, which is a bit dangerous.)

But the bottom line is that the pins you need to connect depends on the
required handshaking, which depends on the protocol you use. Therefore,
if you want to know which solution is more "conventional", count
the protocols that are used and see which handshaking they use.
I guess I win :)

Cheers,
Mark.