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What is the baud rate? — Parallax Forums

What is the baud rate?

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2003-03-10 18:29 in General Discussion
I've heard about the baud rate, I know you need it in commands such
as serin and serout, but I want to understand what it actually is.
Please can someone explain this to me. Is it the frequency? Thanks.

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-03-10 17:37
    The baud rate is the transmission rate in bits per second. Technically, an
    byte actually requires 10 bits to send because there is a start bit and (at
    N-8-1) as stop bit. So, at 9600 baud, you can send about 960 bytes per
    second.

    Jan Axelson's "Serial Port Complete" is a good reference book for serial
    communications.

    -- Jon Williams
    -- Parallax


    In a message dated 3/10/2003 11:28:02 AM Central Standard Time,
    e99bf0e8@s... writes:

    > I've heard about the baud rate, I know you need it in commands such
    > as serin and serout, but I want to understand what it actually is.
    > Please can someone explain this to me. Is it the frequency? Thanks.
    >



    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-03-10 17:42
    Thanks for answering my question, that explained it very
    clearly.....but now can I just ask you to clarify the difference
    between baud rate and baud mode? Are they the same? Thanks again.

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, jonwms@a... wrote:
    > The baud rate is the transmission rate in bits per second.
    Technically, an
    > byte actually requires 10 bits to send because there is a start bit
    and (at
    > N-8-1) as stop bit. So, at 9600 baud, you can send about 960 bytes
    per
    > second.
    >
    > Jan Axelson's "Serial Port Complete" is a good reference book for
    serial
    > communications.
    >
    > -- Jon Williams
    > -- Parallax
    >
    >
    > In a message dated 3/10/2003 11:28:02 AM Central Standard Time,
    > e99bf0e8@s... writes:
    >
    > > I've heard about the baud rate, I know you need it in commands
    such
    > > as serin and serout, but I want to understand what it actually
    is.
    > > Please can someone explain this to me. Is it the frequency?
    Thanks.
    > >
    >
    >
    >
    > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-03-10 17:47
    The baudmode parameter for SERIN and [noparse][[/noparse]particularly] SEROUT not only set the
    rate of communications, but the level of 1 and 0 bits, and how [noparse][[/noparse]for SEROUT]
    the serial line is driven.

    See the manual for details.

    -- Jon Williams
    -- Parallax


    In a message dated 3/10/2003 11:43:23 AM Central Standard Time,
    e99bf0e8@s... writes:

    > Thanks for answering my question, that explained it very
    > clearly.....but now can I just ask you to clarify the difference
    > between baud rate and baud mode? Are they the same? Thanks again.



    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-03-10 17:51
    Caryatnid,

    Here is one definition on the web:
    http://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/fs-1037/dir-004/_0559.htm

    If you need a rough rule-of-thumb, divide the stated baud rate by 10 to get
    an approximate character transmission rate; e.g., 9600 baud is approximately
    960 characters per second. This guideline comes from the following
    assumptions: short messages, a standard 8-bit character, required start and
    stop bits, and usual inter-character delays.

    HTH,
    Daniel



    Original Message
    From: Caryatnid [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=UkSGQwCITQmGuPRvrmg6HrJhqUk6dqkWsCtHkCAjvCLq0_ngsva3FLHjD3KVOgm1y3jVuF-Lm2aKJlG77xqYJQ]e99bf0e8@s...[/url
    Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 12:27 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] What is the baud rate?


    I've heard about the baud rate, I know you need it in commands such
    as serin and serout, but I want to understand what it actually is.
    Please can someone explain this to me. Is it the frequency? Thanks.


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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-03-10 17:51
    Baud rate is the number which signal values can change per second.
    For example, 1200 baud means the signal can change its value 1200
    times in a second.

    Bit per second, or bps is not necessarily the same as baud rate. If
    the voltage used to represent signal has only two states (ie - +5v,
    0v, like on a BASIC STAMP) then baud is the same as bps. If the
    voltages used to represent a signal that has multiple states then the
    bits per second will be higher than the actual baud rate.

    MODEMS, for example, trasmit at 2400 baud. It is a physical
    limitation on the phone line. However, due to sophisticated data
    transmission technics and data compression MODEMS are able to
    transmit signals up to about 56kbps (although the federal government
    places limitations on this speed), even though the actual baud rate
    is 2400.

    However, to reiterate, when you are talking about data transmission
    with wire-to-wire digital comunications (like with a STAMP), baud
    rate is the same as bps.

    -Dustin

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Caryatnid" <e99bf0e8@s...> wrote:
    > I've heard about the baud rate, I know you need it in commands such
    > as serin and serout, but I want to understand what it actually is.
    > Please can someone explain this to me. Is it the frequency? Thanks.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-03-10 18:29
    RS-232 comm not only needs the baud rate, but also
    the number of data bits to be sent (7 or 8) and the
    'parity' bit (None, or Even). In the Stamp, there
    is the added feature of an Open Collector mode
    (which allows multiple output pins to be connected
    in a 'party line' without damage).
    Also 'normal' 232 drivers invert their data, so the
    Stamp has an option for driving with (no driver)
    or without (has driver, Invert) an external 232 driver.

    The SEROUT command allows you (the programmer) to
    add in these parameters with the baud rate selector,
    to produce a 'Baud Mode'.

    SerOpenCol CON $8000 ' If Set, use OpenCollector
    (Drive to 0, float to +5 if 'Normal' inversion)
    SerInvert CON $4000 ' If Set, use 'Invert' mode (with 232 driver)
    ' If clear, use 'Normal' (no external drivers)
    SerParity CON $2000 ' If Set, use 7 Data, Even Parity.
    ' If clear, 8 data, No parity (default)

    Usual use of the BS2 Programming Port is:
    SEROUT, 16, 84 + SerInvert, [noparse][[/noparse]"Hi"]
    ' ie Pin 16, 9600 baud, Inverted -- because the BS2 has an
    ' on module 232 driver on the programming port

    Now, for how to find that '84', you really DO need the manual.

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, jonwms@a... wrote:
    > The baudmode parameter for SERIN and [noparse][[/noparse]particularly] SEROUT not only
    set the
    > rate of communications, but the level of 1 and 0 bits, and how [noparse][[/noparse]for
    SEROUT]
    > the serial line is driven.
    >
    > See the manual for details.
    >
    > -- Jon Williams
    > -- Parallax
    >
    >
    > In a message dated 3/10/2003 11:43:23 AM Central Standard Time,
    > e99bf0e8@s... writes:
    >
    > > Thanks for answering my question, that explained it very
    > > clearly.....but now can I just ask you to clarify the difference
    > > between baud rate and baud mode? Are they the same? Thanks again.
    >
    >
    >
    > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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