RS-485: Still the Most Robust Communication

Abstract

Despite the rise in popularity of wireless networks, wired serial networks continue to provide the most robust, reliable communication, especially in harsh environments. These well-engineered networks provide effective communication in industrial and building automation applications, which require immunity from noise, electrostatic discharge and voltage faults, all resulting in high uptime. This tutorial reviews the RS-485 protocol and discusses why it is widely used in industrial applications and the common problems it solves.