Connects a Lightning iPad to RS-232 serial devices at baud rates up to 115.2 Kbps.
This cable is used in conjunction with the Redpark Serial SDK to create iOS apps that communicate with a serial device. It is licensed under the Made for iPod (MFI) program for private deployments under the terms of an enterprise, education and personal iOS developer license.
Under current Apple policy apps made using the SDK may be deployed via Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager. Apps may not be deployed via the public Apple App Store at this time.
If your Redpark cable is not working properly try these troubleshooting steps below.
Power your iPhone OFF and then ON again. (Do not simply put the iPhone to sleep. Power it completely OFF and then ON.)
If the problem continues to exist…
Confirm that your iPhone/iPad detects the cable:
If the iPhone IS detecting the cable:
Check whatever app you are using to make sure that the communication settings (baud rate, parity, etc.) are properly configured. Check with the app developer if you have questions about the proper configuration.
If the iPhone is detecting the cable and the communication settings are correct but you are still experiencing a problem — perhaps the cable has developed a short in its wiring. If the cable is within the one year warranty please return the cable to Redpark to be tested.
If the iPhone IS NOT detecting the cable:
If you choose to email Redpark for assistance, please email “service@redpark.com”.
The L2-DB9V began shipping in 2014. The L2-DB9V3 replaced the L2-DB9V and began shipping in November 2018. It uses a new generation of Lightning connector and uses a new generation of Apple API to communicate with the iOS device. The Redpark serial SDK is the same for both cables — however the RxForwardCount and RxForwardTimeout functions are deprecated when using the L2-DB9V3.
Ham radios, dive computers, point of sale devices, Arduino and other microcontroller platforms, scientific instrumentation, data loggers, RFID readers, automobile engines, routers and other networking devices, glucose meters, fire alarm panels, irrigation controllers, weather stations, specialty printers, scales, temperature sensors, flight loggers, satellite radios, model cars (models boats, planes and rockets too), CNC machines and more…
The L2-DB9V3 requires iOS 11.0.x or later.
Yes, by connecting an external RS-232 to TTL adapter to the DB-9 connector on our cable.
No. Please use our Serial+Power Adapter (L4-SERP) if you need a serial connection and also need to charge the iOS device.
Power is not supplied through an RS232 connection. Some very low power devices make use of the RS232 signal lines to supply power. This usage of the RS232 connection is outside of the RS232 specification and may not work in every instance. It is left up to the user to determine if the RS232 output signals will supply enough power for a particular application. Currently, the L2-DB9V uses a MAX3243 or similar driver to convert logic level signals to RS232 level signals. The specifications for the MAX3243 may be used as a rough guide to determine if the signal levels are appropriate for your application. Redpark reserves the right to change the RS232 driver circuitry at any time.
The cable and our Serial SDK are provided to you so that you may write your own apps.
Apple allows apps to be deployed via Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager for use with the Serial Cable. Apps may not be deployed via the public Apple App Store at this time.
Open the “Settings” app on your iOS device. Select “General”, then “About”. If the cable is detected by the iPhone “Serial Cable” will appear in the list.
Once you have located the Serial Cable in the “Settings” App, select the Serial Cable to view its parameters.