How about an in-cable TTL to RS232, using the MAX233 IC?
Perhaps something like the following:
http://www.compsys1.com/workbench/On_to … apter.html
Major differences would be:
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Would use MAX233 or MAX233A (so no external caps needed)
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Would have funtional CTS and RTS busses.
This would result in a +5/-5 TTL to +12/-12 RS232 cable complete with CTS and RTS busses!
Might even be able to fit an led network to show CTS/RTS/TX/RX with a DIP resitor network.
led network:
http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/c … type=store
Resitor network:
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores … tId=120099
Maybe all that would not fit in the cable but it might in a small in-lline wall-wart (like used in laptops).
type plastic box.
OK, so the LEDs are overkill…