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Most TV ports fade into the background once everything is connected -- aside from HDMI and USB. But for advanced users, the RS-232 serial port can unlock a surprising amount of control over home theater and smart home systems.
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With some patience and technical know-how, it can be used to build a highly customized entertainment setup, complete with automation, multi-room control, scheduled content, and even diagnostic monitoring.
What is an RS-232 serial port, and what does it do?
Take a peek at the back of your TV, and you may see -- among the familiar HDMI and USB connections -- an odd 9-pin port that doesn't match any cable you have in the house (and may look familiar if you used a printer back in the 1990s). This is your TV's RS-232 serial port, normally reserved for connecting professional calibration and diagnostic tools.
Technicians at the factory or in a repair shop have special testing devices that plug into the RS-232 port to test signal transmission strength, debug software, and check for electrical damage.
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The RS-232 port can also be used in both smart home and commercial settings by enabling you to connect multiple TVs to a single source for custom broadcasts. Whenever you go to a doctor's office or an airport where multiple screens show the same reels of advertisements and safety announcements, you're seeing the RS-232 connection at work.
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