rs232 with hardware USART

[Archangel]

Data TRUE idles high, Data inverted idles Low - Hserin receives data TRUE. Hardware usart receive is an input. It neither sources or sinks current, although there may be chips with internal pullups. I know the chips I have used will not receive without the pullup.

[Bruce]

If he has the PIC connected to a max232 hooked to a PC serial port the RX pin should already be held at logic 1 through the max232.

http://www.rentron.com/Files/bMAX232.gif

PIC to PIC using the hardware UART the tx pin on both will idle high so that works also without a pull-up. Even bit-banged serial should hold the tx pin at the idle logic state during idle periods.

But;
Device = 18F4550
Xtal 20

Indicates he's probably using the Proton compiler, so I would post the question there. It's most likely a configuration problem. Without config options in your code you're using whatever defaults they have in the include file, so it's probably not running at 20MHz.

[Dave]

Joe S. I thought you were talking about the output of the USART. The input requires a digital digital which should be supplied by the source of the other communicating device. If it is an open collector type output from the other device then, yes there should be some type of pullup device to produce the source current for driving the USART input. Sorry for the confusion on my part of the reply.

[Archangel]

Joe S. I thought you were talking about the output of the USART. The input requires a digital digital which should be supplied by the source of the other communicating device. If it is an open collector type output from the other device then, yes there should be some type of pullup device to produce the source current for driving the USART input. Sorry for the confusion on my part of the reply.

Hi Dave,
I seldom test devices together until ready to use them, So I Have to use the resistor or my serial lcd will not even boot, Bruce's synopsis explained it very well so as to include both camps, that the max232 serves that pull up function. And yes Dave I do make lots of mistakes and stand corrected without bruised ego. Bottom line is I think we are all trying to help. I brought up the idle status because I have tripped over that too many times. Maybe it is not the OPs problem, getting to the problem usually requires eliminating what it is not. To that end, We have posted.
To the OP:
Have you got it working yet?
Did we help?
will your PIC blink an LED ?
What configs are you using . . Default / roll your own ?