RS-485 Termination
Because each differential pair of wires is a transmission line, you must properly terminate the line to prevent reflections. A common method of terminating a two-wire multidrop RS-485 network is to install terminating resistors at each end of the multidrop network. If you daisy-chained multiple instruments together, you need a terminating resistor at only the first and last instruments. The terminating resistor should match the characteristic impedance of the transmission line (typically 100 to 120 
). You can order an optional DB-9 RS-485 termination connector that contains embedded terminating resistors for easy termination from National Instruments. For ordering information, contact National Instruments.
The following figure shows a multidrop network using terminating resistors.
Multidrop Network Using Terminating Resistors
The following figure shows a full-duplex network using terminating resistors.
