<sod>RS-485 enables the configuration of inexpensive [[local network]]s and multidrop communications links.  It offers [[data transmission]] speeds of 35&nbsp;[[bitrate|Mbit/s]] for distances up to 10&nbsp;m and 100&nbsp;[[bitrate|kbit/s]] up to 1200&nbsp;m. Since it uses a [[high-voltage differential signalling|differential]] [[balanced line]] over [[twisted pair]] (like [[RS-422]]), it can span relatively large distances up to {{convert|1200|m|abbr=on|-3}}. A rule of thumb is that the speed in bit/s multiplied by the length in meters should not exceed 10<sup>8</sup>. Thus a {{nowrap|50 meter}} cable should not signal faster than {{nowrap|2 Mbit/s}}.<ref name=slla070d>{{cite techreport |url=http://focus.ti.com/lit/an/slla070d/slla070d.pdf |format=pdf |website=[[Texas Instruments]] |first=Manny |last=Soltero |first2=Jing |last2=Zhang |first3=Chris |last3=Cockril |first4=Kevin |last4=Zhang |first5=Clark |last5=Kinnaird |first6=Thomas |last6=Kugelstadt |title=RS-422 and RS-485 Standards Overview and System Configurations, Application Report |id=SLLA070D |date=May 2010 |origyear=2002}}</ref><!--({{nowrap|bps*length&#61;10<sup>8</sup>}})--><eod>
<sod>RS-485 supports inexpensive [[local network]]s and [[multidrop]] communications links.  Since using the same [[high-voltage differential signalling|differential]] [[balanced line]] over [[twisted pair]] as [[RS-422]], RS-485 can span distances up to {{convert|1200|m|abbr=on|-3}}. It offers [[data transmission]] speeds of 35&nbsp;[[bitrate|Mbit/s]]{{cn}} for distances up to 10&nbsp;m and 100&nbsp;[[bitrate|kbit/s]] up to 1200&nbsp;m. A rule of thumb is that the speed in bit/s multiplied by the length in meters should not exceed 10<sup>8</sup>. Thus a {{nowrap|50 meter}} cable should not signal faster than {{nowrap|2 Mbit/s}}.<ref name=slla070d>{{cite techreport |url=http://focus.ti.com/lit/an/slla070d/slla070d.pdf |format=pdf |website=[[Texas Instruments]] |first=Manny |last=Soltero |first2=Jing |last2=Zhang |first3=Chris |last3=Cockril |first4=Kevin |last4=Zhang |first5=Clark |last5=Kinnaird |first6=Thomas |last6=Kugelstadt |title=RS-422 and RS-485 Standards Overview and System Configurations, Application Report |id=SLLA070D |date=May 2010 |origyear=2002}}</ref><!--({{nowrap|bps*length&#61;10<sup>8</sup>}})--><eod>