Lifecycle status — obsolete, sourced through independent channels
For existing BOM lines or repair stock, the only supply route is the independent market — broker, surplus, or last-time-buy inventory.
This is a 5 V-only RS-232 transceiver with two drivers and two receivers — the classic configuration for bridging a UART to a DB-9 serial port. The 250 kbps data rate is adequate for legacy terminal, modem, and industrial control links running 115.2 kbps or slower; if your system needs 1 Mbps or more, you will need a faster device like the MAX3232 series. Receiver hysteresis of 500 mV gives good noise immunity on the serial line, which matters when the cable runs through an electrically noisy factory floor or telecom room. For automotive or outdoor use, the industrial- or extended-temperature MAX232 variants are a better fit. The 16-TSSOP package is a compact surface-mount footprint (4.4 mm body width), suitable for space-constrained PCBs.