A receiving device supplies a remote start bit onto a single-wire communication bus. Open-drain interfaces couple the single-wire communication bus to the receiving device and to a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) in the transmitting device. After the UART detects the remote start bit, the UART supplies initial data bits and a stop bit onto the single-wire communication bus. The data bits, stop bit and remote start bit together form a 10-bit RS232 character. Data flow control is accomplished when the receiving device supplies a subsequent remote start bit only after accepting the initial data bits. After the UART detects the subsequent remote start bit on the single-wire communication bus, the UART supplies subsequent data bits onto the single-wire communication bus. The UART also determines a pulse duration of the remote start bit and supplies each of the data bits onto the single-wire communication bus for one pulse duration.