Belkin P72655 User Manual

Bitronics Switch Kit

User Manual

P72655

READ THIS MANUAL IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE

ATTEMPTING TO CONNECT DEVICES, THE
BITRONICS SWITCH, OR INSTALLING THE

SOFTWARE. IMPROPER SETTINGS OR

CONFIGURATIONS CAN CAUSE DATA

CORRUPTION.

I. Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the Belkin Components Bitro nics DualBus Switch Kit! Now, you and y our colleague can s hare and select
between two different parallel devices from your desktop. Plus, if you are using Windows 95 or 98, you will take advantage of Virtual
Port Software, which allows you to print automatically!

The Bitronics DualBus Switch gives you and another computer the ability to communicate to two parallel devices at the same time.
Also, it allows you to switch so that either user can use either device thro ugh the switching s oftware.

II. Package Contents

• Bitronics DualBus Switch, 2-2 F1U127

• Power Adapter, 9VDC, 600mA F1D065-PWR

• 2 x IEEE 1284 compliant cabl es F2A047-06

• User manual P72655

• Registration card P72009

III. Product Detail

Connectors to Devices

Optional DIP Switches
Power Jack
9VDC, 500mA,
Center positive

Computer LEDs

Connectors to Co mputers

Device LEDs

Manual select buttons

DIP Switch Settings (ON is Down)
SW1 – RESET switch ON: Normal Operation

OFF: RESET the switch
SW2 and SW3 – Time Out setting.
Time Out is the amount of time the switch remains locked on a
computer after data transfer. Use a longer Time Out when
connecting to Scanners, Mass Storag e Devices, or when printing
large print jobs.

SW2 SW3 Time Out Setting

ON ON 5 seconds
ON OFF 10 seconds
OFF ON 20 seconds

OFF OFF 40 seconds

SW4 – Not used

!

! Recommended

!!

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IV. Choose your Operating System

• Windows 3.x " Continue below:

• Windows 95/98 and NT " Continue to next page.

• MS-DOS " Continue below:

V. Manual Mode

In manual mode, you can select port manually through t he buttons on the Bitronics switch.

• Press computer to select which computer port you wish to configure. For the computer connected to Port 1, press the
COMPUTER button until the LEDs on Port 1 are lit up either in red or green.

• When you have selected which computer you wish to configure, now press t he PRINTER button until the LED of the
appropriate device port you wish to use is lit up.

• For example, if you want computer 2 to use the device on p ort A,
press the COMPUTER button until the LEDs on “2” are lit up. Then,
press the PRINTER button until LED “A” is lit up.

• To use File Transfer mode, press the printer button until the LEDs
on the computer ports turn green. That means that that port is
ready for file transfer mode. For file transfer mode to be successful
for both PCs, the both computer ports must be set file transfer
mode – which is evident when the LEDs next to “1” and “2” are
green. For more information on File Transfer, please see page 12.

VI. Windows

In Windows 3.x, you will have to exit to MS-DOS first to make this easier:

1. At the C:\> prompt, type the following and press ENTER:

md c:\Belkin

2. Insert the floppy disk containing the Windows 3.x software (part# P72736) into your a: dri ve.

3. At the next prompt, type the following and press ENTER:

copy a:\Win3.x\F1U125e.exe c:\Belkin

4. When you get the prompt back, restart your computer and go back into Windows.

5. Lastly, you will have to create a shortcut to the program. In the Program Manager, select the Start Up window by
clicking on WIN DOW, then START UP.

6. Click on FILE, NEW, PROGRAM ITEM, then OK. The next window must be filled out like this:

When done, click OK.



3.x

Printer Button Computer Button

In Windows 3.x, there is no possibility in making the software automatic because of the limitations of the operating system. Hence,
you will need to use this software each time you need to switch ports. Since it is in the START UP program group, each time you
start Windows, the program will be running.

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VII. MS-DOS

In MS-DOS, there re two files which can be used, and both are in the first disk (part# P72735) in the DOS subdirectory. These files
are:

• DOSSWTCH.com

• F1U125.com

DOSSWTCH.com is a directly executable program. You must follow the syntax in order to invoke the switch to change ports. For
example, entering the following,

DOSSWTCH LPT1 A

will cause the switch to set your current computer to connect to Port A.

F1U125.com is a TSR program. Once it is loaded, it stays in memory. You can access it in any non-protected DOS-mode program by
pressing both SHIFT keys simultaneously. The following window will pop-up:

To make a selection, hit ENTER, and to go back, hit ESC. You can a lso change the “Hot Key” from the de fault L_SHIFT and R_SHIFT,
to something else you prefer.

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VIII. Windows

BEFORE YOU INSTALL THE BELKIN BITRONICS SOFTWARE, YOU MUST FIRST MAKE SURE THAT EACH DEVICE WORKS
PROPERLY ON ITS OWN WITH EACH COMPUTER

1. Make sure that the printer port on your computer is set to ECP mode. To do this, you must go into your computer’s BIOS or
CMOS setup. Instructions on how to do this differ from one computer to the next. Please consult your compute r manufacturer’s
manual, tech support, or website for information on how to do this. Please do not call Belkin Tech Support on this

because each computer’s BIOS setup routine is different.

2. Make sure that the software and drivers for the devices to be shared are properly installed on both computers. If you are
sharing two printers between two computers, make sure that the printer drivers for both printers are installed and working
properly on both computers. If you are sharing a Zip drive and a scanner between two computers, mak e sure that the
software and drivers of each device are installed and working properly on both computers.

3. Connect the two computers, and the device to be shared to the Bitronics Switch as shown below. The cables from the
computers to the Bitronics switch are included in the package. Take note of which port each device is connected to:

The example shown has a Zip drive connected to Port A and an InkJet printer on Port B of the switch.

95 / 98 and NT



Device A connected to
Port A

These two cables

included

4. In order for both computers to properly share the devices, the software must be installed on both computers.

4.1. Put the disk into your floppy drive. Click on START, then RUN. Enter a:\BITRONIX.exe, then click OK

Device B connected to
Port B

4.2. You will see the following window. Click SETUP.

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