Black Box IC181C, RS-232 User Manual

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INFORMATION

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JUNE 2000

IC111C
IC181C

Four Port RS-232 Serial Interface

FOUR PORT RS-232 SERIAL INTERFACE

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

AND

INDUSTRY CANADA

RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENTS

This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy a
nd if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio communication.
It has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
computing device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart J of
Part 15 of FCC rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection
against such interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial
environment. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to
cause interference, in which case the user at his own expense will be required
to take whatever measures may be necessary to correct the interference.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible
for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emission from
digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulation of Industry Canada.

Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites
applicables aux appareils numériques de la classe A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le
brouillage radioélectrique publié par Industrie Canada.

TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL

IBM is a registered trademark, and XT is a trademark of IBM Corporation.

U.L. is a registered trademark of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

FOUR PORT RS-232 SERIAL INTERFACE

Contents

Chapter Page

1. Specifications...................................................................................................1

2. Introduction ....................................................................................................2

2.1 Overview..................................................................................................2

2.2 What’s Included......................................................................................2

2.3 Features...................................................................................................3

2.4 Technical Description............................................................................4

3. Address Selection............................................................................................5

4. Option Selection .............................................................................................6

4.1 Port Enable/Disable...............................................................................6

4.2 Interrupt-Mode Options ........................................................................8

5. Installation.....................................................................................................10

5.1 Software Installation .............................................................................10

5.1.1 Windows 3.1x...............................................................................10

5.1.2 Windows 95/98 ...........................................................................10

5.1.3 Windows NT ................................................................................10

5.2 Hardware Installation ...........................................................................10

Appendix A: Circuit-Board Design ...................................................................11

Appendix B: Troubleshooting ..........................................................................12

1

CHAPTER 1: Specifications

Protocol — Asynchronous

Number of Ports — 4

Speed — IC111C: Up to 115.2 Kbps; IC181C: 460.8 kbps and higher

Operation — RS-232

Connectors — DB37M on card; (1) 3-ft. (0.9-m) DB37F-to-4x DB25M octopus

cable, included

Maximum Distance — 50 ft. (15.2 m) @ 19.2 Kbps with 2500 pF max. cable
capacitance (lower capacitance will allow greater distances)

Communications Chip — IC111C: 16550 UART; IC181C: 16850 UART

MTBF — >150,000 hours

MTTR — <0.25 hours

Materials — Boards are built to U.L.®94V0 rating and are 100% electrically

tested. Boards are solder mask over bare copper or tin nickel

Manufacturing — IPC 610-A Class-III standards are adhered to with a 0.1
visual A.Q.L. and 100% functional testing

Operating Temperature — 32° to 122°F (0° to 50°C)

Storage Temperature — -4° to 158°F (-20° to 70°C)

Humidity — 10 to 90% relative humidity, noncondensing

Power — +5 VDC @ 200 mA ±12 V @ 50 mA

Size — 4.2"W x 8.6"D (10.7 x 21.9 cm)

Weight — 0.4 lb. (0.2 kg)

1. Specifications

2

FOUR PORT RS-232 SERIAL INTERFACE

2.1 Overview

The Four Port RS-232 Serial Interface provides your PC system with four RS­232 asynchronous ports. Connect to any device that uses the RS-232 protocol,
such as modems, data-entry terminals, and plotters.

The Serial Interface also includes a serial utility diskette with Seacom, a DOS
interrupt and driver package. Seacom allows data to be buffered, eliminating
data loss in high-speed data transfers. It also allows more than
4 ports (256 max.) to be configured and utilized under DOS.

The README file on the serial utility diskette contains information about the
latest changes and revisions. To view this file, insert the diskette into drive A
or B and type A:TYPE READ.ME|MORE [ENTER] or B:TYPE
READ.ME|MORE [ENTER].

2.2 What’s Included

Your Serial Interface should come with the following items. If any of these
items are missing or damaged, contact your supplier.

(1) Four Port RS-232 Serial Interface with 1x DB37F,
(1) Octopus cable, (1) 3-ft. (0.9-m) to 4x DB25M,
(2) 3.5" serial utility diskettes,
This manual

2. Introduction

3

CHAPTER 2: Introduction

2.3 Features

Listed below are the special features your Serial Interface offers.

• Each port is independently addressable.

• Eleven interrupt options, including AT interrupts, for simple integration
into existing systems.

• IRQs can be shared or individually set for each port.

• Supports Interrupt Sharing—only one interrupt line required for multiple
ports.

• Supports any character set defined by binary notation.

• 16550 UARTs (IC111C) or 16850 UARTs (IC181C) help ensure against
data loss.

• Faster baud rates—up to 115.2 Kbps.

• Provides COM1: through COM4: Turnkey Solution.

• Individually selectable address and interrupts (IRQs 2[9]–7 and 10, 11, 12,
and 15).

• Four DB25 male connectors provided using the octopus cable.