Comtrol RocketPort 550 uPCI User Manual Windows NT

QUICK START WinNT4 DRIVER and

HARDWARE REFERENCE CARD

RocketPort 550 Range

RocketPort 550 Universal Range

This Guide.

Comtrol Europe Ltd Document Number COM228NT4
Release Rev L 15th September 2003
WinNT4 Driver release V1.07

1. Before you begin

2. Installing Your controller hardware

3. Extracting the driver files to the PC’s hard disk

4. Installing the WinNT4 Device Driver

5. Un-installing the WinNT4 Device river

6. Cable Types

7. Technical Support

8. Specifications

9. Copyright and Trademarks

1. Before you begin

The Windows NT 4 device driver for the RocketPort 550 is supplied as a single self
extracting file. The driver supports the original RocketPort 550 range as well as the
recently introduced RocketPort 550 PCi Universal range.

The original RocketPort 550 PCi controller will be referred to as RocketPort 550

The RP550 PCi Universal controllers (referred to as Universal 550 within the setup program) can
be installed in PCi slots that support either 3.3V or 5V bus signals. The original
RocketPort 550 PCi range can only be installed in PCi slots that support 5V signalling.

The RocketPort 550 PCi Universal controller will be referred to as RocketPort 550
Universal

Prior to installing the Windows NT4 device driver, the driver files must be extracted to a
folder on your PC’s hard disk.. See section 3.

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2. Installing Your controller hardware

Take care when you handle the RocketPort 550 PCI cards, like any electronic device,
they are sensitive to static electricity. Use normal static precautions such as wearing an
earth ground strap. The original RocketPort 550 PCi controllers are installed in 32bit 5V
PCI slots. The Universal 550 cards can be installed in 3.3V or 5V 32 Bit PCI slots.

Hardware Installation Procedure

Power down the host PC and disconnect its mains input.
Follow the host PC manufacturer instructions describing how to access the PC in order

to install additional cards.
You may install up to 4 controllers in one PC.

Ensure the controller’s back plate retaining screw is fitted.
Follow the host PC manufacturers instructions for the re assembly of the host PC, its

cabling and re -fitting of safety covers.
Re-connect the host PC mains input and power up the PC.

3. Extracting the driver files to the PC’s hard disk

Using Windows Explorer locate the self extract file which contains the driver.
If you have a Comtrol supplied CD then open the folder \WinNT4 (on the CD) then

double click the file WinNT4drv.exe

( If you have downloaded the driver from Comtrol’s web site then you should open
the folder containing the downloaded self extract file. NOTE: The filename may differ
from the above. )

The self extractor dialog will appear. The default target folder (for the extracted files) is
c:\Comtrol\Installations\Rp550nt4 and will be displayed in the ‘Unzip to folder’
box. You may change the target folder as you wish, but note that the remainder of this
document assumes that the extracted driver files are located in
c:\Comtrol\Installations\Rp550nt4. If you have changed the target folder you must
remember to specify this path when required during installation.

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4. Installing the WinNT4 Device Driver

This SETUP program allows you to INSTALL or DE -INSTALL a Windows NT4
device driver for the RocketPort 550 and/or RocketPort 550 Universal controllers.

1. From the start menu select Run

2. Enter c:\Comtrol\Installations\Rp550nt4\Setup
then Click OK

Note

If you extracted the driver files to a different folder then enter the path to that folder

Alternatively, click the Run dialog’s browse button and find the RocketPort 550
/RocketPort 550 Universal Windows NT 4 setup file using the browse dialog.

3. The welcome dialog will appear.
Click Next

4. The Install/Uninstall dialog will be displayed.
Select INSTALL

Click Next

5. The license agreement dialog box will appear
Click Yes to accept the license and continue

Or
Click No to decline and abort the installation

6. The select starting COM port dialog box will appear.

Enter the starting COM port NUMBER or use the drop down list

(click the ‘down’ arrow) to select a starting com port number.
Note: The starting COM port number specifies the first RocketPort 550/RocketPort 550
Universal COM port and the beginning of the range of COM ports allocated to the installed
RocketPort 550/RocketPort 550 Universal These COM ports must be free for use by the
Controller before installation.

Wait On Tx should normally be left un-checked unless the application requires
the option. See the following note:-

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Note: The ‘Wait On Tx’ option is unchecked by default. For each port, an application
‘write’ will complete when the last data fragment is written to the TX FIFO but
before all the data has been physically transmitted. Each port has a 128 byte deep
TX FIFO and leaving ‘Wait On Tx’ un-checked may improve throughput.

However some applications implicitly assume that a ‘write’ will complete when
all data is physically transmitted. If such an application is to be used then check
the ‘Wait On Tx’ option.

Then Click Next

The device driver and application files will be installed and the message ‘The
operation was completed successfully’ will be displayed.

7. When complete the Install/Uninstall dialog will be displayed with the ‘Finish
Button’ displayed.

Click Finish

8. The system settings change dialog will appear. You must restart your
computer so that the driver will be started

Click YES to invoke the restart.

Your RocketPort 550/ RocketPort 550 Universal WinNT4 Driver is now
installation is complete.

The driver and application files have been copied to the relevant folders. You may delete the installation
folder C:\ Comtrol\Installations\Rp550nt4 and its contents should you wish to do so

Viewing the COM ports

1. From the start menu, select settings, click Control Panel

2. Double-click Ports

You will see the new COM Ports listed they are numbered, starting from COM port that
you specified during the installation .

For example, the installation of a single 4 port RocketPort 550 card, starting at COM 5
will show the new ports as COM5, COM6, COM7 and COM8

5

Verifying operation

A test application, called WCOM32 will have been extracted to the folder
c:\Comtrol\Programs\Rp550nt4

Simply double click the WCOM32 icon to run the program.

WCOM32 is a Windows 32 MDI application and may be used as a confidence test of
the COM ports.

WCOM32 allows you to open a com port, send and receive data, toggle O/P modem
signals and view the status of I/P modem signals. On line help is available.

Please note that WCOM32 was originally written for use with the original RocketPort
ASIC based controllers. It can be used with the UART based RocketPort 550/
RocketPort 550 Universal range but features specific to the RocketPort ASIC based
controllers are not supported.

5. Un-installing the WinNT4 Device Driver

If you wish to un -install the WinNT4 device Driver, do the following

1. From the start menu select Run

2. Enter c:\Comtrol\programs\Rp550nt4\Setup

then Click OK

Note

If you extracted the driver files to a different drive: folder then enter the path to that folder

Alternatively, click the Run dialog’s browse button and find the RocketPort 550
/RocketPort 550 Universal Windows NT 4 setup file using the browse dialog.

3. The welcome dialog will appear.

Click Next

4. The Install/Uninstall dialog will be displayed.

Select UNINSTALL
Click Next

5. When co mplete the Install/Uninstall dialog will be displayed with the

‘Finish button’

Click Finish

6

6. The Systems settings change dialog will appear.

You must restart your computer before the new settings will take effect
Click Yes to invoke the restart.

7. As the SETUP.EXE program is running the de-installation function it cannot be

automatically removed and must be manually deleted.

Your WinNT4 Driver Uninstall is complete.

7

6. Cable Types

RocketPort 550 4 Quad

RocketPort 550 Universal 4 Mini

RocketPort 550 4 RJ45, RocketPort 550 Universal 4 RJ45

RocketPort 550 8 OCTA, RocketPort 550 Universal 8 OCTA

RocketPort 550 8 RJ11, RocketPort 550 Universal 8 RJ11

RocketPort 550 8 Port (with dedicated interface box)*

RocketPort 550 16 Port (with dedicated interface box)*

*Includes RocketPort 550 Universal 4, 8 & 16 Port

RocketPort 550 4 Quad Cable - 37 way D type fan out to 4 DB25 Male

DB37 pin DB25 pin RS232 Signal/Port DB37 pin DB25 pin RS232 Signal/Port

35 2 TxD Port 0 26 2 TxD Port 2
34 3 RxD Port 0 25 3 RxD Port 2
16 4 RTS Port 0 7 4 RTS Port 2
17 5 CTS Port 0 8 5 CTS Port 2
15 6 DSR Port 0 6 6 DSR Port 2
37 7 Signal Gnd Port 0 28 7 Signal Gnd Port 2
33 8 DCD Port 0 24 8 DCD Port 2
36 20 DTR Port 0 27 20 DTR Port 2
18 22 RI Port 0 9 22 RI Port 2

12 2 TxD Port 1 3 2 TxD Port 3
11 3 RxD Port 1 2 3 RxD Port 3
30 4 RTS Port 1 21 4 RTS Port 3
31 5 CTS Port 1 22 5 CTS Port 3
29 6 DSR Port 1 20 6 DSR Port 3
14 7 Signal Gnd Port 1 5 7 Signal Gnd Port 3
10 8 DCD Port 1 1 8 DCD Port 3
13 20 DTR Port 1 4 20 DTR Port 3

32 22 RI Port 1 23 22 RI Port 3
Pin 19 of the 37 way connector is not used
Pins 1, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24 and 25 of each 25 way connector
are not used.
The cable shields and connector metal bodies should be connected.

19

37

1

20

8

1

203959

78

RocketPort 550/RocketPort 550 Universal 8 OCTA Cable - 78 way D type fan out
to 8 DB25 Male

DB78 Pin DB25 Pin RS232 Signal/Port DB78 Pin DB25 Pin RS232 Signal/Port

30 2 TxD Port 0 40 2 TxD Port 4
55 3 RxD Port 0 28 3 RxD Port 4
51 4 RTS Port 0 21 4 RTS Port 4
16 5 CTS Port 0 25 5 CTS Port 4
54 6 DSR Port 0 5 6 DSR Port 4
71 7 Signal Gnd Port 0 75 7 Signal Gnd Port 4
35 8 DCD Port 0 43 8 DCD Port 4
49 20 DTR Port 0 22 20 DTR Port 4
36 22 RI Port 0 44 22 RI Port 4

50 2 TxD Port 1 2 2 TxD Port 5
17 3 RxD Port 1 8 3 RxD Port 5
31 4 RTS Port 1 41 4 RTS Port 5

53 5 CTS Port 1 4 5 CTS Port 5
34 6 DSR Port 1 42 6 DSR Port 5
72 7 Signal Gnd Port 1 76 7 Signal Gnd Port 5
33 8 DCD Port 1 23 8 DCD Port 5
32 20 DTR Port 1 3 20 DTR Port 5
15 22 RI Port 1 24 22 RI Port 5

11 2 TxD Port 2 63 2 TxD Port 6
37 3 RxD Port 2 46 3 RxD Port 6
12 4 RTS Port 2 62 4 RTS Port 6
59 5 CTS Port 2 9 5 CTS Port 6
58 6 DSR Port 2 29 6 DSR Port 6
73 7 Signal Gnd Port 2 77 7 Signal Gnd Port 6
39 8 DCD Port 2 48 8 DCD Port 6
13 20 DTR Port 2 61 20 DTR Port 6
20 22 RI Port 2 47 22 RI Port 6
10 2 TxD Port 3 64 2 TxD Port 7
56 3 RxD Port 3 27 3 RxD Port 7
14 4 RTS Port 3 60 4 RTS Port 7
57 5 CTS Port 3 45 5 CTS Port 7
38 6 DSR Port 3 26 6 DSR Port 7
74 7 Signal Gnd Port 3 78 7 Signal Gnd Port 7
18 8 DCD Port 3 6 8 DCD Port 7
52 20 DTR Port 3 1 20 DTR Port 7

19 22 RI Port 3 7 22 RI Port 7
Pin 67of the 78 way connector is not used. Pins 65, 66, 68, 69 and 70 are Signal Ground.
Pins 1, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24 and 25 of each 25 way connector
are not used.
The cable shields and connector metal bodies should be connected.

21
40
60

9

RocketPort 550 Universal 4 MINI Cable - 44 way HD type fan out to 4 DB9 Male

DB44 pin DB9 pin RS232 Signal/Port DB44 pin DB9 pin RS232 Signal/Port

2 3 TxD Port 0 25 3 TxD Port 2
17 2 RxD Port 0 39 2 RxD Port 2
32 7 RTS Port 0 9 7 RTS Port 2
18 8 CTS Port 0 40 8 CTS Port 2

1 6 DSR Port 0 24 6 DSR Port 2
19 5 Signal Gnd Port 0 41 5 Signal Gnd Port 2
31 1 DCD Port 0 8 1 DCD Port 2
33 4 DTR Port 0 10 4 DTR Port 2

3 9 RI Port 0 26 9 RI Port 2
36 3 TxD Port 1 13 3 TxD Port 3

5 2 RxD Port 1 28 2 RxD Port 3
21 7 RTS Port 1 43 7 RTS Port 3

6 8 CTS Port 1 29 8 CTS Port 3
35 6 DSR Port 1 12 6 DSR Port 3

7 5 Signal Gnd Port 1 30 5 Signal Gnd Port 3
20 1 DCD Port 1 42 1 DCD Port 3
22 4 DTR Port 1 44 4 DTR Port 3
37 9 RI Port 1 14 9 RI Port 3

RocketPort 550/RocketPort 550 Universal 8 RJ11 Cable Pin Out

RJ11 pin RS232 Signals

Pin 1
1 DTR
2 Signal Ground

3 TxD
4 RxD
5 DCD
6 CTS

RJ11 Plug front and side view

10

13

25

14

RocketPort 550/RocketPort 550 Universal 4 RJ45 Cable Pin Out

RJ45 pin RS232 Signals

Pin 1

1 RTS
2 DTR
3 Signal Ground
4 TxD
5 RxD
6 DCD
7 DSR
8 CTS

RJ45 Plug front and side view

RocketPort 550/RocketPort 550 Universal 8 Port - with 8 DB25 Female RS232
dedicated interface box

and

RocketPort 550/RocketPort 550 Universal 16 Port - with 16 DB25 Female RS232
dedicated interface box

1
14

DB25 Female Interface Box Connector

1

13
25

DB25 Male Connector

11

Rocket Port Interface Box DB25 Signals

DB25 Pin

RS232 Signal RS422 Signal

Universal Interface

(RocketPort

RS232/422

version only)

2 TxD *See note See UI manual
3 RxD *See note See UI manual
4 RTS *See note See UI manual
5 CTS *See note See UI manual
6 DSR *See note See UI manual
7 Signal Gnd *See note See UI manual

8 DCD *See note See UI manual
20 DTR *See note See UI manual
15 Not used RxD+ RxD(B) See UI manual
17 Not used RxD- RxD(A) See UI manual
19 Not used TxD+ TxD(B) See UI manual
25 Not used TxD- TxD(A) See UI manual

*Note : All RS232 signals are present in RS422 mode.

The RocketPort interface box can only be used with the Rocket Port 550-8 and
RocketPort 550 -16 (or the Universal 550 equivalents). These controllers have a single
DB25F mounted on the backplate which connects via the RocketPort cable to the
interface box. Alternatively the RocketPort 550 -8 and 550-16 controllers (or the Universal
550 equivalents) may connect to the Comtrol Universal Interface (UI). Refer to the UI
manual for connector pin-outs.

The Quad, Octa, RJ11 and RJ45 RocketPort 550 versions do not support RS422 mode.

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7. Technical Support

Comtrol has a staff of support technicians available. Telephone support is available daily ,
Monday through Friday (except holidays) on the US (Central Time) or UK number listed
below. Before you call please have the following information available :

Item Your System Information
RocketPort 550 model number
RocketPort 550 serial number
RocketPort 550 device driver version
Interface type

Operating system type and release
PC make, Model and speed
Details of other cards configured in the PC

The Comtrol Corporation Headquarters are at

6655 Wedgwood Road
Suite 120
Minneapolis
MN 55311 -3646
USA
Phone : [phone]
Fax : [phone]
Email : [e-mail]
Web site : http://www.comtrol.com
FTP site : ftp.comtrol.com
telnet : www.comtrol.com

The Comtrol Europe Ltd Headquarters are at

Unit 2, Avonbury Business Park
Howes Lane
Bicester
Oxfordshire
OX26 2UA
Great Britain
Phone : [phone]
Fax : [phone]
Email : [e-mail]
Web site : http://www.comtrol.co.uk

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8. Specifications

RocketPort 550 & RocketPort 550 Universal Specification

Baud rate :
RS 232 (4 RJ45 and Quad) 50 to 460.8K baud
RS 232 (8 RJ11 and Octa) 50 to 115.2K baud
RS 232/422 (8 and 16 Port with interface box) 50 to 230.4K baud

RS232 (UNIVERSAL RJ45/RJ11/OCTA/MINI) 50 to 115.2K baud
RS232 /422 (UNIVERSAL 8 & 16 Port with I/F box) 50 to 230.4K baud

Note : Baud rate is dependant upon hardware and operating system configuration
Bus interface PCI
Control by device driver
Data bits 5,6, 7 or 8
Parity Odd, Even,Mark, Space or None
Stop bits 1, 1.5, or 2
Note: Certain combinations of data bits, parity or stop bits may not be allowed by some
operating systems.

Environmental Condition Specification

Air temperature :
System on 0 to 40ºC
System off -20 to 85ºC
Humidity (non-condensing)
System on 8 to 80%
System off 20 to 80%
Altitude 0 to 10,000 feet
MTBF Greater than 30 years

Product 5V Current +12V Current -12V Current

RocketPort 550 4 Quad 210 mA 20 mA 20 mA
RocketPort 550 4 RJ45 190 mA 20 mA 20 mA

Universal 550 4 Port 190mA N/A N/A

RocketPort 550 8 OCTA 140 mA 120 mA 120 mA
RocketPort 550 8 RJ11 250 mA 80 mA 80 mA

RocketPort 550 8 Port

215 mA 0 mA 0 mA

See note*

RocketPort 550 16 Port

300 mA 0 mA 0 mA

See note*

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Product 5V Current +12V Current -12V Current

RocketPort 550 Universal 4

260mA 200mA 200mA

RJ45
RocketPort 550 Universal 4

280mA 200mA 200mA

Mini
RocketPort 550 Universal 8

400mA 400mA 400mA

OCTA
RocketPort 550 Universal 8

315mA 260mA 260mA

RJ11
RocketPort 550 Universal 8

400mA 0 mA 0 mA

Port See note*
RocketPort 550 Unive rsal

600mA 0 mA 0 mA

16 Port See note*

*Note the current figures are for the card only and do not include the attached interface box.
Refer to the manual for the RocketPort or Universal interface boxes for current consumption
figures and addto the above.

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9. Copyright and Trademarks.

Copyright

Copyright 2001 – 2003 Comtrol Europe Ltd

Trademarks

The Comtrol Europe logo and the RocketPort logo are trademarks of Comtrol
Corporation.
Product names mentioned in this document may be trademarks and/or registered
trademarks of their respective companies.
Microsoft, MS-DOS, MS, Windows, Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 98, MSN,
MSDN and Visual C++ are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
“Acrobat® Reader Copyright © 1987-2001 Adobe Systems Incorpo rated. All rights
reserved. Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated which
may be registered in certain jurisdictions”

Comtrol reserves the right to make product and user guide changes without notice

Comtrol makes no representatio ns or warranties with regard to the contents of this
Quick Start Card or to the suitability of any Comtrol product for any particular purpose.
Specifications are subject to change without notice. Some software or features may not
be available at the time of publication. Contact your reseller for current product
information.

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