National Instruments 3.22E+04 User Manual

Serial

Getting Started with Your
PCI Serial Hardware
and Software for
Windows

PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x

Me/9

x

September 2000 Edition

Part Number 321824E-01

Support

Worldwide Technical Support and Product Information

ni.com

National Instruments Corporate Headquarters

11500 North Mopac Expressway Austin, Texas 78759-3504 USA Tel: [phone]

Worldwide Offices

Australia 03 9879 5166, Austria 0662 45 79 90 0, Belgium 02 757 00 20, Brazil 011 284 5011,
Canada (Calgary) 403 274 9391, Canada (Ontario) 905 785 0085, Canada (Québec) 514 694 8521,
China 0755 3904939, Denmark 45 76 26 00, Finland 09 725 725 11, France 01 48 14 24 24,
Germany 089 741 31 30, Greece 30 1 42 96 427, Hong Kong 2645 3186, India 91805275406,
Israel 03 6120092, Italy 02 413091, Japan 03 5472 2970, Korea 02 596 7456, Mexico (D.F.) 5 280 7625,
Mexico (Monterrey) 8 357 7695, Netherlands 0348 433466, New Zealand 09 914 0488, Norway 32 27 73 00,
Poland 0 22 528 94 06, Portugal 351 1 726 9011, Singapore 2265886, Spain 91 640 0085,
Sweden 08 587 895 00, Switzerland 056 200 51 51, Taiwan 02 2528 7227, United Kingdom 01635 523545

For further support information, see the Technical Support Resources appendix. To comment on the
documentation, send e-mail to [e-mail]

© Copyright 1998, 2000 National Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved.

Important Information

Warranty

The serial hardware is warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of shipment,
as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace equipment that proves
to be defective during the warranty period. This warranty includes parts and labor.

The media on which you receive National Instruments software are warranted not to fail to execute programming instructions,
due to defects in materials and workmanship, for a period of 90 days from date of shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other
documentation. National Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace software media that do not execute programming
instructions if National Instruments receives notice of such defects during the warranty period. National Instruments does not
warrant that the operation of the software shall be uninterrupted or error free.

A Return Material Authorization (RMA) number must be obtained from the factory and clearly marked on the outside of
the package before any equipment will be accepted for warranty work. National Instruments will pay the shipping costs of
returning to the owner parts which are covered by warranty.

National Instruments believes that the information in this document is accurate. The document has been carefully reviewed
for technical accuracy. In the event that technical or typographical errors exist, National Instruments reserves the right to
make changes to subsequent editions of this document without prior notice to holders of this edition. The reader should consult
National Instruments if errors are suspected. In no event shall National Instruments be liable for any damages arising out of
or related to this document or the information contained in it.

XCEPT AS SPECIFIED HEREIN

E

WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE

NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT THERETOFORE PAID BY THE CUSTOMER

NSTRUMENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM LOSS OF DATA, PROFITS, USE OF PRODUCTS, OR INCIDENTAL OR

I

CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF

apply regardless of the form of action, whether in contract or tort, including negligence. Any action against National Instruments
must be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues. National Instruments shall not be liable for any delay in
performance due to causes beyond its reasonable control. The warranty provided herein does not cover damages, defects,
malfunctions, or service failures caused by owner’s failure to follow the National Instruments installation, operation, or
maintenance instructions; owner’s modification of the product; owner’s abuse, misuse, or negligent acts; and power failure or
surges, fire, flood, accident, actions of third parties, or other events outside reasonable control.

ATIONAL INSTRUMENTS MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY

, N

USTOMER’S RIGHT TO RECOVER DAMAGES CAUSED BY FAULT OR

. C

. This limitation of the liability of National Instruments will

. N

ATIONAL

Copyright

Under the copyright laws, this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, storing in an information retrieval system, or translating, in whole or in part, without the prior written
consent of National Instruments Corporation.

Trademarks

CVI™, LabVIEW™, National Instruments™, and ni.com™ are trademarks of National Instruments Corporation.

Product and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.

WARNING REGARDING USE OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS

(1) NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS ARE NOT DESIGNED WITH COMPONENTS AND TESTING FOR A LEVEL
OF RELIABILITY SUITABLE FOR USE IN OR IN CONNECTION WITH SURGICAL IMPLANTS OR AS CRITICAL
COMPONENTS IN ANY LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS WHOSE FAILURE TO PERFORM CAN REASONABLY BE
EXPECTED TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO A HUMAN.

(2) IN ANY APPLICATION, INCLUDING THE ABOVE, RELIABILITY OF OPERATION OF THE SOFTWARE PRODUCTS
CAN BE IMPAIRED BY ADVERSE FACTORS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO FLUCTUATIONS IN ELECTRICAL
POWER SUPPLY, COMPUTER HARDWARE MALFUNCTIONS, COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE
FITNESS, FITNESS OF COMPILERS AND DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE USED TO DEVELOP AN APPLICATION,
INSTALLATION ERRORS, SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS, MALFUNCTIONS OR
FAILURES OF ELECTRONIC MONITORING OR CONTROL DEVICES, TRANSIENT FAILURES OF ELECTRONIC
SYSTEMS (HARDWARE AND/OR SOFTWARE), UNANTICIPATED USES OR MISUSES, OR ERRORS ON THE PART OF
THE USER OR APPLICATIONS DESIGNER (ADVERSE FACTORS SUCH AS THESE ARE HEREAFTER
COLLECTIVELY TERMED “SYSTEM FAILURES”). ANY APPLICATION WHERE A SYSTEM FAILURE WOULD
CREATE A RISK OF HARM TO PROPERTY OR PERSONS (INCLUDING THE RISK OF BODILY INJURY AND DEATH)
SHOULD NOT BE RELIANT SOLELY UPON ONE FORM OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEM DUE TO THE RISK OF SYSTEM
FAILURE. TO AVOID DAMAGE, INJURY, OR DEATH, THE USER OR APPLICATION DESIGNER MUST TAKE
REASONABLY PRUDENT STEPS TO PROTECT AGAINST SYSTEM FAILURES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
BACK-UP OR SHUT DOWN MECHANISMS. BECAUSE EACH END-USER SYSTEM IS CUSTOMIZED AND DIFFERS
FROM NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS' TESTING PLATFORMS AND BECAUSE A USER OR APPLICATION DESIGNER
MAY USE NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER PRODUCTS IN A MANNER NOT
EVALUATED OR CONTEMPLATED BY NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS, THE USER OR APPLICATION DESIGNER IS
ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFYING AND VALIDATING THE SUITABILITY OF NATIONAL
INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS WHENEVER NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS ARE INCORPORATED IN A
SYSTEM OR APPLICATION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE APPROPRIATE DESIGN, PROCESS AND
SAFETY LEVEL OF SUCH SYSTEM OR APPLICATION.

Compliance

FCC/Canada Radio Frequency Interference Compliance*

Determining FCC Class

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rules to protect wireless communications from interference.
The FCC places digital electronics into two classes. These classes are known as Class A (for use in industrial­commercial locations only) or Class B (for use in residential or commercial locations). Depending on where it is
operated, this product could be subject to restrictions in the FCC rules. (In Canada, the Department of
Communications (DOC), of Industry Canada, regulates wireless interference in much the same way.)

Digital electronics emit weak signals during normal operation that can affect radio, television, or other wireless
products. By examining the product you purchased, you can determine the FCC Class and therefore which of the two
FCC/DOC Warnings apply in the following sections. (Some products may not be labeled at all for FCC; if so, the
reader should then assume these are Class A devices.)

FCC Class A products only display a simple warning statement of one paragraph in length regarding interference and
undesired operation. Most of our products are FCC Class A. The FCC rules have restrictions regarding the locations
where FCC Class A products can be operated.

FCC Class B products display either a FCC ID code, starting with the letters EXN,
or the FCC Class B compliance mark that appears as shown here on the right.

Consult the FCC web site

http://www.fcc.gov

FCC/DOC Warnings

This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in strict accordance with the
instructions in this manual and the CE Mark Declaration of Conformity**, may cause interference to radio and
television reception. Classification requirements are the same for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
and the Canadian Department of Communications (DOC).

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by National Instruments could void the user’s authority to operate
the equipment under the FCC Rules.

Class A

Federal Communications Commission

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15
of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in
which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

for more information.

Canadian Department of Communications

This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe A respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du
Canada.

Class B

Federal Communications Commission

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15
of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user
is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Canadian Department of Communications

This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du
Canada.

European Union - Compliance to EEC Directives

Readers in the EU/EEC/EEA must refer to the Manufacturer's Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for information**
pertaining to the CE Mark compliance scheme. The Manufacturer includes a DoC for most every hardware product
except for those bought for OEMs, if also available from an original manufacturer that also markets in the EU, or
where compliance is not required as for electrically benign apparatus or cables.

* Certain exemptions may apply in the USA, see FCC Rules §15.103 Exempted devices, and §15.105(c).

Also available in sections of CFR 47.

** The CE Mark Declaration of Conformity will contain important supplementary information and instructions

for the user or installer.

Contents

About This Manual

Conventions ...................................................................................................................xi

Related Documentation..................................................................................................xii

Chapter 1
Introduction

How to Use This Manual ............................................................................................... 1-1

What You Need to Get Started ...................................................................................... 1-2

Optional Equipment.......................................................................................................1-2

Serial Hardware Overview.............................................................................................1-2

NI-Serial Software Overview ........................................................................................ 1-4

Time-Saving Development Tools..................................................................................1-4

Using Your Serial Hardware with LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI...........................1-5

Chapter 2
Installation and Verification

Install the Software ........................................................................................................ 2-1

Install the Hardware.......................................................................................................2-3

Verify the Installation .................................................................................................... 2-5

Connect the Cables ........................................................................................................2-7

DB-9 Connector...............................................................................................2-8

Modular Jack Connector..................................................................................2-9

DB-25 Connector.............................................................................................2-10

68-Pin Connector.............................................................................................2-12

100-Pin Connector...........................................................................................2-14

Connecting Two-Wire Devices .....................................................................................2-15

Chapter 3
Configuration

View or Change Communication Port Settings............................................................. 3-1

Port Settings Tab............................................................................................................3-2

Bits per Second................................................................................................3-3

Data Bits ..........................................................................................................3-3

Parity................................................................................................................3-3

Stop Bits ..........................................................................................................3-3

Flow Control....................................................................................................3-3

© National Instruments Corporation vii PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x

Contents

Advanced Port Settings................................................................................... 3-3

Transceiver Mode ............................................................................. 3-4

Use FIFO Buffers .............................................................................3-4

Restore Defaults.............................................................................................. 3-4

Chapter 4
Using Your Serial Hardware

General Programming Requirements ............................................................................ 4-1

Advanced Transceiver Control for the PCI-485............................................................4-1

Four-Wire Mode ............................................................................................. 4-2

Two-Wire Mode: DTR
Two-Wire Mode: DTR
Two-Wire Mode: TXRDY

Setting the Transceiver Control Mode ............................................................ 4-3

Setting the Transceiver Mode with DeviceIoControl ..................................... 4-4

with Echo .................................................................. 4-2

Controlled ................................................................. 4-2

Auto Control........................................................ 4-3

Appendix A
Serial Port Information

Appendix B
Uninstalling the Hardware and Software

Appendix C
Troubleshooting and Common Questions

Appendix D
Specifications

Appendix E
Technical Support Resources

Glossary

Index

PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x viii ni.com

Figures

Contents

Figure 2-1. Add/Remove Programs Properties Dialog Box.....................................2-1

Figure 2-2. NI-Serial Setup Screen ..........................................................................2-2

Figure 2-3. PCI Serial Board Installation................................................................. 2-4

Figure 2-4. Device Manager Tab for PCI Serial Board Ports .................................. 2-6

Figure 2-5. DB-9 Connector Pin Locations .............................................................2-8

Figure 2-6. 10-Position Modular Jack Pin Locations............................................... 2-9

Figure 2-7. DB-25 Connector Pin Locations ...........................................................2-10

Figure 2-8. Connecting the Cables to Your Four-Port PCI Serial Board.................2-11

Figure 2-9. 68-Pin Connector Pin Locations............................................................ 2-12

Figure 2-10. 100-Pin Connector Pin Locations..........................................................2-14

Figure 3-1. Port Settings Tab ...................................................................................3-2

Figure 3-2. Advanced Port Settings Dialog Box...................................................... 3-3

Figure A-1. Typical Full-Duplex System .................................................................A-4

Figure A-2. Typical Half-Duplex System.................................................................A-4

Figure A-3. Multidrop Network Using Terminating Resistors.................................A-5

Figure A-4. Transmission Line Using Bias Resistors............................................... A-6

Figure A-5. Straight-Through Cabling in a DTE-to-DCE Interface.........................A-7

Figure A-6. Null-Modem Cabling in a DTE-to-DTE Interface ................................ A-7

Figure B-1. Selecting an Interface to Uninstall ........................................................B-2

Figure B-2. Add/Remove Programs Properties Dialog Box.....................................B-3

Figure B-3. Successful Uninstallation ......................................................................B-4

Figure C-1. Ports List in Device Manager ................................................................C-5

Tables

Table 2-1. DB-9 Pin Descriptions...........................................................................2-8

Table 2-2. 10-Position Modular Jack Pin Descriptions .......................................... 2-9

Table 2-3. DB-25 Pin Descriptions.........................................................................2-10

Table 2-4. 68-Pin Connector Pin Descriptions .......................................................2-13

Table 2-5. 100-Pin Connector Pin Descriptions .....................................................2-15

Table 4-1. Transceiver Control Modes ................................................................... 4-2

Table 4-2. Transceiver Mode Control Bytes ..........................................................4-4

Table 4-3. DeviceIoControl Function Input Values ..............................................4-5

Table A-1. RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485 Features.................................................A-1

Table C-1. Standard DOS-Based Addresses ...........................................................C-7

© National Instruments Corporation ix PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x

About This Manual

This manual contains instructions to help you install and configure the
National Instruments serial hardware and the NI-Serial software for
Windows Me/9x. This manual includes information about the PCI-232/2,
PCI-232/4, PCI-232/8, PCI-232/16, PCI-485/2, PCI-485/4, and PCI-485/8
boards in both isolated and non-isolated versions.

This manual assumes that you are already familiar with Windows Me/9x.

Conventions

The following conventions appear in this manual:

» The » symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options

to a final action. The sequence File»Page Setup»Options directs you to
pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, and select Options
from the last dialog box.

This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.

This icon denotes a caution, which advises you of precautions to take to
avoid injury, data loss, or a system crash.

bold Bold text denotes items that you must select or click on in the software,

such as menu items and dialog box options. Bold text also denotes
parameter names.

DTR

italic Italic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross reference, or an introduction

monospace

© National Instruments Corporation xi PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x

Signal names with an overscore, such as DTR, indicate that the signal is
active low.

to a key concept. This font also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word
or value that you must supply.

Text in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the
keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples.
This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories,
programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations,
variables, filenames and extensions, and code excerpts.

About This Manual

monospace bold

PCI serial boards PCI serial boards refers to all port versions of the PCI serial boards.

Bold text in this font denotes the messages and responses that the computer
automatically prints to the screen. This font also emphasizes lines of code
that are different from the other examples.

Related Documentation

The following documents contain information that you might find helpful
as you read this manual:

• ANSI/EIA-232-D Standard, Interface Between Data Terminal

Equipment and Data Circuit-Terminating Equipment Employing
Serial Binary Data Interchange

• EIA/RS-422-A Standard, Electrical Characteristics of Balanced

Voltage Digital Interface Circuits

• EIA-485 Standard, Standard for Electrical Characteristics of

Generators and Receivers for Use in Balanced Digital
Multipoint Systems

Microsoft Win32 Software Developer Kit

•

Win32 Overviews, Win32 Reference, and Microsoft Programmer’s
Guide to Windows 98/95, Microsoft Corporation

• NS16550AF Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter with
FIFOs, National Semiconductor

• ST16C654 Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter with FIFOs,
EXAR Corporation

, Online Documentation for

PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x xii ni.com

Introduction

This chapter explains how to use this manual, lists what you need to get
started and optional equipment you can order, and briefly describes the
serial hardware and the NI-Serial software.

How to Use This Manual

1

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Gather What You Need

to Get Started

Install the NI Serial

Software

Install the Serial Hardware

Verify the Installation

Passes?

Ye s

Connect the Cables

Configure the Serial Port

Learn About Transceiver

Control Modes

Review Programming

Requirements

No

Troubleshooting

Write Application Program

© National Instruments Corporation 1-1 PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x

Chapter 1 Introduction

What You Need to Get Started

Before you install your serial hardware and the NI-Serial software, make
sure you have all of the following items:

❑

Windows Me/9x installed on your computer

❑

One of the following serial boards, which is included in your kit:

– PCI-232 (two-, four-, eight-, or sixteen-port)

– PCI-485 (two-, four-, or eight-port)

– PCI-232 isolated (two- or four-port)

– PCI-485 isolated (two- or four-port)

❑

CD, NI-Serial Software for Windows 2000/NT/Me/9x, which is
included in your kit

Optional Equipment

For more information about ordering the following optional equipment,
contact National Instruments:

• DB-9 RS-485 termination connector (PCI-485 only)

• 10-position modular jack to DB-9 cable (four-port boards only)

• 10-position modular jack to DB-25 cable (four-port boards only)

• 68-pin to DB-9 adapter cable (eight-port boards only)

• RS-232 9-pin to 9-pin null modem cable

• RS-232 9-pin to 25-pin null modem cable

• RS-485 9-pin to 9-pin null modem cable

• Breakout box (PCI-232/16 port-board only)

Serial Hardware Overview

The serial hardware gives you a variety of solutions for serial
communication. The PCI-232 boards work with the RS-232 protocols, and
the PCI-485 boards work with the RS-422 and RS-485 protocols. You can
use the PCI-232 boards for serial communication up to distances of 50 ft.
You can connect the PCI-485 boards to up to 31 devices using serial cable
lengths up to 4,000 ft.

PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x 1-2 ni.com

Chapter 1 Introduction

Additionally, the PCI serial boards are available in a two-port version
(PCI-232/2 and PCI-485/2), a four-port version (PCI-232/4 and
PCI-485/4), an eight-port version (PCI-232/8 and PCI-485/8), and a
sixteen-port version (PCI-232/16). The two-port versions use DB-9
connectors. The four-port versions use 10-position modular jacks to
provide all four connections on a single back panel. Optional cable
accessories convert the 10-position modular jacks to either DB-9 or DB-25
connectors with standard pinouts. The eight-port versions use adapter
cables to convert the 68-pin connector on the board to eight DB-9
connectors. The sixteen-port version uses a breakout box to convert the
100-pin connector on the board to sixteen DB-9 connectors. Throughout
this manual, PCI serial boards refers to all versions of the PCI serial
boards.

The isolated PCI-232 and PCI-485 boards are designed for applications in
harsh environments. Isolated ports provide reliable communication in
situations involving ground loops from different ground levels or high
common mode voltage induced on the lines in noisy environments.
Non-isolated ports may not provide reliable communication in those
situations. The isolation between each communication port and the host PC
ensures the safe operation of the PC and the devices connected to other
ports on the same board, in case of accidental high voltages on
communication lines.

The PCI-485 boards support four hardware transceiver control modes
for reliable communication with two- and four-wire devices. For more
information about transceiver control modes, refer to Chapter 4, Using

Your Serial Hardware.

All serial hardware uses standard 16550-compatible UARTs (Universal
Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitters) for complete compatibility
with standard PC COM ports. The serial hardware contains FIFOs
(First-In-First-Out) buffers to reduce susceptibility to interrupt latency
for faster transmission rates. Full Plug and Play compatibility allows
switchless configuration and installation. For more information about
the serial hardware specifications and operating conditions, refer to
Appendix D, Specifications.

© National Instruments Corporation 1-3 PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x

Chapter 1 Introduction

NI-Serial Software Overview

The NI-Serial software for Windows Me/9x includes a native Windows
device driver that provides full interrupt-driven, buffered I/O for multiple
COM ports. You can obtain a maximum baud rate of 460.8 KBaud on the
PCI-485 and 115.2 KBaud on the PCI-232. You can also use up any
number of serial ports under Windows Me/9x. The NI-Serial software also
includes a configuration utility, which is fully integrated into the Windows
Me/9x Device Manager. For more information about software
specifications, refer to Appendix D, Specifications.

The NI-Serial software includes the following components:

• Device driver

• Diagnostic utility

• Configuration utility

• Product manuals

The NI-Serial software supports all National Instruments serial hardware,
including the AT, PCI, PXI/CompactPCI, and PCMCIA versions.

Time-Saving Development Tools

Your kit includes the NI-Serial software for Windows Me/9x. In addition,
you can order the LabWindows/CVI or LabVIEW software from National
Instruments to speed your application development time and make it easier
to communicate with your instruments.

LabVIEW is an easy-to-use, graphical programming environment
you can use to acquire data from thousands of different instruments,
including IEEE 488.2 devices, VXI devices, serial devices, PLCs, and
plug-in data acquisition boards. After you have acquired raw data, you can
convert it into meaningful results using the powerful data analysis routines
in LabVIEW. LabVIEW also comes with hundreds of instrument drivers,
which dramatically reduce software development time, because you do not
have to spend time programming the low-level control of each instrument.

LabWindows/CVI is similar to LabVIEW, except that it combines an
interactive, easy-to-use development approach with the programming
power and flexibility of compiled ANSI C code.

For ordering information, or to request free demonstration software,
contact National Instruments.

PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x 1-4 ni.com

Chapter 1 Introduction

Using Your Serial Hardware with LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI

After you install your serial hardware and the NI-Serial software, you can
use standard serial I/O functions in LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI with
your serial interface. If you already have LabVIEW or LabWindows/CVI
and want to use it with your serial hardware, refer to your LabVIEW or
LabWindows/CVI documentation for information about serial I/O
functions.

© National Instruments Corporation 1-5 PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x

Installation and Verification

This chapter describes how to install the NI-Serial software, serial
hardware, and cables, and how to verify the installation.

Install the Software

Before you install your serial hardware, complete the following steps to
install the NI-Serial software for Windows Me/9x:

1. Select Start»Settings»Control Panel.

2. Double-click on the Add/Remove Programs icon. A dialog box

similar to the one shown in Figure 2-1 appears.

2

Figure 2-1.

© National Instruments Corporation 2-1 PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x

Add/Remove Programs Properties Dialog Box

Chapter 2 Installation and Verification

3. Click on the Install button.

4. When prompted, insert the NI-Serial Software for Windows

5. When prompted, click on the Finish button to install the program files

6. The setup wizard begins with the screen shown in Figure 2-2.

2000/NT/Me/9x CD, and click on the Next button.

from floppy disks or CD-ROM.

Figure 2-2. NI-Serial Setup Screen

The setup wizard guides you through the necessary steps to install the
NI-Serial software. To exit the setup wizard at any time, click on the

Cancel

button.

7. If you need to install your hardware, or if this is your first time to install
the NI-Serial software for Windows Me/9x, skip to the next section,

Install the Hardware

. Otherwise, continue to step 8.

8. If your hardware is already installed, restart Windows Me/9x.

9. Windows Me/9x should automatically detect your hardware and
display one or more
operating system (Windows Me/9x) may show the

Driver

option. If so, make sure the

selected and click on the OK button. If the

New Hardware Found

Windows Default Driver

dialog boxes. Your

Windows Default

is

Windows Default Driver

option is not shown, the installation continues automatically. When
you finish, continue to the

PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x 2-2 ni.com

Verify the Installation

section.

If no New Hardware Found dialog box appears, refer to the Forcing

Windows to Detect Your Hardware section in Appendix C,
Troubleshooting and Common Questions.

Install the Hardware

Note

If you are installing a PCI-485, you might need to adjust the value of the bias
resistors, depending on your application. Bias resistors are not available on the eight-port
PCI-485. For more information, refer to Appendix A, Serial Port Information.

Chapter 2 Installation and Verification

Caution

package to a metal part of your system chassis to discharge electrostatic energy, which can
damage several components on your serial board.

Before you remove your board from the package, touch the antistatic plastic

To install your PCI serial board, complete the following steps:

1. Turn off your computer. Keep the computer plugged in so that it
remains grounded while you install the PCI serial board.

2. Remove the top or side cover of the computer.

3. Find an unused PCI expansion slot in your computer.

4. Remove the corresponding expansion slot cover on the back panel of
the computer.

5. Touch a metal part on your chassis to discharge any static electricity.

6. Insert the PCI serial board into the slot with the serial connectors
toward the opening on the back panel. Make sure that you insert the
board all the way into the slot. The board might seem to click firmly
into place, even though it is only part of the way in. Figure 2-3 shows
how to install the PCI serial board into an expansion slot.

© National Instruments Corporation 2-3 PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x

Chapter 2 Installation and Verification

PCI Serial Board

PCI Slot

Personal

Computer

Figure 2-3. PCI Serial Board Installation

7. Screw the PCI serial board mounting bracket to the back panel
mounting rail of the computer.

8. Replace the cover.

9. Turn on your computer and start Windows Me/9x.

10. Windows Me/9x should automatically detect your hardware and
display one or more New Hardware Found dialog boxes. Your
operating system (Windows Me/9x) may show the Windows Default
Driver option. If so, make sure the Windows Default Driver is
selected and click on the OK button. If the Windows Default Driver
option is not shown, the installation continues automatically.

If no New Hardware Found dialog box appears, refer to the Forcing

Windows to Detect Your Hardware section in Appendix C,
Troubleshooting and Common Questions.

The serial hardware installation is complete. Continue to the next section,

Verify the Installation.

PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x 2-4 ni.com

Verify the Installation

Before you verify the installation, keep in mind that the serial ports
built into your computer are typically named from COM1 to COM4.
Windows Me/9x typically issues port names to the ports on NI serial
hardware starting with COM5, COM6, and so on. If not enough resources
are available to assign to all the NI serial ports, the port with the higher
COMx name is not configured.

To verify the hardware and software installation, complete the following
steps:

1. Select Start»Settings»Control Panel and double-click on the

System

2. Click on the
button.

type

3. Double-click on the

the ports.

4. Double-click on the Multi-function adapters icon.

The PCI serial boards are configured as devices belonging to the
multi-function adapters class. The multi-function parent device is
listed under the Multi-function adapters icon, and each child device
is listed as a port under the Ports

icon.

Device Manager

Chapter 2 Installation and Verification

tab and click on the

Ports (COM & LPT)

(COM & LPT)

View devices by

icon to display all of

icon.

© National Instruments Corporation 2-5 PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x

Chapter 2 Installation and Verification

Figure 2-4 shows the Device Manager tab for serial hardware that is
installed properly.

Figure 2-4. Device Manager Tab for PCI Serial Board Ports

5. Verify the hardware resources, as follows:

a. In the Device Manager tab, under Multi-function adapters,

double-click on a serial board.

b. Click on the

properly, the

Resources

Resources

tab. If the resources were assigned

tab shows which resources are assigned

to your serial ports.

c. Repeat steps 5a and 5b until you have verified the resources for

each board.

6. (Optional) To determine which physical port is associated with COMx,
complete the following steps:

a. In the Device Manager tab, under Ports

(COM & LPT)

,

double-click on the serial port (COMx).

b. Click on the

Port Settings

tab to display the serial number of the

serial hardware and the physical port number starting at 1. For all

PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x 2-6 ni.com

7. Run the diagnostic utility, as follows: select

Start»Programs»National Instruments Serial»diagnostics.

The diagnostic utility verifies that your serial driver is installed
properly, that the configuration of your hardware does not conflict
with anything else in your system, and that the serial driver can
communicate with your hardware correctly.

If the test is successful, your serial hardware and software are installed
properly. If the test fails, refer to Appendix C, Troubleshooting and

Common Questions, to troubleshoot the problem.

After you verify the hardware and software installation, continue to the next
section, Connect the Cables.

Connect the Cables

For the two-port PCI serial boards, you can use the standard
DB-9 connector found on most serial cables. To use the DB-9 connector
with the four-port PCI serial boards, you need the 10-position modular jack
to DB-9 cable, which is available from National Instruments. You can also
use a DB-25 connector with the four-port PCI serial boards by ordering the
10-position modular jack to DB-25 converter cable from National
Instruments. The eight-port PCI serial boards include a pig tail cable
adapter, providing eight standard DB-9 connectors. The 16-port board
includes a break out box, providing 16 standard DB-9 connectors.

Chapter 2 Installation and Verification

serial hardware, PORT1 refers to the top port, PORT2 refers to the
next port down, and so on.

Note

To achieve the specified isolation voltage for four-port isolated PCI serial boards,
use only the 10-position modular jack to DB-9 cable that is included in your four-port
isolated PCI serial board kit.

© National Instruments Corporation 2-7 PCI Serial for Windows Me/9x