Rose electronics CTP-4S, CTP-8S, CTP-5P/25, CTP-8P, CTP-4P Specifications

Caretaker Plus Automatic Switch

Buffered automatic switch

Available in four or eight-port models
Serial or parallel versions
Compatible with most serial and parallel devices
Up to 2MB buffer memory

Features and Benefits

J Simultaneous inputs accepted from all computers
J Units can be linked together if more than 8 users

need access to a connected peripheral

J Available in serial (RS232) or parallel (Centronics)
J Each port can automatically send a “form-feed”
J Up to two megabyte buffer option
J Serial units have programmable baud rate and flow

control

J Noise protection feature prevents computers being

powered on or off from generating spurious data

J Mode, data, busy, and error LEDs show data activity

and status

J Power-up self-test and error display show any

hardware problems

J Unlimited technical support
J Rack mount kits available
J Made in the USA

The Caretaker™ Plus Advantage . . .

The Caretaker Plus makes it possible for you to connect
up to eight computers or terminals to a common printer,
plotter, or other serial or parallel device.

Designed with your needs in mind, the Caretaker Plus
uses commonly available cables, is compatible with all
computers, printers, and plotters, and has up to 2MB of
buffered memory. The buffered memory allows multiple
computers to simultaneously send data to the unit for
fast, efficient printer sharing.

Serial models support BAUD rates up to 19,200 BAUD
(RS422 optional)

Parallel models support standard Centronics parallel
(DB25 parallel optional)

Accessing the shared device is simply done by sending
data to the unit. The data is sent to the device in the
order it was received. There is no easier way to share a
common peripheral than with the Caretaker Plus.

Easy installation, easy expansion, and easy
maintenance…everything you’ve come to expect in
Rose Electronics products. Call us today to discuss your
printer or device sharing application.

Advance and select buttons for
Configuration, Status indicators

Show mode, busy, select and error

WWW.ROSE.COM

Typical Application

Shared serial or
parallel device

Computer
workstations

Connect up to 8 computers to a single serial or parallel device

Introduction Caretaker Plus has been designed with advanced

features for a smooth, trouble-free operation. Following ar e some
of the features that make it the best buffered automatic switch o n
the market.

Basic Concepts Caretaker Plus routes data automatically from

multiple computers to a common printer or plotter. When you send
a print job from your computer, the Caretaker Plus checks to see if
the peripheral is available. If it is, it makes the port connection,
sending your data immediately to the printer. When your job is
finished, the switch disconnects your computer from the peripheral,
making it available for another job. If you send a job while the
peripheral port is busy, Caretaker Plus queues you r job with any
other pending jobs, storing all data in the buffer until the printer is
available.

Buffered Memory The Caretaker Plus buffer is dynamically

allocated, meaning that memory is allocated to each job as it is
needed. As the data in the buffer is sent to its destination, the
buffer is reclaimed to be used again, ensuring that all jobs have
adequate memory available. This maximizes productivity by
returning control of the computer to the operator quickly and by
significantly reducing print time. Schools and offices th at most
commonly print one or two page documents typically need 16K or
64K buffers. For larger business and word processing
environments, memory sizes of 256K or 512K are most common.
CAD plotting, legal, or desktop publishing applications, on the other
hand, require buffer memories of 1MB or 2MB.

Cables Caretaker Plus is connected to serial peripherals by null

modem cabling and to parallel peripherals by Centronics-to­Centronics cabling. Normally, serial cabling in excess of 100 feet is
not recommended, nor is parallel cabling over 25 feet. Caretaker
Plus, however, has a very strong driving capability and can usually
exceed these distances. The limitation is not with Caretaker Plus,
but in your computer’s driving capability. To break the 25-foot
parallel barrier, you can rely on Super Cable, another quality Rose
product that lets you extend parallel cabling up to 200 feet.

Noise Protection The advanced filtering techniques that

Caretaker Plus has make it immune to most transients generated by
other computers that are connected.

Front Panel The LEDs located on the front panel display active

and queued print jobs, busy information, data flow, and err ors.

Advanced features

configure the number of filter characters, unidirectional XON/XOFF,
reverse channel data time-out, and allow time-out on busy. These
are not normally used but are used to access certain non-standard
printers, mainframes, or computers. You can also disable the front
panel switches when tampering is discouraged, such as in schools.

The advanced features list allows you to

Part Numbers

CTP-4S 4 serial in, 1 serial out
CTP-4P 4 parallel in, 1 parallel out
CTP-5P/25 5 parallel in, 1 out (DB25 connectors)
CTP-8S 8 serial in, 1 serial out
CTP-8P 8 parallel in, 1 parallel out

Specifications

Dimensions WidthDepth Height Weight

Power Auto Switching, 90 - 240 VAC
Connectors Power: Din5

Serial: DB25F
Parallel: 36 pin Centronics Female

Memory Field upgradeable to 64K or 256K
Chassis Electro-galvanized steel,

Powder coated
Controls Advance and select switches

Mode, Data, Busy, Error, Port 1-8 LEDs
Serial protocol* EIA asynchronous RS232D
Parallel protocol TTL Centronics
Serial flow control DTR/DSR or XON/XOFF to buffer;

DSR/DTR sent through for modem
Parallel flow control STB/ACK/BUSY
Serial baud rate 50 – 19,200 BAUD*
Serial word size 5, 6, 7, or 8*
Serial parity none, odd, even, mark, space*
Serial stop bits 1 or 2*
Environmental 32°F - 131°F (0°- 55° C),

0%-80% non-condensing relative
humidity

Approvals CE
* Each port is individually programmable

in

cm

10.5

26.7

5.0

8.9

3.5

4-port: 6 lbs / 2.72kg

12.7

8-port: 7 lbs / 3.18 kg

 Phone: [phone]  E-mail: [e-mail] 

10707 Stancliff Rd. Houston, TX 77099

Rose Electronics – Europe: [phone] Rose Electronics – Asia: [phone]

DS CTP 2.2  Copyright 2004 Rose Electronics. All rights reserved

Rear view of Caretaker Plus models CTP-8S and CTP-8P

WWW.ROSE.COM