Black Box TX/CX 4000 User manual

1000 Park Drive • Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 • 724-746-5500 • Fax [phone]
© Copyright 1995. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved.

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INFORMATION
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Mail order: Black Box Corporation, 1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, PA 15055-1018
Web site: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: [email protected]
OCTOBER 1995
PCA40A
PCA40AE
TX/CX 4000
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TX/CX 4000

3
FCC STATEMENT
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
AND
INDUSTRY CANADA
RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENTS
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy
and 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 classe A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le
brouillage radioélectrique publié par Industrie Canada.
TRADEMARKS
Epson®is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.
Hewlett-Packard®, HP®, LaserJet®, and PCL®are registered trademarks
of Hewlett-Packard.
IBM®, Proprinter®, and IPDS™are trademarks or registered trademarks
of IBM Corporation.
Mannesmann Tally®is a registered trademark of Mannesmann Tally
Corporation.
OKIDATA®is a registered trademark of OkiAmerica Incorporate.
PostScript®ia a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
All applied-for and registered trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.

4
5210E ETHERNET CARD
NORMAS OFICIALES MEXICANAS (NOM)
ELECTRICAL SAFETY STATEMENT
INSTRUCCIONES DE SEGURIDAD
1. Todas las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser leídas antes
de que el aparato eléctrico sea operado.
2. Las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser guardadas para
referencia futura.
3. Todas las advertencias en el aparato eléctrico y en sus instrucciones de
operación deben ser respetadas.
4. Todas las instrucciones de operación y uso deben ser seguidas.
5. El aparato eléctrico no deberá ser usado cerca del agua—por ejemplo,
cerca de la tina de baño, lavabo, sótano mojado o cerca de una alberca,
etc..
6. El aparato eléctrico debe ser usado únicamente con carritos o pedestales
que sean recomendados por el fabricante.
7. El aparato eléctrico debe ser montado a la pared o al techo sólo como
sea recomendado por el fabricante.
8. Servicio—El usuario no debe intentar dar servicio al equipo eléctrico más
allá a lo descrito en las instrucciones de operación. Todo otro servicio
deberá ser referido a personal de servicio calificado.
9. El aparato eléctrico debe ser situado de tal manera que su posición no
interfiera su uso. La colocación del aparato eléctrico sobre una cama,
sofá, alfombra o superficie similar puede bloquea la ventilación, no se
debe colocar en libreros o gabinetes que impidan el flujo de aire por los
orificios de ventilación.
10. El equipo eléctrico deber ser situado fuera del alcance de fuentes de
calor como radiadores, registros de calor, estufas u otros aparatos
(incluyendo amplificadores) que producen calor.

5
INSTRUCCIONES DE SEGURIDAD
11. El aparato eléctrico deberá ser connectado a una fuente de poder sólo
del tipo descrito en el instructivo de operación, o como se indique en el
aparato.
12. Precaución debe ser tomada de tal manera que la tierra fisica y la
polarización del equipo no sea eliminada.
13. Los cables de la fuente de poder deben ser guiados de tal manera que no
sean pisados ni pellizcados por objetos colocados sobre o contra ellos,
poniendo particular atención a los contactos y receptáculos donde salen
del aparato.
14. El equipo eléctrico debe ser limpiado únicamente de acuerdo a las
recomendaciones del fabricante.
15. En caso de existir, una antena externa deberá ser localizada lejos de las
lineas de energia.
16. El cable de corriente deberá ser desconectado del cuando el equipo no
sea usado por un largo periodo de tiempo.
17. Cuidado debe ser tomado de tal manera que objectos liquidos no sean
derramados sobre la cubierta u orificios de ventilación.
18. Servicio por personal calificado deberá ser provisto cuando:
A: El cable de poder o el contacto ha sido dañado; u
B: Objectos han caído o líquido ha sido derramado dentro del
aparato; o
C: El aparato ha sido expuesto a la lluvia; o
D: El aparato parece no operar normalmente o muestra un cambio en su
desempeño; o
E: El aparato ha sido tirado o su cubierta ha sido dañada.

6
TX/CX 4000
Contents
Chapter Page
1. Specifications....................................................................................................8
2. Introduction .....................................................................................................9
3. Installation......................................................................................................10
4. Configuration—Twinax.................................................................................13
4.1 Host Configuration................................................................................13
4.2 Host/PC Download Commands ...........................................................18
4.3 Twinax Host/PC Download Commands..............................................20
4.4 Configuration Options ..........................................................................25
5. Operation—Twinax .......................................................................................45
5.1 Printer Sharing ......................................................................................45
5.2 PCLAN Printing.....................................................................................46
5.3 Parallel and/or Serial Initialization......................................................46
5.4 Host Printing..........................................................................................46
5.5 Host Port Initialization ..........................................................................47
5.6 Connecting Two Printers ......................................................................47
5.7 Twinax Drive ..........................................................................................48
5.8 Serial Printing ........................................................................................48
5.9 Laser Printer Operation ........................................................................48
5.9.1 Changing Typestyles ...................................................................50
5.9.2 Font Change Commands............................................................50
5.9.3 Page Length.................................................................................51
5.9.4 Paper Size.....................................................................................51
5.9.5 Paper Drawer Selection ..............................................................52
5.10 APO and COR......................................................................................54
5.10.1 Envelope Printing .....................................................................57
5.10.2 Document/Envelope Printing .................................................58
5.10.3 Duplex Printing.........................................................................59
5.11 Other Printer Commands ....................................................................60
5.12 Matrix/Specialty Printer Operation ...................................................61
5.13 ASCII Codes (Character Set) ..............................................................62
5.14 Print Quality.........................................................................................62
5.14.1 Pitch Control .............................................................................62
5.14.2 Graphics Printing ......................................................................62
5.14.3 Line Length ...............................................................................63

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TX/CX 4000
Chapter Page
5.14.4 True 15 CPI ...............................................................................63
5.15 Generic Mode ......................................................................................63
5.16 Command Pass-Thru ...........................................................................64
5.17 User-Defined Command Strings.........................................................66
5.17.1 User-Defined Strings .................................................................66
5.17.2 User-Defined Fonts (HP PCL only) .........................................67
6. Configuration—Coax.....................................................................................68
7. Operation—Coax.........................................................................................112
7.1 Printer Sharing ....................................................................................112
7.2 PCLAN Printing...................................................................................113
7.3 Parallel and/or Serial Initialization....................................................113
7.4 Host Printing........................................................................................114
7.5 Host Port Initialization ........................................................................114
7.6 Connecting Two Printers ....................................................................114
7.7 Serial Printing ......................................................................................114
7.8 Print Position and Page Length..........................................................115
7.9 Laser Printing (HP PCL protocol selected).......................................116
7.10 Computer Output Reduction (COR)...............................................116
7.11 Automatic Print Orientation (APO) ................................................117
7.12 Generic Mode ....................................................................................120
7.13 Advanced Features.............................................................................120
7.13.1 Command Pass-Thru™...........................................................121
7.13.2 Custom User Strings................................................................122
7.13.3 SCS Mode Transparent Data ..................................................122
8. Troubleshooting...........................................................................................123
8.1 Interface Self-Test ................................................................................123
8.2 Buffer Print ..........................................................................................134
8.3 Hard Loopback....................................................................................134
8.4 Self Diagnostics ....................................................................................135
8.5 Solving Problems .................................................................................139
Appendix: Pinouts...........................................................................................145

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TX/CX 4000
1. Specifications
Temperature —Operating: 40° to
110° F (4° to 43° C),
Storage: 32°to 158° F (0° to 70° C)
Maximum Relative Humidity —
85%, noncondensing
Power — PCA40A: 120 V, 60 Hz,
9 V output voltage, 1 A output
current; PCA40AE: 230 V,
50 Hz, 9 V output voltage, 1 A
output current
Size — 2"H x 6.4"W x 5.5"D
(5.1 x 16.3 x 13.9 cm)
Weight — 3 lb. (1.4 kg)
Hardware Requirements —
ASCII parallel or serial printer
Software Requirements — No
special host drivers needed
Emulation — AS/400 or System/3X
twinax, or 3270-type coax printer
Systems Supported — AS/400,
System/3X, 3270
Indicators — Front-panel LCD
display
Connectors — (1) DB25 male serial
out, (1) DB25 female parallel out,
(1) DB9 twinax/coax, (1) DB25
female serial in, (1) 36-pin
Centronics®female parallel in,
(1) 12 V power connector

9
TX/CX 4000
2. Introduction
Standard connectors for both
parallel and serial cables allow the
TX/CX 4000 to change with your
printing needs. The TX/CX 4000
allows printer sharing of up to two
PCs (parallel and serial), an IBM
coax or twinax host connection, and
a choice of using a parallel or serial
printer.
Unpacking
Check the packaging for water or
physical damage, and notify the
carrier immediately if any damage is
evident. Keep the original packaging
in case you need to move or ship the
TX/CX 4000. The package should
include the following:
• TX/CX 4000
• Wall-mount transformer
(9-VAC output). The PCA40A
comes with a 120-VAC input
transformer and the PCA40AE
comes with a 230-VAC input
transformer.
• This user manual
• Auto-terminating twinax V-cable
and 9-pin-to-coax adapter cable
• DB25 male-to-Centronics male
cable
• DB25 male-to-female cross cable
The TX/CX 4000 is a powerful yet
easy-to-operate printer interface. It
has a multitude of features that you
can access through its front panel or
by sending download commands
from the host or PC. Since it senses
which host adapter cable has been
attached, the TX/CX 4000
automatically adjusts to the host
environment.
The TX/CX 4000 is a twinax/coax
interface that enables most ASCII
parallel and serial printers to attach
directly to an AS/400®or System/3X
twinax host system, or 3270-type
coax host system.
When connected to an HP®PCL®
or compatible laser printer, the
TX/CX 4000 can be configured to
emulate the IBM 3812-1 (without
IPDS) system laser printer.
For IBM Proprinter®II, III, PPDS,
and Epson DFX+, DFX
(9-pin), LQ (24-pin), and ESC/P2
type printers, IBM 4214-2, 5224-1,
5225-1, and 5256-3 (twinax) printer
emulations are available. For coax
printing 3287, 3268, 3262, 4214-1
and 4224 printer emulations are
available. In addition, the TX/CX
4000 printer interface offers a
generic (carriage return and line
feeds) output protocol.

10
TX/CX 4000
3. Installation
Printer OK.”
6. During initial installation, review
and set the configuration
settings as necessary. Follow the
configuration instructions in
Chapter 4 for twinax
applications and Chapter 6 for
coax applications. To enter the
configuration mode, press the
blue MENU key.
7. After the desired parameters
have been selected, power on
the printer and print a self-test
from the “Test Menu” or return
to normal operation mode by
pressing Select.
8. Attach the host system cable(s)
and send a test print job to the
TX/CX 4000 to verify proper
installation.
Before connecting the TX/CX 4000
to the printer, verify that the printer
functions properly by performing a
printer self-test. Consult the printer’s
user’s guide for instructions on how
to start and evaluate the self-test. If
the printer functions properly,
follow these steps to install the
TX/CX 4000.
1. Power off the printer.
2. Attach the parallel or serial
cable from the interface to the
printer.
3. Attach the 9-pin host cable
adapter (twinax or coax) to the
interface’s connector. Do not
attach the host cable(s) at this
time.
4. Plug the 9V transformer into a
standard 120-VAC outlet (for the
PCA40A) or a 230-VAC outlet
(for the PCA40AE).
5. Power on the interface by
pressing the black I/O button.
The TX/CX 4000’s LCD screen
should identify itself as a “5250
or 3270 Interface,” indicating
proper power. It will then display
the message “Waiting for