Black Box RS-232 Series User manual

1000 Park Drive • Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 • 724-746-5500 • Fax [phone]
© Copyright 2006. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved.

Order toll-free in the U.S.: Call 877-877-BBOX (outside U.S. call 724-746-5500)
FREE technical support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Call 724-746-5500 or fax [phone]
Mailing address: Black Box Corporation, 1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, PA 15055-1018
Web site: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: inf[email protected]
CUSTOMER
SUPPORT
INFORMATION
DECEMBER 2008
IC984C
PCI Express RS-232 Serial Interface

CHAPTER
1
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 inter ference 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 B 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 emis sion 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.

NAME
2
INSTRUCCIONES DE SEGURIDAD (Normas Oficiales Mexicanas Electrical Safety Statement)
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.
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.

CHAPTER
3
TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL
BLACK BOX and the Double Diamond logo are registered trademarks of BB Technologies, Inc.
Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are acknowledged to be the property of the trademark owners.

NAME
4
Table of Contents
1. Specifications........................................................................................................................5
2. Overview...............................................................................................................................6
2.1 Introduction....................................................................................................6
2.2 Features.............................................................................................................6
2.3 RS-232 Specifications................................................................................................................6
3. Software Installation..........................................................................................................9
3.1 Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista ....................................................................9
4. Hardware Installation.........................................................................................................10
4.1 Physical Installation...........................................................................................10
4.2 Software Configuration...........................................................................................11
4.3 Verifying Installation.............................................................................................12
Appendix A: Troubleshooting..................................................................................................13
Appendix B: Block Diagram...................................................................................................................14
Appendix C: Async Communications...................................................................................................15

CHAPTER
5
1. Specifications
1.1 General Specifications
Number of Ports: 16
Maximum Data Distance: Up to 50 feet
Speed: 460.8K bps; Maximum data rate depends on software, CPU and cable length
Protocol: Asynchronous only
Connectors: (2) 36" Spider Cables with Micro DB68 to (8) DB25 Male Connectors
Communications Chip: IC984C: 16C854 buffered UART with 128-byte FIFOs
System Requirements: PCIe Bus
Operating Temperature: 32 º to 158 º F (0 º to 70 º C)
Storage Temperature: –58 º to 221 ºF (–50 º to 105 ºC)
Humidity: 10% to 90%, noncondensing
Manufacturing: IPC 610-A Class-III standards adhered to with a 0.1 visual A.Q.L. and 100% Functional Testing; Boards
are built to UL® 94V0 rating and are 100% electrically tested. Most boards are solder mask over bare copper or tin
nickel.
Power:
Supply Line +12VDC +3.3VDC
Rating (mA) 79mA 575mA
Board Size:
Length 5.5" 14.0 cm
Width 4.4" 11.1 cm

NAME
6
2. Overview
2.1 Introduction
The IC984C provides sixteen RS-232 asynchronous serial ports capable of data rates to 460.8K bps. Each RS-232 port
implements all modem control signals for maximum compatibility with a wide range of peripherals. The board is PCI
Express X1 compliant and can be used in any x1, x2, x4, x8, or x16 PCI Express slot. The board utilizes 16C854 UARTs to
provide 128-byte Tx/Rx FIFOs for maximum reliability in data intensive applications. Standard operating temperature
range is 0°C to 70°C and extended temperature range (-40°C to +85°C) versions are available. Additional ordering
options allow the choice of UARTs for custom baud rates and 9-bit protocols.
The IC984C is designed to be used with a variety of operating systems including Microsoft Windows and Linux.
SeaCOM software uses the standard Windows WIN32 API and eliminates proprietary DLL files. This allows SeaCOM
software to maintain 100% compatibility with Microsoft Windows applications. SeaCOM software also includes
sample code and utilities to simplify application development.
2.2 Features
PCI Express 1.0a compliant via x1 connector•
Integrates 16C854 buffered UARTs with 128-byte FIFOs•
Supports data rates to 460.8K bps•
All modem control signals implemented•
2.3 RS-232 Specifications
Quite possibly the most widely used communication standard is RS-232. This implementation has been defined and
revised several times and is often referred to as RS-232 or EIA/TIA 232. It is defined by the EIA as the Interface between
Data Terminal Equipment and Data Circuit- Terminating Equipment Employing Serial Binary Data Interchange. The
mechanical implementation of RS-232 is on a 25-pin D-sub connector. RS 232 is capable of operating at data rates up
to 20 Kbps at distances less than 50 feet. The absolute maximum data rate may vary due to line conditions and cable
lengths. RS-232 often operates at 38.4K bps over very short distances. The voltage levels defined by RS-232 range
from 12 to +12 volts. RS-232 is a single ended or unbalanced interface, meaning that a single electrical signal is
compared to a common signal (ground) to determine binary logic states. A voltage of +12 volts (usually +3 to +10
volts) represents a binary 0 (space) and 12 volts ( 3 to 10 volts) denotes a binary 1 (mark). The RS-232 and the EIA/TIA-
574 specification define two types of interface circuits, Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) and Data Circuit-Terminating
Equipment (DCE). The Black Box adapter is a DTE interface.

CHAPTER
7
Table 2-1. RS-232 Connector Pinouts – DB25 Male
The IC984C includes two cables (Item# CA202) each with 36” Spider Cable with Micro DB68 to 8 DB25 Male
Connectors. The pinout of each DB25 connector is shown in the table below:
Pin # Signal Name Mode
2TD Transmit Data Output
3RD Recei ve Data Input
4RTS Request to Send Output
5CTS Clear To Send Input
6DSR Data Set Ready Input
7GND Ground
8DCD Data Carrier Detect Input
20 DTR Data Terminal Ready Output
22 RI Ring Indicator Input
Please terminate any control signals that are not going to be used. The most common way to do this is to connect RTS
to CTS and RI. Also, connect DCD to DTR and DSR. Terminating these pins, if not used, will help ensure you get the
best performance from your adapter.

NAME
8
Table 2-2. RS-232 Connector Pinouts – Micro MDB68 Female
The IC984C board includes two Micro MDB68 female connectors for connecting the cables explained on the previous
pages. The pin out for each connector is shown in the tables below.
Port # 12345678
TD 1 9 19 27 35 43 53 61
RI 210 20 28 36 44 54 62
DCD 311 21 29 37 45 55 63
DTR 412 22 30 38 46 56 64
RTS 513 23 31 39 47 57 65
DSR 614 24 32 40 48 58 66
RD 715 25 33 41 49 59 67
CTS 816 26 34 42 50 60 68
GND 17 17 18 18 51 51 52 52
Port # 910 11 12 13 14 15 16
TD 1 9 19 27 35 43 53 61
RI 210 20 28 36 44 54 62
DCD 311 21 29 37 45 55 63
DTR 412 22 30 38 46 56 64
RTS 513 23 31 39 47 57 65
DSR 614 24 32 40 48 58 66
RD 715 25 33 41 49 59 67
CTS 816 26 34 42 50 60 68
GND 17 17 18 18 51 51 52 52
Both cables are interchangeable and can be used on either connector. The connector on the left supports Ports 1-8
and the connecter or the right supports Ports 9-16.

CHAPTER
9
3. Software Installation
NOTE
Do not intall the PCI adapter in the machine until the software has been fully installed.
3.1 Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista ™ Operating Systems
Start Windows.1.
Insert the Software CD in to your CD drive.2.
If ‘Auto-Start’ is enabled the installation window will automatically appear. Otherwise, navigate to the root 3.
directory of your CD drive and double-click the ‘autorun.exe’ application to launch the installation window.
Select ‘Install Software’.4.
Type in your part number (5. IC984C) or select your device from the listing.
The setup file will automatically detect the operating environment and install the proper components.6.
You are now ready to proceed with installing the IC984C in your system. Refer to the following Hardware
Installation section for details.

NAME
10
4. Hardware Installation
NOTE
Do not intall the PCI adapter in the machine until the software has been fully installed.
Take extreme care when installing the adapter. Be sure to follow proper
ESD procedures by grounding yourself and the adapter.
4.1 Physical Installation
The board is PCI Express X1 compliant and can be installed in any x1, x2, x4, x8 or x16 PCI Express slot. To install the
IC984C into your computer, follow the steps below.
Turn off PC power and disconnect the power cord.1.
Remove the case cover (if applicable).2.
Locate an available PCI slot and remove the blank metal slot cover.3.
Gently insert the PCI adapter into the slot and make sure it is seated properly.4.
Replace the screw holding the PC bracket (required to ensure FCC Part 15 compliance).5.
Replace the cover.6.
Install both cables (CA202) and tighten the thumb screws.7.
Connect the power cord and boot up the machine.8.
You are now ready to proceed with the configuration of the adapter. The drivers that were installed during setup will
automatically be used to configure the adapter for your operating system. Refer to the following Software
Configuration section for details.

CHAPTER
11
4.2 Software Configuration
The drivers that were installed during the Software Installation steps will automatically be used to configure the PCI
adapter. You should see one or more ‘New Hardware Found’ alerts indicating the actual COM port(s) are being created.
If you view your system’s Device Manager, you should have a new COM port in the ‘Ports (COM & LPT)’ device class.
You can access your new COM port by using the assigned COM identifier, which will vary from system to system. At
this point, the hardware is recognized. To verify operation, use the supplied WinSSD diagnostic utility. WinSSD can be
found in Start All Programs SeaCOM WinSSD.
The following instructions are applicable to the Windows XP operating system and may vary depending on your
version of Windows.
After the software has been installed, PCI adapter installed and system started, a ‘Found New Hardware’ alert will 1.
appear.
The ‘Found New Hardware Wizard’ window will appear.2.
The Wizard will ask to connect to the Windows Update server to locate the software. Choose ‘No, not this time’ 3.
and click the ‘Next’ button to proceed.
At the next prompt, choose ‘Install the software automatically’ and click ‘Next’.4.
The ‘Hardware Wizard’ will search for the proper drivers; however, it may be interrupted by a message stating that 5.
the hardware has not passed Windows certification. Click on ‘Continue Anyway’. All SeaCOM software and
drivers have been fully tested. Clicking ‘Continue anyway’ will not harm your system.
The appropriate drivers for your version of Windows will be installed. Click ‘Finish’ to complete the installation of 6.
your hardware.
Note: The ‘Found New Hardware’ wizard will appear for the parent device and each serial port being installed – 17 7.
times on the IC984C.
When the ‘Found New Hardware Wizard’ appears again, repeat steps 2-6.8.
After all ports have been installed successfully, your hardware is now ready for use. You can proceed with verifying the
installation, if necessary.

NAME
12
4.3 Verifying Installation
To confirm that the ports have been successfully installed, you can look in Device Manager under ‘Ports (COM &LPT),’
and each of the ports you installed will be included on the list with their associated COM numbers. To access Device
Manager, follow the steps below:
Right click on ‘My Computer’.1.
Click ‘Manage’ in the pop-up menu.2.
Click ‘Device Manager’ in the listing on the left.3.
Expand the ‘Ports’ section on the right. You should now see the new COM assignment in parenthesis.
Your system will assign the next available COM numbers, which may vary for each computer used. Contact technical
support for help if you cannot locate the COM ports.

CHAPTER
13
Appendix A: Troubleshooting
Ensure that the SeaCOM software has been installed on the machine, so that the necessary files are in place to 1.
complete the installation. To confirm installation, click on the Windows ‘Start’ button and then select ‘All
Programs’. You should see the ‘SeaCOM’ program folder listed.
Note: The SeaCOM driver must be installed before the adapter is installed into your computer.
Make sure the serial adapter is securely installed in a motherboard slot.2.
Open Device Manager and locate the COM ports (described under ‘Verifying Installation’ in the Installation and 3.
Configuration section of this manual).
Once you have confirmed that the COM ports are listed in Device Manager, you can use the WinSSD utility and a 4.
loopback plug to test communications. Detailed help is included in the WinSSD utility.

NAME
14
Appendix B: Block Diagram

CHAPTER
15
Appendix C: Async Communications
Serial data communications implies that individual bits of a character are transmitted consecutively to a receiver that
assembles the bits back into a character. Data rate, error checking, handshaking, and character framing (start/stop
bits) are pre-defined and must correspond at both the transmitting and receiving ends.
Asynchronous communications is the standard means of serial data communication for PC compatibles and PS/2®
computers. The original PC was equipped with a communication or COM: port that was designed around an 8250
Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART). This device allows asynchronous serial data to be transferred
through a simple and straightforward programming interface. Character boundaries for asynchronous
communications are defined by a starting bit followed by a predefined number of data bits (5, 6, 7, or 8). The end of
the character is defined by the transmission of a pre-defined number of stop bits (usually 1, 1.5, or 2).
•
Remain Idle or
next start bit
Odd, Even
or
Unused
STOP
P
BIT
5 to 8 Data Bits
Idle state of
line
1
0
1
1.5
2
•
Figure B-1. Asynchronous Communications Bit Diagram.
An extra bit used for error detection is often appended before the stop bits.This special bit is called the parity bit.
Parity is the simple method of determining if a data bit has been lost or corrupted during transmission. There are
several methods for implementing a parity check to guard against data corruption. Common methods are called even
parity (E) or odd parity (O). Sometimes parity is not used to detect errors on the data stream. This is referred to as no
parity (N).
Because each bit in asynchronous communications is sent consecutively, it is easy to generalize synchronous
communications by stating that each character is wrapped (framed) by pre-defined bits to mark the beginning and
end of the serial transmission of the character. The data rate and communication parameters for asynchronous
communications have to be the same at both the transmitting and receiving ends. The communication parameters
are baud rate, parity, number of data bits per character, and stop bits (for example, 9600, N, 8, 1).

NAME
16
Notes