Black Box IC160A User manual

SEPTEMBER 2001
IC160A
IC161A
TD150
USB Director↔RS422/RS485 Hub 2-Port
USB Director↔RS422 Hub 4-Port
NT 4.0 Software Support Upgrade
CUSTOMER SUPPORT INFORMATION
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: [email protected]
SYSTEM
STATUS USB Director
USB→RS-422/485 Hub
SYSTEM
STATUS USB Director
USB→RS-422 Hub

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USB DIRECTOR HUBS
TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL
Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel
Corporation.
Windows NT is a trademark, and Windows is a registered
trademark, of Microsoft Corporation.
UL is a registered trademark of Underwriters
Laboratories Incorporated.
Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are
acknowledged to be the property of the trademark
owners.

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
AND CANADIAN DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENT
Class B Digital Device. This equipment has been tested
and found to comply with the limits for a Class B
computing device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular 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. If this
equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
telephone reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one of
the following measures:

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USB DIRECTOR HUBS
• 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 an experienced radio/TV technician for
help.
CAUTION
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by
the party responsible for compliance could void the
user’s authority to operate the equipment.
To meet FCC requirements, shielded cables and power
cords are required to connect this device to a personal
computer or other Class B certified device.
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B 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 B prescrites dans le Règlement sur le
brouillage radioélectrique publié par Industrie Canada.

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.
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USB DIRECTOR HUBS
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.

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Contents
Chapter Page
1. Specifications ................................................................7
2. Introduction..................................................................9
3. Configuration..............................................................11
3.1 The Cable Connections (DB9 Female)..............11
3.2 The Two-Position DIP Switch..............................11
3.3 Configuring the USB Director
USB↔RS422/RS485 Hub 2-Port (IC160A) ......12
3.4 Verifying That Your System Supports USB ........14
3.5 Determining Why Support Is Not Present ........15
4. Installation ..................................................................18
4.1 Plugging the Hub into Your PC..........................18
4.2 Installing the Drivers for Windows 95 Users......19
4.3 Installing the Drivers for Windows 98 Users......21
4.4 Installing Microsoft USB Support ......................22
5. Operation ....................................................................24
5.1 Using the Port Manager Utility ..........................24
5.2 Interpreting the System Status Light..................25

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1. Specifications
System Requirements — Pentium-class CPU;
16-MB RAM;
USB products can only be
used with a computer that
has Windows®98 or
Windows 95 version
4.00.950b with the USB
supplement (QFE 1214),
also known as OSR 2.1
Compliance — EN 55022 Class B,
EN 50082-1, EN 60950,
CSA 22.2 No. 950, FCC
Part 15, UL®1950
Maximum Distance — 15 ft. (4.6 m)
Connectors — Both: (1) Type B USB;
IC160A: (2) DB9 male;
IC161A: (4) DB9 male
Indicators — (5): (1) Power, (4) Port ID

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Operating Temperature — 32 to 104°F (0 to 40°C)
Humidity Tolerance — 5 to 95%
Power — Derived from the USB port
Size — 5.6"H x 3"W x 1"D (14.2 x
7.6 x 2.5 cm)
Weight — 2.5 lb. (1.1 kg)

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2. Introduction
These hubs are intelligent, stackable expansion modules
that connect to a PC or server via the Universal Serial
Bus (USB) port. This provides high-speed RS-422/485
or RS-422 serial ports.
The USB Director Hubs feature easy connectivity for
modems, printers, video-editing equipment, and point-
of-sale and industrial control devices that use a standard
serial interface. By simply plugging in a USB Director
Hub, you:
• add either 2 (for the IC160A) or 4 (for the IC161A)
high-speed serial ports to your PC or server in
seconds, and
• eliminate the configuration issues associated with
high-priced, older card solutions. That means you
avoid the hassle of removing your PC cover and you
won’t have to reboot the operating system during
installation.

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The USB Director Hubs use USB technology to convert
your PC into a powerful communications server
providing instant connectivity to modems, terminal
adapters, and other serial devices.
W HAT ’ S I NCLUDED
You should have received the following equipment if
you ordered the IC160A or IC161A.
• (1) USB Director Hub (either the IC160A or
IC161A).
• (1) 3-ft. USB cable.
• This manual.
• (4) Software diskettes: (1) Windows 95 drivers,
(1) Windows 98 drivers, (1) Windows 2000 drivers,
(1) Windows NT 4.0 drivers.
If your ordered the TD150, you should have received
this manual and one 3.5" disk.

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3. Configuration
3.1 The Cable Connections (DB9 Female)
IMPORTANT
Note that for full duplex (shown in the diagram below),
the differential pair TAand TBshould be together in one
twisted pair, and RAand RBshould be together in
another twisted pair. Half duplex uses only one twisted
pair.
3.2 The Two-Position DIP Switch
Both USB Director Hubs have a two-position DIP switch.
This switch connects the signal ground to chassis
ground.
3→TAtransmit data negative
7→TBtransmit data positive
8→RAreceive data negative
4→RBreceive data positive
5→signal ground
1, 2, 6, 9 no connect

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WARNING
Do not connect signal ground to chassis ground on
more than one location in order to prevent ground
loops and potentially high currents. See the illustration
below.
Figure 3-1. Two-Position DIP Switch.
3.3 Configuring the USB Director USB-RS422/RS485 Hub
2-Port (IC160A)
This hub, which supports both RS-422 and RS-485, also
has two sets of eight-position DIP switches, one set for
each serial port. Figure 3-2 shows what each switch
selects in its ON and OFF positions. Consult Figure 3-3
for various configuration options.
↑ON ↓OFF
1. signal ground 1. signal ground
short to chassis isolated from
ground chassis ground
2. not used 2. not used
1 2

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Figure 3-2. Eight-Position DIP Switches.
Figure 3-3. Various Configurations for the IC160A DIP Switches.
↓ ↓ ↕↓↑ ↑ X X
•
↓↓↑↓↑ ↑ X X
•
↓↑ ↑ ↓↑ ↑ X X
•
↕↑↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ X X
•
↓↓↓↓↑ ↑ X X
•
↓↑↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ X X
•
↕↑ ↑ ↓↑ ↑ X X
•
Key: ↑on ↕user’s choice
↓off X doesn’t matter
Option #1: RS-422 to RS-422
Option #2: RS-485 Half Duplex
End Unit with Terminating Resistor
Option #4: RS-485 Full Duplex
End Unit, Master
Option #3: RS-485 Half Duplex
Middle Unit
Option #5: RS-485 Full Duplex
End Unit, Slave
Option #6: RS-485 Full Duplex
Middle Unit, Master
Option #7: RS-485 Full Duplex
Middle Unit, Slave
↑ON ↓OFF
1. echo disabled 1. echo enabled
2. half duplex 2. full duplex
3. terminating 3. no terminating
resistor resistor
4. ———— 4. set to OFF
5. set to ON 5. ————
6. set to ON 6. ————
7. not used 7. not used
8. not used 8. not used
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
•

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3.4 Verifying That Your System Supports USB
If you’re using Windows 98, which fully supports USB,
go to Chapter 4. If you’re using Windows 95 OSR2.1 or
above, read this section. If you have an earlier version of
Windows 95, read the second note in Section 4.4.
To determine if your system supports USB:
1. Insert the disk labeled, “Driver disk” into drive A:.
2. In the START menu, select RUN.
3. Type a:\usbready.
One of two USB System Checker screens will appear. If
your system supports USB, the screen will read, “This
system DOES have support for USB.” To continue
installation, go to Chapter 4.
If your system does not support USB, the screen will
read, “This system DOES NOT currently support USB!”
Proceed to Section 3.5.

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3.5 Determining Why Support Is Not Present
NOTE
This section is for Windows 95 users only.
The DETAILS button in USBREADY can help you
determine what’s preventing USB support.
Click on the DETAILS button.
If the USB Class Host Controller window reads, “No
USB Host Controller Found” then the necessary
hardware, a USB Host Controller, has not been
detected. If your PC does not have USB connectors,
then this system will not support USB regardless of the
Windows version. You will need to purchase a PCI USB
controller card. If your PC does have USB connectors,
verify that the USB hardware is enabled in your system
BIOS configuration.
If the USB Class Host Controller window displays any
other message, such as “Standard,” “Intel,” “Universal,”
or “Open” Host Controller, then hardware support is
present, but an incompatible version of Windows is
currently installed.

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If the Test Results Detailing screen shows Windows 95
version 4.0.1111, which is Windows 95 OSR.2, go to
Section 4.4. You will need to upgrade to OSR 2.1 by
installing the USB supplement before installing the USB
Director Hub.
I F Y OU H AVE W INDOWS NT™4.0
Windows NT4.0 is supported with the use of an NT4.0
software support kit, part number TD150. You’ll need a
Pentium®class CPU, 16-MB RAM, and Windows NT4.0.
To install the software:
1. Insert the diskette into Drive A:.
2. Go to the START menu, then to RUN. Type
a:\Setup.exe.
3. Plug the flat end of the USB cable into the
downstream A connector on the back of the PC or
on a USB hub port. Plug the round end into the
USB/serial hub.

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4. Verify that the USB serial ports are configured
properly with the configuration utility. Press Start,
then Programs, then USB Director Utility, then
Director Configuration Utility.
5. The general box will show that the USB Director is
installed. Click Configure to view the port settings
that were selected. If you want to change the port
assignments, enter the port numbers you want in
the windows.
NOTE
Do not reassign a port number to a port that is already
in use.
Click OK when finished.
NOTE
If you have problems installing this software, contact
Technical Support.

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4. Installation
4.1 Plugging the Hub into Your PC
Plug the flat end of the USB cable into the USB port on
the back of your PC or into an available USB port on a
standard hub. Plug the D-shaped end into the USB
Director Hub.
NOTE
The USB Director Hub normally derives its own power
from the Universal Serial Bus. However, the power may
be supplied by a UL Listed Direct Plug-In Power Unit
marked “Class 2” and rated 5 VDC, 200–800 mA if used
in the U.S. and Canada or a power supply with similar
rating and approved by your local safety code if it is
used elsewhere. For polarity, note the diagram below.
If you have Windows 95, go to Section 4.2. For Windows
98, go to Section 4.3.
+–

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4.2 Installing the Drivers for Windows 95 Users
After connecting the USB cable, if the following screen
(Figure 4-1) does not appear, go to Section 3.5.
Figure 4-1. Update Device Driver Wizard.
To install the USB Director Hub drivers:
1. Insert the Driver disk into drive A:.
2. Click on NEXT and initiate a floppy-drive search
for the updated driver device.
3. Click on FINISH to continue with the installation.
The Insert Disk screen (Figure 4-2) will appear.
Update Device Driver Wizard
< Back Finish Cancel
Windows found the following updated driver for this device.
USB Director Hub
If you want to use this driver, click Finish. If this is not the correct
driver and you want to search for a different driver manually,
click Other Locations.
Location of Driver
Other Locations…