Black Box SW175A User manual

FEBRUARY 1998
SW175A
SW176A
Compact Bidirectional
AutoSwitch
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]
Compact Bi-directional
Auto Switch
POWER
AB
D
C
MANUAL
PRINTER
A
B
C
D
RESET
SELECT
Compact Bi-directional
Auto Switch
A
B
PRINTER

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COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH
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 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 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.

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COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH
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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COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH
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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COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH
TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL
Centronics is a registered trademark of Centronics
Corporation.
DeskJet, Hewlett Packard, and LaserJet are registered
trademarks of Hewlett-Packard.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft
Corporation.
Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are
acknowledged to be the property of the trademark owners.

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COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH
Specifications
SW175A SW176A
No. of Computers 2 4
Input Interface (2) DB25 (4) DB25
Input Port Selection Auto Auto/Manual
Weight 0.25 lb. (0.1 kg) 0.5 lb. (0.2 kg)
No. of Printers 1
Max. Transfer Rate 2 MB per second
Output Interface (1) DB25
Form Feed Selectable
Time-Out 5, 10, 20, or 40 seconds
Operating Temp. 41 to 104°F (5 to 40°C)
Compatible Printers:
Hewlett Packard®
• LaserJet®4P, 4Plus, 4LC, 4V, 4VC, 4MV, 4SiMX, 4MP, 4ML, 4Si, 5,
5M, 5N, 5P, 5L, 5MP, 5Si, 5SiMX, 6P, 6MP
• DeskJet®600, 600C, 660C, 820Cxi, 820Cse, 850C, 855C
Canon®
• Laser 430W, 460W • Color BJC-610
Okidata®
• Laser OL-600e (non Windows 95), OL-610
Panasonic®
• Laser EPL-5600, EPL-5500 • Color Stylus color IIs
Lexmark™
• Laser 4039 10 Plus

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COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH
Description
The Compact Bidirectional AutoSwitch allows 2 or 4
users to share one IEEE 1284 printer. The Switch
also lets you control the printer remotely using the
printer software (which is supplied with your
printer). You can change printer settings, as well as
receive printer messages like “printer busy,” “printer
out of paper,” and “paper jam” directly from your
computer.
The Switch is compatible with Windows 3.x and
Windows 95, is IEEE 1284 compliant, and supports
IEEE 1284 Nibble, Centronics®, Bi-Tronics, ECP,
and EPP modes.

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COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH
Installation
Installation Procedure
1. Turn off all computers and the printer.
2. Set the DIP switches to the proper position
according to the DIP-Switch Setting Chart (on
the next page).
3. Use the standard “straight-through” or IEEE 1284
DB25 M/M cables to connect the computers to
the AutoSwitch.
4. Use an IEEE 1284 DB25/Centronics 36 printer
cable to connect the AutoSwitch to the IEEE
1284 printer.
5. Turn on the computers and the printer. The
computers are now ready to share the printer
through the AutoSwitch.

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COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH
DIP-Switch Settings
There are four DIP switches located at the side of the
AutoSwitch. Switch 1 controls form feed, 2 and 3 set
the the timeout length, and 4 is not used. The tables
below show you the DIP-switch settings for enabling
or disabling form feed, and for setting the time-out
for 5, 10, 20, or 40 seconds.
1 FORM FEED 2 3 TIME-OUT
ON ENABLE ON ON 5 sec.
OFF DISABLE ON OFF 10 sec.
OFF ON 20 sec.
OFF OFF 40 sec.
The Reset Button
The RESET button resets the AutoSwitch if it locks
up. Note that print jobs may be lost if the button is
pressed during printing.

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COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH
The Power Adapter
The AutoSwitch is usually powered by the signals
drawn from computers and the printer. A power
supply is not required under such conditions.
However, if the peripherals are not able to supply
enough power to the AutoSwitch, a 9-VDC, 500-mA
power supply may be required to operate the switch
properly.

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COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH
Troubleshooting
If Windows®is used on the computer, set the time-
out to 40 seconds. This will accommodate the longer
time that Windows needs to request information
from the printer. Also, if a large document or
graphic is printed through the Switch, a longer time-
out, such as 20 or 40 seconds, may be required for
the Switch to operate properly.
NOTE
We recommend not running a DOS window
from Windows 95.

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COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH
Calling Black Box
If you determine that your AutoSwitch is
malfunctioning, do not attempt to alter or repair the
unit. It contains no user-serviceable parts. Contact
Black Box at 724-746-5500.
Before you do, make a record of the history of the
problem. We will be able to provide more efficient
and accurate assistance if you have a complete
description, including:
• the nature and duration of the problem.
• when the problem occurs.
• the components involved in the problem.
• any particular application that, when used,
appears to create the problem or make it worse.

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COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH
Shipping and Packaging
If you need to transport or ship your AutoSwitch:
• Package it carefully. We recommend that you
use the original container.
• If you are shipping the AutoSwitch for repair,
make sure you include everything that came in
the original package. Before you ship, contact
Black Box to get a Return Authorization (RA)
number.

1000 Park Drive • Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 • 724-746-5500 • Fax [phone]
© Copyright 1998. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved.