Black Box SW540A-R3 User manual

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CUSTOMER
SUPPORT
INFORMATION
MARCH 2000
SW540A-R3
SW541C
Code Operated Matrix Switch
and 4-Port Expansion Board
012345678 PWR
STATUS
CODE OPERATED
MATRIX SWITCH

Code Operated Matrix Switch
2
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENT
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.
Caution:
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 la classe A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par Industrie Canada.
TRADEMARKS
HP®is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard.
LaserJet™is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard.
DEC®is a registered trademark of Compaq Corporation.
This product is CE certified. This certificate indicates that the product is suitable for use in commercial
and light industrial environments as defined in EN 50081-1:1992.
NOTE
Shielded interface cables must be used with this product. Call Technical Support at 724-746-5500
for guidance in choosing cables.

CONTENTS
3
Hardware Section
1. Specifications......................................................................................5
2. Introduction .......................................................................................6
3. Installation..........................................................................................7
3.1 Setting the Internal DIP Switches ..............................................7
3.2 Configuring the Shunt Jumpers for DTE or DCE ....................9
3.3 Connecting Devices to the Switch’s Parts ................................10
4. Operation .........................................................................................11
4.1 Front-Panel Indicators ..............................................................11
4.2 Reset Button ..............................................................................11
4.3 ASCII Control Codes ................................................................11
4.4 Break Detection ........................................................................14
5. Troubleshooting...............................................................................15
5.1 Self-Tests ....................................................................................15
5.2 Sample Test Program................................................................16
Appendix A ASCII Codes ..................................................................17
Appendix B Installing the 4-Port Expansion Card...........................18
Appendix C Quick Setup Guide.........................................................19
LINKUP Software
1. Introduction .....................................................................................21
1.1 What Is LINKUP? ......................................................................21
12. Hardware Requirements...........................................................21
2. Setup and Configuration.................................................................23
2.1 Files on the LINKUP disk .........................................................23
2.2 Making a Backup Copy .............................................................23
2.3 Installing the LINKUP Files on Your Hard Drive....................24
2.4 Modifying your AUTEXEC.BAT File .......................................24
2.5 Default Settings .........................................................................25
2.6 Configuring the COMS, LINKUP, and DOS ...........................25
3. Running LINKUP ............................................................................27
3.1 Hints for Using LINKUP and the COMS ................................27
3.2 Sending Data with DOS............................................................27
3.3 Sending Data with Your Application Programs.......................27
4. Troubleshooting...............................................................................29
Contents

Code Operated Matrix Switch
4
Hardware Section
012345678 PWR
STATUS
CODE OPERATED
MATRIX SWITCH

5
CHAPTER 1: Specifications
Leads Supported — 1-8, 20, 22
Connectors — Base Unit: (5) DB25S 25-pin sub-D female; Unit with 4-Port
Expansion Board: (9) DB25S 25-pin sub-D female
Indicators — 10 LEDs: (1) Power, (9) Port Activity showing Receive activity
Interface — Asynchronous RS-232C/V.24 DTE/DCE (each port individually
selectable)
Speeds — 110 to 19,200 bps (each port individually selectable)
Memory — 31K buffer
Enclosure — Steel
Operating Temperature — 32 to 113°F (0 to 45°C)
Storage Temperature — -4 to 158°F (-20 to 70°C)
Humidity — 0 to 95% relative, noncondensing
Mean Time Between Failures — 20,000 hours for standard Switch (Ground Benign
Environment), 16,000 hours for standard Switch with 4-Port Expansion Board
Power — 115-VAC, 60 Hz, at 175 mA (230-VAC, 50-Hz version available)
Size — 2.3"H x 11.2"W x 12.1"D (5.8 x 28.4 x 30.7 cm)
Weight — 9.6 lb. (4.3 kg) for standard Switch, 10.2 lb. (4.6 kg) for standard Switch
with 4-Port Expansion Board
The Code Operated Matrix Switch (COMS for short) is a versatile microprocessor-
1. Specifications

Code Operated Matrix Switch
6
controlled electronic switch. It allows any of its
ports to communicate with any other connected
port, or any pair of ports to communicate
simultaneously.
For example, a number of terminals or
computers can share several peripheral devices,
such as printers or modems. A simple code from
any terminal or computer links it to the desired
peripheral.
Here’s another application: one computer is
connected to a laser printer, while another
computer is simultaneously connected to a dot-
matrix printer. Later, the printers could be swapped
(as in an X-switch configuration) without the need
to change or move any cables.
The standard Code Operated Matrix Switch has
five ports that support any combination of input,
output, or bidirectional devices. The Switch has 32K
of RAM with approximately 31K devoted to
buffering. The 4-Port Expansion Board
(Model SW541-C) provides four additional
input/output ports (see Appendix B for
instructions on setting it up).
This manual includes a quick-reference section,
Appendix C. If you’re familiar with the operation of
the COMS, use the charts in that section to set up
the Switch. If not, proceed through Sections 3, 4,
and 5.
NOTE: This manual will take you through installa-
tion, operation, and troubleshooting for the
Code Operated Matrix Switch in both the
five-port and nine-port versions. See
Appendix B for instructions on setting up
the 4-Port Expansion Board.
You’ll need an edged or pointed object small
enough to set DIP switches to install the Switch.
These are the steps to follow for installation:
1. Set the internal option DIP switches.
2. Configure shunt jumpers for DTE or DCE.
3. Connect devices to the switch ports.
4. Supply power to the Code Operated Matrix
Switch.
2. Introduction

7
CHAPTER 3: Installation
3.1 Setting the Internal DIP Switches
Remove the cover of the Switch’s enclosure to
expose the PC board.
Figure 1 shows the location of the Code Operated
Matrix Switch’s internal DIP switches. There are two
types:
1. Individual Port Switches (see Section 3.1.1)
2. System Switches (these apply to all ports; see
Section 3.1.2)
NOTE: DIP Switches may have different
designators to indicate the “ON” and “OFF”
settings. In this manual, “ON” is equivalent
to “Closed” and “OFF” is equivalent to
“Open.”
3.1.1 INDIVIDUAL PORT CONFIGURATIONS
A number of options can be configured for each
port individually. You can select:
• Baud rate: 110, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600,
or 19,200 bps
• Parity: Even, odd, or none
• Data bits per word: 7 or 8
• Flow Control: Hardware (DTR/CTS) or software
(X-ON/X-OFF)
• Break detection: Break to disconnect or ignore
breaks
3. Installation
(BACK)
PORT 4 PORT 3 PORT 2 PORT 1 PORT 0
DTE
DCE
J7
U23 U20
J1
W1
VR1
RESET BUTTON
S1
R1
SW
G
SW
F
SW
E
SW
D
SW
C
SW
B
SW
A
SYSTEM SWITCHES
(SWF & SWG)
INDIVIDUAL PORT SWITCHES
STATUS INDICATORS
CH0CH1CH2CH3CH4 CH5CH6CH7 CH8 PWR
(FRONT)
DTE
DCE
DTE
DCE
DTE
DCE
DTE
DCE
OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF
PORT 4 PORT 3 PORT 2 PORT 1 PORT 0
Fig. 1. Internal Switch Locations for the Standard Code Operated Matrix Switch

Code Operated Matrix Switch
8
On the standard 5-port model, the DIP switches that
correspond to each port are:
• Port 0: SWA
• Port 1: SWB
• Port 2: SWC
• Port 3: SWD
• Port 4: SWE
For the 4-Port Expansion Board:
• Port 5: SWH
• Port 6: SWI
• Port 7: SWJ
• Port 8: SWK
Table 1 lists the individual options and settings for
each port switch.
3.1.2 SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS
In the lower left corner of the printed circuit board
are two DIP switch banks, SWF and SWG, for
configuring the system. Switch SWG is reserved for
future use. Switch SWF uses the first four positions,
with Positions 5 through 8 reserved for future use.
The settings and functions of the first four positions
of SWF are given in Table 2. Check the chart, and
then use a pointed object, such as a small
screwdriver, to set the bank.
Option Switch Position Settings
12345678
Baud Rate
110 ON ON ON
300 OFF ON ON
600 ON OFF ON
1200 OFF OFF ON
2400 ON ON OFF
4800 OFF ON OFF
9600 ON OFF OFF
19,200 OFF OFF OFF
Parity
No Parity ON ON
Even Parity OFF ON
Odd Parity ON OFF
No Parity OFF OFF
Data Bits/Word
7OFF
8ON
Flow Control
Hardware (DTR/CTS) ON
Software (X-ON/X-OFF) OFF
Break Detection
Break to Disconnect ON
Ignore Breaks OFF
Table 1. Switch Port Options (Individual Port Switch Banks)

9
CHAPTER 3: Installation
Lead Pass-Through
This function allows the COS II either to pass
hardware-handshake leads to connected devices or
to block them. If they are blocked, the leads will still
be used to regulate the internal buffer of the
Switch. The following table shows the behavior of
the COS II for different combinations of devices.
Table 2. Leads Passed Through.
Table 3. Settings and Functions for Switch SWF
NOTE
To use the saving function of the
SW540A-R3, DIP switch F position 1
must be OFF.
Switch Switch
Position Setting Function
1 ON Reverts to attention string of
@ and switches to factory
defaults when reset or re-
powered.
OFF Maintains user-set attention
upon reset.
2 ON Limits port name changes and
attention-character changes
to Port 0 only.
OFF All ports can change port
names and attention
characters.
3 ON Perform self-test (see
Section 5)
OFF Normal operation.
4 ON DCD (RTS) passed through.
OFF DCD (RTS) blocked.
5-8 Reserved for future use.
Port 1 Port 2 Leads Passed
DTE DTE Port 1 DCD to Port 2 RTS
Port 2 DCD to Port 1 RTS
DTE DCE Port 1 DCD to Port 2 DCD
Port 2 RTS to Port 1 RTS
DCE DTE Port 1 RTS to Port 2 RTS
Port 2 RTS to Port 1 DCD
DCE DCE Port 1 RTS to Port 2 DCD
Port 2 RTS to Port 1 DCD
3.2 Configuring Shunt Jumpers for DTE or DCE
Each of the five (or nine) ports has a bank of shunt
jumpers located next to its port connector on the
rear of the internal board or boards. (See Fig. 1 for
their location.) These jumpers allow each port to be
configured as either Data Terminal Equipment
(DTE) or Data Communications Equipment
(DCE). You don’t need a crossover cable to connect
your equipment to the Code Operated Matrix
Switch—just standard straight-through cabling.
Shunt jumpers are fragile. When removing them,
use a small flathead screwdriver or IC remover. With
a screwdriver, use a gentle motion, prying from one
end of the shunt. When installing, press down
gently only after you have made sure all pins are
above holes.
Table 3. Input and Output Signals
Table 4. DIP Shunt Settings
NOTE: If you use a cross-pinned cable, set the DIP
shunt setting to the opposite of the one
recommended above.
Connecting straight cable to: Set DIP Shunt to:
PC w/25-pin connector DCE
DEC™ computer DCE
Data General computer DCE
Most printers (ex: HP®
LaserJet®) DCE
DTE devices DCE
Modem DTE
HP minicomputer DTE
DCE devices DTE
Signal Pin Direction as DTE Direction as DCE
TXD 2 Output Input
RXD 3 Input Output
RTS 4 Output Input
CTS 5 Input Output
DSR 6 N/A Output
DCD 8 Input Output
DTR 20 Output Input
RI 22 Input N/A