Brainboxes PCI Quad RS232 Reference manual

232
Quad Port RS232 &
Lynx 8 Port RS232

Guarantee.
FULL 36 MONTHS GUARANTEE.
BRAIN BOXES guarantee your Serial Port Card for a full 36
months from purchase, parts and labour, provided it has been used
in the specified manner. In the unlikely event of failure return your
interface to BRAIN BOXES or to your Dealer, with proof of
purchase, who will determine whether to repair or replace this
product with an equivalent unit.
COPYRIGHT.
COPYRIGHT © 1985-1996 BRAIN BOXES.
All rights reserved. No part of this hardware, circuitry or manual
may be duplicated, copied, transmitted or reproduced in any way
without the prior written consent of BRAIN BOXES.
Serial Solutions are designed, manufactured, and supported by
BRAIN BOXES.
Unit 3F, Wavertree Boulevard South,
Wavertree Technology Park,
Liverpool, L7 9PF,
England.
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: help@brain_boxes.cybase.co.uk
Web: www.connect.org.uk/merseymall/brain_boxes/
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
BRAIN BOXES is a trademark of BRAIN BOXES.
IBM, Commodore, COMPAQ, Olivetti, AMSTRAD, Hewlett
Packard, H.P. and EPSON are trademarks of the relevant
companies. OS/2 and Microchannel Architecture are trademarks of
IBM. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft.

AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232 Introduction
Intro 1
AT QUAD 4 PORT AND LYNX 8 PORT
RS232 MANUAL
OUTLINE CONTENTS
Chapter 1. Serial Solutions Software
Chapter 2. At Quad 4 Port RS232 Hardware
Configuration
Chapter 3. At Lynx 8 Port RS232 Hardware
Configuration
Chapter 4. How to install your card into the PC
Chapter 5. AT Quad 4 Port and AT Lynx 8 Port Software
Configuration
Chapter 6. Quad and Lynx Shared Interrupt Mechanisms
Chapter 7. RS232 port Cabling
THE LAYOUT OF THIS MANUAL
Chapter 1 - Serial Solutions Software, is an overview of
the companion software package that comes with the
Quad and Lynx cards.
Chapter 2 - AT Quad 4 Port Hardware Configuration,
after a brief discussion on the RS232 standard shows how
to configure the settings of the cards. Details of COM,
IRQ and Shared Interrupt mechanisms are given.
Chapter 3 - AT Lynx 8 Port Hardware Configuration,
after a brief discussion on the RS232 standard shows how
to configure the settings of the cards. Details of COM,
IRQ and Shared Interrupt mechanisms are given.

Introduction AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232
Intro 2
Chapter 4 - How to install your card into a PC, after
configuration a step by step guide to installing the
configured card in PC expansion slots.
Chapter 5 - AT Quad 4 Port and AT Lynx 8 Port
Software Configuration Guide, details on how to setup
the serial solutions software provided with the cards in
Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT, OS/2.x, OS/2
Warp and SCO Unix and Xenix Kernal Resident Support.
Chapter 6, Quad and Lynx Shared Interrupt
Mechanisms, shows you how to link several Quad and/or
Lynx Cards together so as to use only one interrupt line,
multi card ID settings and the Shared Interrupt Status
Register operation.
Chapter 7, RS232 Port Cabling, gives standard 9 and
25 Pin outs of RS232 ports, cabling and connections.
Showing how to make up a loop back connector for
RS232 port self tests and how to wire a 9 to 25 pin
adapter. The pinouts of Quad 37 way and Lynx 78 way
connectors and cables are also given.

AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232 Introduction
Intro 3
Index
CHAPTER 1................................................................. 1
Introduction.............................................................................. 1
Introducing Serial Solution Software......................................... 1
Serial Solutions For DOS.......................................................... 2
Terminal Emulation Program..................................................... 3
Additional Sample 8 Port Software............................................ 4
Serial Solutions For Windows 3.x.............................................. 4
Serial Solutions For Windows 95 .............................................. 5
Serial Solutions For Windows NT............................................. 5
The Comtest.exe Program......................................................... 6
Complete Documentation and Technical Backup....................... 6
Cabling Requirements................................................................ 6
CHAPTER 2................................................................. 7
Introduction.............................................................................. 7
AT QUAD 4 PORT RS232 Card Features. ............................... 7
The RS232 Standard................................................................. 8
Configuring The AT Quad 4 Port RS232................................. 13
Serial Port Configuration......................................................... 15
Serial Port Setup..................................................................... 15
Individual Serial Port Configuration ........................................ 15
Serial Port Bank Address Configuration .................................. 16
Serial Port IRQ Interrupt Jumper Selection. ............................ 23
Shared Interrupt Setup............................................................ 24
Shared IRQ Interrupt Jumper Selection................................... 30
Shared Interrupt Mechanism.................................................... 31
One Quad Card Systems.......................................................... 31
CHAPTER 3............................................................... 33
Introduction............................................................................ 33
AT LYNX 8 PORT RS232 Card Features............................... 33
The RS232 Standard............................................................ 34
Configuring The AT LYNX 8 Port RS232 .............................. 40
Serial Port Configuration......................................................... 41
Serial Port Setup..................................................................... 41
Individual Serial Port Configuration ........................................ 41

Introduction AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232
Intro 4
Serial Port Bank Address Configuration .................................. 43
Serial Port IRQ Interrupt Jumper Selection.............................. 49
Shared Interrupt Setup............................................................ 50
Shared IRQ Interrupt Jumper Selection. .................................. 56
Shared Interrupt Mechanism.................................................... 57
One Lynx Card Systems.......................................................... 57
CHAPTER 4............................................................... 59
Serial Card Installation. ........................................................... 59
Problems!................................................................................ 62
CHAPTER 5............................................................... 63
Introduction............................................................................ 63
Informing The PC Of The Port Address................................... 63
Settings for DOS Software...................................................... 66
Serial Solution Configuration For Lynx Cards. ........................ 66
Driver Defaults........................................................................ 79
Serial Solutions Installation for Windows 3.x........................... 81
Serial Port Installation.......................................................... 82
Changing Serial Port Settings............................................... 85
Shared Interrupt Serial Port Setup Procedure....................... 85
Deleting Ports in Windows................................................... 88
Restarting Windows............................................................. 88
Serial Solutions Installation for Windows 95............................ 90
Configuring Ports................................................................. 94
Restarting Windows............................................................. 99
Serial Solutions Installation for Windows NT 3.51 & 4.......... 100
Checking Windows NT 4 I/O Usage .................................. 100
Checking Windows NT 3.51 I/O Usage.............................. 101
Configuring and Installing the Serial Card .......................... 102
Installing the Serial Solutions Software .............................. 103
Issues in Configuring the Serial Solutions Software............ 103
Configuring the Serial Solutions Software.......................... 104
Add Another Multiport Card.............................................. 106
Configuring Ports............................................................... 108
Shared Settings.................................................................. 109
Card Type Differences ....................................................... 110

AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232 Introduction
Intro 5
Configuring Ports 5 to 8 (8 Port Cards Only)......................110
Completing Card Setup.......................................................111
Modifying Settings for a Multiport Card..............................113
Deleting Settings for a Multiport Card ................................114
Deleting All Multiport Card Settings...................................115
Configuring Ports in OS/2 Version 2.x and OS/2 Warp...........117
Configuring Ports in SCO Unix / Xenix..................................118
Optional Custom Driver and Installation Script. ..................118
AT Quad 4 and the AT Lynx Under SCO Unix. ..................118
SCO Unix/ Xenix Jumper Settings.......................................119
CHAPTER 6............................................................. 122
Introduction...........................................................................122
Digiboard Compatibility.........................................................122
Why Do We Need A Shared Interrupt Mechanism?................122
Shared Interrupt Status Register.............................................123
Last Jumper. ..........................................................................124
One Lynx Card Systems.........................................................124
Multiple Card Setup...............................................................125
Mixing 4 Port and 8 Port Cards..............................................127
Two Card Systems.................................................................127
Three Card Systems. ..............................................................128
Four Or More Card Systems. .................................................129
Multi Card Shared Interrupt Status Register...........................130
CHAPTER 7............................................................. 133
Introduction...........................................................................133
The RS232 Standard..............................................................133
Serial Port Pin Outs................................................................134
9 Pin D Serial Port RS232 Cables...........................................134
9 Pin D Serial Port Connection To Another PC......................135
9 Pin D Serial Port Loop Back Connector..............................137
The Quad Cable Pinouts.........................................................139
The Lynx Card Octopus Cable Pinouts...................................141
Index ......................................................................... 143

Introduction AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232
Intro 6
This Page Left Intentionally Blank

AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232 Serial Solutions
Chapter 1 Page 1
CHAPTER 1
SERIAL
SOLUTION
SOFTWARE.
Introduction.
This chapter is a brief introduction to the Serial Solutions
software package that is bundled with the Quad 4 Port and Lynx 8
Port RS232 card.
Introducing Serial Solution Software
The perfect partner for any Serial Port is Serial Solutions
Software! Serial Solutions is a fully featured suite of programs
designed to squeeze the most from PC serial communications.
Serial Solutions is made up of the following components:-
Serial Solutions for DOS
Serial Solutions for Windows 3.x
Serial Solutions for Windows 95
Serial Solutions for Windows NT
All the Serial Solutions drivers have the following features:-
a) Drivers for PC standard UARTs e.g. 8250 and 16450
b) Drivers for PC FIFO UARTs e.g. 16550 as well as the new
improved 32 byte 16650 and 64 byte 16750 UARTs
c) Support for shared interrupt cards e.g. our Quad 232, Lynx
232 and Quad 422 cards.
d) Support for any mix of RS232, RS422 and RS485 handshake
schemes.
e) Support for wider range of Baud rates and for more than 4
serial ports.

Serial Solutions AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232
Chapter 1 Page 2
Serial Solutions For DOS
Serial Solutions for DOS consists of the following
programs:-
NewCOM.sys A device driver, it supporting COM1 to
COM16, allowing 16 serial ports to be used
under DOS. It also includes an interrupt
handler for enhanced performance with user
definable buffer sizes. Accessible from all DOS
languages. It is the heart of the Serial Solution.
It has extensive handshaking support,
implementing both hardware handshaking
using any combination of the DTR, DSR,
CTS, RTS, and DCD lines, and a software
handshake using the XON/XOFF protocol.
NewCOM24.sys A device driver providing support for 24
ports.
NewCOM32.sys A device driver providing support for 32
ports.
NewMode.exe A replacement for the DOS 'mode com...'
command. NewMode is used to set the serial
parameters, including the port address, IRQ
line used, the baud rate, parity and data and
stop bit options.
e.g. NEWMODE COM5:38400,E,7,1 01A0 7
Baud rates supported are from 110 baud to
115,200 baud! Included is a very handy query
mode that reports the settings of the various
serial ports. Flexible and fast!
EASY programs. The EASY disk contains short, simple to
understand and use EASYBAS, EASYC and
EASYPAS programs, providing straight
forward, file type I/O to serial ports with

AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232 Serial Solutions
Chapter 1 Page 3
debug information. Use these FIRST, base
your sample applications on them.
Source code, make files and compiled ready to
run programs supplied.
TERM programs A suite of larger terminal emulation programs
written in C (Cterm), Assembly language
(Aterm), Pascal (Pasterm), BASIC (BASterm)
and FORTRAN (FORterm) show how to
access the NEWBIOS routines as well as the
simple file I/O to ports. They contain many
lines of code and are thus harder to grasp.
They demonstrate in depth serial port
programming in a variety of languages but
they are also useful tools for using serial
devices.
Terminal Emulation Program.
Two sets of terminal programs are included. The EASY
disk contains short, simple to understand and use EASYBAS,
EASYC and EASYPAS programs, providing straight forward, file
type I/O to serial ports with debug information. Use these FIRST,
base your sample applications on them.
The larger terminal emulation programs written in C
(Cterm), Assembly language (Aterm), Pascal (Pasterm), BASIC
(BASterm) and FORTRAN (FORterm) show how to access the
NEWBIOS routines as well as the simple file I/O to ports. They
contain many lines of code and are thus harder to grasp. They
demonstrate in depth serial port programming in a variety of
languages but they are also useful tools for using serial devices.
Each of the programs behave in exactly the same way. Once
running the PC acts as a terminal; any characters typed at the
keyboard are sent to the serial port, and any characters received
from the serial port are displayed on the screen. Function keys are
used to display the Help screen, use the set up menus or exit the
program.

Serial Solutions AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232
Chapter 1 Page 4
In addition the terminal programs recognise an impressive
set of commands, that may be executed automatically or
interactively. The commands include features to enable Echoing of
transmitted and received data, set up the serial port parameters, set
substitution characters and string for both in coming and outgoing
data, execute terminal batch files, transmit from and receive to disk,
execute DOS commands from within the terminal program.
The input output translations offer the user a way of
smoothing over the differences between different pieces of
equipment, allowing conversion of data between otherwise
incompatible systems.
Additional Sample 8 Port Software
As well as the EASY programs, there is MANYPORT.EXE
and its source code MANYPORT.BAS. The .exe version has been
compiled using Microsoft Quick Basic V4.5. Its purpose is to
demonstrate how to program multi port cards from BASIC. It will
work with Lynx 8 and Quad 4 port cards, DigiCHANNEL cards,
Flytech Flynix-8 FAT-011 cards, as well with any mix of 2 port
especially if each port has its own individual IRQ.
Termdef.txt
Termdef.txt is a data file of commands that the terminal
emulation programs use to define the properties of the particular
emulated terminal. By building up his own library of terminal
definitions a user can quickly emulate either his favourite terminal
or literally scores of different terminals on the one PC.
Serial Solutions For Windows 3.x
Serial Solutions for Windows 3.x works with Windows 3.0,
3.1 and 3.11 as well as Windows For Workgroups 3.11. It consists
of the following programs:-
Setup.exe The install routine for the package.

AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232 Serial Solutions
Chapter 1 Page 5
Port.DLL Enhanced Control Panel applet. Allows
configuration of extra serial ports from the
Windows Control Panel. Supports single as
well as multiport cards using shared interrupts.
BbLynx.drv Replacement for COMM.DRV.
LynxAPI.dll Enhancement to the Windows Comms API's
allowing support for more than 9 ports.
Term.exe Terminal program.
EasyCWIN C source code, project files and ready to
run.exe program for an easy to understand
Windows terminal program. Learn how to
write Windows comms apps correctly the easy
way.
Serial Solutions For Windows 95
Windows 95 has an improved communication API and
directly supports up to 255 ports. Our Windows 95 driver supports
the shared interrupt mechanism used on out multiport cards. Serial
Solutions for Windows 95 consists of the following programs:-
Bbcommsp.inf The information file to aid the installation
process "Have Disk....”
Bbcommui.dll The DLL and..
BBcomm.vxd ..the virtual device driver providing the shared
interrupt handler and despatch routines.
EasyC32 C source code, project files and ready to
run.exe program for an easy to understand
Windows 95 terminal program. Learn how to
write Windows comms apps correctly the easy
way. Also written to work in windows NT.
Serial Solutions For Windows NT
Windows NT has an improved communication API and directly
supports up to 255 ports. No extra driver is necessary for Windows

Serial Solutions AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232
Chapter 1 Page 6
NT to drive multiport cards. Serial Solutions for Windows NT
consists of the following programs:-
Multiport.cpl Control panel applet which allows the simple
configuration of all ports on a multiport card
simultaneously.
Mulport.hlp Help file for the above control panel applet.
The Comtest.exe Program
Comtest is a short but invaluable program that is used to
check that the serial port at a particular I/O address is functioning
correctly and is connected to the particular IRQ line. The program
correctly identifies the UART type e.g. non FIFO, 16550 FIFO,
16550AF FIFO and the improved 16650 32 byte FIFO and 16750
64 byte fifes. By employing the built in loop back capability of the
PC serial port chip, a full test of the baud rate generator,
transmitting and receiving buffer, parity enable and start stop bit is
performed. There is no need for a second serial port or a cable
when using this utility.
Complete Documentation and Technical Backup.
We believe in supplying complete documentation with every
package we sell. The Serial Solution Software Package is no
exception, it has an attractively laid out manual in an A5 binder
with slip case, containing 100 pages of in-depth technical detail
with comprehensive indexes and table of contents. We guarantee
your Serial Solution Software package for a full 12 months from
purchase. A complete technical backup service is available to
ensure that you get the maximum performance out of your
investment.
Cabling Requirements.
Try our popular RS232 D type cables, and RS422 & RS485
twisted pair cables! High quality and competitively priced.

AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232 Quad Hardware Configuration Guide
Chapter 2 Page 7
CHAPTER 2
AT QUAD 4 PORT RS232
HARDWARE CONFIGURATION.
Introduction.
This chapter explains how to configure the AT QUAD 4
PORT RS232 in a PC compatible, giving details for address and
IRQ jumper selection. Detailed instructions are given how to set
the address select DIP switches and IRQ jumpers.
This half size RS232 card will fit into both long and short
slots, in 8 bit XT or 16 bit AT slots and will work happily in any
PC compatible up to and exceeding Pentium Pro 200 MHz class
machines.
AT QUAD 4 PORT RS232 Card Features.
* Four independent RS232 Serial ports.
* Reliable communications up to 50 feet, 15m, and beyond!
* 100% PC Compatible serial port TI or CMD 16C550, up to
115,200 baud.
* Jumper selectable serial port address, COM1- COM4 and many
more!
* Jumper selectable interrupt level IRQ 2-7, 10-12, 14 & 15.
* Shared IRQ settings available for all Ports
* Full modem control TXD, RXD, DSR, DCD, DTR, RTS, CTS
and RI signals.
* Fully double buffered for reliable asynchronous operation.
* High speed integrated circuitry ensures operation with fast PC's
e.g. 220 MHz Pentium Pro WITHOUT extra wait states.
* 16550 FIFO provides 16 byte input and 16 byte output buffer on
each port.

QUAD Hardware Configuration Guide AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232
Chapter 2 Page 8
The AT QUAD 4 PORT RS232 has the following features:
Baud Rate: 50 Baud to 115200 Baud.
Word Length: 5, 6, 7 or 8 bits.
Parity: Even, Odd, None, Mark or Space.
Start Bit: 1 start bit always sent.
Stop Bits: 1, (1.5 for 5 bit data word length) or 2.
Clock Input: 1.8432 MHz.
The RS232 Standard.
The RS232 standard is ancient in computer industry terms.
Introduced in 1962, it is now widely established. RS232 is a slow
speed, short distance, single ended transmission system (i.e. only
one wire per signal). Typical RS232 maximum cable length is 50
feet with a maximum data rate of 20K bits per second. The
standard RS232 pinouts for 9 and 25 pin male D connectors, are
shown on the opposite page, in figure 2-2.
Figure 2-1. RS232 Point To Point Connection.
TTL
TTL
GROUND GROUND
DR
RS232C Standard
1 Driver 1 Receiver
Line Length Max Data Rate
50 Feet = 15m 20 Kbits/sec

AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232 Quad Hardware Configuration Guide
Chapter 2 Page 9
Figure 2-2. 9 and 25 pin RS232 pinouts
9 Pin:
PIN 1 - DATA CARRIER DETECT (DCD)
PIN 6 - DATA SET READY (DSR)
PIN 8 - CLEAR TO SEND (CTS) PIN 3 - TRANSMITTED DATA (TXD)
PIN 2 - RECEIVED DATA (RXD)
PIN 4 - DATA TERMINAL READY (DTR)
PIN 7 - REQUEST TO SEND (RXD)
PIN 9 - RING INDICATOR (RI) PIN 5 - GROUND (GND)
25 Pin:
PIN 7 - GROUND (GND)
PIN 2 - TRANSMITTED DATA (TXD)
PIN 3 - RECEIVED DATA (RXD)
PIN 4 - REQUEST TO SEND (RXD)
PIN 6 - DATA SET READY (DSR)
PIN 5 - CLEAR TO SEND (CTS)
PIN 8 - DATA CARRIER DETECT (DCD)
PIN 20 - RING INDICATOR (RI)
PIN 22 - DATA TERMINAL READY (DTR)

QUAD Hardware Configuration Guide AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232
Chapter 2 Page 10
Figure 2-3a). AT Quad 4 Port RS232 Layout
COM1 Present Only
10
11
12
14
15
2
4
3
5
6
7
SH
COM 4
COM 3
COM 2
COM 1
BANK
BANK ADDRESS
SISR
P#1 P#2 P#3 P#4
CARD ID
P#1 P#2 P#3 P#4
BANK
MULTI CARD LINK
EXT OUT GND NO YES LAST EXT IN GND
Card Settings COM 1 Present
Port #1 COM 2
Port #2 COM 3
Port #3 COM 4
Port #4 Bank
Shared IRQ 3
Bank Ad. 180-198h
SISR Ad. 3A0h
Multi Card EXT+GND / LAST+YES
Card ID 0

AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232 Quad Hardware Configuration Guide
Chapter 2 Page 11
Figure 2-3b). AT Quad 4 Port RS232 Layout
COM1 and COM2 Present
10
11
12
14
15
2
4
3
5
6
7
SH
COM 4
COM 3
COM 2
COM 1
BANK
BANK ADDRESS
SISR
P#1 P#2 P#3 P#4
CARD ID
P#1 P#2 P#3 P#4
BANK
MULTI CARD LINK
EXT OUT GND NO YES LAST EXT IN GND
Card Settings COM1 & COM2 Present
Port #1 COM 3
Port #2 COM 4
Port #3 Bank
Port #4 Bank
Shared IRQ 10
Bank Ad. 180-198h
SISR Ad. 3A0h
Multi Card EXT+GND / LAST+YES
Card ID 0

QUAD Hardware Configuration Guide AT QUAD AND LYNX RS232
Chapter 2 Page 12
Figure 2-3c). AT Quad 4 Port RS232 Layout
Digiboard PC/4 Configuration
10
11
12
14
15
2
4
3
5
6
7
SH
COM 4
COM 3
COM 2
COM 1
BANK
BANK ADDRESS
SISR
P#1 P#2 P#3 P#4
CARD ID
P#1 P#2 P#3 P#4
BANK
MULTI CARD LINK
EXT OUT GND NO YES LAST EXT IN GND
Card Settings Digiboard PC/4
Port #1 Bank
Port #2 Bank
Port #3 Bank
Port #4 Bank
Shared IRQ 3
Bank Ad. 100-118h
SISR Ad. 140h
Multi Card EXT+GND / LAST+YES
Card ID 0