Multitech ISI552PC User manual

Intelligent Serial Interface (ISI)
Model ISI552PC Card
Owner's Manual
MultiTech

Systems

Owner's Manual
P/N 82033101, Rev. B
ISI552PC
This publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without
prior expressed written permission from Multi-Tech Systems, Inc.. All
rights reserved.
opyright © 1994, by Multi-Tech Systems, Inc.
Multi-Tech Systems, Inc., makes no representation or warranties with
respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims any implied
warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose.
Furthermore, Multi-Tech Systems, Inc., reserves the right to revise
this publication and to make changes from time to time in the content
hereof without obligation of Multi-Tech Systems, Inc., to notify any
person or organization of such revisions or changes.
Record of Revision
Revision Description
B Manual revised wi h minor echnical, edi orial
(12/25/94) and forma changes.
TRADEMARKS
Multi - Tech, MultiExpress, MultiModemII and the Multi - Tech logo:
Multi - Tech Systems, Inc.
i386, i486: Intel orporation
P -DOS: International Business Machines orporation
Mul i-Tech Sys ems, Inc.
2205 Woodale Drive
Mounds View, Minneso a 55112 U.S.A.
[phone] or [phone]
U. S. FAX [phone]
Technical Suppor [phone]
BBS [phone] or [phone]
In erne Address: h p://www.mul i ech.com
Technical Wri er: mark@mul i ech.com

i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION & DESCRIPTION
1.1 Introduction ........................................... 1-1
1.2 Product Description .............................. 1-2
1.3 How to Use This Manual ...................... 1-2
1.4 Technical Specifications ...................... 1-3
CHAPTER 2
HARDWARE INSTALLATION
2.1 ISI ard Installation .............................. 2-1
2.2 Determining urrent System Settings . 2-1
2.3 Hardware Installation Procedure .......... 2-3
CHAPTER 3
SERVICE, WARRANTY, AND TECHNICAL
SUPPORT
3.1 Introduction ........................................... 3-1
3.2 Limited Warranty .................................. 3-1
3.3 Tech Support ........................................ 3-2
3.3.1 Recording ISI552P Information 3-3
3.3.2 Service ........................................ 3-4
3.4 About the Multi-Tech BBS .................... 3-5
3.4.1 How to Use the Multi-Tech BBS . 3-5
3.5 About ompuServe/Internet ................ 3-6
3.6 About Multi-Tech's Fax-Back Service .. 3-7
3.7 Safety Warnings ................................... 3-8
Appendix A:
I/O Address Switch Settings A-1
INDEX

1-1
1 . 1 Introduction
The introduction of high speed, data compression
modems, such as Multi-Tech's MultiModemII TM
Series, has shown that many PC serial ports are
unable to keep up, essentially becoming a bottleneck
for the entire system. The S 552PC card is a dual
port serial expansion card and provides processing
power to reliably transmit data up to 115.2K bps per
port. Each port can be independently configured for
asynchronous full duplex communications. Using
an S enables your system's processor to perform
more efficiently. This is because the S handles all
of the byte-by-byte interrupts generated by the
asynchronous terminals and stores the data in
buffers. The S then generates one interrupt for an
entire block of information and transfers the block to
the system's microprocessor.
This manual provides the hardware installation
procedures for the S 552PC card. The operation of
the card provides the basis for its name S (Intelligent
Serial Interface), 552 indicating the processing power
of a 16550A UART and dual port support, and PC
indicating that it is an ISA bus card (8 bit), which is
able to operate in any 286, 386, or 486 SA or E SA
compatible bus personal computer. The S 552PC
serial ports can be accessed by any software written
to the 16550A specification.

1-2
This manual contains product specification,
installation instructions, configuration and technical
support information which will assist you in the
operation process. t is assumed that you have basic
PC skills at the very least. Therefore, we have not
included step-by-step instructions for basic
operations such as logging in and file editing, etc.
1 . 2 Product Description
The S 552PC card is a dual-port serial expansion
card which adds data buffering for enhanced serial
port performance. The S 552PC features two 9 - pin
connectors ( DB-9s), and is a "half-size" expansion
card that supports a high-speed interface (up to
115.2K bps per port via 32K bytes of RAM). The
S 552PC features two banks of 8 D P-Switches for
/O address selection and two jumper blocks for RQ
level selection.
1.3 How to Use This Manual
This chapter begins with a short introduction, product
description, followed by a guide (which you are now
reading) to the use of this manual, as well as the
S 552PCs technical specifications.

1-3
This manual includes hardware configuration and
installation procedures described in Chapter 2. Chapter
3 covers technical support, warranty and BBS
information. Appendix A describes complete
information on Base /O addressing.
1 .4 Technical Specifications
Computer Requirements
· 286-, 386- or 486- based PC or compatible
Operating Temperature
· 0° to 50°C (32° to 120°F)
Serial Interface
· RS232C, RS232D
Bus Type
· BM PC standard ( SA bus) or E SA
Power Consumption
· 750 mAmps @ +5 VDC
· 100 mAmps @ +12 VDC
· 100 mAmps @ -12 VDC

1-4
Card Dimensions
ISI552PC
· 4.950" L x 4.2" W x .062" D
· 12.573 cm L x 10.668 cm W x .16 cm D
Baud Rates
· Up to 115.2K bps per port (two)
Connector Types
· Two DB-9s on S 552PC
I O Address
· Set by hardware D P-Switch, valid range 100H to
3F8H (See Appendix A)
Interrupt Request
· Set by hardware Jumper, valid RQs -- 2, 3, 4, 5,
7, 10, 11, 12, & 15

2 - 1
2.1 ISI Card Installation
This chapter explains procedures for installing your
ISI552P card into your ISA or EISA bus personal
computer (P /XT/AT/PS/2 Models 25 and 30 or
equivalents).
Hardware installation involves:
1) Opening your P .
2) Setting card configuration (determining
I/O address DIP-Switch setting and IRQ
jumper setting).
3) Installing the card into the P .
2.2 Determining Current System
Settings
When you install a serial device into your computer,
the processor must have a means of routing
information to and from the device and the device
must have a means of gaining the processor's
attention. These are called Input/Output (I/O)
addresses and Interrupt Requests (IRQs),
respectively. The ISI552P card requires eight I/O
addresses and one IRQ value which are not used by
any other device in your system. When selecting a
unique base I/O address, be sure that the other

2 - 2
addresses are also unused. (For example, if you
use the base I/O address of 380h, addresses 380h-
387h must be unused.)
To select an unused I/O address and an IRQ value,
it may be necessary to find out which values are
already in use. To determine your system's current
settings, refer to Appendix A. ISI552P port #1 is
shipped with the IRQ set to level 3 and the base I/O
address at 2F8 hex; and ISI552P port #2 is shipped
with the IRQ set to level 4 and the base I/O address
at 3E8. If you are certain that these settings are not
already in use, continue with the hardware
configuration and installation.
Note: If yo choose IRQ 3 or 4, yo may have to
remove the serial I/O device from yo r
config ration files. The ISI552PC cards do not
allow yo to select IRQ 6 beca se it is almost
niversally sed for the floppy drive of a
comp ter. Also, most comp ters will not be able
to assign IRQ 2 to the ISI beca se IRQ 2 is sed
for slave control.

2 - 3
2.3 Hardware Installation Procedure
Perform the procedures in Table 2-1 to configure
and install the ISI552P card into your ISA or EISA
bus host computer.
1 Make sure your computer and
any peripheral equipment
connected to it, are turned off.
Failure to do so may damage
both your ISI card and your P .
The card may be installed in any
286-, 386- or 486-based
computer with an ISA or EISA
bus architecture.
Table 2-1
Step Proced re
ISI Config ration and Installation Proced re
Fig re 2-1. I/O Address Switch/IRQ J mpers
Port #1 Port #2

2 - 4
Table 2-1 (cont'd)
Step Proced re
ISI Config ration and Installation Proced re
2 Remove the cover of your
computer as instructed in your
computers documentation.
3 Locate the unused slot(s) which
you will be using for your ISI
card, and remove the slot
cover(s) per the instructions in
your computers documentation.
4a The figures below show the
default settings for this card.
Record any changes made to
the Base I/O Address settings.
The default Base I/O Address is
2F8 OM2 for Port 1; and the
default Address for Port 2 is 3E8
OM3 . The valid range is 100H
- 3F8 H; refer to Appendix A for a
full table of address settings.
Fig re 2-2. I/O Address Defa lt
Port #1
Port #2

2 - 5
4b Select a unique I/O Address for
your ISI552P card using the
block of 8-position DIP-Switches
on your ISI circuit board. Figure
2-3 (next page) shows various
I/O addressing and IRQ settings.
5Record any changes yo make
to these settings and keep
them handy for the driver
installation.
~Notes~
ISI Config ration and Installation Proced re
Step Proced re
Table 2-1 (cont'd)

2 - 6
Table 2-1 (cont'd)
ISI Config ration and Installation Proced re
Step Proced re
6 Install the ISI card into the
selected expansion slot(s) in the
same manner as any other add-
on card, as instructed in your
computers documentation.
7 Fasten the retaining bracket to
the computer chassis and replace
the cover.
Com Port I/O Address Setting IRQ Level
COM1
COM2
COM3
COM4
Fig re 2-3. I/O Address and IRQ Level Settings

2 - 7
Step Proced re
8 onnect the appropriate cable to
the ISI card. The ISI552P has
one DB-9 connector. The DB-9
is a DTE-type serial port suited
for the connection of Data ircuit-
terminating Equipment, or D Es.
Note: Any cables connected to
the computer should be shielded
to reduce interference.
9 Turn power on to your computer.
If you are using MultiExpress communication
software, note during your communication set-up
that your ISI card is activated by choosing Serial and
then om port selection. Do not use the MultiTech
ISI selection for this card. The MultiTech ISI selection
is used with ISI models ISI502 and ISI508.
Table 2-1 (cont'd)
ISI Config ration and Installation Proced re

3-1
3.1 Introduction
This chapter starts out with statements about your
S 552PC's 10-year warranty. The next section,
Tech Support, should be read carefully if you have
questions or problems with your S 552PC. t includes
the technical support telephone numbers, space for
recording pertinent information, and an explanation
of how to send in this product should you require
service. The final four sections explain how to use
our Bulletin Board Service (BBS), sections on
CompuServe and nternet forums, a description of
Multi-Tech's Fax-Back service and a brief section on
Safety Warnings.
3.2 Li ited Warranty
Multi-Tech Systems, nc. (MTS) warrants that its
products will be free from defects in material or
workmanship for a period of ten years from the date
of purchase, or if proof of purchase is not provided,
ten years from date of shipment. MTS MAKES NO
OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESSED OR MPL ED, AND
ALL MPL ED WARRANT ES OF MERCHANTAB L TY
AND F TNESS FOR A PART CULAR PURPOSE ARE
HEREBY D SCLA MED. This warranty does not apply
to any products which have been damaged by
lightning storms, water, or power surges or which
have been neglected, altered, abused, used for a
purpose other than the one for which they were
manufactured, repaired by the customer or any
party without MTSs written authorization, or used
in any manner inconsistent with MTSs instructions.

3-2
MTSs entire obligation under this warranty shall be
limited (at MTSs option) to repair or replacement of
any products which prove to be defective within the
warranty period, or, at MTSs option, issuance of a
refund of the purchase price. Defective products
must be returned by Customer to MTSs factory
transportation prepaid.
MTS W LL NOT BE L ABLE FOR CONSEQUENT AL
DAMAGES AND UNDER NO C RCUMSTANCES W LL
TS L AB L TY EXCEED THE PURCHASE PR CE FOR
DEFECT VE PRODUCTS.
3.3 Tech Support
Multi-Tech has an excellent staff of technical support
personnel available to help you get the most out of
your Multi-Tech product. f you have any questions
about the operation of this unit(s), call 1-800-972-
2439. Please fill out the information (below), and
have it available when you call. f you require
service, the tech support specialist will advise you in
Multi-Tech's service procedure (Section 3.3.2).

3-3
3.3.1Recording ISI552PC Infor ation
Please fill in the following information on your Multi-
Tech product. This will help tech support in answering
your questions.
Serial No.:__________________________
Firmware Version:_______________________
DriverType/Version:______________________
COM ort
#:________________________________
IRQ Setting:_____________________________
Please note the status of your S 552PC before
calling tech support (e.g., screen messages,
diagnostic test results, problems with a specific
application, etc). Use the space below to note
status:

3-4
3.3.2 Service
f your tech support specialist decides that service
is required, your unit may be sent (freight prepaid)
to our factory. Return shipping charges will be paid
by Multi-Tech Systems.
nclude the following with this product:
 a description of the problem.
 return billing and return shipping addresses.
 contact name and phone number.
 check or purchase order number for payment if
the S 552PC is out of warranty. (The standard
repair charge is $95. This price is valid at the time
of this publication but could change in the future.
Check with your technical support specialist.)
 if possible, note the name of the technical support
specialist with whom you spoke.

3-5
f you need to inquire about the status of the
returned product, be prepared to provide the serial
number of the product sent (see Section 3.3.1).
Send S 552PC to this address:
MULT -TECH SYSTEMS, NC.
2205 WOODALE DR VE
MOUNDS V EW, M NNESOTA 55112
ATTN: SERV CE OR REPA RS
3.4 About the Multi-Tech BBS
Multi-Tech Systems maintains a Bulletin Board Service
(BBS) for its customers. The information available via
the BBS includes: new product information, product
upgrade data, problem solving tips, and a message
service for you to leave questions for which you
would like additional information. The phone number
for the Multi-Tech BBS is [phone] or (800)
392-2432 (U.S.A. and Canada).
The BBS can be accessed by any asynchronous
modem operating at speeds of 28,800-1200 bps
(V.34 and downward compatible) with a setting of
word length of 8 bits, 1 stop bit, and no parity.
3.4.1 How to Use the Multi-Tech BBS
To use Multi-Tech's BBS, perform the following steps.
1. Set your computer or communications program to
"8N1", and to emulate ANS (e.g., with MultiExpress
software, press ALT-S and choose "ANS ").
2. Dial our BBS at 1-800 392-2432 (U.S.A. and

3-6
Canada) or 612-785-3702 ( nternational).
3. At the prompt, type your first name, last name,
password, then hit RETURN. f you are a first time
caller, after you hit RETURN the BBS asks if your
name is spelled correctly. f you say yes, our
questionnaire is displayed. You can use our BBS on
your first call.
4. There are four BBS areas: the Main Menu, the Files
Menu, Bulletins (from the main Menu), and the
Message Menu. All Bulletins are Menu-driven. To
read the Bulletins, enter the number of the bulletin
you wish to read.
5. File Menu: from the Main Menu, type F: and the
Files are displayed. f you want a list of directories,
type L (list directory) and then type L again for a
list of all directories. f you do not type the second
L, you will list all of the files on the BBS. At the list
of the directories, select the number of directories
required. A list of files and a description for each
of the files is displayed. Select a file that you would
like to download; if you already know the file
name, type D at the Files Menu to download the
selected file(s). Press V to view a text file.
6. At the Message Menu, you can leave a message
to the Sysop (you can not read messages at this
point). The BBS will tell you if you have a personal
message (mail). At the prompt (would you like to
read it now?), type R for read now. You must read
your message(s) when you first access the BBS.