SeaLevel ULTRA COMM+8.PCIe User manual

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© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 7804e Manual | SL9219 11/2021
ULTRA COMM+8.PCIe
User Manual | 7804e

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© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 7804e Manual | SL9219 11/2021
Contents
CONTENTS...........................................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................3
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED ...............................................................................................................................4
CARD SETUP ........................................................................................................................................................6
INSTALLATION .................................................................................................................................................... 9
HARDWARE INSTALLATION .............................................................................................................................11
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION ...............................................................................................................................12
SPECIFICATIONS ...............................................................................................................................................14
APPENDIX A –TROUBLESHOOTING................................................................................................................15
APPENDIX B –HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS.....................................................................................................16
APPENDIX C - HOW TO GET ASSISTANCE ......................................................................................................17
APPENDIX D –ELECTRICAL INTERFACE ........................................................................................................18
APPENDIX E –ASYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATIONS ..................................................................................19
APPENDIX F –SILK SCREEN ............................................................................................................................20
APPENDIX G –COMPLIANCE NOTICES ..........................................................................................................21
WARRANTY ........................................................................................................................................................22

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© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 7804e Manual | SL9219 11/2021
Introduction
Overview
The Sealevel Ultra COMM+8.PCIe is an eight channel RS-232/485/422 PCI express Bus serial I/O adapter
supporting data rates up to 921.6Kbps.
The RS-232 compatibility allows for connection to devices utilizing the RS-232 electrical interface, such as
modems, data-entry terminals, and plotters.
RS-422 provides excellent communications for long distance device connections up to 4000ft., where noise
immunity and high data integrity are essential.
RS-485 is optimized for ‘Multi-Drop’ or ‘Party-line’ operations selecting data from multiple peripherals (as
many as 31 devices can be connected on an RS-485 bus).
In both RS-485 and RS-422 modes, the card works seamlessly with the standard operating system serial
driver. In RS-485 mode, our special auto-enable feature allows the RS-485 ports to be viewed by the
operating system as a COM: port. This allows the standard COM: driver to be utilized for RS-485
communications. Our on-board hardware automatically handles the RS-485 driver enable.
The Ultra COMM+8.PCIe will operate on x1, x4, x8 or x16 PCIe bus slots.
Features
•Each port individually configurable for RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485
•16C954 buffered UARTs with 128-byte FIFOs
•Oscillator and clock prescalar support wide range of baud rates
•Supports 9-bit protocol framing
•Each port supports data rates to 921.6K bps
•RS-485 line termination, pull-up and pull-down resistors for each port are selectable via
dipswitch
•RS-485 ECHO can be enabled/disabled via dipswitch
•PCI Express X1 compliant
•Compatible with all standard size PCI Express slots
•All modem control signals implemented in RS232
mode
•Automatic RS-485 enable/disable in hardware
•Included 36" cable terminates to eight DB9M
connectors (Item# CA145)

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© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 7804e Manual | SL9219 11/2021
Before You Get Started
What’s Included
The ULTRA COMM+8.PCIe is shipped with the following items. If any of these items is missing or damaged,
contact the supplier.
•ULTRA COMM+8.PCIe Serial I/O Adapter
•CA145 –DB78 Male to (8) DB9 Male, 36 inch Length (for 7804, 7801, 3420)
Advisory Conventions
Warning
The highest level of importance used to stress a condition where damage could result to the
product, or the user could suffer serious injury.
Important
The middle level of importance used to highlight information that might not seem obvious or a
situation that could cause the product to fail.
Note
The lowest level of importance used to provide background information, additional tips, or other
non-critical facts that will not affect the use of the product.

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© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 7804e Manual | SL9219 11/2021
Optional Items
Depending upon your application, you are likely to find one or more of the following items useful with the
Ultra COMM+8.PCIe. All items can be purchased from our website (www.sealevel.com) by calling our
sales team at [phone].
DB9 to DB25 Serial Cable (Item# CA176)
DB9 Female (RS-422) to DB25 Male (RS-530) Cable, 10 in
Length
DB78 Extension Cable (Item# CA233)
DB78 Male to DB78 Female, 72 in Length - Extension Cable
Terminal Block Kit (Item# KT106)
Terminal Block Kit - TB06 + (2) CA127 Cables
Terminal Block Kit (Item# KT105)
Terminal Block Kit - TB05 + CA127 Cable
Terminal Block Kit (Item# TB34-8)
Terminal Block Kit (8 Pack) - DB9 Female to 5 Screw
Terminals (RS-422/485)

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© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 7804e Manual | SL9219 11/2021
Card Setup
Address and IRQ selection
The Ultra COMM+8.PCIe is automatically assigned I/O addresses and IRQs by your motherboard BIOS or
by a ‘Plug-n-Play’ Operating System. Adding or removing other hardware or moving the adapter to another
slot may change the assignment of I/O addresses and IRQs.
Clock Modes
The Ultra COMM+4.PCIe derives a 62.5MHz clock from the PCI express link which is divided by a 8 bit clock
prescaler and a 16 bit clock divisor to provide a wide range of possible baud rates.
Note that there are many combinations that can give the same result (e.g., Prescaler=1 and Divisor = 8,
Prescaler =2 and Divisor = 4, or Prescaler=8 and Divisor = 1). As long as the calculated data rate is within
+/- 2% you should communicate fine.
Baud Rates and Oscillator value
The following table shows some common data rates and the rates you should choose to achieve them
when using the ULTRA COMM+8.PCIe.
For This Data Rate
Clock Prescaler
Choose This Divisor DLM:DLL
1200 bps
1
3255
2400 bps
1.625
1001
4800 bps
1.750
465
9600 bps
1.875
217
19.2K bps
1.5
136
38.4K bps
1.75
588
57.6K bps
1.825
37
115.2K bps
1.875
18
230.4K bps
1
17
460.8K bps
2.125
4
921.6K bps
2.125
2

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© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 7804e Manual | SL9219 11/2021
Card Setup, Continued
Electrical Interface Selection
Each of the eight ports on the ULTRACOMM+8.PCIe can be individually configured as an RS-232, RS-422,
or RS-485 interface. This is selectable via the port DIP-switch, each is labeled with its port number.
Switch 1 (Silk M1)
Switch 2 (Silk M0)
Mode Select
OFF
OFF
232
OFF
ON
422
ON
OFF
485 With Echo
ON
ON
485 No Echo
Line Termination
Typically, each end of the RS-485 bus must have line-terminating resistors (RS-422 terminates at the receive
end only). A 120-ohm resistor is across each RS-422/485 input in addition to a 1K-ohm pull-up/pull-down
combination that biases the receiver inputs. Each switch allows customization of this interface to specific
requirements. Each switch position corresponds to a specific portion of the interface. If multiple ULTRA
COMM+8.PCIe adapters are configured in an RS-485 network, only the boards on each end should have
switches T, P & P ON. Refer to the following table for each position’s operation:
Switch
Name
Function
3
T
Adds or removes the 120 ohm termination.
4
PU
Adds or removes the 1K ohm pull-up resistor in the RS-422/RS-485 receiver circuit
5
PD
Adds or removes the 1K ohm pull-down resistor in the RS-422/RS-485 receiver circuit
6
L
Connects the TX- to RX- for RS-485 two-wire operation.
7
L
Connects the TX+ to RX+ for RS-485 two-wire operation.

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© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 7804e Manual | SL9219 11/2021
Card Setup, Continued
RS-485 ‘Echo’
The RS-485 ‘Echo’ is the result of connecting the receiver inputs to the transmitter outputs. Every time a
character is transmitted; it is also received. This can be beneficial if the software can handle echoing (i.e.,
using received characters to throttle the transmitter) or it can confuse the system if the software does not.
An RS-485 ‘No Echo’ option is selected by placing both Mode switches (M0, M1) in the ‘On’ position.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Figure 1 - RS-232 Mode
Figure 2 - RS-422 Mode
Figure 3 - RS-485 with 'Echo'
Figure 4 - RS-485 No 'Echo'
ON
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
ON
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
ON
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
ON

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© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 7804e Manual | SL9219 11/2021
Installation
This section contains helpful information pertaining to the installation of supported Sealevel Systems, Inc.
software packages. First, the process of acquiring the software is discussed. Next, the hardware
installation is detailed in a step-by-step guide.
Where to Get Sealevel Software
SeaCOM Software Installation
Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista™ Operating Systems
Sealevel software packages can be obtained from the Sealevel website (see following instructions). If you
already have the Sealevel software, proceed to the Upgrade to the current SeaCOM driver section.
Do not connect the hardware until the software has been successfully installed.
1. Begin by locating, selecting, and installing the correct software from the Sealevel software driver
database.
2. Select the Part Number (7804e) for your device from the listing.
3. Click the ‘Download Now’ button ‘SeaCOM for Windows.’
4. Sealevel software for Windows and Linux operating systems is also available at these links:
•Software for Windows
•Software for Linux
5. Choose the link for the desired software package and click on the ‘Download File’ link to
download the current driver.
6. The setup file will automatically detect the operating environment and install the proper
components.
To confirm that the SeaCOM driver has been successfully installed, click on the ‘Start’ button, and
then select ‘All Programs’. You should see the ‘SeaCOM’ program folder listed.

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© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 7804e Manual | SL9219 11/2021
Installation, Continued
This is a notification that if you are upgrading from a previous driver version, you would remove
the associated Device Manager hardware entries and reinstall the adapter after the installing the
SeaCOM software.
Upgrading to the current SeaCOM driver
1. Download the current driver using the Instructions from the Where to Get Software section
above. Please take note of the destination directory it will save to.
2. Uninstall the currently loaded driver SeaCOM driver found in the Control Panel. Prior to Windows
Vista SeaCOM will be populated in ‘Add/Remove Programs’ list. In Vista and newer OSs, it will be
found in the ‘Programs and Features’ list.
3. Navigate to the Device Manager and remove the Sealevel adapter by right clicking on the line
item choosing ‘Uninstall’. Depending on your product, it can be found under either ‘Multiport
Serial adapters’ or ‘Universal Serial Bus controllers’.
4. Single port ISA cards and PCMCIA cards will need to be uninstalled under ‘Ports (COM & LPT)’.
5. In the Device Manager under ‘Action’, choose ‘Scan for Hardware changes.’This will prompt the
installation of the adapter and associate it with the newly installed SeaCOM driver.
All Sealevel Systems software drivers have been fully tested by Sealevel. Clicking ‘OK’ will not
harm your system.
You are now ready to proceed with connecting the 7804e to your system. Refer to the Hardware
Installation section for details.
Other Operating Systems
LINUX INSTALLATION
Refer to the Driver Search Page for Part #7804e or the Linux Archives - Sealevel. This link contains
valuable information on installing your serial adapter in the various Linux releases. Also included is a series
of files explaining proper Linux syntax and typical Linux serial implementations. The 7804e is supported
natively in Linux kernels 2.6.28 and later.
QNX
For the most up to date information on the QNX4 and QNX6 software support, please contact Sealevel
Systems’ Technical Support, [phone]. Our technical support is free and available from 8:00 AM-
5:00 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. For email support contact: sup[email protected].