SeaLevel PC-SIO 3600-485 User manual

PC-SIO™
USER’S MANUAL
Part Number 3600-485, 3600-422, 3601
Sealevel Systems, Inc Phone: [phone]
155 Technology Place FAX: [phone]
P.O. Box 830 www.sealevel.com
Liberty, SC 29657

Contents
INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................1
OVERVIEW ...........................................................................................1
WHAT’S INCLUDED..............................................................................1
CARD SETUP.......................................................................................................2
INSTALLATION...................................................................................................3
OPERATING SYSTEM INSTALLATION ....................................................3
For Windows Users.......................................................................3
Other Operating Systems ..............................................................3
PC CARD INSERTION...........................................................................3
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION..................................................................................4
MODEM CONTROL SIGNAL CONSIDERATIONS......................................4
CONNECTOR PIN ASSIGNMENTS...........................................................5
RS-232............................................................................................5
RS-422/485/530............................................................................5
SPECIFICATIONS.................................................................................................6
ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS.......................................................6
POWER CONSUMPTION........................................................................6
MEAN TIME BETWEEN FAILURES (MTBF)..........................................6
PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS........................................................................6
APPENDIX A -TROUBLESHOOTING....................................................................7
APPENDIX B -HOW TO GET ASSISTANCE.......................................................10
APPENDIX C -SEAPC AND SSENABLE SOFTWARE..........................................11
SEAPC..............................................................................................11
SeaPC System Requirements......................................................11
Installation of SeaPC...................................................................12
Executing the Driver....................................................................12
SSENABLE.........................................................................................14
APPENDIX D -ELECTRICAL INTERFACE...........................................................15
RS-232.............................................................................................15
RS-422.............................................................................................15
RS-485.............................................................................................16
RS-530.............................................................................................16
APPENDIX D -COMPLIANCE NOTICES .............................................................17
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION STATEMENT...................17
CANADIAN RADIO INTERFERENCE REGULATIONS ..............................18
EMC DIRECTIVE STATEMENT ...........................................................18
WARRANTY......................................................................................................19

© 1999f Sealevel Systems, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Introduction
Sealevel Systems PC-SIO Page 1
Introduction
Overview
Congratulations! You have now entered the world of mobile communications
via the Sealevel Systems PC-SIOSerial Interface.
In the last few years, the portable and notebook market has grown by leaps and
bounds. Most early laptops and notebooks handled I/O expansion through
proprietary expansion slots. These slots provided limited expansion for
specific peripherals such as modems and FAX peripherals. Mass storage
peripherals were factory installed and could not be easily changed.
Interconnectivity through local area networks offered limited performance
through slow parallel port network interfaces.
During this time period, two standards organizations, JEIDA and PCMCIA,
were working on the standardization of memory IC cards. These cards were
designed as strictly non-volatile silicon storage. JEIDA was the first to propose
the 68 pin connector standard for memory cards. In 1989, PCMCIA adopted
the JEIDA 68 pin standard and worked with JEIDA on further developments.
As the notebook market grew, the need for a standard I/O bus was seen. The
PCMCIA groups saw an opportunity to meet this need with an expanded version
of the 68 pin interface. Further development occurred and within one year,
release 2.0 of the standard was completed. Release 2.0 was a major update to
Release 1.0 and included full hardware support for I/O devices. Release 2.0
coincided with JEIDA’s 4.1 release and is identical.
The PC-SIO continues the Sealevel Systems tradition of an easy to use, highly
reliable, and technically advanced serial I/O solution.
What’s Included
The PC-SIO is shipped with the following items. If any of these items are
missing or damaged, contact the supplier.
•PC-SIO PCMCIASerial Interface Adapter
•DB-25 cable assembly
•DB25 to DB9 Adapter (P/N 3601 only)
•Impact Resistant Carrying Case (Jewel Case)
•Serial Utility Software
•User Manual

Installation
Sealevel Systems PC-SIO Page 2
Card Setup
Card and Socket Services must be loaded on the system prior to installing the
PC-SIO card. Card and Socket Services are typically supplied by the PCMCIA
slot provider, (i.e. the computer manufacturer or the PC adapter manufacturer).
Socket Services are the lowest level of the PCMCIA Software hierarchy.
Socket Services provide a standard interface to the higher level drivers and
isolate the socket controller’s specific hardware details. Socket Services
provide the ‘BIOS’interface to the socket controller hardware. Socket
Services are typically hidden under Card Services and are rarely directly
accessible by application software.
Card Services provide the interface to application software and drivers. Card
Services are responsible for allocating card resources and ensuring that card
resources do not interfere with other existing system resources. Card Services
are typically implemented as a driver and loaded via CONFIG.SYS during boot
up. Almost all PCMCIA type cards require some sort of software driver. In the
case of the PC-SIO, the generic Card Services driver supplied with the
computer system should provide adequate support for most applications. If the
generic Card Services are not sufficient, an ‘Enabler’is provided with the
PC-SIO that will address unique interfacing requirements (i.e. non standard I/O
addressing, different IRQ selection etc.). Please refer to Appendix C for
information on the SEAPC enabler and the diagnostic tool SSEnable. Please
note that SEAPC is not stand alone and does require Card and Socket Services.

Installation
Sealevel Systems PC-SIO Page 3
Installation
Card and Socket Services must be loaded on the system prior to installing the
PC-SIO card. Card and Socket Services are typically supplied by the PCMCIA
slot provider (i.e. the computer manufacturer or the PC adapter manufacturer).
These Services must be installed for the PC-SIO to operate properly. Refer to
the Card Setup section of this manual and your Serial Utilities Software for aid
in configuring common Card and Socket Services.
Operating System Installation
For Windows Users
Start by choosing Install Software at the beginning of the CD. Choose
Asynchronous COM: Port Software, SeaCOM.
Other Operating Systems
Refer to the appropriate section of the Serial Utilities Software.
PC Card Insertion
Connecting the PC-SIO to the computer requires no special technical skills. It
is installed by simply sliding the card into a PCMCIA Type II compliant slot on
the personal computer. The PCMCIA slot is keyed so that the PC-SIO cannot
be installed backwards or upside down. The card should install with a minimal
amount of pressure. Do not force the card into the slot. Forcing the card can
result in damage to the PC-SIO or to the PCMCIA slot. After the card has been
installed into the PCMCIA slot, the I/O cable should be connected to the card.
The cable is keyed to prevent it from being installed incorrectly.

Technical Description
Sealevel Systems PC-SIO Page 4
Technical Description
The PC-SIO provides one RS-485/422/530 (Part # 3600) or RS-232 (Part #
3601) serial port utilizing the 16550 UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver
Transmitter).
The PC-SIO is addressable as any COM: port (i.e. COM1:, COM2:,etc.) The
PC-SIO provides for selectable IRQs (3,4,5,7,9,10,11,12,15). I/O address and
IRQ combinations are very flexible, and information on selecting these
combinations is available in the Card Services Documentation and the supplied
diskette. Please refer to the README.DOC supplied with the PC-SIO for any
manual updates, corrections and software specific changes.
Each COM Port requires a minimum of one block of eight I/O addresses, for
example COM1: is usually hex address 3F8. 3F8 is the base address, and the
COM: ports extends through 3FF. In most applications, each COM: port will
utilize one IRQ. It is noteworthy that some DOS based applications allow IRQs
to be shared between COM: ports, however most advanced operating
environments (Windows 95, OS/2) require each COM: port to have a unique
IRQ setting.
Modem Control Signal Considerations
Some software packages require the use of the modem handshake signals such
as CTS or DCD. Refer to your application software manual to determine the
requirements for modem control signals. If no requirements are mentioned, a
safe configuration is to tie DTR to DSR and DCD, and tie RTS to CTS. This
configuration will typically satisfy the modem control signal requirements for
most communications software.

Technical Description
Sealevel Systems PC-SIO Page 5
Connector Pin Assignments
RS-232
Signal Name DB-25 DB-9* Mode
GND Ground 75
TD Transmit Data 23Output
RTS Request To Send 47Output
DTR Data Terminal Ready 20 4Output
RD Receive Data 32Input
CTS Clear To Send 58Input
DSR Data Set Ready 66Input
CD Carrier Detect 81Input
RI Ring Indicator 22 9Input
* Note:These assignments meet EIA/TIA/ANSI-574 DTE for DB-9 type
connectors.
RS-422/485/530
Note: The PC-SIO comes in two versions for the RS-422/485/530 electrical
interface. One, the PC-SIO-422, (part # 3600-422), has both the
transmitter and receiver always enabled. This allows for “Point to Point
RS-422/530 operation. The other option is the PC-SIO-485,
(part #3600-485). This version requires the assertion of the RTS line
prior to transmitting and released after transmission, (RS-485 Mode).
Signal Name Pin # Mode
GND Ground 7
TX + Transmit Data Positive 14 Output
TX-Transmit Data Negative 2Output
RTS+ Request to Send Positive 19 Output *
RTS-Request to Send Negative 4Output *
RX+ Receive Data Positive 16 Input
RX-Receive Data Negative 3Input
CTS+ Clear to Send Positive 13 Input *
CTS-Clear to Send Negative 5Input *
* Note: The RTS modem control signals are only available if using the
PC-SIO-422 version (part # 3600-422).

Specifications
Sealevel Systems PC-SIO Page 6
Specifications
Environmental Specifications
Specification Operating Storage
Temperature Range 0º to 50º C
(32º to 122º F) -20º to 70º C (-4º to 158º F)
Humidity Range 10 to 90% R.H.
Non-Condensing 10 to 90% R.H. Non-Condensing
Power Consumption
Supply Line Product Rating (mA)
+5 VDC 3600/3601 25 mA
Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)
Greater than 150,000 hours. (Calculated)
Physical Dimensions
The PC-SIO conforms to the physical dimensions for all PCMCIA Type 2 cards
as defined in the PCMCIA specification 2.0.

Appendix A -Troubleshooting
Sealevel Systems PC-SIO Page 7
Appendix A -Troubleshooting
Serial Utility test software is supplied with the Sealevel Systems adapter and
will be used in the troubleshooting procedures. By using this software and
following these simple steps, most common problems can be eliminated
without the need to call Technical Support.
1. Identify all I/O adapters currently installed in your system. This includes
your on-board serial ports, controller cards, sound cards etc. The I/O
addresses used by these adapters, as well as the IRQ (if any) should be
identified.
2. Make sure Card and Socket Services have been loaded and are functioning
correctly.
3. Configure your Sealevel Systems adapter so that there is no conflict with
currently installed adapters. No two adapters can occupy the same I/O
address.
4. Make sure the Sealevel Systems adapter is using a unique IRQ. Refer to the
section on Card Setup for help in choosing an I/O address and IRQ.
5. Make sure the Sealevel Systems adapter is securely inserted in a PC Card
slot.
6. When running DOS, Windows 3.x or other operating systems refer to the
Serial Utilities software for that operating system and the User Manual to
verify that the Sealevel Systems adapter is configured correctly. The
supplied software contains a diagnostic program 'SSD' that runs under DOS
and will verify if an adapter is configured properly. This diagnostic
program is written with the user in mind and is easy to use. Refer to the
DIAG.txt file in the dos\diag directory for detailed instructions on using
'SSD'.
7. For Windows 95/98 and Windows NT, the diagnostic tool 'WinSSD' is
installed in the Sealevel folder onthe Start Menu during the setup process.
First find the ports using the Device Manager, then use 'WinSSD' to verify
that the ports are functional.
8. Always use the Sealevel Systems diagnostic software when
troubleshooting a problem. This will help eliminate any software issues
and identify any hardware conflicts.
The next few pages identify common errors and specifics remedies

Appendix A -Troubleshooting
Sealevel Systems PC-SIO Page 8
Problem: Card Services reports that the PC Card cannot be found.
Possible Cause: The PC Card internal Card Information Structure (CIS) is not
being read correctly by Card Services.
Solution: Use the supplied Client enabler program SeaPC (see page 13) to
install the PC Card.
___________________________________________________________
Problem: Card services or SeaPC successfully allocates the I/O address or IRQ
but the port fails to operate.
Possible Cause: When using the I/O Client enabler program SeaPC, there is the
possibility that the selected I/O address or Interrupt is already
in use by another adapter in the system. Card services usually
check for an available I/O address during installation or
during the boot process. If new hardware or software is
installed in the system that may cause an I/O address or IRQ
conflict, Card Services may not be able to arbitrate the
specified resources.
Solution: Select a different I/O address and IRQ.
___________________________________________________________
Problem: SeaPC will not enable the port at the specified I/O address and
Interrupt.
Possible Cause:Card Services flags certain I/O addresses and Interrupts as used
and will not allow other Client Enabler Driver, like SEAPC to
use them.
Solution: Select a different I/O address and IRQ in the SeaPC setup file.
____________________________________________________________

Appendix A -Troubleshooting
Sealevel Systems PC-SIO Page 9
Problem: The host system will not configure the card or the system shuts down
after the PC Card is inserted.
Possible Cause: Host hardware may not supply enough power to the PCMCIA
slot.
Solution: Check to make sure the PCMCIA slot is rated to supply enough power
to the card. On some palmtop and battery powered systems, there is a
specified limit to the available power a PCMCIA slot can use. In this
case, try installing the card when the system is powered by the AC
adapter.
____________________________________________________________
Problem: Card Services will not respond to card insertion events.
Possible Cause: Memory conflict, External floppy or hard disks, VGA video
cards, SCSI adapters, LAN Network adapters.
Solution: Consult the Card Services documentation for instruction on memory
requirements. If using DOS, it will probably be necessary to exclude
a specified memory range in the CONFIG.SYS file.
____________________________________________________________
Problem: PC Cards that are inserted will not configure properly or Card
Services reports that the card is not recognized.
Possible Cause:Memory shadowing conflicts.
Solution: Make sure that memory shadowing in the PC is disabled in the regions
that memory windows are being used by the host PCMCIA adapter.

Appendix B -How To Get Assistance
Sealevel Systems PC-SIO Page 10
Appendix B -How To Get Assistance
Please refer to Appendix A -Troubleshooting prior to calling Technical
Support.
1. Read this manual thoroughly before attempting to install the
adapter in your system.
2. When calling for technical assistance, please have your user
manual and current adapter settings. If possible, please have the
adapter installed in a computer ready to run diagnostics.
3. Sealevel Systems maintains a Home page on the Internet. Our
home page address is www.sealevel.com. The latest software
updates, and newest manuals are available via our FTP site that can
be accessed from our home page.
4. Technical support is available Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. Eastern time. Technical support can be reached at (864)
843-4343.
RETURN AUTHORIZATION MUST BE OBTAINED FROM SEALEVEL
SYSTEMS BEFORE RETURNED MERCHANDISE WILL BE ACCEPTED.
AUTHORIZATION CAN BE OBTAINED BY CALLING SEALEVEL
SYSTEMS AND REQUESTING A RETURN MERCHANDISE
AUTHORIZATION (RMA) NUMBER.

Appendix C –SeaPC and SSenable Software
Sealevel Systems PC-SIO Page 11
Appendix C -SeaPC and SSEnable Software
SeaPC
SeaPC is a PCMCIA Version 2.0 compliant DOS only client that will enable
the selected PC Cards I/O address and IRQ when inserted. The SeaPC driver is
located on the supplied software in the PCMCIA directory. Please refer to the
README.DOC file for additional information.
Features
•Allows unique addressing and IRQ selection
•Provides the highest level of compatibility with installed systems
compliant with PCMCIA standard 2.0 or higher
When should I use the enabler?
This PC Card Client Enabler is not needed in all situations. SeaPC should be
used if one or more of the following conditions occur:
•The PCMCIA system software (Card and Socket Services) on the host
computer will not configure the cards automatically.
•The PCMCIA system software on the host computer does not supply a
configuration utility to allow the PC Card to be configured automatically.
•The configuration utility with the PCMCIA system software does not
function properly.
SeaPC System Requirements
SeaPC was designed to operate on an x86 based computer. SeaPC requires
approximately 3 kilobytes of free conventional memory. If SeaPC is loaded
more than once, an additional 3 kilobytes plus buffer space is required for each
resident copy. SeaPC may be used with memory managers and loaded into
expanded memory. SeaPC requires MS-DOS or PC-DOS version 3.00 or
higher and Card and Socket Services that are compliant with PCMCIA version
2.00 or higher.

Appendix C –SeaPC and SSenable Software
Sealevel Systems PC-SIO Page 12
Installation of SeaPC
Executing the Driver
SeaPC is a DOS Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) program that can be
executed from the DOS command prompt or from the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
For additional information on the AUTOEXEC.BAT file please refer to the
DOS manual. When SeaPC is executed, a setup file must be specified on the
command line.
Command Line Options
To display the available command line options, Type “SeaPC /?” at the DOS
command prompt. The following should be displayed.
C:>SeaPC /?
Sealevel Systems, Inc. SeaPC PC Card I/O Enabler Version 1.00
Sealevel Systems Inc. (C) 1994. All rights reserved.
Syntax: SeaPC [/F:file] [/U] [/I] [/V] [/?]
/F:[file] Where file is the configuration file
/U Unconditional installation
/I Display info on resident copies of SeaPC without installing
the enabler
/V Show verbose installation information
/? Display command line options, inhibit driver from loading
Note: That the /F: option is the only required command line parameter. If the
setup file is not located in the default directory, the drive and path must
be specified. The following section details the syntax of the setup file.

Appendix C –SeaPC and SSenable Software
Sealevel Systems PC-SIO Page 13
Setup File
An example setup file named SeaPC.INI is provided on the diskette. This file
may be edited with the DOS EDIT utility. The following is the syntax for a PC
Card configuration:
[card]
BaseIO = Base I/O address
IRQ = Interrupt Request Signal
Type = Device Type
Interface = Electrical Interface Utilized
Note: All items in italics need to be provided by the user. The following is a
description of each entry in the setup file:
BaseIO Base I/O address in Hexadecimal. Valid ranges are from 0 –
3FF Hex. Some ranges may be reserved by the PCMCIA system
software or occupied by other peripherals in the host computer
system.
IRQ Interrupt Request Signal in Decimal. Valid ranges are from 2-15.
Please note that some IRQs be reserved by the PCMCIA system
software or occupied by other peripherals in the host computer
system.
Type Device Type. Valid option is UART for the 3600 or 3601
Interface Electrical Interface Utilized. Valid options are RS-232, RS-422,
RS-485. ( In the scope of the driver, RS-422 and RS-485 are
viewed as the same value.)
A semicolon (;) at the beginning of a line denotes a comment and the remainder
of that line is ignored. Note the above syntax is an example for one card.
Multiple cards (up to eight) may be configured using the following syntax:
;First Card
[card]
BaseIO=238
IRQ=10
Type = UART
Interface=RS-232

Appendix C –SeaPC and SSenable Software
Sealevel Systems PC-SIO Page 14
Using the PC Card on platforms other than ISA
Most PCMCIA systems are based on the standard PC (ISA) architecture,
however in some situations it may be necessary to install the PC Card in a non
ISA system (for example Micro-channel or PCI). For this reason the setup file
has an additional parameter that allows pulse mode interrupts. An ISA system
uses level mode interrupts which is the default setting. To enable pulse mode
interrupts, add the following line to the setup file:
IRQMode = Pulse
Remember this feature will only work on a platform that supports pulse mode
interrupts, and if the Card and Socket services support pulse mode interrupts.
SSEnable
SSEnable is a PCMCIA DOS only utility that will allow the use of your PC
Card without loading card and socket services. The utility is provided for
applications that conflict with card and socket services. Please note that this
utility does NOT use card and socket services and greatly reduces the features
of the PCMCIA card.
One very important thing to remember about SSEnable is that it does not provide
‘Hot Swapping’ capability for the PCMCIA socket. Hot insertion or removal of
the PC Card while using SSEnable could cause damage to the PCMCIA socket or
the card.
The command line parameters for the program are listed by typing SSEnable at
the DOS prompt. The following are example command line entries for the
SSEnable program:
Enable base I/O address 238 hex,-IRQ 5, -memory range d000-dffff, (which has
been excluded from any memory manager and is reserved for the PC Card
attribute memory) and the PC Card is in socket 1
SSEnable /b:238 /i:5 /m:d000 /s:1
To remove the configuration on socket 1 type:
SSEnable /s:1 /r
Note: SSEnable will only work with Intel PCIC compatible socket controllers.

Appendix D –Electrical Interface
Sealevel Systems PC-SIO Page 15
Appendix D -Electrical Interface
RS-232
Quite possibly the most widely used communication standard is RS-232. This
implementation has been defined and revised several times and is often
referred to as RS-232 or EIA/TIA-232. The IBM PC computer defined the
RS-232 port on a 9 pin D sub connector and subsequently the EIA/TIA approved
this implementation as the EIA/TIA-574 standard. This standard is defined as
the 9-Position Non-Synchronous Interface between Data Terminal
Equipment and Data Circuit-Terminating Equipment Employing Serial
Binary Data Interchange. Both implementations are in wide spread use and
will be referred to as RS-232 in this document. RS-232 is capable of operating
at data rates up to 20 Kbps at distances less than 50 ft. The absolute maximum
data rate may vary due to line conditions and cable lengths. RS-232 often
operates at 38.4 Kbps over very short distances. The voltage levels defined by
RS-232 range from -12 to +12 volts. RS-232 is a single ended or unbalanced
interface, meaning that a single electrical signal is compared to a common
signal (ground) to determine binary logic states. Avoltage of +12 volts (usually
+3 to +10 volts) represents a binary 0 (space) and -12 volts (-3to -10 volts)
denotes a binary 1 (mark). The RS-232 and the EIA/TIA-574 specification
defines two type of interface circuits, Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) and
Data Circuit-Terminating Equipment (DCE). The Sealevel Systems adapter is a
DTE interface.
RS-422
The RS-422 specification defines the electrical characteristics of balanced
voltage digital interface circuits. RS-422 is a differential interface that defines
voltage levels and driver/receiver electrical specifications. On a differential
interface, logic levels are defined by the difference in voltage between a pair of
outputs or inputs. In contrast, a single ended interface, for example RS-232,
defines the logic levels as the difference in voltage between a single signal and
a common ground connection. Differential interfaces are typically more
immune to noise or voltage spikes that may occur on the communication lines.
Differential interfaces also have greater drive capabilities that allow for longer
cable lengths. RS-422 is rated up to 10 Megabits per second and can have
cabling 4000 feet long. RS-422 also defines driver and receiver electrical
characteristics that will allow 1 driver and up to 32 receivers on the line at
once. RS-422 signal levels range from 0 to +5 volts. RS-422 does not define a
physical connector.

Appendix D –Electrical Interface
Sealevel Systems PC-SIO Page 16
RS-485
RS-485 is backwardly compatible with RS-422; however, it is optimized for
partyline or multi-drop applications. The output of the RS-422/485 driver is
capable of being Active (enabled) or Tri-State (disabled). This capability allows
multiple ports to be connected in a multi-drop bus and selectively polled.
RS-485 allows cable lengths up to 4000 feet and data rates up to 10 Megabits
per second. The signal levels for RS-485 are the same as those defined by
RS-422. RS-485 has electrical characteristics that allow for 32 drivers and 32
receivers to be connected to one line. This interface is ideal for multi-drop or
network environments. RS-485 tri-state driver (not dual-state) will allow the
electrical presence of the driver to be removed from the line. Only one driver
may be active at a time and the other driver(s) must be tri-stated. The output
modem control signal RTS controls the state of the driver. Some
communication software packages refer to RS-485 as RTS enable or RTS block
mode transfer. RS-485 can be cabled in two ways, two wire and four wire
mode. Two wire mode does not allow for full duplex communication, and
requires that data be transferred in only one direction at a time. For half-duplex
operation, the two transmit pins should be connected to the two receive pins
(Tx+ to Rx+ and Tx-to Rx-). Four wire mode allows full duplex data transfers.
RS-485 does not define a connector pin-out or a set of modem control signals.
RS-485 does not define a physical connector.
RS-530
RS-530 (a.k.a. EIA-530) compatibility means that RS-422 signal levels are
met, and the pin-out for the DB-25 connector is specified. The EIA (Electronic
Industry Association) created the RS-530 specification to detail the pin-out,
and define a full set of modem control signals that can be used for regulating
flow control and line status. The RS-530 specification defines two types of
interface circuits, Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) and Data Circuit-
Terminating Equipment (DCE). The Sealevel Systems adapter is a DTE
interface.