SeaLevel ULTRA 530.PCI User manual

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© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 7101 Manual | SL9160 9/2021
ULTRA 530.PCI
User Manual | 7101

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© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 7101 Manual | SL9160 9/2021
Contents
CONTENTS............................................................................................................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................................................................................................3
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED..............................................................................................................................................................................................4
CARD SETUP........................................................................................................................................................................................................................5
INSTALLATION...................................................................................................................................................................................................................14
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION..............................................................................................................................................................................................16
SPECIFICATIONS...............................................................................................................................................................................................................19
APPENDIX A –TROUBLESHOOTING.............................................................................................................................................................................20
APPENDIX B –HOW TO GET ASSISTANCE..................................................................................................................................................................21
APPENDIX C –ELECTRICAL INTERFACE......................................................................................................................................................................22
APPENDIX D –ASYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATIONS.............................................................................................................................................24
APPENDIX E –SILK-SCREEN..........................................................................................................................................................................................25
APPENDIX F –COMPLIANCE NOTICES.........................................................................................................................................................................26
WARRANTY ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 27

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© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 7101 Manual | SL9160 9/2021
Introduction
Overview
The Sealevel Systems ULTRA 530.PCI is a one channel PCI Bus serial I/O adapter for the PC and
compatibles. It provides one field selectable RS-232/422/485/530 serial port supporting asynchronous
data rates up to 460.8K bps as well as isochronous data rates up to the speed of the supplied clock. Now,
with this card, you can use your standard communications software and connect over a clocked digital
communications line.
Configure the port as RS-232 for standard serial COM: port requirements. Choose the RS-422 mode for long
distance device connections up to 4000ft. where noise immunity and high data integrity are essential.
Select RS-485 and capture data from multiple peripherals in a RS-485 multi-drop network. Up to 31 RS-485
devices can be connected to each port to automate your data collection.
In both RS-232 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. UART upgrades
are available providing 32-, 64- and 128-byte FIFOs.

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Before You Get Started
What’s Included
The ULTRA 530.PCI is shipped with the following items. If any of these items are missing or damaged,
contact the supplier.
•ULTRA 530.PCI Serial I/O Adapter
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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Card Setup
RS-485 Enable Modes
RS-485 is ideal for multi-drop or network environments. RS-485 requires a tri-state driver that will allow the
electrical presence of the driver to be removed from the line. The driver is in a tri-state or high impedance
condition when this occurs. Only one driver may be active at a time and the other driver(s) must be tri-
stated. The output modem control signal Request To Send (RTS) is typically used to control the state of the
driver. Some communication software packages refer to RS-485 as RTS enable or RTS block mode transfer.
One of the unique features of the ULTRA 530.PCI is the ability to be RS-485 compatible without the need
for special software or drivers. This ability is especially useful in Windows, Windows NT, and OS/2
environments where the lower level I/O control is abstracted from the application program. This ability
means that the user can effectively use the ULTRA 530.PCI in a RS-485 application with existing (i.e.,
standard RS-232) software drivers.
Header E4 is used to control the RS-485 mode functions for the driver circuit. The selections are:
‘Auto’ enable (silk-screen ‘AT’). The ‘Auto’ enable feature automatically enables/disables the RS-485
interface via on board circuitry.
‘RTS’ enable (silk-screen ‘RT’) The ‘RTS’ mode uses the ‘RTS’ modem control signal to enable the RS-485
interface and provides backward compatibility with existing software products.
‘DTR’ enable (silk-screen ‘DT’) The ‘DTR’ mode uses the ‘DTR’ modem control signal to enable the RS-485
interface, provides backward compatibility with existing software products and with the Oxford
Semiconductor 16C950 RS-485 enable feature
‘Output One’ enable (silk-screen ‘OP’) This mode uses the ‘OP1’ control signal to enable the RS-485 interface
and provides backward compatibility with existing software products and with the Exar 16C850 RS-485
enable feature
‘No Echo’ (silk-screen ‘NE’) of E4 is used to control the RS-485 enable/disable functions for the receiver
circuit and determine the state of the RS-422/485 driver. 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. To select the ‘No Echo’ mode select silk-screen
position ‘NE’.

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CARD SETUP, CONTINUED
RS-485 Mode Examples (Header E4)
AT
RT
DT
OP
NE
Figure 1- Header E4, RS-422
AT
RT
DT
OP
NE
Figure 2 –Header E4, RS-485 ‘Auto’ Enabled, with ‘No Echo’
AT
RT
DT
OP
NE
Figure 3 - Header E4, RS-485 ‘Auto’ Enabled, with ‘Echo’

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CARD SETUP, CONTINUED
RS-485 Mode Examples (Header E4) continued
AT
RT
DT
OP
NE
Figure 4 - Header E4, RS-485 ‘RTS’ Enabled, with ‘No Echo’
AT
RT
DT
OP
NE
Figure 5 –Header E4, RS-485 ‘RTS’ Enabled, with ‘Echo’
AT
RT
DT
OP
NE
Figure 6 –Header E4, RS-485 ‘DTR’ Enabled, with No Echo
Address and IRQ selection
The ULTRA 530.PCI is automatically assigned I/O addresses and IRQs by your motherboard BIOS. Only the
I/O address may be modified by the user.
Adding or removing other hardware may change the assignment of I/O addresses and IRQs.

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CARD SETUP, CONTINUED
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. Header E4 allows customization of this interface to specific
requirements. Each jumper position corresponds to a specific portion of the interface. If multiple ULTRA
530.PCI adapters are configured in a RS-485 network, only the boards on each end should have jumpers T,
P & P ON. Refer to the following table for each position’s operation:
Name
Function
P
Adds or removes the 1K ohm pull-down resistor in the RS-
422/RS-485 receiver circuit (Receive data only).
P
Adds or removes the 1K ohm pull-up resistor in the RS-
422/RS-485 receiver circuit (Receive data only).
T
Adds or removes the 120-ohm termination.
L
Connects the TX+ to RX+ for RS-485 two wire operation.
L
Connects the TX- to RX- for RS-485 two wire operation.
P P T L L
Figure 7 - Headers E3, Line Termination

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CARD SETUP, CONTINUED
Electrical Interface Selection
Each port on the ULTRA 530.PCI has the ability to be used in either RS-232 or RS-422/485. This is selectable
via four 24 pin DIP-shunts at E1-E4. Please use the following illustration to aid in the configuration of your
electrical interface.
E1 E2
RS-232 RS-422
Figure 8 - Headers E1 & E2, RS-232 Selected
E1 E2
RS-232 RS-422
Figure 9 - Headers E1 & E2, RS-422/485 Selected

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CARD SETUP, CONTINUED
Clock Modes
The ULTRA 530.PCI employs a unique clocking option that allows the end user to select from divide by 4
and divide by 1 clocking modes. These modes are selected at Header E8.
To select the Baud rates commonly associated with COM: ports (i.e., 2400, 4800, 9600, 19.2, … 115.2K Bps)
place the jumper in the divide by 4 mode (silk-screen DIV4).
DIV1 DIV4
Figure 10 - Clocking Mode ‘Divide By 4’
To select the maximum data rate (460.8K bps) place the jumper in the divide by 1 (silk-screen DIV1)
position.
DIV1 DIV4
Figure 11 - Clocking Mode ‘Divide By 1’

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CARD SETUP, CONTINUED
Baud Rates and Divisors for the ‘Div1’ mode
The following table shows some common data rates and the rates you should choose to match them if
using the adapter in the ‘Div1’ mode.
For this Data Rate
Choose this Data Rate
1200 bps
300 bps
2400 bps
600 bps
4800 bps
1200 bps
9600 bps
2400 bps
19.2K bps
4800 bps
57.6 K bps
14.4K bps
115.2 K bps
28.8K bps
230.4K bps
57.6 K bps
460.8K bps
115.2 K bps
If your communications package allows the use of Baud rate divisors, choose the appropriate divisor from
the following table:
For this Data Rate
Choose this Divisor
1200 bps
384
2400 bps
192
4800 bps
96
9600 bps
48
19.2K bps
24
38.4K bps
12
57.6K bps
8
115.2K bps
4
230.4K bps
2
460.8K bps
1

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CARD SETUP, CONTINUED
Isochronous Clocking Jumpers
The Oxford Semiconductor 16C950 allows for the reception of both the transmit and the receive clocks for
isochronous communications (for a discussion on isochronous clocking refer to the Technical Description
section). The three headers that allow the selection of either a modem control signal or the clock option
are E5, E6 and E7. The following examples describe each setting.
DSRRXC
Figure 12 –Header E5, Modem Control Signal DSR selected as input
DSRRXC
Figure 13 - Header E5, Clock Signal RXC selected as input
RITXC
Figure 14 - Header E6, Modem Control Signal RI selected as input

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CARD SETUP, CONTINUED
Isochronous Clocking Jumpers (continued)
RITXC
Figure 15 - Header E6, Clock Signal TXC selected as input
TSETDTR
Figure 16 - Header E7, Modem Control Signal DTR selected as output
TSETDTR
Figure 17 - Header E7, Clock Signal TSET selected as output

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Installation
Software Installation
Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista™ Operating Systems
Do not install the Adapter in the machine until the software has been fully installed.
1. Begin by locating and installing the correct software from the website: SeaCOM Software.
2. 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.
You are now ready to proceed with connecting the 7101 to your system. Refer to the Hardware Installation
section for details.
Windows NT is not USB aware and thus cannot support this
device.
LINUX INSTALLATION
Refer to 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.
QNX
For the most up to date information on the QNX4 software support, please call Sealevel Systems’ Technical
Support, [phone]. Our technical support is free and available from 8:00AM-5PM Eastern Time,
Monday through Friday. For email support contact: mailto:[e-mail].

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© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 7101 Manual | SL9160 9/2021
INSTALLATION, CONTINUED
Hardware Installation
The adapter can be installed in any 5V PCI expansion slot and contains several jumper straps for each port
that must be set properly.
Do not install the Adapter in the machine until the software has been fully installed.
1. Turn off PC power. Disconnect the power cord.
2. Remove the PC case cover.
3. Locate an available PCI slot and remove the blank metal slot cover.
4. Gently insert the PCI adapter into the slot. Make sure that the adapter is seated properly.
5. Replace the screw. (This is required to ensure FCC Part 15 compliance.)
6. Replace the cover.
7. Connect the power cord
Installation is finished.

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Technical Description
The Sealevel Systems ULTRA 530.PCI provides a PCI interface adapter with an additional asynchronous
serial port providing a versatile interface, field selectable as RS-232 for modems, printers, and plotters, as
well as RS-422/485/530 for industrial automation and control applications.
The ULTRA 530.PCI utilizes the 16550 UART. This chip features programmable baud rates, data format,
interrupt control and a 16-byte input and output FIFO. Also available, as options, are the 16C650, 16C750
and 16C850 UART’s that provide deeper FIFO’s (32-, 64-, 128-bytes respectively).
One other unique feature of the ULTRA 530.PCI is the support for the Oxford Semiconductor 16C950. This
chip features a deep FIFO (128-bytes transmit and receive), automatic RS-485 driver enables, and the ability
to receive a clock for isochronous communications.
Isochronous Communications
Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines synchronous as "recurring or operating at exactly the same
period." The majority of the serial buses in use today operate asynchronously, that is, "not synchronous" or
more literally, not clocked. The same dictionary defines isochronous as "uniform in time; having equal
duration; and recurring at regular intervals." In this implementation of serial communications, isochronous
is defined as asynchronous framing (i.e., start, stop and parity bits) with the addition of a clock signal. This
scheme allows for much higher data rates and the use of digital lines (i.e., ISDN, T1) where a clock is
supplied for data multiplexing.
Why is this exciting? Now, with a simple communications interface that responds to standard
communication calls, high-speed communications can be accomplished! For example: Company A wishes
to send daily reports from the London office to its New York office via an established satellite link. These
links typically require a clock to synchronize data. In the past, more expensive synchronous interface
adapter and custom software would be required. Now, utilizing the ULTRA 530.PCI interface adapter with
the Oxford Semiconductor 16C950 UART, an off the shelf product such as PROCOMM PLUS32 or
Symantec’s PCANYWHERE32 can be utilized, at much higher data rates than are possible via dialup
services.

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TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, CONTINUED
Connector Pin Assignments
RS-232 Signals
Signal
Name
Pin #
Mode
GND
Ground
7
RD
Receive Data
3
Input
CTS
Clear To Send
5
Input
DSR
Data Set Ready
6
Input
TXC
Transmit Clock
15
Input
RXC
Receive Clock
17
Input
DCD
Data Carrier Detect
8
Input
RI
Ring Indicator
22
Input
TD
Transmit Data
2
Output
RTS
Request To Send
4
Output
TSET
Transmit Signal Element Timing
24
Output
DTR
Data Terminal Ready
20
Output

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TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, CONTINUED
RS-422/485/530 Pin Assignments
Signal
Name
Pin #
Mode
GND
Ground
7
RDB
RX+
Receive Positive
16
Input
RDA
RX-
Receive Negative
3
Input
CTSB
CTS+
Clear To Send Positive
13
Input
CTSA
CTS-
Clear To Send Negative
5
Input
DSRB
DSR+
Data Set Ready Positive
22
Input
DSRA
DSR-
Data Set Ready Negative
6
Input
DCDB
DCD+
Data Carrier Detect Positive
10
Input
DCDA
DCD
Data Carrier Detect Negative
8
Input
TDB
TX+
Transmit Positive
14
Output
TDA
TX-
Transmit Negative
2
Output
RTSB
RTS+
Request to Send Positive
19
Output
RTSA
RTS-
Request to Send Negative
4
Output
DTRB
DTR+
Data Terminal. Ready Positive
23
Output
DTRA
DTR-
Data Terminal Ready Negative
20
Output
TXCB
TXC+
Transmit Clock Positive
12
Input
TXCA
TXC-
Transmit Clock Negative
15
Input
RXCB
RXC+
Receive Clock Positive
9
Input
RXCA
RXC-
Receive Clock Negative
17
Input
TSETB
TSET+
Terminal Timing Positive
11
Output
TSETA
TSET-
Terminal Timing Negative
24
Output
These assignments meet the EIA/TIA/ANSI-530 DTE specification with the exception of Ring
Indicator which is not specified. It has been included here for compatibility with systems requiring
Ring Indicator. Always terminate any unused signals. This allows for maximum data thru-put.

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Specifications
Environmental Specifications
Specification
Operating
Storage
Temperature Range
0º to 70º C (32º to 158º F)
-50º to 105º C (-58º to 221º F)
Humidity Range
10 to 90% R.H. Non-Condensing
10 to 90% R.H. Non-Condensing
Manufacturing
All Sealevel Systems Printed Circuit boards are built to UL 94V0 rating and are 100% electrically tested.
These printed circuit boards are solder mask over bare copper or solder mask over tin nickel.
Power Consumption
Supply Line
+12VDC
-12VDC
+5 VDC
Rating
50 mA
50 mA
480 mA
Physical Dimensions
Board length
4.9 inches (12.446 cm)
Board Height including Goldfingers
3.5 inches (8.89 cm)
Board Height excluding Goldfingers
3.175 inches (8.064 cm)

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© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 7101 Manual | SL9160 9/2021
Appendix A –Troubleshooting
The adapter should provide years of trouble-free service. However, in the event that it appears to be
functioning incorrectly, the following tips can eliminate most common problems without the need to call
Technical Support.
Ensure that the Sealevel Systems SeaCOM software has been installed on the machine, so that the
necessary files are in place to complete the installation. To confirm installation, click on the Windows ‘Start’
button and then select ‘All Programs’. You should see the ‘SeaCOM’ program folder listed.
Following these simple steps can eliminate most common problems.
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. 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.
3. Make sure the Sealevel Systems adapter is using a unique IRQ. While the Sealevel Systems
adapter does allow the sharing of IRQs, many other adapters (i.e., SCSI adapters & on-board
serial ports) do not. The IRQ is typically selected by the BIOS or Operating system. Some BIOS
setup software will allow changing the IRQ, but others do not. Another method of changing
assigned resources is to try changing PCI slots. This will typically cause the BIOS or OS to
reassign the resources.
4. Make sure the Sealevel Systems adapter is securely installed in a motherboard slot.
5. Remember that a loopback test is not possible with the ‘NE’ jumper in place.
6. Always use the Sealevel Systems diagnostic software when troubleshooting a problem. This
will eliminate any software issues from the equation.
If these steps do not solve your problem, please call Sealevel Systems’ Technical Support, [phone].
Our technical support is free and available from 8:00AM-5PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. For
email support contact: mailto:sup[email protected]om.