SeaLevel VERSA COMM +4 User manual

VERSA COMM+4™
USER’S MANUAL
Part Number 3410
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
FACTORY DEFAULT SETTINGS .............................................................1
CARD SETUP............................................................................. 2
ADDRESS SELECTION ...........................................................................2
PORT ENABLE / DISABLE.....................................................................3
IRQ SELECTION...................................................................................3
INTERRUPT MODE OPTIONS.................................................................4
INSTALLATION.......................................................................... 6
OPERATING SYSTEM INSTALLATION....................................................6
For Windows Users.......................................................................6
Other Operating Systems..............................................................6
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION ....................................................... 7
FEATURES ...........................................................................................7
CONNECTOR PIN ASSIGNMENTS...........................................................8
RS-232...........................................................................................8
SPECIFICATIONS....................................................................... 9
ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS......................................................9
MANUFACTURING...............................................................................9
POWER CONSUMPTION........................................................................9
MEAN TIME BETWEEN FAILURES (MTBF)..........................................9
PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS.......................................................................9
APPENDIX A -TROUBLESHOOTING....................................... 10
APPENDIX B -HOW TO GET ASSISTANCE............................. 12
APPENDIX C -ELECTRICAL INTERFACE................................ 13
RS-232............................................................................................13
APPENDIX D -ASYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATIONS ............ 14
APPENDIX E -SILK-SCREEN.................................................. 15

APPENDIX F-SCHEMATIC......................................................16
APPENDIX G -COMPLIANCE NOTICES...................................18
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION STATEMENT ..................18
EMC DIRECTIVE STATEMENT...........................................................18
WARRANTY.............................................................................19
Figures
Figure 1 -Address Selection Table..................................................................2
Figure 2 -DIP-Switch Illustration.....................................................................2
Figure 3 -Headers E1, E2, E3, and E4 ............................................................3
Figure 4 -Header E5, Normal IRQ Mode.......................................................4
Figure 5 -Header E5, Shared IRQ Mode .......................................................4
Figure 6 -Header E5, Sharing IRQ’s with another adapter...........................5
Figure 7 -IRQ Headers E1 -E5 (Factory Default).........................................5
Figure 8 -Connector Pin Assignments.............................................................8
Figure 9 -Asynchronous Communications Bit Diagram...............................14
©1996d Sealevel Systems, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Introduction
Sealevel Systems VERSA COMM+4 Page 1
Introduction
Overview
The Sealevel Systems VERSA COMM+4 provides the PC with four
RS-232 asynchronous ports. The VERSA COMM+4 allows for
connection to any device utilizing the RS-232 electrical interface, such as
modems, data-entry terminals, and plotters.
What’s Included
The VERSA COMM+4 is shipped with the following items. If any of
these items are missing or damaged, contact the supplier.
•VERSA COMM+4 Serial I/O Adapter
•“Spider” Cable providing 4 DB-25 connectors.
•3.5” Serial Utility Diskette
•User Manual
Factory Default Settings
The VERSA COMM+4 factory default settings are as follows:
Port # Base Address IRQ
Port 1 3F8 4
Port 2 2F8 3
Port 3 3E8 4
Port 4 2E8 3
To install the VERSA COMM+4 using factory default settings, refer to
the Installationsection of this manual.
For your reference, record installed VERSA COMM+4 settings below:
Port # Base Address IRQ
Port 1
Port 2
Port 3
Port 4

Card Setup
Sealevel Systems VERSA COMM+4 Page 2
Card Setup
The VERSA COMM+4 contains several jumper straps which must be set
for proper operation.
Address Selection
Each port on the VERSA COMM+4 occupies 8 consecutive I/O locations.
A DIP-switch is used to set the base address for these locations. Be
careful when selecting the base address as some selections conflict with
existing ports. The following table shows several examples that typically
do not cause a conflict. SW4 sets the I/O address for port 1, SW3 sets the
address for port 2, SW2 sets the address for port 3 and SW1 sets the
address for port 4.
Address Binary Switch Position Setting
Hex A9 A0 1234567
280-287 1010000XXX Off On Off On On On On
2A0-2A7 1010100XXX Off On Off On Off On On
2E8-2EF 1011101XXX Off On Off Off Off On Off
2F8-2FF 1011111XXX Off On Off Off Off Off Off
3E8-3EF 1111101XXX Off Off Off Off Off On Off
300-307 1100000XXX Off Off On On On On On
328-32F 1100101XXX Off Off On On Off On Off
3F8-3FF 1111111XXX Off Off Off Off Off Off Off
Figure 1-Address Selection Table
The following illustration shows the correlation between the DIP-switch
setting and the address bits used to determine the base address. In the
example below, address 300 is selected as a base. Address 300 in binary
is XX11 0000 0XXX where X = a non-selectable address bit.
ON
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
ENA3A9
Figure 2-DIP-Switch Illustration
Note: Setting the switch "On" or "Closed" corresponds to a "0" in the
address, while leaving it "Off" or "Open" corresponds to a "1".
Refer to Appendix A for common address contentions.

Card Setup
Sealevel Systems VERSA COMM+4 Page 3
Port Enable / Disable
Each port on the VERSA COMM+4 can be enabled or disabled with
switch position 8 on the DIP-switch. The port is enabled with the switch
"On" or "Closed" and disabled when "Off" or "Open". If any port is disabled,
be sure to disable the interrupt request for that port by removing the IRQ
jumper.
IRQ Selection
Headers E1, E2, E3 and E4 select the IRQ for each serial port.If COM1:
is selected, this jumper must be on the IRQ4 setting. If COM2: is
selected, this jumper must be on IRQ3.
2 3 4 5 7
10 11 12 15
2 3 4 5 7
10 11 12 15
2 3 4 5 7
10 11 12 15
E3 - Port2
E4 - Port1
E2 - Port3
E1 - Port4
2 3 4 5 7
10 11 12 15
Figure 3-Headers E1, E2, E3, and E4 (Factory Default)
Note: Most communications software applications default COM3: to
IRQ4 and COM4: to IRQ3. This requires the sharing of interrupts
between COM1: and COM3:, and between COM2: and COM4:.
While this is the default, it is not always the preferred setting.
Check your software configuration instructions to determine the
most appropriate IRQ selection.

Card Setup
Sealevel Systems VERSA COMM+4 Page 4
Interrupt Mode Options
Header E5 selects the interrupt mode for each port.Each port must be set
in the correct mode to insure proper installation.
"N" indicates the (N)ormal, single interrupt per port mode. "S" Indicates
the (S)hared interrupt mode, which allows more than one port to access a
single IRQ. Any two or more ports can share a common IRQ by placing
the jumpers on the same IRQ setting, and setting the appropriate
selections at E5. Consult your particular software for IRQ selection. If no
interrupt is desired, remove the jumper. "M" indicates the inclusion of a
1K ohm pull-down resistor required on one port when sharing interrupts.
M
S
N
M
S
N
E5
1
2
3
4
Figure 4-Header E5, Normal IRQ Mode
Set jumpers to "S" for shared interrupt mode on all blocks sharing an IRQ
except one. Set that port block for "M". This provides the pull-down
resistor circuit that makes sharing of IRQs possible. If you are using more
than one VERSA COMM+4 or a compatible card in a bus you should only
have one port set to "M". The following example shows all four ports
sharing a single IRQ.
M
S
N
M
S
N
E5
1 2
3
4
Figure 5-Header E5, Shared IRQ Mode

Card Setup
Sealevel Systems VERSA COMM+4 Page 5
Set jumper to "S" if you are using more than one VERSA COMM+4 in a
bus or you wish to completely remove the pull-down resistor for hardware
compatibility. Setting the board in this configuration when it is not
accompanied by a pull-down resistor will prevent the ports from triggering
an interrupt..
M
S
N
M
S
N
E5
1
2
3
4
Figure 6-Header E5, Sharing IRQ’s with another adapter
2 3 4 5 7 10 11 12 15
2 3 4 5 7 10 11 12 15
2 3 4 5 7 10 11 12 15
E3 - Port2
E4 - Port1
E2 - Port3
E1 - Port4
2 3 4 5 7 10 11 12 15
M
S
N
M
S
N
E5
1 2
3 4
Figure 7-IRQ Headers E1 -E5 (Factory Default)
The above example shows the correlation between jumper block E5 and
the interrupt jumpers (E1-E4). This example shows the
VERSACOMM+4 shipping configuration with COM1: & COM3: sharing
interrupt 4 and COM2: & COM4: sharing interrupt 3.

Installation
Sealevel Systems VERSA COMM+4 Page 6
Installation
The VERSA COMM+4 can be installed in any of the PC expansion slots,
but to access the “AT” or (E)ISA IRQ’s (10, 11, 12, 15) it must be
installed in one of the 16 bit slots. The VERSA COMM+4 contains
several jumper straps for each port which must be set for proper operation
prior to installing the card into the computer.
1. Turn off PC power. Disconnect the power cord.
2. Remove the PC case cover.
3. Locate an available slot and remove the blank metal slot cover.
4. Gently insert the VERSA COMM+4 into the slot. Make sure that the
adapter is seated properly.
5. Replace the screw.
6. Install the “Spider” Cable
7. Replace the cover.
8. Connect the power cord.
Installation is complete.
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.