SeaLevel PC-COMM+232 User manual

1
© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 3622 Manual | SL9113 7/2021
PC-COMM+232
User Manual | 3622

2
© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 3622 Manual | SL9113 7/2021
Contents
CONTENTS...........................................................................................................................................................2
QUICK START.......................................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................5
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED ...............................................................................................................................6
CARD SETUP ........................................................................................................................................................7
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................................................9
SPECIFICATIONS ...............................................................................................................................................10
APPENDIX A –TROUBLESHOOTING................................................................................................................11
APPENDIX B –HOW TO GET ASSISTANCE .....................................................................................................12
APPENDIX C –ELECTRICAL INTERFACE ........................................................................................................13
APPENDIX D –COMPLIANCE NOTICES ..........................................................................................................14
WARRANTY ........................................................................................................................................................16

3
© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 3622 Manual | SL9113 7/2021
Quick Start
Card Setup
The PC-COMM+232 will use I/O Addresses 240H and 248H and allow your operating system to assign the
IRQ. If these I/O addresses are already in use, please feel free to contact our Technical Support
Representatives to identify possible solutions.
Operating System Installation
Do not install the adapter in the machine until the software has been fully installed.
Please install the proper software for your adapter before installing the hardware. Refer to the SEACOM
software for the correct operating system installation procedure.
Windows 95/98/ME/2000
1. Ensure that the PCMCIA services are enabled. This is done in the Control Panel.
2. Begin by locating, selecting, and installing the correct software from the Sealevel software driver
database.
3. Select the Part Number (3622) for your adapter from the listing.
4. Select ‘Download Now” for the SeaCOM for Windows. The setup file will automatically detect the
operating environment and install the proper components. Next (depending on your browser)
select the ‘Run this program from its current location’ or ‘Open’ option. Follow the information
presented on the screens that follow.
5. A screen may appear with the declaration: “The publisher cannot be determined due to the
problems below: Authenticode signature not found.” Please select the ‘Yes’ button and proceed
with the installation. This declaration simply means that the Operating System is not aware of the
driver being loaded. It will not cause any harm to your system.
6. During setup, the user may specify installation directories and other preferred configurations. This
program also adds entries to the system registry that are necessary for specifying the operating
parameters for each driver. An uninstall option is also included to remove all registry/INI file entries
from the system.
7. Using the Device manager, verify that the ports have been installed and what ‘Friendly Names’ (i.e.,
COM5: COM6:, etc.) have been assigned to your adapter.
Windows NT 4.0
1. Ensure that the PCMCIA services are enabled. This is done in the Control Panel.
2. Begin by locating, selecting, and installing the correct software from the Sealevel software driver
database.
3. Select ‘Download Now” for the SeaCOM for Windows. The setup file will automatically detect the
operating environment and install the proper components. Next (depending on your browser)

4
© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 3622 Manual | SL9113 7/2021
select the ‘Run this program from its current location’ or ‘Open’ option. Follow the information
presented on the screens that follow.
4. A screen may appear with the declaration: “The publisher cannot be determined due to the
problems below: Authenticode signature not found.” Please select the ‘Yes’ button and proceed
with the installation. This declaration simply means that the Operating System is not aware of the
driver being loaded. It will not cause any harm to your system.
5. During setup, the user may specify installation directories and other preferred configurations. This
program also adds entries to the system registry that are necessary for specifying the operating
parameters for each driver. An uninstall option is also included to remove all registry/INI file entries
from the system.
6. Power down the machine, install the card, and power up. This will allow NT to find the first port at
240H and assign an IRQ.
7. Open ‘Advanced Ports’ found in the Control Panel. Verify that the first port on your card has been
initialized at 240H and identify the IRQ. The IRQ will be the same for the second port.
8. Select ‘Add Port.’ Type in ‘248’ for ‘Starting I/O Address’. Select the same interrupt that has been
assigned to the first port. Do not select the ‘Share Interrupt’ check box.
9. Click the ‘Add’ button, and then the ‘Apply’ button.
10. Allow your system to Re-boot with the card installed.
11. Installation is complete.
Windows NT is not ‘Plug and Play’ nor does it support ‘Hot-Swapping,’ therefore power down
before card insertions or removals.
Linux
Please refer to the Linux section of Sealevel’s website for the software and up-to-date instructions for
various Linux installations.

5
© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 3622 Manual | SL9113 7/2021
Introduction
The PC-COMM+232 continues the Sealevel Systems tradition of an easy to use, highly reliable, and
technically advanced serial I/O solution featuring the advanced EXAR XC16C850 UART. This UART includes
128-byte FIFOs, automatic hardware/software flow control and the ability to handle much higher data rates
than the standard UARTs.

6
© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 3622 Manual | SL9113 7/2021
Before You Get Started
What’s Included
The PC-COMM+232 is shipped with the following items. If any of these items are missing or damaged,
please contact Sealevel for replacement.
•PC-COMM+232 PCMCIA Serial Interface Adapter
•Dual DB-9 cable assembly
•Impact Resistant Carrying Case (Jewel Case)
•One serial loopback plug
Advisory Conventions
Warning
The highest level of importance is 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.

7
© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 3622 Manual | SL9113 7/2021
Card Setup
Card and Socket Services must be loaded on the system prior to installing the PC-COMM+232 card. Card
and Socket Services should be supplied by the PCMCIA slot provider (i.e., the computer manufacturer or
the PC adapter manufacturer). These may be in the form of a third-party add-on Card and Socket Services
(e.g., CardSoft’s CardWizard) or with your current operating system (e.g., Windows 95/99/ME/NT/2000).
Socket Services are the lowest level of the PCMCIA Software hierarchy. They 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, 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. In the case of the PC-COMM+232, the generic Card Services driver available should provide
adequate support for most applications. Connecting the PC-COMM+232 to the computer requires no
special technical skills. In fact, it is usually done in two simple steps:
1. Begin by locating, selecting, and installing the correct software from the Sealevel software driver
database.
2. Select Part Number (3622) for your adapter from the listing.
3. Select ‘Download Now” for the SeaCOM for Windows. The setup file will automatically detect the
operating environment and install the proper components. Next (depending on your browser)
select the ‘Run this program from its current location’ or ‘Open’ option. Follow the information
presented on the screens that follow.
4. Simply slide the card into a PCMCIA Type II compliant slot on the personal computer. The PCMCIA
slot is keyed so that the PC-COMM+232 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-COMM+232 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 also
keyed to ensure proper installation.

8
© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 3622 Manual | SL9113 7/2021
Data Rate Selection
When the PC-COMM+232 is installed in Windows 95/98 or NT, choosing an oscillator value as shown above
can control the data rate. This selection is found in Device Manager under Ports COM and LPT in 95/98 by
highlighting the port and choosing Properties and then choosing the Advanced tab. In Windows NT select
the Advanced tab inside the Control Panel utility Advanced Ports. The PC-COMM+232 ships with a
7.3728Mhz oscillator and choosing that value will result in the data rate selected to be the actual data rate.
If you were to choose 1.8432Mhz then the data rate you choose will actually be four times slower than the
actual data rate. This is due to the fact that 7.3728 is four times 1.8432. If you have any questions about
the setting, please contact Sealevel Technical support. Refer to Appendix B for contact information.

9
© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 3622 Manual | SL9113 7/2021
Technical Description
The PC-COMM+232 provides two RS-232 serial ports utilizing XR16C850 UARTs (Universal Asynchronous
Receiver Transmitter). The XR16C850 is compatible with the 16550 UART. The ‘850 is an enhanced UART
with 128-byte FIFOs, automatic hardware/software flow control and the ability to handle much higher data
rates than standard UARTs.
Connector Pin Assignments for RS-232 (DB-9 Male)
Signal
Name
DB-9*
Mode
GND
Ground
5
TD
Transmit Data
3
Output
RTS
Request To Send
7
Output
DTR
Data Terminal Ready
4
Output
RD
Receive Data
2
Input
CTS
Clear To Send
8
Input
DSR
Data Set Ready
6
Input
CD
Carrier Detect
1
Input
RI
Ring Indicator
9
Input
Please terminate any control signals that are not going to be used. The most common way to do
this is connect RTS to CTS and RI. Also, connect DCD to DTR and DSR. Terminating these pins, if
not used, will help insure you get the best performance from your adapter.
These assignments meet EIA/TIA/ANSI-574 DTE for DB-9 type connectors.

10
© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 3622 Manual | SL9113 7/2021
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
3622
25 mA
Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)
Greater than 150,000 hours. (Calculated)
Physical Dimensions
The PC-COMM+232 conforms to the physical dimensions for all PCMCIA Type II cards as defined in the
PCMCIA specification 2.0.

11
© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 3622 Manual | SL9113 7/2021
Appendix A –Troubleshooting
The adapter should provide years of trouble-free service. However, in the event that device appears to not
be functioning incorrectly, the following tips can eliminate most common problems 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. Configure your I/O adapters so that there are no conflicts with currently installed adapters. No two
adapters can occupy the same I/O address.
3. Make sure the Sealevel Systems adapter is securely installed in a PC Card slot.
4. For Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000, the diagnostic tool 'WinSSD' is installed in the SeaCOM folder
on the Start Menu during the setup process. First find the ports using the Device Manager, then use
'WinSSD' to verify that the ports are functional.
5. Always use the Sealevel Systems diagnostic software when troubleshooting a problem. This will
help eliminate any software issues and identify any hardware conflicts.
If these steps do not solve your problem, please call Sealevel Systems’ Technical Support, [phone].
Our technical support is free and available from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday.
For email support contact supp[email protected].

12
© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 3622 Manual | SL9113 7/2021
Appendix B –How To Get Assistance
Please refer to Troubleshooting Guide prior to calling Technical Support.
1. Begin by reading through the Trouble Shooting Guide in Appendix A. If assistance is still needed,
please see below.
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 provides a FAQ section on its web site. Please refer to this to answer many
common questions. This section can be found at http://www.sealevel.com/faq.htm .
4. 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.
5. 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 [phone].
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.

13
© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 3622 Manual | SL9113 7/2021
Appendix C –Electrical Interface
RSS-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 widespread 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. A voltage of +12 volts (usually +3 to +10 volts)
represents a binary 0 (space) and -12 volts (-3 to -10 volts) denote a binary 1 (mark). The RS-232 and the
EIA/TIA-574 specification define two types of interface circuits, Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) and Data
Circuit-Terminating Equipment (DCE). The Sealevel Systems adapter is a DTE interface.

14
© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 3622 Manual | SL9113 7/2021
Appendix D –Compliance Notices
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Statement
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:
•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna
•Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver
•Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which
the receiver is connected
•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help
EMC Directive Statement
Products bearing the CE Label fulfill the requirements of the EMC directive (89/336/EEC)
and of the low-voltage directive (73/23/EEC) issued by the European Commission. To obey
these directives, the following European standards must be met:
•EN55022 Class B - “Limits and methods of measurement of radio interference
characteristics of information technology equipment”
•EN55024 –“Information technology equipment Immunity characteristics Limits
and methods of measurement”.
Always use cabling provided with this product if possible. If no cable is provided or if an alternate
cable is required, use high quality shielded cabling to maintain compliance with FCC/EMC
directives.

15
© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 3622 Manual | SL9113 7/2021
Caution
Sealevel Systems, Inc. is not responsible for any radio or television interference caused by unauthorized
modifications of this equipment or the substitution of attachment of connecting cables and equipment
other than those specified by Sealevel Systems. Such unauthorized modifications, substitutions, or
attachments may void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. The correction of interference caused
by such unauthorized modifications, substitutions, or attachments will be the responsibility of the user.
Always use cabling provided with this product if possible. If no cable is provided or if an alternate cable is
required, use high quality shielded cabling to maintain compliance with FCC directives.
Canadian Radio Interference Regulations
This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment
Regulations.
Cet Appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences de Règlement sur le matériel du
Canada.

16
© Sealevel Systems, Inc. 3622 Manual | SL9113 7/2021
Warranty
Sealevel's commitment to providing the best I/O solutions is reflected in the Lifetime Warranty that is
standard on all Sealevel manufactured I/O products. We are able to offer this warranty due to our control
of manufacturing quality and the historically high reliability of our products in the field. Sealevel products
are designed and manufactured at its Liberty, South Carolina facility, allowing direct control over product
development, production, burn-in and testing. Sealevel achieved ISO-9001:2015 certification in 2018.
Warranty Policy
Sealevel Systems, Inc. (hereafter "Sealevel") warrants that the Product shall conform to and perform in
accordance with published technical specifications and shall be free of defects in materials and
workmanship for the warranty period. In the event of failure, Sealevel will repair or replace the product at
Sealevel's sole discretion. Failures resulting from misapplication or misuse of the Product, failure to adhere
to any specifications or instructions, or failure resulting from neglect, abuse, accidents, or acts of nature
are not covered under this warranty.
Warranty service may be obtained by delivering the Product to Sealevel and providing proof of purchase.
Customer agrees to ensure the Product or assume the risk of loss or damage in transit, to prepay shipping
charges to Sealevel, and to use the original shipping container or equivalent. Warranty is valid only for
original purchaser and is not transferable.
This warranty applies to Sealevel manufactured Product. Product purchased through Sealevel but
manufactured by a third party will retain the original manufacturer's warranty.
Non-Warranty Repair/Retest
Products returned due to damage or misuse and Products retested with no problem found are subject to
repair/retest charges. A purchase order or credit card number and authorization must be provided in order
to obtain an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) number prior to returning Product.
How to obtain an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization)
If you need to return a product for warranty or non-warranty repair, you must first obtain an RMA number.
Please contact Sealevel Systems, Inc. Technical Support for assistance:
Available Monday –Friday, 8:00AM to 5:00PM EST
Phone [phone]
Email [email protected]
Trademarks
Sealevel Systems, Incorporated acknowledges that all trademarks referenced in this manual are the service
mark, trademark, or registered trademark of the respective company.