SeaLevel PC-COMM+232 User manual

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

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© 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

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© 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)

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© 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.

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© 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.

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© 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.

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© 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.

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© 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.

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© 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.

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© 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.