StarTech.com PCI4S550 User manual

PCI Serial Card
PCI4S550 Instruction Manual
Actual product may vary from photo
4 Port RS-232 High-Speed Serial PCI Card

FCC Compliance Statement
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instructions, 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.
Use of Trademarks, Registered Trademarks, and other
Protected Names and Symbols
This manual may make reference to trademarks, registered trademarks, and other
protected names and/or symbols of third-party companies not related in any way to
StarTech.com. Where they occur these references are for illustrative purposes only and
do not represent an endorsement of a product or service by StarTech.com, or an
endorsement of the product(s) to which this manual applies by the third-party company in
question. Regardless of any direct acknowledgement elsewhere in the body of this
document, StarTech.com hereby acknowledges that all trademarks, registered
trademarks, service marks, and other protected names and/or symbols contained in this
manual and related documents are the property of their respective holders.

Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Installing the Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Installing the Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Accessory Products from StarTech.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
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Introduction
Thank you for purchasing a StarTech.com 16950 PCI Serial card. The latest in Plug and
Play expansion cards, this high-speed serial card provides your computer with four
16C950 UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter) RS-232 serial ports
(varies by model). You can connect any 9-pin external serial device such as a modem,
mouse, or ISDN adapter to your system and enjoy speeds of up to 15 Mbits/sec
(asynchronous mode) or 60 Mbits/sec (isochronous) mode. This 32-bit, 33MHz PCI card
is also backwards compatible with UART versions to ensure compatibility with a wide
range of serial peripherals.
Features
•Provides four 16C950 UART RS-232 serial ports
•Buffers up to 128 bytes for FIFO receiving/transmitting
•Fully adjustable IRQ trigger levels
•Automated flow-control to prevent UART overrun
•Backward compatible with 16C450, 16C550, 16C650, and 16C750 UARTs
•Complies with PCI Bus specification 2.2, Power Management 1.0, and Plug and Play
specifications
•Backed by StarTech.com’s lifetime warranty
Before You Begin
To ensure a quick and easy card installation, please read through this section carefully
before attempting to install the card.
System Requirements
•An IBM PC running Windows XP/2000/ME/98/95 or NT4.0
•An available PCI slot
•ACD-ROM or other compatible optical drive (for driver installation)
WARNING! PCI cards, like all computer equipment, can be severely damaged by static
electricity. Be sure that you are properly grounded before opening your computer case or
touching your PCI card. StarTech.com recommends that you wear an anti-static strap
when installing any computer component. If an anti-static strap is unavailable, discharge
yourself of any static electricity build-up by touching a large grounded metal surface
(such as the computer case) for several seconds. Also be careful to handle the PCI card
by its edges and not the gold connectors.
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Contents
This package should contain:
•1x PCI serial card
•1x Port “dongle” connector
•1x Installation CD
•1x Instruction Manual
Installation
This section will guide you through the installation of your PCI card and the related
software. Please read through the instructions carefully and complete each step in the
order listed.
Installing the Card
1. Make sure that your system is unplugged and you are grounded.
2. Remove the cover of your system (see your computer’s user manual for details, if
necessary) and gently turn your computer onto its side.
3. Locate an empty PCI slot (usually white in color) and remove the metal plate that
covers the rear bracket. You may need a Phillips screwdriver to perform this step.
Retain this screw! You will need it to secure the card later.
4. Gently insert the card into the empty slot, making sure it is firmly seated.
5. Secure the card in place using the screw you removed in Step 3.
6. Connect the port dongle provided to the port on the back of the card.
7. Put your computer case back on.
Installing the Drivers
The current software drivers for this product are included on the provided installation CD.
If you lose the installation CD or want to update the existing drivers in future, please visit
www.startech.com to download the most current version of the drivers. For advanced
configuration instructions, consult the PDF files located in the doc folder on the
installation CD. To view these files, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader which is
available as a free download from www.adobe.com.
Windows XP/2000
1. Windows will automatically detect the new hardware and start the Add New
Hardware Wizard. Click Next.
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2. Insert the installation CD that came with the card into your computer’s CD-ROM or
other compatible optical drive. Choose Search for a suitable driver... (Windows
2000) or Install the software automatically (Windows XP). Click Next.
3. You may receive a warning that the driver is not digitally signed. Choose OK
(Windows 2000) or Continue Anyway (Windows XP) when prompted to complete the
installation.
4. When Windows is done copying files, you will see a message above the System Tray
(next to the clock) stating that the card is installed and ready to use. You may now
attach your serial devices.
Windows 95/98/98SE/ME
1. Windows will automatically detect the new hardware and start the Add New
Hardware Wizard. Click Next.
2. Choose Search for the best driver for my device and click Next.
3. Insert the installation CD that came with the card into your computer’s CD-ROM or
other compatible optical drive. Check CD-ROM from the list. Click Next.
4. The system will locate the appropriate driver. Click Next.
5. When the system is finished installing the driver, click Finish. Once the main driver
for the card is installed, the system will install the serial ports automatically.
Windows NT4
1. Insert the driver disk into the disk drive. Browse to the WinNT4 folder on the
installation CD and double-click on the Install_Ssr.exe file.
2. When the installation application starts, click Next to continue.
3. Ensure that Install is selected, then click Next.
4. Click OK to accept the license agreement. The system will install the drivers and the
ports will be ready for use.
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Specifications
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Form Factor/Interface Full-size PCI, 32-bit
PCI standard ver. 2.2 compliant
Maximum Data Transfer Rate 15 Mbits/sec (asynchronous mode)
60 Mbits/sec (isochronous mode)
(Some speeds may require a different clock crystal)
Connectors DB-9 RS-232 serial (male)
UART Chipset Oxford Semiconductor
OX16PCI954
Regulatory Certifications FCC Class B, CE, UL

Accessory Products from StarTech.com
Contact your local StarTech.com dealer or visit www.startech.com for cables or other
accessories that will help you get the best performance out of your new product.
3 ft. AT Modem Cable DB9F-DB25M
MC3MF
6 ft. AT Modem Cable (male to female)
MC6MF
6 ft. 9-pin Straight Through Cable (male to female)
MXT100
25 ft. 9-pin Straight Through Cable (male to female)
MXT100_25
Adapter DB9F to DB25F
AT925FF
Adapter DB9F to DB25M
AT925FM
Slimline Adapter DB9F to DB25M
AT925SFM
10 ft. Cross Wired Serial/Null Modem Cable DB9F to DB25M
SCNM925FM
10 ft. Cross Wired Serial/Null Modem Cable DB9 F/F
SCNM9FF
25 ft. Cross Wired Serial/Null Modem Cable DB9 F/F
SCNM9FF25
10 ft. Cross Wired Serial/Null Modem Cable DB9 F/M
SCNM9FM
6 ft. Modem Cable DB9F-DB9F
MXT100FF
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Technical Support
StarTech.com’s lifetime technical support is an integral part of our commitment to provide
industry-leading solutions. If you ever need help with your product, visit
www.startech.com/support and access our comprehensive selection of online tools,
documentation, and downloads.
Warranty Information
This product is backed by a lifetime warranty. In addition, StarTech.com warrants its
products against defects in materials and workmanship for the periods noted, following
the initial date of purchase. During this period, the products may be returned for repair, or
replacement with equivalent products at our discretion. The warranty covers parts and
labor costs only. StarTech.com does not warrant its products from defects or damages
arising from misuse, abuse, alteration, or normal wear and tear.
Limitation of Liability
In no event shall the liability of StarTech.com Ltd. and StarTech.com USA LLP (or their
officers, directors, employees or agents) for any damages (whether direct or indirect,
special, punitive, incidental, consequential, or otherwise), loss of profits, loss of business,
or any pecuniary loss, arising out of or related to the use of the product exceed the
actual price paid for the product.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential
damages. If such laws apply, the limitations or exclusions contained in this statement
may not apply to you.
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Revised: 23 November 2004 (Rev. B)
About StarTech.com
StarTech.com is “The Professionals’ Source for Hard-to-Find Computer
Parts”. Since 1985, we have been providing IT professionals with the
quality products they need to complete their solutions. We offer an
unmatched selection of computer parts, cables, server management
solutions and A/V products and serve a worldwide market through our
locations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Taiwan.