VSCOM H Series User manual

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User Manual VScom PCI Cards
User Manual VScom PCI Cards
User Manual VScom PCI Cards
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User Manual VScom PCI Cards
User Manual VScom PCI Cards
User Manual VScom PCI Cards
User Manual VScom PCI Cards
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User Manual VScom PCI Cards
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VScom H-Series Card
VScom H-Series Card
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VScom H-Series Card
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VScom H-Series Card
Edition: February 2010
Edition: February 2010
Edition: February 2010
Edition: February 2010
Edition: February 2010
Edition: February 2010
Edition: February 2010
Edition: February 2010
Edition: February 2010
Edition: February 2010
Edition: February 2010
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Fax: +49 40 528 401 99
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The software described in this manual is furnished under a license agreement and may be used
only in accordance with the terms of that agreement.
Copyright Notice
Copyright ©2009 Vision Systems. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohib-
ited.
Trademarks
VScom is a trademark of Vision Systems GmbH. All other trademarks and brands are property of
their rightful owners.
Disclaimer
Vision Systems reserves the right to make changes and improvements to its product without pro-
viding notice.
Vision Systems provides this document “as is”, without warranty of any kind, either expressed or
implied, including, but not limited to, its particular purpose. Vision Systems reserves the right
to make improvements and/or changes to this manual, or to the products and/or the programs
described in this manual, at any time.
Information provided in this manual is intended to be accurate and reliable. However, Vision
Systems assumes no responsibility for its use, or for any infringements on the rights of third parties
that may result from its use.
This product might include unintentional technical or typographical errors. Changes are period-
ically made to the information herein to correct such errors, and these changes are incorporated
into new editions of the publication.
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 2

Contents
Contents
1 Overview 6
2 Introduction 6
2.1 Features ........................................... 6
2.2 Product Specifications ................................... 7
2.2.1 VScom 200H UPCI ................................. 7
2.2.2 VScom 400H UPCI ................................. 8
2.2.3 VScom 800H UPCI ................................. 9
2.2.4 VScom 011H UPCI ................................. 10
2.2.5 VScom 110H PCI .................................. 11
2.2.6 VScom 210H PCI .................................. 12
2.2.7 VScom 410H PCI .................................. 13
2.2.8 VScom 400H RJ45 PCI .............................. 14
2.2.9 VScom 021H PCI .................................. 15
2.3 Packing List ......................................... 15
2.4 About this Manual ..................................... 16
3 Hardware Configuration 16
3.1 VScom 200H UPCI ..................................... 16
3.2 VScom 400H UPCI ..................................... 17
3.3 VScom 800H UPCI ..................................... 17
3.4 VScom 210H PCI ...................................... 17
3.5 VScom 410H PCI ...................................... 17
3.6 VScom 400H RJ45 PCI .................................. 17
3.7 VScom 021H PCI ...................................... 18
4 Windows Driver 19
4.1 Installing the Drivers .................................... 19
4.1.1 Install in Windows 9x, 2000, XP and Vista ................... 19
4.1.2 Install in Windows 7 ................................ 20
4.1.3 Verify the Installation ............................... 22
About assigned port numbers ........................... 22
4.1.4 Removing the Software in Windows 9x, 2000, XP and Vista .......... 23
4.1.5 Removing the Software in Windows 7 ...................... 23
4.2 Card and Port Configuration ............................... 25
4.2.1 Card and Ports in Device Manager ........................ 25
4.2.2 Card Advanced Settings .............................. 27
4.2.3 Ports Configuration ................................ 28
VScom Standard Port Settings .......................... 29
VScom Advanced Port Settings .......................... 30
Enhanced Software Settings ............................ 34
Automatic Software Flow Control ........................ 35
Automatic Hardware Flow Control by RTS/CTS ................ 37
Automatic Hardware Flow Control by DTR/DSR ................ 38
4.3 Windows NT 4.0 ...................................... 39
4.3.1 Installing in Windows NT 4.0 ........................... 40
Automatic Detection of PCI Cards ........................ 40
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 3

List of Figures
Configuration via Control Panel ......................... 41
System Configuration ............................... 41
Card and Port Configuration ........................... 41
Uninstall Drivers from Windows NT ....................... 42
Checking Installation in Windows NT ...................... 42
5 Linux Driver 43
5.1 Manual Installation ..................................... 43
5.2 Automatic Installation ................................... 43
5.2.1 Known Cards .................................... 43
5.2.2 New Models ..................................... 44
5.3 Problems since Kernel 2.6 ................................. 44
5.3.1 Compile a new Kernel ............................... 44
5.3.2 Kernel Start Parameters .............................. 44
5.4 Card Hardware Parameters ................................ 45
6 Connector Definitions 47
6.1 DB62 female ........................................ 47
6.2 DB37 female ........................................ 48
6.3 DB9 male .......................................... 49
6.4 DB25 male RS 232 ..................................... 49
6.5 DB25 female parallel (LPT) ................................ 50
6.6 DB25 female RS 232 .................................... 50
6.7 RJ45 for RS 232 ....................................... 51
7 History 52
List of Figures
1 VScom 200H UPCI ..................................... 7
2 VScom 400H UPCI ..................................... 8
3 VScom 800H UPCI ..................................... 9
4 VScom 011H UPCI ..................................... 10
5 VScom 110H PCI ...................................... 11
6 VScom 210H PCI ...................................... 12
7 VScom 410H PCI ...................................... 13
8 VScom 400H RJ45 PCI .................................. 14
9 VScom 021H PCI ...................................... 15
10 Windows 7 Installation ................................... 21
11 Driver Installation Target ................................. 21
12 Windows 7 Installing Drivers ............................... 22
13 Windows 7 Driver Removal ................................ 24
14 Windows 7 Drivers removed ................................ 25
15 Cards and Ports in Device Manager ........................... 26
16 Card Advanced Properties ................................. 27
17 Port Renaming ....................................... 28
18 Standard Settings ...................................... 29
19 Advanced Settings 16C950 ................................. 30
20 Advanced Settings 16C550A ................................ 32
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 4

List of Tables
21 UART Types ........................................ 32
22 Software Settings ...................................... 34
23 Auto XON/XOFF ..................................... 35
24 Auto RTS/CTS ....................................... 37
25 Auto DTR/DSR ...................................... 38
26 Auto-DTR Modes ..................................... 39
27 NT Plug & Play ....................................... 40
28 NT Device list ....................................... 41
29 DB62 female Connector .................................. 47
30 DB37 female Connector .................................. 48
31 DB9 male Connector .................................... 49
32 DB25 male RS 232 ..................................... 49
33 DB25 female LPT ..................................... 50
34 RJ45 for RS 232 ....................................... 51
List of Tables
1 Features of VScom UPCI models ............................. 7
2 Features of VScom 200H UPCI .............................. 7
3 Features of VScom 400H UPCI .............................. 8
4 Features of VScom 800H UPCI .............................. 9
5 Features of VScom 011H UPCI .............................. 10
6 Features of VScom 110H PCI ............................... 11
7 Features of VScom 210H PCI ............................... 12
8 Features of VScom 410H PCI ............................... 13
9 Features of VScom 400H RJ45 PCI ............................ 14
10 Features of VScom 021H PCI ............................... 15
11 JP1 for two Speeds ..................................... 16
12 JP1 for four Speeds ..................................... 17
13 Kernel Compile Options .................................. 44
14 Hardware Parameters ................................... 46
15 DB62 female Connector .................................. 47
16 DB37 female Connector .................................. 48
17 DB9 male Connector .................................... 49
18 DB25 male RS 232 ..................................... 49
19 DB25 parallel Connector .................................. 50
20 DB25 female RS 232 .................................... 50
21 RJ45 for RS 232 ....................................... 51
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 5

2 Introduction
1 Overview
VScom provides several models of serial port cards for the classic PCI bus. This bus will be replaced
by PCIe in the future, but it is still sufficient for many cards with low system demand. Serial and
parallel ports are examples of such devices. VScom has developed PCI serial and parallel cards since
the PCI bus entered the market, and now offers models ranging from one to eight serial ports. The
cards are designed to control industrial hardware via asynchronous serial ports, as many software
requires today. There are also models with one and two parallel ports.
The VScom UPCI cards are designed universal, they operate in the classic 5V signaling environ-
ment, as well as 3.3V PCI slots. Even the slightly newer PCI-X bus slots may be used to install and
operate the card and the ports. Some models are restricted to 5V PCI slots for electrical reasons.
The supplied drivers for Windows operating system install the ports into the Windows API, so
they appear as the usual Com and LPT ports software requires. A rich set of driver options is
configured via the Device Manager in Windows. The driver allows to configure the serial ports for
a bitrate of up to 3.6 Mbps. Of course RS 232 can not reliably transport very high bitrates, even
under best conditions 1 Mbit/s is the limit. As the result of the very high maximum bitrate, there
is no bitrate below 1 Mbit/s which the cards can not generate. No matter which configuration the
hardware requires, the VScom UPCI H-series cards deliver it.
2 Introduction
This manual describes the hardware of VScom UPCI H-series cards. UPCI is the name used in
VScom products for Universal PCI products. Also the Windows driver for these cards is described
in detail.
2.1 Features
•Universal PCI 33 MHz
•Serial port interface RS 232
•Max 3.6 Mbps
•Huge FIFO buffers 128 Byte
•Drivers for Windows™operating system
•Supported by Linux
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 6

2 Introduction
2.2 Product Specifications
The VScom UPCI cards share some common properties, the most important difference is the
number of serial and parallel ports. The maximum speed is 3.6 Mbit/s, but this is theoretical
because the electrical interface RS 232 is not capable of such transmission rates.
Bus interface Universal PCI 5V and 3.3V signals, 33MHz
Serial Ports 0 to 8 RS 232
Signals RS 232 RxD, TxD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, RI, GND
Max. Bitrates Theoretical 3.6 Mbit/s
Effective 1 Mbit/s
Serial configurations Data bits 5, 6, 7, 8
Parity None, Odd, Even, Mark, Space
Stop bits 1, 1.5, 2
FIFO size 128 Bytes For transmit and receive each
Parallel Ports 0 to 2 SPP, PS/2, EPP, ECP
Table 1: Features of VScom UPCI models
2.2.1 VScom 200H UPCI
The VScom 200H UPCI card features two serial ports, available via a universal PCI slot.
Figure 1: VScom 200H UPCI
Serial Ports 2 RS 232
Connectors 2×DB9 male Standard (6.3)
Signals RS 232 RxD, TxD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, RI, GND
Table 2: Features of VScom 200H UPCI
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 7

2 Introduction
2.2.2 VScom 400H UPCI
The VScom 400H UPCI card features four serial ports, available via a universal PCI slot.
Figure 2: VScom 400H UPCI
A model for Low Profile cases is available.
Serial Ports 4 RS 232
Connectors 4×DB9 male 2 on the card, 2 on extra bracket (6.3)
Signals RS 232 RxD, TxD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, RI, GND
Table 3: Features of VScom 400H UPCI
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 8

2 Introduction
2.2.3 VScom 800H UPCI
The VScom 800H UPCI card features eight serial ports, available via a universal PCI slot. All
eight serial ports share one common connector DB62-female. For signal assignment see 6.1.
An adapter cable to eight times DB9-male is not provided, customers can choose from several
connection options. There are Octopus-type cables to DB9 and DB25, male and female. There are
also connection boxes for DB9 male, or DB25 male and female. Also converter boxes to RS 422
and RS 485 are possible.
Figure 3: VScom 800H UPCI
A model for Low Profile cases is available.
Serial Ports 8 RS 232
Connectors 1×DB62 female Adapter not included (6.1)
Signals RS 232 RxD, TxD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, GND
Table 4: Features of VScom 800H UPCI
Note: There is no RI signal, because no pins are available for this on the DB62 connector.
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 9

2 Introduction
2.2.4 VScom 011H UPCI
The VScom 011H UPCI card features one parallel port, available via a universal PCI slot.
Figure 4: VScom 011H UPCI
A model for Low Profile cases is available.
Parallel Ports 1 SPP, PS/2, EPP, ECP
Connectors 1×DB25 female
Signals LPT Standard for LPT (6.5)
Table 5: Features of VScom 011H UPCI
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 10

2 Introduction
2.2.5 VScom 110H PCI
The VScom 110H PCI card features one serial and one parallel port, available via a classic 5V PCI
slot.
Figure 5: VScom 110H PCI
Bus 5V PCI Classic slots only
Serial Ports 1 RS 232
Connectors 1×DB9 male Standard (6.3)
Signals RS 232 RxD, TxD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, RI, GND
Parallel Ports 1 SPP, PS/2, EPP
Connectors 1×DB25 female
Signals LPT Standard for LPT (6.5)
Table 6: Features of VScom 110H PCI
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 11

2 Introduction
2.2.6 VScom 210H PCI
The VScom 210H PCI card features two serial ports and one parallel port, available via a classic
5V PCI slot.
Figure 6: VScom 210H PCI
Bus 5V PCI Classic slots only
Serial Ports 2 RS 232
Connectors 2×DB9 male Standard (6.3)
Signals RS 232 RxD, TxD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, RI, GND
Parallel Ports 1 SPP, PS/2, EPP, ECP
Connectors 1×DB25 female Extra bracket
Signals LPT Standard for LPT (6.5)
Table 7: Features of VScom 210H PCI
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 12

2 Introduction
2.2.7 VScom 410H PCI
The VScom 410H PCI card features four serial ports and one parallel port, available via a classic
5V PCI slot. All four serial ports share one common connector DB37-female. For signal assignment
see 6.2.
An adapter cable to four times DB9-male is provided, customers can order several other connection
options.
Figure 7: VScom 410H PCI
Bus 5V PCI Classic slots only
Serial Ports 4 RS 232
Connectors 1×DB37 female Adapter to 4×DB9 male included (6.2)
Signals RS 232 RxD, TxD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, RI, GND
Parallel Ports 1 SPP, PS/2, EPP
Connectors 1×DB25 female Extra bracket
Signals LPT Standard for LPT
Table 8: Features of VScom 410H PCI
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 13

2 Introduction
2.2.8 VScom 400H RJ45 PCI
The VScom 400H RJ45 PCI card features four serial ports, available via a classic 5V PCI slot. To
place all four serial ports to the bracket only, each port is provided by an RJ45 connector. Optional
available are ready made adapter cables to DB9 male, but usually the cables are configured by the
customer himself.
Figure 8: VScom 400H RJ45 PCI
Serial Ports 4 RS 232
Connectors 4×RJ45 4 on the card (21)
Signals RS 232 RxD, TxD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, GND
Table 9: Features of VScom 400H RJ45 PCI
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 14

2 Introduction
2.2.9 VScom 021H PCI
The VScom 021H PCI card features two parallel ports, available via a classic 5V PCI slot.
Figure 9: VScom 021H PCI
A model for Low Profile cases is available.
Bus 5V PCI Classic slots only
Parallel Ports 2 SPP, PS/2, EPP, ECP
Connectors 1×DB25 female 1 on card, 1 on second bracket
Signals LPT Standard for LPT (6.5)
Table 10: Features of VScom 021H PCI
2.3 Packing List
All models are shipped with a driver CD-ROM, which includes the documentation and the driver
software.
VScom 400H UPCI An extra bracket for third and fourth serial port is included.
VScom 021H PCI An extra bracket for the second parallel port is included.
VScom 210H PCI An extra bracket for the second serial port is included.
VScom 410H PCI An extra bracket for the parallel port is included.
An adapter cable from DB37 to four times DB9 is included.
VScom 400H RJ45 PCI Optional included are four adapter cables RJ45 to DB9.
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 15

3 Hardware Configuration
2.4 About this Manual
This manual describes the hardware of VScom H-Series Cards, as well as signal assignments. There
is at most one configuration option for customers.
The part describing the driver is generic for all VScom PCI cards, the same in all manuals. It
will describe options not available on your VScom H-Series Card. Just ignore such sections. Also
Windows NT and even older versions of Windows operating system are mentioned.
The screen shots in this manual are made on an English language version of Windows XP. It is not
difficult to find the appropriate part in any other language version of Windows.
The current version of the driver is 3.1.2.
3 Hardware Configuration
There are not much configuration options on the VScom UPCI cards, since PCI is a Plug and Play
system. System parameters like address or IRQ are not defined by hardware, they are assigned
by software. Some models of VScom UPCI cards allow to change the clock frequency of the serial
ports. This is available as “compatibility speed mode”, configured by a separate jumper.
The H-series cards are based on a 16C950 type UART, which has many advantages over the more
commonly used 16C550A and compatible devices. Given a certain crystal frequency the maximum
bitrate is four times as high as on a 16C550A. Since the speed configuration is for software which
is not aware of the added options in a 16C950, the maximum bitrate is given in 16C550A mode.
This is 921,600 bps, when the top speed option is selected (which is by default).
Some models provide too many ports for placing them all on the bracket attached to the card.
There are extra brackets with additional ports, connected via cable.
3.1 VScom 200H UPCI
Right below the crystal is the compatibility speed header JP1. This is used to configure the
maximum bitrate of the serial ports, please see table 11.
Pins max. Bitrate Remark
2–3 921,600 Default configuration
1–2 115,200 Compatibility option
Table 11: JP1 for two Speeds
The mentioned pins have to be connected by a cap to configure the operation mode. Make sure
there is a cap placed in any of the two allowed positions, otherwise the ports will not operate. When
the configuration has been changed, the driver for Windows has to learn this. In the Advanced
panel click on the “Check” button (4.2.2).
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 16

3 Hardware Configuration
3.2 VScom 400H UPCI
The third and fourth serial ports are connected via flat ribbon cable to the pin headers CN3 and
CN4. Make sure the orientation of the connector is correct, the colored ribbon has to be aligned
with pin 1.
The maximum bitrate of the VScom 400H UPCI is configured in exactly the same way as the 200H
card, so please read in 3.1 above.
3.3 VScom 800H UPCI
Right below the crystal is the compatibility speed header JP1. This is used to configure the
maximum bitrate of the serial ports. It is a block of eight pins, numbered top down and left to
right. Please see table 12.
Pins max. Bitrate Remark
1–2 921,600 Default configuration, leftmost
3–4 460,800
5–6 230,400
7–8 115,200 Compatibility option, rightmost
Table 12: JP1 for four Speeds
The mentioned pins have to be connected by a cap to configure the operation mode. Make sure
there is a cap placed in any of the four allowed positions, otherwise the ports will not operate. When
the configuration has been changed, the driver for Windows has to learn this. In the Advanced
panel click on the “Check” button (4.2.2).
3.4 VScom 210H PCI
The parallel port is connected via flat ribbon cable to the pin header. Make sure the orientation
of the connector is correct, the colored ribbon has to be aligned with pin 1.
3.5 VScom 410H PCI
The parallel port is connected via flat ribbon cable to the pin header. Make sure the orientation
of the connector is correct, the colored ribbon has to be aligned with pin 1.
3.6 VScom 400H RJ45 PCI
Right below the crystal is the compatibility speed header JP1. This is used to configure the
maximum bitrate of the serial ports. It is identical with the configuration on VScom 800H UPC,
so please check out section 3.3.
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 17

3 Hardware Configuration
3.7 VScom 021H PCI
The second parallel port is connected via flat ribbon cable to the pin header. Make sure the
orientation of the connector is correct, the colored ribbon has to be aligned with pin 1.
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 18

4 Windows Driver
4 Windows Driver
This chapter of the manual documents the drivers for Windows Operating Systems. The driver
is basically the same for all the VScom PCI cards available, independent of the model. As one
consequence there is only one driver for download, linked to from all the products. It does not
matter which link you use.
When Windows loads the driver, the type of card is identified. The driver adapts to the options
available on the certain card, and disables or hides other options. Because of the great similarity
of the products, users find the options always at the same positions, they do not have to learn each
product individually.
The following text is common to all cards, important differences are mentioned when necessary.
When a described option is not available on your product, this is not an error. This option is just
not offered by your hardware.
The manual first describes the process of installing the driver software, followed by instructions
for removing the drivers in the unlikely case you whish to do this. The drivers still support very
old phased out products, as well as old Windows versions 95 to ME (9x strand) and NT. The
old Windows systems are no longer supported by Microsoft, so there may be hidden problems on
your computer. These may cause the VScom cards to malfunction in your system. Said that, we
can not guarantee the old products operate reliably, and also modern products may have unex-
pected behaviour in old operating systems. The old operating systems are just mentioned in the
following.
Many VScom cards may be installed simultaneously. In fact the driver does not limit the number
of cards installed, Windows does. In Windows 9x the maximum number of serial or parallel ports
installed is 127, in Windows NT or later the limit is 256 ports of serial or parallel kind.
The current version of the driver is 3.1.2.
4.1 Installing the Drivers
Windows Systems perform the hardware detection by Plug & Play, you do not have to configure
the card in any way. Special DIP switches as described above of course are an exception.
Windows NT performs different, this is described later (section 4.3).
4.1.1 Install in Windows 9x1, 2000, XP and Vista
1. Install the card in your system and boot Windows.
2. Log on to an account with administrative privileges.
In Windows 95/98/98SE/ME each account is appropriate,
Windows NT is handled extra below.
3. Windows will automatically detect the VScom H-Series Card.
4. The “Add New Hardware Wizard” dialog box appears and searches for new drivers for the
VScom H-Series Card.
1Windows 95 up to Windows ME
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 19

4 Windows Driver
5. Click on “Next”.
6. From the listed box, choose “Search for the best driver for your device”.
7. Click on “Next”.
8. If not done already, insert the driver CD into the CD-ROM drive.
9. From the generated choices, choose “CD-ROM drive”.
10. Windows searches for the driver, and detects the .inf-file on the CD. It is ready to install the
driver for VScom H-Series Card.
Click on “Next”.
11. On some systems Windows may claim about a “Missing digital signature”. This is not an
error, just “Continue”.
12. Click on Finish.
13. Windows now detects the COM ports on the VScom H-Series Card.
14. If Windows requests the driver disk again, point to the directory named after your operating
system, e.g. “Windows XP (32 bit)”.
15. Windows will copy and install the driver for the new PCI serial ports.
16. You might be asked to restart your computer in the process. We suggest to wait with until
all components (cards and serial ports) are completely installed, and restart then.
4.1.2 Install in Windows 7
Windows 7 looks different when installing drivers. It seems it is very different from the other
Plug & Play enabled versions. But this is a deception.
When detecting new hardware Windows first visits the website of Windows Update to find a suitable
driver, which shall be installed. If none is found, Windows searches the local system for the required
driver, and loads it. If also there is none, this would be the time to pop-up the “Add New Hardware
Wizard”, so the user can supply a driver. And this step does not happen in Windows 7, the Wizard
does not appear2.
Instead Microsoft decided to have the user run an installation program for the hardware. This
software will install all the driver files to the system, and then initiates a hardware detection
process. This installation program in version 3.3.0.15 is available for all cards.
The following assumes the card is already installed in a slot.
1. Start the installation program. On the CD-ROM this is named vscompci.exe, and vscomp-
cix64.exe for the x64 Edition of Windows 7. For download from download it is available as
a self-extracting file, which detects the system automatically. This is the program, click on
“Install”.
2It is still available using some tricks
February 2010 VScom H-Series Card User Manual 20
Table of contents