Black Box IC110C Network Card User Manual


 
4
DUAL PORT RS-232 SERIAL INTERFACE
2.4 Technical Description
The Dual Port RS-232 Serial Interface provides the PC/XT™/AT/80X86
computer with two additional serial ports for terminals, modems, printers,
etc. The Dual Port RS-232 Serial Interface can be configured as COM1:
through COM4:, or any other I/O address.
The Dual Port RS-232 Serial Interface (IC110C) utilizes the same 16550
UART chip found in the IBM
®
asynchronous adapter. This chip features
programmable baud rate, data format, and interrupt control. Refer to the
IBM Technical Reference for details on programming the chip. The IC174C uses
the 16950 UART chip.
Each serial port can be set as COM1:, COM2:, or any other I/O address set up
to 3FF hex, providing total compatibility with most communications software
and languages. Some software packages require the use of the modem
handshake signals such as CTS or DCD. Consult your software manual to
determine handshake-signal requirements. If no requirements are
mentioned, or if you are not sure, a safe configuration is to connect (in your
cable hood) DTR to DSR and DCD, and tie RTS to CTS. This usually satisfies
the modem signal requirements for most communications software.
The table on page 5 shows the connector pinouts for ports J1 and J2 (DB9).
Note that this is the same RS-232 pinout as the DB9 serial AT connector.