                            Ц· ·Ц Ц· Ц· Ц· ЦТ· Ц· Ц·                            
                            З¶ єє З¶ єє У·  є  З¶ ЗЅ                            
                            ЅУ У/ ЅУ ЅУ УЅ  Р  ЅУ ЅУ                            
                                ISA BUS ADAPTER


        CONTENTS


        Notices & Warnings                                         i


        Chapter 1               Introduction                       1
        1.1     General Description                                1
        1.2     Physical Description                               2
        1.3     System Requirements                                3
        1.4     Application Flexibility for Programmers            3

        Chapter 2               Installation                       4
        2.1     Handling Precautions                               4
        2.2     Avanstar Family ISA Bus Board Switch Bank          5
        2.3     Board Installation                                 6
        2.4     External Panel Connection                          7
        2.5     Connecting Peripherals                             8
                2.5.1   Non-Configurable External Panels           9
                2.5.2   Configurable External Panels              10
        2.6     Installing the Driver Software                    11

        Chapter 3               Hardware                          12
        3.1     Introduction                                      12
        3.2     Central Processing Unit (CPU)                     12
        3.3     Universal Asynchronous Receiver
                Transmitter (UART)                                12
        3.4     Random Access Memory (RAM)                        13
                        3.4.1   Local RAM                         13
                        3.4.2   Dual Port RAM                     13

        Appendices

        A.      Avanstar Family ISA Bus Board Specifications      14

        Customer Assistance                                       15

        Limited Warranty                                          16

        Avanstar Family ISA Bus Adapter Hardware Installation Guide
        manual part number:  650148-02
        c 1995 by Star Gate Technologies, Inc.
        Printed in U.S.A.


All brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective companies.

        SPECIFICATIONS NOTICE
Star Gate Technologies does not assume any liability arising from either the
application or the use of any product or circuit described in this manual.

We also reserve the right to make changes to any product to improve
reliability, function, or design. Therefore, specifications are subject to
change without notice.

This manual has been carefully checked, and its information is believed to
be reliable.  However, no responsibility is assumed for inaccuracies.

This information does not give the purchaser any license under the patent
rights of the manufacturer, or others.



        RFI WARNING NOTICE
We recommend that all devices connected to this product have shielded cables
with metal RFI/EMI connector hoods.

        FCC NOTICE
The user is cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's
authority to operate this equipment.

Note:  This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits
for a Class A 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 commercial environment.
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.  Operation of this
equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in
which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own
expense.


        CHAPTER 1
        Introduction


        1.1     General Description
The AvanstarTM 100i and the Avanstar 200i adapters from Star Gate Technologies,
Inc. are intelligent expansion I/O controllers that add eight or sixteen
serial ports or eight modem connections to an ISA (Industry Standard
Architecture) bus personal computer.  Star Gate drivers will support up to
four Avanstar family adapter boards in a host PC.

To control wiring clutter and simplify connections, the serial ports or the
modem connections are located on an external connection panel which is
connected to the board by a cable.  There are five types of external panels
available:

        (1)     8-port, EIA-232 non-configurable external panel
        (2)     8-port, EIA-232/422 configurable external panel
        (3)     16-port, EIA-232 non-configurable external panel
        (4)     16-port, EIA-232/422 configurable external panel
        (5)     8-port Multi-Modem external panel

Any of the ports on the configurable external panels (panels 2 and 4 above)
can be set up as either EIA-232 or EIA-422 through software control.  For
more information on the Multi-Modem external panel, see the Avanstar
Multi-Modem Panel Model AV8a User's Guide.

        1.2     Physical Description
The Avanstar family ISA bus adapter package consists of six items which are
listed roughly in order of unpacking:

        1.      Avanstar Family ISA Bus Adapter Hardware Installation
                Guide.  For future reference, you may want to place this
                guide in the "Guide to Operations" binder supplied
                with the computer.

        2.   Device Driver Installation Manual
        This manual describes how to install and use the device driver
        software.

        3.      Avanstar family driver diskette
        This diskette contains the device driver and support files for
        the Avanstar 100i or the Avanstar 200i adapter.

        4.      Avanstar 100i or Avanstar 200i adapter board

        5.      Cable to connect adapter board to external panel

        6.      External panel

                1.3     System Requirements
The following system requirements must be met for proper operation of an
Avanstar family ISA bus adapter:

        щ       The host computer must be an IBM PC/AT or an ISA-bus
                compatible.

        щ       One full-length expansion slot must be available for each
                Avanstar family ISA bus adapter used.

        щ       One IRQ line must be available if the device driver uses
                interrupts.  The choices are: 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15.
                (Refer to the driver manual for details_some device drivers
                allow up to four Avanstar family boards to share the same
                interrupt.)

        щ       One unused I/O address must be available for each Avanstar
                family ISA bus adapter.  The starting address choices are:
                200H,208H, 300H, 308H, 600H, 608H, 700H, and 708H.


        1.4     Application Flexibility for Programmers
The Avanstar family ISA bus adapter is mainly a device to enhance
communications, but it has the processing power to do other tasks as well.
With additional programming by the user, the adapter can:

        щ       perform line discipline functions, such as local terminal
                emulations and character conversions.

        щ       perform file-oriented algorithms (such as data compacting)
                on an inter-channel basis.  For example, a file can be
                received through one port, processed, then retransmitted
                through the same,different, or multiple ports simultaneously.

        щ       reconcile format differences without host computer
                intervention. This makes it appear as if one device is
                Directly compatible with another system even though the
                actual format is different.  For example, the Avanstar family
                ISA bus adapter could function as an intelligent repeater
                which converts ASCII to EBCDIC.

If you are interested in programming, call 1 (800) STAR GATE (1-800-782-7428)
and ask Technical Support to order the Avanstar Family Developer's Kit.

        CHAPTER 2
        Installation


        2.1     Handling Precautions


        CAUTIONS
        The Avanstar family ISA bus adapter board contains several
        components that can be permanently damaged if it is handled
        improperly.  To avoid accidental damage, follow these
        recommendations:

      щ       Before handling the board, touch a grounded object to
              discharge any static electricity that has built up on your
              body.

      щ       Never insert or remove the board while power is applied to
              the computer.  Once the computer power switch is shut off,
              wait at least 10 seconds for the power supply to discharge
              before inserting or removing the board.

      щ       Never insert or remove the board-to-external panel cable
              while power is applied to the computer.

      щ       Hold the board only by its edges.

        2.2     Avanstar Family ISA Bus Board Switch Bank
You may need to make some adjustments to the DIP switch on the Avanstar
family ISA bus board before installing it in your host PC.  See Figure 2.1
for the location of the switch bank on the board.

                                   (Viewed From Top Edge Of Board)
                                         ЪД4ДДД3ДДД2ДДД1ДДДї
                                         і Ъї  Ъї  Ъї  Ъї  і
                                         і іі  іі  іі  іі  і
                                         і іі  іі  іі  іі  і
                                         і АЩ  АЩ  АЩ  АЩ  і
                                         АДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДЩ


        ЪДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДї
        і                                           ЪДOPENДДДї          і
        і                                           і        і          і
        і                                           АДДДДДДДДЩ          і
        і                                                               і
        і                                                               і
        і                                                               і
        і                                                               і
        і                                                               і
        АДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДї              ЪДДї                  ЪДЩ
                                 АДДДДДДДДДДДДДДЩ  АДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДЩ


        FIGURE 2.1_DIP Switch Bank Location and Default Switch Settings*


        NOTE
You can set up multiple Avanstar family ISA bus boards at the same time.
Just make sure that each board's I/O address is unique.


*       Figure 2.1 shows switches 1 through 4 in the default closed position.
This sets the default I/O address to 200H. Table 2.1 shows the I/O address
selections available and the corresponding switch positions.


        TABLE 2.1_Available I/O Addresses and Switch Settings

   I/O           Switch          Switch          Switch          Switch
   Address          4               3               2               1
    200H         closed*         closed*         closed*         closed*
    208H         closed          closed          closed          open
    300H         closed          closed          open            closed
    308H         closed          closed          open            open
    600H         closed          open            closed          closed
    608H         closed          open            closed          open
    700H         closed          open            open            closed
    708H         closed          open            open            open
    Reserved     all other settings

                *       Default setting


        2.3     Board Installation
The Avanstar family ISA bus adapter board may be installed into any IBM PC/AT
computer or any ISA-bus compatible.  Follow these steps:

1.      Place the computer, monitor and all peripheral device POWER switches
        in the OFF position.

2.      Unplug the computer, monitor and all peripheral device line cords
        from their outlets.

3.      Get the Guide to Operations manual supplied with the computer.
        Follow the instructions for removing the cover and installing an
        adapter board.

4.      After installing the board, follow the instructions in the Guide to
        Operations manual for replacing the cover.


        2.4     External Panel Connection
Use the supplied cable to connect the external panel to the Avanstar family
ISA bus adapter board.  Follow these steps:

1.      Make sure the host PC power is OFF before plugging or unplugging the
        cable.

2.      Plug either end of the cable into the 62-pin receptacle on the
        external panel.

3.      Plug the other end of the cable into the receptacle on the Avanstar
        family ISA bus adapter board.


        NOTES
       1.      The receptacles for both the board and the external panel
               have 62 pins.  Since the board-to-external panel cable is
               a straight-through cable, it connects corresponding pins
               on each of its ends.

       2.      Make sure that the external panel and the cable are
               properly connected to the board prior to applying power to
               the system.  If the external panel is not attached, the on
               board program software will detect a non-functional panel and
               will report an error during download.


       2.5     Connecting Peripherals
Except for the Multi-Modem external panel, up to eight or up to sixteen
serial devices may be connected to the ports on an external panel.  (For
more information on the Multi-Modem external panel, see the Avanstar
Multi-Modem Panel Model AV8a User's Guide.)  Connect the peripheral's serial
cable to any one of the ports available on the external panel.

Pin assignments for EIA-232 compliance are identified in Table 2.2.  If a
particular peripheral device doesn't require the modem handshake signals,
only pins 2, 3 and 7 need be used.  We recommend connecting only the
necessary signals in the EIA-232 interface cable.


        TABLE 2.2_EIA-232 Serial Port Data Connections

        Pin    Signal           Description           Input/Output
        1      Shield          Protective Ground
        2      TXD             Transmitted Data          output
        3      RXD             Received Data             input
        4      RTS             Request to Send           output
        5      CTS             Clear to Send             input
        6      DSR             DCE Ready                 input
        7      GND             Signal Ground
        8      DCD             Received Line             input
                               Signal Detector
        20     DTR             DTE Ready                 output
        22     RI              Ring Indicator            input

        2.5.1   Non-Configurable External Panels
Each port on the 8-port and the 16-port non-configurable external panels is a
25-pin female receptacle.  Each port is wired for compliance with Electronic
Industry Association standard EIA-232 for Data Terminal Equipment (DTE).

                    ЪДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДї
                    і         ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї    і
                    і         і і  і і  і і  і і    і
                    і         і і  і і  і і  і і    і
                    і         і і  і і  і і  і і    і
                    і J1      і і  і і  і і  і і    і
                    і ЪДї     АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ    і
                    і і і     P1   P2   P3   P4     і
                    і і і                           і
                    і і і                           і
                    і і і                           і
                    і і і                           і
                    і і і     P5   P6   P7   P8     і
                    і АДЩ     ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї    і
                    і         і і  і і  і і  і і    і
                    і         і і  і і  і і  і і    і
                    і         і і  і і  і і  і і    і
                    і         і і  і і  і і  і і    і
                    і         АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ    і
                    АДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДЩ

FIGURE 2.2_Serial Ports on the 8-Port Non-Configurable External Panel

           ЪДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДї
           і          ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї   і
           і          і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і   і
           і          і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і   і
           і  J1      і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і   і
           і  ЪДї     АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ   і
           і  і і     P1   P2    P3   P4   P5   P6  P7   P8    і
           і  і і                                              і
           і  і і                                              і
           і  і і     P9   P10  P11  P12  P13  P14  P15  P16   і
           і  АДЩ     ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї   і
           і          і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і   і
           і          і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і   і
           і          і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і   і
           і          АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ   і
           АДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДЩ

FIGURE 2.3_Serial Ports on the 16-Port Non-Configurable External Panel


        2.5.2   Configurable External Panels
Each port on the 8-port and the 16-port configurable external panels is a
25-pin female receptacle.  Although the ports on configurable external panels
default to EIA-232, you can change the interface of any or all ports to
EIA-422 through software control.  See the driver manual for a description of
the utility to do this.  See the Avanstar Family Technical Reference Manual
for the programming details to change the interface type directly.

There are two LEDs adjacent to each port on the external panel to indicate
which interface is active.  A lit green LED indicates that the EIA-232
interface is active for that port; a lit yellow LED indicates that the
EIA-422 interface is active for that port.  Only one LED at a time is lit
for each port.

                    ЪДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДї
                    і         oo   oo   oo   oo     і
                    і         ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї    і
                    і         і і  і і  і і  і і    і
                    і         і і  і і  і і  і і    і
                    і         і і  і і  і і  і і    і
                    і J1      і і  і і  і і  і і    і
                    і ЪДї     АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ    і
                    і і і     P1   P2   P3   P4     і
                    і і і                           і
                    і і і                           і
                    і і і                           і
                    і і і                           і
                    і і і     P5   P6   P7   P8     і
                    і АДЩ     ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї    і
                    і         і і  і і  і і  і і    і
                    і         і і  і і  і і  і і    і
                    і         і і  і і  і і  і і    і
                    і         і і  і і  і і  і і    і
  Green LED=232     і         АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ    і
  Yellow LED=422    і          oo  oo   oo   oo     і
                    АДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДЩ

FIGURE 2.4_Serial Ports on the 8-Port Configurable External Panel

             ЪДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДї
             і          oo   oo   oo   oo   oo   oo   oo   oo    і
             і          ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї   і
             і          і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і   і
             і          і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і   і
             і  J1      і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і   і
             і  ЪДї     АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ   і
             і  і і                                              і
             і  і і                                              і
             і  і і                                              і
             і  і і                                              і
             і  АДЩ     ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї  ЪДї   і
             і          і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і   і
             і          і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і   і
             і          і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і  і і   і
             і          АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ  АДЩ   і
             і          oo   oo   oo   oo   oo   oo   oo   oo    і
             АДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДЩ
              Green LED= RS232
              Yellow LED= RS422

FIGURE 2.5_Serial Ports on the 16-Port Configurable External Panel


        Pin assignments for EIA-422 compliance are identified in Table 2.3.
        No connections should be made to pins not listed.


        TABLE 2.3_EIA-422 Serial Port Data Connections

        Pin               Signal          Description
        11                 TXD+           Transmit Data High
        13                 RXD+           Receive Data High
        14                 TXD-           Transmit Data Low
        16                 RXD-           Receive Data Low




        2.6     Installing the Driver Software
After connecting the peripherals, load the driver software by following the
instructions in the driver manual.  To configure the Avanstar family ISA bus
board, the driver software will allow you to select a dual port memory
boundary address and an IRQ level (or no IRQ).

        CHAPTER 3
        Hardware


        3.1     Introduction
This section lists the major hardware circuits of the Avanstar family ISA
bus adapter and describes their functions.


        3.2     Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The on-board CPU is a 16 MHz, 20 MHz, or 40 MHz 80C186.  Its main task is to
service the UARTs (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitters).  The CPU
also reads and processes commands and data from the dual port memory that
the application program originates.  This operation minimizes the overhead
associated with moving data between the application program and the
peripheral.

The 80C186 processor comes from the same family of CPUs as those used in most
ISA bus personal computers.  As a result, you can use the PC itself to write
application programs to be downloaded and run on the Avanstar family ISA bus
adapter.


        3.3     UARTs
Communication between the Avanstar family ISA bus adapter and peripheral
devices is handled by UARTs.  The adapter contains four quad UARTs.  Each
device provides four independent, full duplex, serial communication channels.
For each channel, the specifications for operating mode, data format, baud
rate, and protocol are completely under program control.  Each channel
contains a 12-byte transmit and a 12-byte receive FIFO to further enhance
system throughput.

        3.4     Random Access Memory (RAM)
There are two different sections of RAM memory on the Avanstar family ISA bus
adapter:

        1. Local RAM
        2. Dual port RAM


        3.4.1   Local RAM  (64K bytes of static RAM)
        The local RAM:

        щ       contains any software that has been downloaded

        щ       stores the temporary data needed for the Avanstar family ISA
                bus board program operation


        3.4.2   Dual Port RAM  (16K or 256K bytes of RAM)
The Avanstar family ISA bus adapter communicates with the host via dual port
memory.  Dual port memory is a hardware configuration which allows two
processors to share the same physical memory.  This is a very efficient means
of communicating data or commands between the CPU on the adapter and the CPU
in the host.

Because both CPUs cannot access this memory at the same time, a circuit
called an arbiter between the memory and the CPUs determines which CPU may
gain access to the dual port memory.  The arbiter handles simultaneous
requests by granting access on a predetermined priority basis.  In the case
of the Avanstar family ISA bus adapter, the host CPU is given higher priority
than the adapter CPU.  However, if one CPU requests access to the memory
while the other CPU already has access, the arbiter will activate the "wait"
line of the requesting CPU.  Thus, the longest either CPU must wait to gain
access is the maximum cycle time of the other CPU connected to the dual port
memory.

More information on the dual port memory can be found in the Avanstar Family
Technical Reference Manual.  Call 1-800-STAR GATE (1-800-728-7428) and ask
Technical Support for a copy if you would like more programming information.

        Appendix A
        Avanstar Family
        ISA Bus Board Specifications


        TABLE A1_Communication Parameters

        Number of Channels            8 or 16

        Interface Format              Asynchronous

        Software Progam               Parity:  even, odd, mark, space or
        Choices                       none.
                                      Character length:  5, 6, 7 or 8 bits
                                      Stop bit length:  1 or 2 bits.

        Baud Rate                     50 to 115,200 baud per channel

        Board-to-External Panel       62-position D-shell style
        Cable                         connectors, male plug on each end

        External Panel                8 or 16 25-pin D-style
        (excluding Multi-Modem panel)   connectors, female receptacle
                                      (DTE configured)


        TABLE A2_ISA Parameters
        Interrupts              IRQ 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 or
                                disable via  program control

        Typical Power           16 ports:                     8 ports:
        Consumption             +5V at 1.4A (EIA-232)   +5V at 1.3A (EIA-232)
                                +5V at 1.9A (EIA-422)   +5V at 1.6A (EIA-422)
                                +12V at 30mA            +12V at 15mA
                                -12V at 87mA            -12V at 43mA

        Temperature             0 to 55OC (operating)
                               -10 to 70OC (storage)

        Customer Assistance


        For Customer Service or Sales assistance, call 1-800-STAR GATE
        (1-800-782-7428) or 216-349-1860 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Eastern
        Standard Time. You can also use our BBS (216-349-2904). Our
        Technical Support hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., EST. If you
        have any comments, suggestions, or corrections regarding this manual,
        please make photo-copies of the affected pages, indicate your
        comments on the copies, and mail or FAX the copies to the address or
        FAX number below.



        FAX (216) 349-1978
        Star Gate Technologies, Inc.
        Attn: Technical Documentation Dept.
        29300 Aurora Road
        Solon, Ohio 44139


        LIMITED WARRANTY
Star Gate Technologies, Inc., warrants this Avanstar family ISA bus adapter
against defective materials or workmanship for a period of one (1) year from
the date of original purchase.

This limited warranty is void if the hardware has been damaged by accident,
improper modifications, neglect, improper service or other causes not arising
out of defects in material or workmanship.

If this product is not in good working order as warranted above, your only
remedy shall be repair or replacement. In no event will Star Gate
Technologies, Inc., be liable to you for any damages, including lost profits,
lost savings or other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use or inability to use such a product, even if Star Gate Technologies, Inc.,
has been advised of the possibility of such damages, or any claim by any
other party.

Note: Some states do not allow exclusion or limitation of incidental or
consequential damages or limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts,
so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply.

THE FOREGOING LIMITED WARRANTY SHALL BE IN LIEU OF ANY OTHER WARRANTY,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  REPLACEMENT OF
NONCONFORMING GOODS, FOR THE REASONS AND PERIOD DESCRIBED ABOVE, SHALL
CONSTITUTE FULFILLMENT OF ALL LIABILITY OF SELLER TO BUYERS, WHETHER BASED ON
CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO OR ARISING OUT OF SUCH
GOODS.

Note: Some states do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so the
above exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal
rights; you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.