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The OCTOBUS four and eight port multi-user serial expansion cards offer a flexible and cost effective solution to providing multiple user access to a host computer system. The OCTOBUS range provides solutions with excellent value without compromising quality or service.

General Information
bullet.gif (166 bytes)  The OCTOBUS serial cards offer multiple 16550 RS-232D asynchronous communications with a minimum of
     four serial ports to a maximum of eight per card.
bullet.gif (166 bytes)  In operation the COM ports will behave as any normal COM port.
bullet.gif (166 bytes)  Each card has individually selectable Baud rate of up to 56K baud, and connection to the outside world via
     standard RJ12 connectors.
bullet.gif (166 bytes)  Ports one to seven support software handshake XON-XOFF and hardware handshake lines RTS and
     CTS/DSR. Port eight only supports XON-XOFF.
bullet.gif (166 bytes)  A choice of five interupt settings are available; IRQ2, IRQ3, IRQ4, IRQ5 and IRQ7.
bullet.gif (166 bytes)  Each model has up to four address sets which may be chosen.   Each set consists of eight port addresses and one status register address.
bullet.gif (166 bytes)  The status register can be set to BCD or BIT format, so the card is flexible for a variety of O/Ss.
bullet.gif (166 bytes)  Up to 4 cards may be installed into a PC (subject to the availability of interupts and addresses)
Technical Specification
Channels 4 or 8 ports
Controller NS 16450 Compatible Standard
Size Half Card
Data Speed From 50 to 38,400 BAUD
Connectors 4 or 8 RJ11 (6 way)
Voltages Levels are to EIA RS232D
Pin Layouts Pin 1 - Ready to send Pin 4 - Receive (Rx)
Pin 2 - Ground Pin 5 - Ground
Pin 3 - Transmit (Tx) Pin 6 - CTS/DSR

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Octobus Set Up
There are three sets of jumpers on the OCTOBUS which need to be set prior to installing the card within a PC.  The following three sections explain how to set the IRQ, Address Set, and Status Register.  The General Set Up Table, located below the three sections, gives examples of set up information relating to particular operating systems.

View the OCTOBUS card with the chips visible and the RJ12 sockets to the right.  A representation of the jumpers is shown below.

octobus_jumpers_drawing

IRQ Set Up
The first jumper group on the left of the card is the interupt jumper.  It can be set to one of five positions, IRQ 2,3,4,5, or 7.  Some operating systems do require a specific IRQ.
It may be necessary to disable COM1 if IRQ4 is selected, COM2 if IRQ 3 is selected, and LPT1 if IRQ 7 is selected, to avoid I/O conflicts.
The diagram on the right shows the various IRQ settings.



irq_jumpers_drawing
A rectangular block represents a jumper.

Address Set set-up
The next jumper from the left of the card is the Address Set jumper.  This selects the address range for the board's operating chip.  The diagram on the right shows the jumper selections for the four possible address set ups.

address_jumpers_drawing
A rectangular block  represents a jumper.

Status Register Set Up
The furthest jumper from the left of the card is the Status Register jumper.   This selects whether your card will be set up in BCD mode (left position) or BIT mode (right position).  The diagram on the right shows the two possible positions available.

status_jumpers_drawing
A rectangular block represents a jumper.

General Set Up Table
Chip  Address Set O/S Card No. Port Address Range Status Register Status Mode IRQ
A820 SET 1 PICK 1 198H-1D7DH 188H BIT 3
A820 SET 2 PICK 2 298H-2D7H 288H BIT 4
A825 SET 1 PICK 3 118H-157H 108H BIT 7
A825 SET 2 PICK 4 218H-25FH 208H BIT 2
A860 SET 1 NT 1 100H-13FH 140H BIT Any
A860 SET 2 NT 2 180H-1BFH 1C0H BIT Any
A860 SET 3 NT 3 230H-26FH 270H BIT Any


For example:
The diagram below shows the settings for an OCTOBUS with A820 chip, IRQ 3.

example_jumpers_drawing

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