Post by thread:4 COM ports

I have 4 ports running happily: My pentium motherboard lets me configure IRQ's and addresses for 2 ports. One port died. I changed the IRQ's of the survivor to something other than the standard 3, 4 (I think it's on 10 right now) I have an internal X2 upgradable modem (they are a bit backlogged shipping the upgrades, ho, hum) that is plug and play, it will find its own IRQ: I think I'm using 9 right now. I have a standard adapter with 2 serial ports using standard IRQ's 3 & 4. I can use all 4 ports at once. My machine is really tight on IRQ's now, no spares. Fortunately, I have a SCSI board, so any new peripherals (TR4 tape, CD-R, etc) I get in SCSI form. So, if you want a lot of COM ports, your problems are: - you need one IRQ for each port that is to be used at the same time. You need to learn which IRQ's are really available and which are reserved for 'internal use'. If you use Win/95, the System Resource Report shows this on page 1: IRQ summary. - each port needs its unique I/O port address. This is usually not a problem. - you need to be able to configure hard/firmware of each port to use the selected IRQ and address. Some adapters/motherboards let you do this, some do not. You may need to shop around for a good adapter that lets you configure IRQ's. - you need to tell the PC operating system to use the allocated IRQ for each specific port. I use Win/95, and it can be done there. <spam_OUTedtoddTakeThisOuTsni.net> Ed Todd

At 09:04 21/04/97 -0600, Ed Todd wrote: >- you need one IRQ for each port that is to be used at the same time. You >need to learn which IRQ's are There are, for those who need it really badly, some multi serial boards with drivers out there which allow you to put all (like 4 or 8) their serial channels on one interrupt. Their driver then handles this and maps it to the different Windows COM ports.

Any clue as to who makes these boards ?? Thanks, Martin ---------- > From: Gerhard Fiedler <.....GerhardKILLspam@spam@POBOX.COM> > To: PICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU > Subject: Re: 4 COM ports > Date: Monday, April 22, 1996 8:34 AM > > At 09:04 21/04/97 -0600, Ed Todd wrote: > >- you need one IRQ for each port that is to be used at the same time. You > >need to learn which IRQ's are > > There are, for those who need it really badly, some multi serial boards > with drivers out there which allow you to put all (like 4 or 8) their > serial channels on one interrupt. Their driver then handles this and maps > it to the different Windows COM ports.

part 0 949 bytes Cheers! Bo Berglund PaddelvŠgen 10, S-17545 JŠrfŠlla, Sweden e-mail: .....bo.berglundKILLspam.....mailbox.swipnet.se ---------- From: Martin Buchholtz[SMTP:EraseMEmtechspam_OUTTakeThisOuTGTE.NET] Sent: den 25 maj 1997 04:09 To: PICLISTspam_OUTMITVMA.MIT.EDU Subject: Re: 4 COM ports Any clue as to who makes these boards ?? Thanks, Martin ---------- > From: Gerhard Fiedler <@spam@GerhardKILLspamPOBOX.COM> > To: KILLspamPICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU > Subject: Re: 4 COM ports > Date: Monday, April 22, 1996 8:34 AM > > At 09:04 21/04/97 -0600, Ed Todd wrote: > >- you need one IRQ for each port that is to be used at the same time. You > >need to learn which IRQ's are > > There are, for those who need it really badly, some multi serial boards > with drivers out there which allow you to put all (like 4 or 8) their > serial channels on one interrupt. Their driver then handles this and maps > it to the different Windows COM ports.

part 0 376 bytes Cheers! Bo Berglund PaddelvŠgen 10, S-17545 JŠrfŠlla, Sweden e-mail: RemoveMEbo.berglundTakeThisOuTmailbox.swipnet.se ---------- From: John Griessen[SMTP:spamBeGonejohn_gspamBeGoneCIBOLO.COM] Sent: den 25 maj 1997 17:44 To: TakeThisOuTPICLISTEraseMEspam_OUTMITVMA.MIT.EDU Subject: Re: 4 COM ports for 4 com ports w/ drivers also try WCSC. It's a low cost solution. http://www.wcscnet.com/pricing.htm

Boca Research makes 4 and 8 port serial boards. Another company (can't think of their name right now, but I have some at work) makes an 8 port board with a dynamic 32K buffer. Harold Harold Hallikainen phone/fax/bbs +1 805 541 0201 Hallikainen & Friends, Inc. web http://slonet.org/~hhallika PO Box 4737 email RemoveMEhhallikaTakeThisOuTslonet.org San Luis Obispo, CA 93403-4737 email hhallikaEraseME.....broadcast.net USA email EraseMEap621cleveland.freenet.edu On Sat, 24 May 1997 22:09:42 -0400 Martin Buchholtz <RemoveMEmtechEraseMEEraseMEGTE.NET> writes: {Quote hidden}>Any clue as to who makes these boards ?? > >Thanks, > >Martin > >---------- >> From: Gerhard Fiedler <RemoveMEGerhardspam_OUTKILLspamPOBOX.COM> >> To: RemoveMEPICLISTTakeThisOuTspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU >> Subject: Re: 4 COM ports >> Date: Monday, April 22, 1996 8:34 AM >> >> At 09:04 21/04/97 -0600, Ed Todd wrote: >> >- you need one IRQ for each port that is to be used at the same >time. >You >> >need to learn which IRQ's are >> >> There are, for those who need it really badly, some multi serial >boards >> with drivers out there which allow you to put all (like 4 or 8) >their >> serial channels on one interrupt. Their driver then handles this and >maps >> it to the different Windows COM ports. >

Thanks for the help. If you can find the other mfr. I wouldn't mind that one as well ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Martin Buchholtz ASIC Design, HDLs, Product Design Simulation, Synthesis and Verification -------------------------------------------------------------------------- {Quote hidden}> From: Harold M Hallikainen <EraseMEharoldhallikainenspamspamBeGoneJUNO.COM> > To: RemoveMEPICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU > Subject: Re: 4 COM ports > Date: Sunday, May 25, 1997 4:15 PM > > Boca Research makes 4 and 8 port serial boards. Another company (can't > think of their name right now, but I have some at work) makes an 8 port > board with a dynamic 32K buffer. > > Harold > > > > Harold Hallikainen phone/fax/bbs +1 805 541 > 0201 > Hallikainen & Friends, Inc. web > http://slonet.org/~hhallika > PO Box 4737 email > hhallikaSTOPspamspam_OUTslonet.org > San Luis Obispo, CA 93403-4737 email spamBeGonehhallikaSTOPspamEraseMEbroadcast.net > USA email > KILLspamap621spamBeGonecleveland.freenet.edu

In my own computer at home, I use a JDR Microdevices MCT-4S3P board. It has worked fine for me. Allows separate IRQ's for each port. The only down side to this board is the parallel ports are bi-directional and not ECP/EPP. Just after I bought this board they came out with a MCT-2ES2EP board which has two 16C650's and two ECP/EPP ports. The board will also allow you to set up different port base addresses. Other JDR boards which may be of interest: MCT-4S3P, MCT-4S. You can get the current prices and specs @ http://www.jdr.com Frank Richterkessing Experimental Methods Engineer GE Appliances EraseMEFRANK.RICHTERKESSINGEraseMEAPPL.GE.COM "The secret to good housekeeping -- Use low wattage bulbs!"