Limited Warranty ® Rose Electronics warrants the Caretaker Plus™ to be in good working order for one year from the date of purchase from Rose Electronics or an authorized dealer. Should this product fail to be in good working order at any time during this one-year warranty period, Rose Electronics will, at its option, repair or replace the Unit as set forth below.
Table of Contents Contents Disclaimer... 1 Introduction... 1 Features ... 1 Model Number and Options... 2 First Steps ... 2 Caretaker Plus Front Panel Display... 3 Serial Set-Up for PCs ... 4 Serial Set-up For Other Computers or Terminals ... 4 Caretaker Plus Rear Panel –...
All equipment is connected by cables to connectors on the Caretaker Plus rear panel. The unit's external power adapter connector and on-off switch are also on its rear panel. The Caretaker Plus front panel has 13 LEDs which display status information and 2 switches which are used to control the Led display, run the unit's diagnostics, and configure the unit.
Model Number and Options The Caretaker Plus consists of a switch unit and a separate wall mounted power adapter. It is available in several models: 2 to 8 ports, either serial or parallel, and Centronics tyhpe connectors or Db25 type connectors. The base model has a 16K buffer expandable to 2MB.
FRONT PANEL DISPLAY Caretaker Plus Front Panel Display POWER LED is lit whenever the unit is powered on. ADVANCE and SELECT switches are used to enter the configuration menu, go into diagnostic modes, or clear the buffer. MODE LED is lit to indicate the unit is in the configuration or flow control display mode. DATA LED lights as data is sent to the unit.
QUICK SETUP LIST – Serial Units Serial Set-Up for PCs Connect your PC to port 1 on the Caretaker Plus with the proper cable. Connect the power adapter to the Caretaker Plus and turn the Caretaker Plus on. Verify that the power LED is on. The other LEDs light in various patterns as the power up tests are performed and then all go off.
Caretaker Plus Rear Panel – Serial Model The diagram below shows the connector arrangement for model #CTP-8S. It has nine serial ports. The CTP-4S is similar but it doesn't have ports 5-8. Port 0, the rightmost port, is where you connect the printer. The computers connect to the ports labeled 1-8. the serial cables shown below are the most common ones.
QUICK SETUP LIST – Parallel Units Parallel Set-Up Connect the Caretaker Plus port 0 to your printer with the correct cable. Connect your computers to ports 1-8 with the correct cables. Connect the power adapter to the Caretaker Plus and turn the Caretaker Plus on. Verify that the power LED is on.
PCs to the switch (port 1-8). A straight through cable with male Centronics connectors on each end is used to connect from the switch (port 0) to the printer. Parallel units with female DB25 connectors use a straight through cable with male DB25 connectors on each end to connect from PCs to the switch (ports 1-8).
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to indicate entry into configuration mode. Entering configuration mode will stop data transfer to the shared device, and also erase all data in the buffer. No new data can be loaded into the unit while in configuration mode. Press carriage return on your terminal to call the menu.
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Configuration Menu Items In the examples below, <ENTER> means "press the ENTER key", not "type the characters <ENTER>. Output from the Caretaker Plus is shown in courier type. Input from the user is shown in underlined courier type. Protocol The protocol consists of the baud rate, parity, word length, number of stop bits, and flow control.
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Form Feed The form feed, when enabled, sends a form feed character to the shared device to eject the last page printed when a port is disconnected. The factory default is a disabled form feed. When enabled the last character sent to the shared device is examined. If it is a form feed no action is taken.
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Exit This command is used to exit the configuration menu and return the unit to normal (data transfer) mode. Enter X to the choice prompt. A termination message will print, and the BUSY, DATA, and MODE LEDs will return to the state they were in before entry to configuration mode.
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Reverse Channel Data Timeout This command (on the advanced features menu) determines whether or not to reset the timeout clock when data is received on port O "reverse channel data". When this feature is enabled, reverse channel data resets the timeout clock. When this feature is disabled, reverse channel data does not reset the timeout clock.
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Reverse data timeout disable Timeout on busy enable Timeout on bust disable Parallel enable logic enable Parallel enable logic disable Operator switch disable CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL Syntax !@FPabcd !@FPabcd !@Txxx xxx=002 to 255 Leading zeroes required !@Ixxxxxxxx !@NY...
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Protocol Command This command changes the communication protocol of a given port. If you enter a protocol that blocks communication with the unit or is otherwise undesirable, and you have not used KEEP, you may restore the previous format by powering the unit down and back up.
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Parallel Enable Logic Command This command allows the Caretaker Plus to recognize when a computer that is connected to a parallel port on the Caretaker Plus is turned off so that the Caretaker Plus will not accept data from the PC. The factory default is to enable parallel enable logic.
OPERATIONS Initial State Following the successful completion of the power up tests, the Caretaker Plus turns all the port LEDs off. The BUSY LED may be lit if the shared device is busy. Normal Operation Input devices, usually computers, initiate requests to connect to the shared device by sending data to the Caretaker Plus.
Buffer Characteristics The switch may have a buffer memory of 16K, 256K, 512K, 1 megabyte, or 2 megabytes. The Caretaker Plus uses an intelligent algorithm to allocate memory. The buffer is dynamically allocated which means that any port can utilize as much buffer as required.
If this pause is greater than the timeout setting of the switch. then another computer could start printing and possibly interrupt the printing of the first job and ruin its printout.
The reset sequence for HP laser printers is ESC E. For Epson printers the reset sequence is ESC O. To configure the switch to use the initialization string you must send the proper command to the switch. The following example will set the string for an HP laser printer.
Power Up Initial Display When powering on, the Caretaker Plus goes through a power up self-test which checks the main functions of its electronics. The leftmost LED labeled POWER should glow green and the other red LEDs should all turn on. Then the unit will cycle through four tests lighting up LEDs 1 through 4 as each test is performed.
To attempt to rewrite the default parameters push SELECT switch then the ADVANCE switch. If the error condition goes out, the unit may be powered up again to see if it halts at error 4 again. If it still displays error 4, a fatal error has occurred and servicing is required.
You may return to normal display mode by pressing the ADVANCE switch again. During flow control display mode, the corresponding port LEDs light only when the Caretaker Plus has instructed the connected device to stop sending data via the port's currently selected protocol.
TROUBLESHOOTING Troubleshooting Common Problems and Solutions Missing blocks of data on shared device and/or buffer Overflow error display occurs - serial only Flow control is not set or wired properly If your device uses X-on/X-off, ensure that the corresponding port is set for X-on/X-off.
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Port(s) do not time out A. 'Robust' X-on/X-off present. Some printers, particularly the HP LaserJet, send X-on codes at timed intervals. Set the 'REVERSE CHANNEL DATA TIMEOUT' feature to Y. See 'CONFIGURATION' section for information on 'REVERSE CHANNEL DATA TIMEOUT'. Other options are disconnect pin 3 on port O, configure the printer for normal X-on/X-off, or configure port O to X-on/X-off.
Maintenance and Repair The exterior surface of the unit may be wiped with a damp cloth to keep it clean. The unit does not contain any jumpers or serviceable parts inside. Opening the unit invalidates the warranty except in the case of an authorized memory upgrade or firmware updates.
Release the advance switch (the one on the left) and continue to hold the select switch (the one on the right) while the switch cycles through its normal power up sequence. The switch will halt with LED 4 lit. Release the select switch.
Print Configuration/Test Pattern Function Holding both switches down at the end of test 4 causes the unit to print its configuration out to port O, as shown in TABLE 8. Holding both switches down a second time at the end of test 4 causes a print exerciser to run, which sends a repeating test pattern out to the device on port O.
The failing board and memory device can be determined by pressing the advance switch. The MODE LED will be lit if the failing board is the base mother board or the bottom-most memory board installed. The DATA LED will be lit if the failing board is the second from the bottom.
Long Test with Loopback This test is entered by pressing the advance switch only while powering up the unit with the on/off switch. Special loopback connectors should be connected to each Caretaker Plus port. Tests 1-5 - These are the same as tests 1-5 of long test without loopback.
* Refers to any Rose switching device with a 25 pin serial port (Caretaker. Caretaker Plus, Porter, Super Switch, or Master Switch). ** Refers to any Rose switching device with a RJ45 8 pin serial port (MSU or MSN Series Master Switch, or FastPrint).
Appendix B: Pinout Specifications Serial Models Signal Name Transmit data Receive data Request to send Data set ready Signal ground Terminal ready Pin 20 is the hardware flow control output. Pin 6 is the hardware flow control input. Pin 6 has an internal pull-up to set it high when no signal is connected. Parallel Models C36F DB25...
Appendix C: MP1000 Memory Board This memory board provides optional, add-on buffer expansion for the Caretaker Plus. Installing this board expands the Caretaker Plus buffer from the standard 64K to 256K, 512K, or 1 MB. "Stacking" two boards allows the buffer to be increased to 2 MB. This card requires the use of 256K x 4 DRAM chips (standard 20-pin DIP type;...
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Once Completed... Replace the top cover and re-fasten the outside screws. Plug the power cord back in and turn the switch "On". Your Caretaker Plus will now use the full amount of buffer you have installed. Adding Chips to an Empty Board or Adding Additional Chips A board can be upgraded from 256K to 512K, from 2561<...
Appendix D: Factory Defaults Upon receiving the Caretaker Plus from the factory, or restoring the unit to default parameters (see 'RESTORE TO DEFAULT FUNCTION'), The factory default settings are: Timeout: 20 seconds Protocol Serial: 9600 baud, no parity, 8 bits, 1 stop, DTR flow control Protocol Parallel: Use busy and acknowledge Form Feed: Off Initialization String: None...
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