Vector ZCB User Manual page 19

Vector ZCB Single Board Canputer
handshaking line. There is one spare RS-232C receiver and one spare RS-232C
driver available on the board which can be used to connect one input and one
output handshaking line.
For the large majority of applications, no additional RS-232C lines will
be required other than those already connected to active components on the
ZCB board. Thus the serial ports can very often be used as DeE RS-232C
input/output ports without modification. Most serial printers, and
terminals, can be connected with little or no difficulty.
To connect to a modem, acoustic coupler, or other kind of Data
Communications Equipment, a serial port must be converted into a DTE RS-232C
port. This can either be done by changing the board wiring slightly or by
attaching a Null Modem Cable to the external DB-25, which accanplishes the
same thing. However,
if
RS-232C handshaking is required, other than the
lines already connected, then additional modifications to the board will
be
necessary as explained in Section 2.4.5.
Of course, software is necessary in order to operate specific devices
connected to the serial port. Section 2.4 gives the standard I/O port
addresses and instructs you how to change them as necessary. Other documents
from vector Graphic describe the particular I/O addresses and peripheral
devices which each Vector Graphic software product controls •.
For example, at the time of this writing, any Extended Systems Monitor
having option C enables a standard serial terminal to be plugged directly
into the serial. The Version 4 Extended Systems Monitor (any option)
contains a program that enables the operator to communicate to a time share
senTice via a modern connected via an RS-232C cable to the serial port which
has to be converted to a mE port first. Lastly, operating systems such as
MDOS and CP/M from Vector Graphic, and Vector Graphic's Word Managagment
System, output to printers via the serial port.
1.5.6 Parallel Ports
The ZCB has three independent parallel input or output ports, called
Parallel Ports A, B and C. They are connected to the outside \\Orld via one
34-pin connector which is mounted on the top of the card. Vector Graphic
supplies an optional 34-line ribbon cable that connects to this edge
connector. The other end of this cable has no connector on it, allowing you
to configure it as desired. Many of the 34 lines are not used, as discussed
below.
Each parallel port has eight pins which can be programmed for input,
output or, in the case of Port C, controL 16 different combinations are
possible in Mode 0, more are available in Modes 1 and 2. See Intel
fl
s 8080
Microcomputer Systems User's Manual for more information on Modes 1 and 2.
Additional pins provide +5 VDC and GND. Exact pin assignments are given in
Table 12 in Section 2.8.
Input and output is accomplished using IN(put) and OUT(put) machine
1-6
Rev. I-B 6/11/80