ASCII Basic

[rswolff]

next stupid question....(yes I know...there are no stupid questions....just....) Another Series 6. I got five (count'em, 5) ASCII Basic modules in a system. Built during the Roman Empire I imagine....Recently needed to hook into one of them and while I'm pretty versed in serial communications I could not get into this unit. Got it communicating to its device (it was a device problem) but am puzzled as to why I could not. I used a terminal program and also used Hyperterminal. Checked switches on the module and could not get module to respond to a Cntrl-C. Tried every baud rate as well as bits and parity settings, as well as reversing pins 2 and 3 (RECV and XMIT). Module is located in a remote rack. Processor key was in WRITE position. Anything I'm missing? One of the other modules located in the main rack blinks the RECV indicator when I'm connected to it. This module did not (but it is receiving from the polling device in the field). Also, the BATTERY light blinks during communication as well as the RECV and XMIT indicators. Also, there apparently is a diagnostic feature on the module and it will transmit something. Cannot find any documentation as to what is transmitted. In this mode, does the baud rate on port 1 still configure with the switches or default to something else. What is the baud and port settings then on port 2 which is normally configured via software. any information greatly appreciated!!! thanks, bob

[Steve Bailey]

A Series Six ASCII/BASIC module! Step into the Wayback Machine, Sherman. There was a program called "ABM Master" to program and backup ABM programs. I'm not sure how to approach the task using a terminal emulator program. The ASCII Basic module is the same thing as an IOCCM module, but with a BASIC interpreter in it's firmware instead of the serial port protocols. The BASIC in the ABM is very similar to GW Basic from the early days of DOS. I'll look through my old dusty documentation later today to see if I still have a Series Six ABM manual.

[Steve Bailey]

OK, I found a copy of the manual (GEK-25398). Port 1 is the programming port, port 2 is communications with other devices. Pin 2 is TxD, Pin 3 is RxD, Pin 7 is GND. You should jumper pins 15 & 16 at the ABM end. This can be done internally by dipswitch C1. Dipswitch package A sets the programming port parameters. Switches 1, 2, and 3 set the baud rate. Default is all open for 9600 baud. All closed is 19,200 baud. Switches 4, 5, and 6 set parity and framing. Default is all open which is 7 data bits, even parity. Switches 7 and 8 set plexity and echo. Default is both open which is half duplex, send echo. Dipswitch B: Switch 1 open is RS232, closed is RS422 Switch 2 open is 1 stop bit, closed is 2 stop bits Switch 3 open is Mark/Space invert disabled, closed is enabled. Switch 4 open is BS/DEL edit enabled, closed is disabled. Switch 5 open is Xon/Xoff flow control disabled, closed is enabled. Switch 6 open is program mode enabled, closed is program protected. Switch 7 is labeled "Future Use" Switch 8 is factory test enable Switch 9 is Master reset Default settings for dipswitch B is all nine switches open. I believe you have to cycle power to the module before a dipswitch change takes effect. CTRL-C should stop a running program. The battery LED indicates low battery when on. If it flashes, you may be right on the verge of low battery voltage or the traffic on the port may be dragging it down.

[rswolff]

Is the manual you indicate the ASCII/BASIC module or the more generic Series 6 manual with the ASCII/BASIC module section. If thats the ASCII/BASIC manual itself, any way you can post it or I wangle a copy. I'm familiar with GW-Basic but I'm sure there are module specific commands I won't be able to decipher. many thanks, bob

[Steve Bailey]

I don't have any idea why the battery light should flash when the module starts communicating unless the power drawn to communicate somehow drags the battery volytage down. The only thing I could find in the manual about the factory test is in the troubleshooting section, chapter 21. It doesn't go into any detail about the test, just says to replace the module if the "Board OK" LED fails to turn on at the conclusion of the test. I'm sure that setting up the old PC for the parallel communications card set was a real treat. I keep an old 386 computer with a parallel card so that I can support my customers that still have Series Sixes. I use it less and less with each passing year. It's been several years since I've had to connect to an ABM. One other point: When installed in an I/O rack the ABM requires a high capacity power supply for proper operation. I don't know what the behavior would be if you have a normal capacity PS for the rack. All CPU racks use the high capacity PS.