Chapter 1
Introduction
PCI Serial for Windows 95
1-2
©
National Instruments Corporation
What You Need to Get Started
Make sure you have all of the items listed before you attempt to install the
serial hardware.
❑
One of the following, which is included in your kit:
PCI-232 (two, four, or eight port)
PCI-485 (two or four port)
❑
3.5 in. high density disk (1.44 MB) NI Serial Software for Windows 95
and Windows NT, which is included in your kit
❑
Microsoft Windows 95 installed on your computer
Optional Equipment
Call National Instruments for more information about the following
optional equipment:
•
DB-9 RS-485 termination connector (PCI-485 only)
•
10-position modular jack to DB-9 cable (four-port interfaces only)
•
10-position modular jack to DB-25 cable (four-port interfaces only)
•
RS-232 9-pin to 9-pin null modem cable
•
RS-232 9-pin to 25-pin null modem cable
Serial Hardware Overview
The serial hardware gives you a variety of solutions for serial
communications. The PCI-232 board works with the RS-232 protocols, and
the PCI-485 board works with the RS-422 and RS-485 protocols. You can
use the PCI-232 hardware for serial communication up to distances of 50 ft.
Using serial cable lengths up to 4,000 ft., you can connect the PCI-485
hardware with up to 31 devices.
Additionally, the PCI-232 and PCI-485 boards are available in a two-port
version (PCI-232/2 and PCI-485/2), a four-port version (PCI-232/4 and
PCI-485/4), and an eight-port version (PCI-232/8). The two-port versions
use DB-9 connectors. The four-port versions use 10-position modular jacks
to provide all four connections on a single back panel. Optional cable
accessories convert the 10-position modular jacks to either DB-9 or DB-25
connectors with standard pinouts. The eight-port versions use an adapter