From: Scott Weikart <scott@igc.org>
Newsgroups: comp.unix.sysv386
Date: 07 Apr 92 21:52 PDT
Subject: Re: Shared-interrupt COM board for FAS
Nf-ID: #R:cdp:1372100004:cdp:1372100013:000:3051
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!scott    Apr  7 21:52:00 1992


At the end of this message are the replies I received (and an
earlier message) on shared interrupt COM boards and FAS.

I called all the vendors in the March Computer Shopper, and didn't
find anything useful (no one had boards with socketed UARTs).

AST's 4-port board lists at $500.

Digiboard has a 4-port PC/4 ($410 list) and an 8-port PC/8 ($600
list), both of which have shared interrupts and socketed UARTs
(and many options for I/O addresses and interrupt sharing); they
also have a PC/16 (list $1300) with very few option.  I called a
local distributor, and can buy the PC/4 for $350 (plus ??  for the
cable), and the PC/8 for $495 (plus $65 for the cable).  I'll
probably buy at least one PC/8.  There's a special part number for
the PC/8 with 16550As installed, but the distributor can't find
it.  Digiboard is 800-344-4273.

Scott Weikart			Community Data Processing (CdP): 415-322-9069
Internet: scott@igc.org		Bitnet: scott%igc.org@stanford
UUCP Mail Net: uunet!cdp!scott

=============================================================================
> Can you tell me a little bit about your Digiboard?  Are you
> happy with it and FAS (except for the T3000 problem, that is).

It's the Digiboard "PC/8", which is just a dumb 8-port board.  The
UARTs are socketed 16450's, so you can easily replace them with 16550's
if you want.  Aside from the problem I'm having (which looks like it
may turn out to be cable noise), it works fine with FAS.  I've also
used FAS with the PC/4 four-port board.
-- 
John W. Temples -- john@jwt.UUCP (uunet!jwt!john)

=============================================================================
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 92 16:46:10 EST (-0500)
From: John Temples <uunet!jwt!john>
Status: RO

In article <1372100004@igc.org> you write:
>I'm looking for a shared interrupt COM board that works well with
>FAS 2.09 (i.e. UARTS are either NS16550A, or are socketed so I can
>install my own NS16550A) and RTS/CTS hardware flow control (so I
>can use Telebit modems).

The Digiboard PC/4 and PC/8 work fine with FAS.  They have socketed
16450 UARTs.  I use a PC/8 with a T3000, a TB+, a Wyse terminal at
38.4k, a mouse, and a Caller*ID interface with no problems.  They are
PC cards, though, not AT.
-- 
John W. Temples -- john@jwt.UUCP (uunet!jwt!john)
=============================================================================
From: steve@nuchat.sccsi.com (Steve Nuchia)
Organization: South Coast Computing Services, Inc.  Houston

I have designed and am marketing a 4-port board that meets
most of your requirements.  It can talk to irqs 2,3,4,5,10,11,12,15
and has flexible addressing with switches up to A11.  Designed
for FAS.  Sold in kit form for US$185, kit includes a copy of
FAS and a diagnostic program, NS16550AFN chips, full sockets,
documentation, schematics, machine-readable PAL equations,
"and much much more!"  RJ45 jacks.  Cables and adapters available.

They are technically in beta test now because I haven't
finished the documentation.  Sigh.

Write if you want more info.  Or a shipment :-)

Newsgroups: comp.unix.sysv386