Amiga Unix Wiki

Because AmigaOS just isn't obscure enough today!

User Tools

Site Tools


a2232

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision
Previous revision
Next revisionBoth sides next revision
a2232 [2018/08/30 22:24] – external edit 127.0.0.1a2232 [2020/11/26 21:33] – external edit 127.0.0.1
Line 1: Line 1:
 **Commodore A2232 Serial Expansion Board** **Commodore A2232 Serial Expansion Board**
  
-The A2232 Multiport Serial Card is a standard 100-pin Zorro II expansion card for the Amiga (A2000, A3000, A4000). It provides the Amiga with 7 additional standard RS232 serial ports, capable of speeds from 50-19200 bps. For more serial channels, additional A2232 boards can be plugged into the system at the same time (up to five boards giving a total of 36 serial ports).+The A2232, launched in 1990, is a standard 100-pin Zorro II expansion card for the big-box Amigas (A2000, A3000, A4000). It provides the host machine with 7 additional RS232 serial ports, capable of speeds from 50-19200 bps.  
 + 
 +For more serial channels, additional A2232 boards can be plugged into the system at the same time (up to five boards giving a total of 36 serial ports). 
 + 
 + 
 +---- 
  
 ===== Hardware ===== ===== Hardware =====
Line 8: Line 14:
  
 There are at least two revisions of the board: There are at least two revisions of the board:
-Rev 4 boards have seven MOS Technology 6551 ACIA chips (Asynchronous Communications Interface Adapter) +  * Rev 4 boards have seven MOS Technology 6551 ACIA (Asynchronous Communications Interface Adapter) chips 
-Rev 6 boards have seven CSG (Commodore Semiconductor Group) 8551 ACIAs (HMOS-II variant of the 6551, released in 1984).+  Rev 6 boards have seven CSG (Commodore Semiconductor Group) 8551 ACIAs (HMOS-II variant of the 6551, released in 1984).
  
 Silkscreen next to the Zorro connector says BERLIN/FISHER indicating the design was made by Creg Berlin and Terry Fisher. Silkscreen next to the Zorro connector says BERLIN/FISHER indicating the design was made by Creg Berlin and Terry Fisher.
  
-The board originally came with user manual and seven 80 cm long adapter cables that provided the (then) standard DB25 connections.+Originally the board came with user manual (missing, anyone have a scan?and seven 80 cm long adapter cables that provided the (then) standard DB25 connections.
  
 ==== Enhancements and modifications ==== ==== Enhancements and modifications ====
Line 22: Line 28:
 Amiga.resource.cx also has a photo of a board with a title "Rev 6 board with RTS/CTS handshake mod". Another modification is to replace the 1.84 Mhz oscillator with a 3.68 Mhz one. This doubles the baud rates but the software won't know about this so the user must keep this in mind when using the board. Amiga.resource.cx also has a photo of a board with a title "Rev 6 board with RTS/CTS handshake mod". Another modification is to replace the 1.84 Mhz oscillator with a 3.68 Mhz one. This doubles the baud rates but the software won't know about this so the user must keep this in mind when using the board.
  
-===== Connectors, pinouts and cables =====+==== Schematics ==== 
 +{{https://www.amigaunix.com/lib/exe/fetch.php/manuals:a2232_servicemanual.pdf|A2232 Schematics}} (part of 'System schematics - A2060/A2065/A2232' by Commodore International Spare Parts GmbH BraunschweigWest Germany - August 1990, PN-314042-01). 
 + 
 +---- 
 + 
 + 
 +==== Serial port pinouts and cables ====
  
 The connector nearest to the Zorro connector of the board (leftmost) is the first serial port. The connector nearest to the Zorro connector of the board (leftmost) is the first serial port.
Line 81: Line 93:
 //Editors notes: I had lot of problems finding a working pinout of the mini din connector. Commodore's system schematics does not indicate pin numbering and several sites indicated it other way around (looking at the male connector, not the female connector on the board). Finally when a friendly member of EAB forums provided me the measured pintouts I was able to build a working cable! //Editors notes: I had lot of problems finding a working pinout of the mini din connector. Commodore's system schematics does not indicate pin numbering and several sites indicated it other way around (looking at the male connector, not the female connector on the board). Finally when a friendly member of EAB forums provided me the measured pintouts I was able to build a working cable!
 // //
 +
 +----
 +
  
 ===== Using the serial ports ===== ===== Using the serial ports =====
Line 112: Line 127:
 A real vintage dumb terminal (or a modern PC running terminal emulator, or a device like PockeTerm from Briel Computers) can be connected to the port and used to log into the machine. A real vintage dumb terminal (or a modern PC running terminal emulator, or a device like PockeTerm from Briel Computers) can be connected to the port and used to log into the machine.
  
-=== Sources ===+---- 
 + 
 +===== Sources =====
  
-  * A2232 System schematics+  * A2232 System schematics (PDF linked in above)
   * http://amiga.resource.cx   * http://amiga.resource.cx
   * http://www.l8r.net/technical/t-2232.shtml   * http://www.l8r.net/technical/t-2232.shtml
   * Wikimedia Commons (mini 8-pin DIN diagram)   * Wikimedia Commons (mini 8-pin DIN diagram)
   * Thanks to mackbw on English Amiga Board for information on the pinouts!   * Thanks to mackbw on English Amiga Board for information on the pinouts!
a2232.txt · Last modified: 2021/09/19 18:00 by 127.0.0.1