| 5.
Testing PC-PLOT-IV Communications |
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| 5.0
Overview |
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| In this
section, the tests that can be run to verify the proper setup and operation
of PC-PLOT-IV are described. In addition, suggestions are made to try to
resolve communications problems. |
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| 5.1
Testing Communication |
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| PC-PLOT-IV
is somewhat simpler to operate than most communication programs since it
is always on-line. It ignores the status of the carrier detect, and DTR
lines. As soon as PC-PLOT-IV is loaded the screen will clear and the communication
status line will appear. From that point on, anything that you type on
the keyboard (except a local ALT command) will be
sent to your host and anything sent by the host willappear
on the screen. |
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There
are three possible communication configurations for PC-PLOT; |
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*
Direct connect to host or protocol converter |
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Connected to externally mounted modem |
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*
Using modem mounted internal to the computer |
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Direct
Connection |
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| If you
are using a direct connection to your host, testing is simply entering
a command which would cause your host computer to send some output such
as a directory or system status command. If the alphanumeric characters
sent are correct, then no further testing is required. If you receive nothing
at all or a garbled output, you will need to check the following items: |
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1. Cable
(there is no such thing as a 'standard' cable)
2. Communication rate (baud) |
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3. Data
format (data bits, parity-most common 7 O 1) |
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4. Communications
port (correct port number, interrupts) |
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External
Modem |
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| If you are using an
external modem which has red lamps to indicate the status of various functions
in the modem, testing is quite simple. As soon as PC-PLOT-IV is loaded
and the status line appears, the DTR lamp on the modem should come on.
Any time a key is depressed, the RX and TX lamps should blink. If the DTR
light does not come on, either the wrong channel is selected in the ALT-S
menu or your cable in incorrect. |
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| If the TX and RX lamps
blink but nothing appears on the screen, the communication channel is selected
correctly but the interrupts are either disabled or improperly set up on
your serial communication card. Refer to the HELP (section 19.201) or your
hardware manual for your serial card. |
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| If you
are using a Hayes Smartmodem or compatible, enter the modem command AT<cr>
(the A and T must be upper case letters). The AT should be echoed to your
screen and the letters OK should appear on the next line of the screen. |
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Internal Modem |
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| If you are using an
internal Hayes Smartmodem, you will not have any lamps to indicate status
but the test using the AT command in the previous paragraph should work.
If you do not see the AT echoed and the OK on the next line, either the
switches on the modem are set to the incorrect channel, the incorrect channel
is selected in the ALT-S menu, or the Channel speed (baud) is incorrectly
set. |
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| The current settings
in the configuration file can be viewed and changed with an ALT-S command.
Refer to section 11 for specific explanations of the items in the setup
screen. |
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| After you are able to
communicate with your host system, you have completed the installation
of PC-PLOT-IV. |
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| If you have difficulty
in setting up your computer system to communicate with the remote host,
refer to Section 19 (HELP) and Appendix C (COMTEST) for additional suggestions
for resolving your setup problem. |
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| PC-PLOT-IV
Chapter 5 Testing PC-PLOT-IV |
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