Not Communicating.
Not Communicating.
A. If data was sent from the computer to the plotter, and the plotter does
not respond, examine the display on the plotter. If the plotter
displays:
Host Plot Time: 00:00:00
then the plotter did not receive any data. When the plotter receives
data, the plot time will begin to increment from 00:00:00. (The Auto
Time will always begin to count when the plotter is placed on line by
pressing the AUTO/MANUAL key).
B. If the plotter display shows an error, then either the data is corrupt
or the software and plotter have not been configured properly.
C. If using a switch box, buffer box, or connected to a network
connection, disconnect them and directly connect the plotter to the COM
port on the computer in order to isolate the problem.
D. For serial port connections, this plotter uses a straight-through 25-
pin serial cable (CalComp part # 11772-0102, 10 ft. serial cable or
part # 11772-0250, 25 ft. serial cable).
1. The serial cable connects to the port on the back of the plotter
titled: TO DTE HOST. Turn dip switches 2, 4, and 5 on (1 = on, 0
= off) and the other switches off. The dip switches are located
slightly above and over from this cable connection.
2. A serial port on a PC is either a 9-pin or a 25-pin male port
(pins sticking out). Connecting a 9-to-25-pin adapter, available
at a local computer supply store, is acceptable.
3. The serial cable must be no longer than 50 feet.
4. If having problems communicating, try another serial cable. Cable
failures are common, even when new.
5. Ports on the back of computers are sometimes mislabeled. If
outputting to COM1, data may have been going to COM2 instead (or
vice versa). Also, if the COM port address was modified from the
standard configuration, then the plotter will not be able to
communicate. COM port default addresses are:
COM1 Address = 03F8H Interrupt 4
COM2 Address = 02F8H Interrupt 3
COM3 Address = 03E8H Interrupt 4
COM4 Address = 02E8H Interrupt 3
a. To check the PC COM port addresses and verify that the
cable is connected to the correct COM port, use the
MicroSoft Diagnostics program, called MSD, which is
provided with DOS 6.0 or better and/or Windows 3.1 or
better. Perform the following:
i. Turn off the plotter power and ensure the cable is
securely connected between the PC and the plotter.
ii. Exit to DOS. (If in Windows, exit from Windows
completely).
iii. Type: MSD
iv. MicroSoft Diagnostics will examine your system.
v. MSD will then display a menu. Select COM Ports by
clicking on COM Ports with the mouse or by simply
typing the letter C.
vi. MSD will display how many COM ports are detected and
what the addresses are.
vii. Check to see if the COM port addresses are a standard
address. If it is not, then the computer hardware
will need to be reconfigured. A local computer repair
shop should be able to assist in reconfiguring the
COM ports.
viii. With the plotter power off, MSD should show the
following:
CARRIER DETECT = NO
RING INDICATOR = NO
DATA SET READY = NO
CLEAR TO SEND = NO
If any of the answers are YES, then either the
plotter is not connected to that COM port, or the COM
port is faulty.
ix. Turn on the plotter power. At the computer, either
click on the OK box or simply press to accept
the MSD menu. After the plotter has completed
initialization, reselect COM Ports by clicking on COM
Ports with the mouse or by simply typing the letter
C.
x. With the plotter power on, MSD should show the
following:
CARRIER DETECT = YES
RING INDICATOR = NO
DATA SET READY = YES
CLEAR TO SEND = YES
xi. To exit from MSD, either click on the OK box or
simply press to accept the MSD menu and then
press F3.
b. If the results from MSD differ from the above, note the
following:
i. It is possible that the COM port on the PC is faulty.
Try connecting the plotter to another PC.
ii. If an incorrect cable is being used, or if this cable
is defective, then try another cable.
iii. It is possible that the internal cable going from the
back of the computer to the I/O card inside the
computer is loose and needs to be re-seated.
E. It is possible that the data being sent to the plotter did not contain
any plot data. Perform the following:
1. Create a plot file using the software application package to plot
the file to the hard disk. Observe the full directory path where
the plot file was written to.
2. Exit the software package and perform a directory listing of the
file (e.g., If the filename created was C:\TEST.PLT, then at the
DOS prompt, type DIR C:\TEST.PLT). If the file size equals zero
bytes, then nothing will be sent to the plotter.
F. If using a CalComp 906/907/PCI driver, then the sync char, number of
sync chars, end of message character, and checksum need to be
correctly set up. Since the sync and end of message characters envelop
the vector data, the plotter will discard data until it detects these
characters. The following is a general procedure for configuring the
plotter:
1. After a valid driver selection has been made, set the
communication parameters in the software application. If the
software application does not provide a way to configure these
values, then refer to either Appendix B of the User's Guide, or
at the end of this document, for a list of common 906/907/PCI
settings for the most popular software packages. If the software
application is not shown, then contact the software manufacturer
for the information.
2. The following configuration values, with the exception of
handshake for 960 data format, will be needed in order to
configure the plotter. Recommended values are shown in
parenthesis:
Baud rate (9600), number of data bits (8), number of stop
bits (1), parity (N), and handshake (Direct Control).
The following additional parameters will be required if using a
CalComp 906/907/PCI driver:
Format (PCI), sync char (2), number of sync chars (1), end
of message character (3), and checksum (NO).
3. Configure the plotter. If configuring for a CalComp 906/907/PCI
plotter driver, the plotter has a set-up menu that contains eight
submenus which must all be configured to match the software.
Perform the following:
a. Press the key marked SETUP to access the plotter's set-up
menu.
b. Press the key marked 7 (numeral 7) for I/O communications.
c. Press the key marked ENTER. Note: Always press the ENTER
key after keying in a numeric value. Otherwise the plotter
will not accept and store the new value.
d. The plotter displays:
Host Setup Number:
Press NEXT for MENU.
e. To access menu 0 of 8: Press the key marked NEXT/SIZE,
press ENTER, the plotter displays:
Par: 0 = no (none), 1 = 0 (odd), 2 = E (even)
Bits/Char: 7/8
Use the key pad to enter the correct parity and bits/char.
For example if the software application requires no parity
and 8 data bits, perform the following:
i. Press 0. Press ENTER.
ii. Press 8. Press ENTER.
iii. Press the key marked NEXT/SIZE to go to the next
menu. Press ENTER
f. Menu 1 of 8. The plotter displays:
Stop Bits: 1/2
Clock: 0 = Int. 1 = Ext.
In most applications, the stop bits is 1.
i. Enter the appropriate stop bit value and press ENTER.
ii. Enter 0 for Clock. Press ENTER.
iii. Press NEXT/SIZE to go to the next menu. Press ENTER.
g. Menu 2 of 8: The plotter displays:
0 = Serial, 1 = IEEE488
IEEE Address:
i. Set Serial = 0, press ENTER.
ii. Set IEEE488 = 00, press ENTER.
iii. Press NEXT/SIZE to go to the next menu. Press ENTER.
h. Menu 3 of 8: The plotter displays:
Host Baud Rate:
Mode: 1 = 960, 0 = PCI
i. Set to the appropriate baud rate value. Note: A baud
rate above 4800 will not cause the plotter to produce
the plots any faster. Press ENTER.
ii. Set the Mode value. Press ENTER.
iii. Press NEXT/SIZE to go to the next menu. Press ENTER
i. Menu 4 of 8: The plotter displays:
Term Muting: Y/N ?
Cksum Enable: Y/N ?
i. Term Muting should always be set for no. Press the
key marked CLEAR (says no on top).
ii. Cksum is a value that must be set to match what the
software application requires.
iii. Press NEXT/SIZE to go to the next menu. Press ENTER.
j. Menu 5 of 8: The plotter displays:
Isochronous: Y/N?
End of Mess Chr: Y/N?
i. Set Isochronous to NO.
ii. Set the End of Message Character to match what the
software application requires. Press ENTER.
iii. Press NEXT/SIZE to go to the next menu. Press ENTER
k. Menu 6 of 8: The plotter displays:
Direct Control: Y/N ?
XON/XOFF: Y/N ?
This menu is also referred to as the handshaking menu.
This value must be set to match what the software
application requires. Direct Control handshaking is also
referred to as: hardware, hardwire, CTS, or DTR/RTS.
Whenever the software allows a selection, hardware
handshaking is the best choice.
i. To configure for hardware handshake on the plotter,
press the ENTER key to set Direct control to equal
YES. Dip switch 2 & 4 on the back of the plotter must
be set to ON = 1. Turn all other dip switches OFF
= 0.
ii. To configure for XON/XOFF handshake on the plotter,
press the CLEAR/NO key to bring the cursor down to
the bottom line and press the ENTER key to say YES to
XON/XOFF.
Note: Older 104x Series plotters needed upgraded ROM
packs to properly use XONXOFF handshake. Use
Hardware handshaking whenever possible. If the
software does not support hardware handshake, then
confirm that the ROM pack is the correct revision.
iii. Press NEXT/SIZE to go to the next menu. Press ENTER
l. Menu 7 of 8: Plotter displays:
Term Baud Rate:
Dplx: 1 = half, 0 = full
i. Set term baud Rate to 9600. Press ENTER.
ii. Set Dplx to 0 = full. Press ENTER.
iii. Press NEXT/SIZE to go to the next menu. Press ENTER.
m. Menu 8 of 8: Plotter displays:
Sync Codes: 1/2
Sync Code Value:
Sync Codes refers to the number of sync codes and has a
value of either 1 or 2. Sync Code Value refers to the sync
character that precedes each PCI vector block. If the
software application uses a sync char = 2 and the number
of sync chars = 1, then perform the following:
i. Press 1 for Sync Codes. Press ENTER.
ii. Press 02 for Sync Code Value. Press ENTER.
n. This is the last menu. To save the settings, press the
yellow key marked SAVE/TEST. The plotter will display:
User Number:
The 104X has four User Numbers to save unique software set-
ups. Valid choices are: 1, 2, 3, or 4. Press the numeric
key (1, 2, 3, or 4) and press the ENTER key to save to that
user number.
o. Press AUTO to plot.
G. It is possible that the port on the plotter is bad. If so, then the
plotter requires on-site service to verify and repair.
P C I C o n f i g u r a t i o n P a r a m e t e r s T a b l e
Software Baud/Parity Format Handshake #Sync Sync Chksum EOM
Application Data Bits/ char char
in alphabe- Stop Bits
tical order
____________________________________________________________________________
Aldus Graph 9600 n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 2 22 no 13
Anvil-1000 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 yes 3
Arc Info 9600,n,8,1 PCI Xon/Xoff 1 2 no 3
Arris 9600,n,8,1 PCI Xon/Xoff 1 2 no 3
Cadkey 9600,n,8,1 PCI Xon/Xoff 1 2 no 3
Cadplus 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
Cadra 9600, n,8,1 PCI ACK/NAK 1 2 yes 3
Cadvance 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
Cascade 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 13
Civil Soft 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 2 2 no 3
DataCad 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
DesignCad 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
Drafix 9600,e,7,1 PCI Xon/Xoff 2 22 yes 13
Drawbase 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
Easy CAD 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
EasyDraft 9600,n,8,1 PCI ACK/NAK 2 2 yes 13
EE Designer 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
Fast CAD 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
Future Net 9600,n,8,1 960 (Values disregarded when using 960)
McDonnell
Douglas
GDS 9600,n,8,1 PCI ACK/NAK 1 2 no 3
Generic CAD 9600,n,8,1, PCI Direct Control 2 22 no 13
Geocam 9600,e,7,1 PCI ACK/NAK 2 22 no 13
Geographics 9600,n,8,1 PCI Xon/Xoff 2 22 no 13
Geosoft 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Cont 2 22 no 13
Geovision 9600,n,8,1 PCI ACK/NAK 2 2 yes 3
Harvard
Project
Manager 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
IGOS 9600,n,8,1 PCI ACK/NAK 1 2 yes 3
Lazer CAD 9600,e,7,1 PCI Direct Control 2 22 no 13
Letter Art 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 2 2 no 13
Map Info 9600,n,8,1 960 (Values disregarded when using 960)
Med Systems
Mentec 9600,n,8,1 PCI ACK/NAK 1 2 yes 3
Medusa 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 yes 3
MicroCADAM 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
Integraph's
Microstation 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
MiniCad 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
Orcad 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
PCAD-PCB 9600,n,8,1 960 (Values disregarded when using 960)
Pegasys 9600,e,7,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
Personal
Designer 9600,n,8,1 960 (Values disregarded when using 960)
ComputerVision
Pointline 2400,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
PrimaVision 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
Procad 9600,n,8,1 PCI ACK/NAK 1 2 no 3
ProCADAM 9600,n,8,1 PCI Xon/Xoff 1 2 no 3
Pro Design II 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
Proengineer 9600,n,8,1 PCI Xon/Xoff 1 2 no 3
Radian 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 yes 3
REDLOG 9600,n,8,1 960 (Values disregarded when using 960)
ROADCALC 9600,n,8,1 PCI ACK/NAK 1 2 no 3
Silver Screen 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
Suretrack 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 yes 3
Tango 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
Timeline 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3
Traxplot
Protel 9600,n,8,1 PCI Direct Control 2 22 no 13
Unigraphics 9600,n,8,1 PCI ACK/NAK 1 2 yes 3
VersaCad 9600,n,8,1 PCI Xon/Xoff 1 2 no 3
5.3 or later
View Logic 9600,e,8,1 PCI Direct Control 1 2 no 3