How to setup a terminal for OPCOM
How to setup a terminal for OPCOM
Model: 54424/54436 (Solus 4)
Detailed information on all of the OPCOM commands is located in the Solus
4 Plotter Reference Manual. The order part number for the Plotter
Reference Manual is M0016-310.
A. WHAT IS A DUMB TERMINAL?
In order to use OPCOM it is necessary to hook up a dumb terminal to
the plotter port which is marked COM_1/OPCOM. There are a number of
commonly used dumb terminals which we can suggest. These would
include the Wyse 30, Ampex 210, LSI (ADM11), and the Espirit
(ESP6110). CalComp does not offer assistance to customers in
configuring their terminals - only with the general guidelines
contained within this technical note.
1. A dumb terminal is essentially a monitor and keyboard with
just enough additional hardware to send and receive (and
display) ASCII (text) data. The computer can be turned into a
(dumb) terminal by using most any current communications
software program. Commonly available programs suggested by
CalComp are; (for PC s, DOS or Windows) ProCOMM, PC-Anywhere,
and the Windows Terminal program. For the Mac, CalComp
suggests ZTERM (a shareware program), White Knight or
Microphone.
B. WHAT IS OPCOM?
OPCOM is the operator command mode from which advanced features of
the plotter may be easily configured and controlled. The Solus 4
series plotters also have command-driven control panels. By
comparison, OPCOM is an excellent tool for a system administrator
because the range of control is much greater than that of just
using the Control Panel. OPCOM commands allow the operator to
easily configure ports, scale, rotate, and mirror plots, configure
pens and colors (mono patterns), create custom users (by user
number), and monitor the plotter's hard disk for all current
incoming jobs (All jobs stored on the plotter's disk are lost when
the plotter is turned off).
C. HOW TO CONNECT THE TERMINAL:
1. On the back of the plotter are 3 ports, the one marked
COM_1/OPCOM is a standard RS-232 serial 25-pin port (female,
DB25). This port is configured by the factory for OPCOM. It
cannot be used for plot data unless the OPCOM link is switched
off. You can switch COM_1 from OPCOM to a plot data port at
the Control Panel (see the chapter 3 of the User's Guide, page
70).
2. Some communications (dumb) terminals have two DB25 (25 pin)
RS-232 serial ports. One is usually marked MODEM and the other
AUXILIARY. The port marked MODEM is usually the one to be
used.
3. Most terminals and PC s are setup as DTE (Data Terminal
Equipment) devices with 25 pin RS-232 serial ports. The Solus
4 plotters are also DTE devices. The cable to use in when the
terminal or PC is DTE is a DB25 (25-pin) NULL-MODEM type RS-
232 serial cable (transmit abd receive pin wires 2 and 3 are
to be crossed). CalComp manufactures a heavy duty, 25 pin,
female-to-male NULL-MODEM cable. The order P/N for this cable
is 754050-3. This cable can be ordered by calling CalComp at
1-800-225-2667.
A straight (MODEM) cable, such as CalComp's P/N 11772-0250,
may also be used if a NULL-MODEM adapter is attached. A Null-
Modem adapter may be ordered from CalComp. The P/N for this
adapter is 21617-0019.
CalComp does not provide assistance on another manufacturer's
product. If there is any question or confusion about your
particular terminal's cable or setup requirements, please
consult your terminal manufacturer's documentation and other
help resources.
D. HOW TO CONFIGURE THE TERMINAL:
The following guidelines show you how your dumb terminal (or
software communications program running in terminal mode) is to be
configured in order to match what the plotter expects.
1. THE TERMINAL EMULATION: The terminal must be setup to emulate
a VT terminal type (VT means Vax Terminal). VT emulations are
among the most common and virtually every dumb terminal model
and communications software supports them. Here are a some of
the commonly listed VT models; VT-100, VT-102, VT-220, or VT-
52, etc. (Any VT model listed as being supported should work).
2. THE TERMINAL PORT PARAMETERS: The baud rate and character
framing which the terminal should be set to 19200 (see Note #E
below for details on AUTOBAUD), 8, none, and 1. The handshake
can be either HARDWARE or XON/XOFF. The transfer must be FULL
DUPLEX. Please refer to your owner s manuals for additional
details on exactly how to configure your particular terminal
system for these parameters.
3. TERMINAL CONFIGURATION SUMMARY:
Terminal Type = VT-100 (or any other VT model listed)
Baud Rate = 19200
Character Framing = 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, No Parity
Handshake = Hardware (CTS) or XON/XOFF
Duplex = Full
E. AUTOBAUD: CHANGING THE PLOTTER'S TERMINAL BAUD RATE:
The plotter s terminal baud rate may be set to either 9600, 19200,
or 38400. The factory default for the Solus 4 series plotters is
19200. However, Solus 4 plotters have the ability (called Autobaud)
to switch automatically between 9600, 19200, and 38400. This is
done as soon as you send data signals from the terminal to the
plotter. The plotter reads and adjusts to the terminal's baud rate
within the range of from 9600 to 38400.
F. HOW TO GET THE PLOTTER AND TERMINAL TO TALK TO EACH OTHER:
Once the terminal matches the configuration summarized above (Note
#D, above), it should be able to talk to the plotter. The most
common problems at this point are (1) not getting a clean initial
signal transfer and (2) incorrect baud rate . Here are some
guidelines which usually resolve these problems:
1. GET A CLEAN INITIAL SIGNAL TRANSFER FROM COMPUTER TO PLOTTER:
a. Turn the plotter off.
b. Once you are certain you have the correct cable and the
terminal (or terminal program) is configured as
described above in Note #D, you should REBOOT the
terminal (or, if you are using a communications program
running in terminal mode, quit the program and REBOOT
the computer system. A warm reboot is OK.).
c. After rebooting your terminal (or computer and
communications software), check the cable connection and
terminal configuration once again to be sure it is
correct.
d. Now turn the plotter on. At this time you should
immediately see (on your terminal or computer screen)
readable English words and a logical sequence of
characters which indicate the plotter is going through
its normal bootup diagnostics and system check,
eventually ending with the message; Initialization
Complete (or something similar).
2. IF THERE IS NO RESPONSE OR THERE ARE GARBAGE CHARACTERS
DISPLAYED ON THE TERMINAL SCREEN:
a. NO RESPONSE (NOTHING IS DISPLAYED ON THE TERMINAL OR
COMPUTER SCREEN):
If you see nothing on the terminal or computer screen,
yet after about 2 minutes the plotter's online light is
steady (indicating the plotter is ready), repeat steps
a-d above, under Note F1. (IT IS SOMETIMES NECESSARY TO
REPEAT THESE STEPS SEVERAL TIMES before everything comes
into proper sync. )
If there is still no success, test your cable or try
another one that is known to work with the CalComp
plotter. BE CERTAIN THE CABLE IS THE CORRECT TYPE AND IT
IS NOT DEFECTIVE. Do not assume it works. The only sure
way to know if you have a good cable is to test it.
Basically, there are two ways to test a cable. One way
is to check the wire connection from one end (pin
connecter) to the other. Each pin must be checked this
way (use a common electrical OhmMeter or Continuity
Checker). If you are uncertain how your cable should be
wired, please refer to Note #C, above, of this guideline.
The other way is to use a second cable that is currently
working and meets all of the required cable
specifications. If this cable does not work, you
probably have either a defective terminal or plotter.
FAILURE on the plotter for this problem is VERY LOW. Try
either another dumb terminal or a PC running a
communications software program in terminal mode BEFORE
calling CalComp for further assistance.
b. UNREADABLE (GARBAGE) CHARACTERS ARE DISPLAYED ON THE
TERMINAL OR COMPUTER SCREEN:
If there are characters but they do not form any
readable messages, there is a baud mismatch. Your
terminal is probably using a baud rate less than 9600.
You must use a baud rate in the range of from 9600 to
38400.
G. THE TERMINAL DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY - A SUMMARY OF POSSIBLE
PROBLEMS AND THEIR CAUSES: The most common reasons for terminal
communication failure are listed below, in the order of probability
(with the letter 'a' being the most common cause).
There are two basic symptoms for terminal communications problems.
They are given as follows as symptom #1 and symptom #2. The first
and most common is:
1. SYMPTOM #1: No response - the screen is blank, no
messages are being received by the terminal
from the plotter.
a. Incorrect terminal configuration
b. Poor initial signal link between terminal/computer and
plotter
c. Must be connected to COM_1 / OPCOM port. Connected to
the plotter's COM_2 port OR OPCOM is switched off at the
plotter's Control Panel
d. Incorrect or defective cable
e. Incorrect COM port number assigned on the terminal or
computer
f. Defective terminal or computer serial interface
g. Computer COM port interrupt interference (computers only)
h. Defective terminal (hardware)
i. Defective plotter hardware or OPCOM system (Requires
onsite repair)
2. SYMPTOM #2: A string of unreadable (garbage) characters
is displayed on the terminal (or computer)
screen.
a. The dumb terminal (or computer) baud rate does not match
the range of the plotter's OPCOM port. The AUTOBAUD
range is 9600, 19200, and 38400.
H. HOW TO GET THE OPCOM PROMPT:
The plotter will be ready for OPCOM after completing it's start-up
initialization sequence. The last message it sends to the terminal
indicates that initialization is complete (or something similar).
At this time hold the Ctrl key and press P (Ctrl-P). The plotter
should them respond back with the prompt: ENTER USER PIN
PIN means Personal Identification Number. At the Enter User PIN
prompt type 8378 or 0 and enter. You will not see these PIN
characters displayed as you type them. They are meant to be hidden.
There are two types of PIN; One is assigned as Administrator and
all others are for the individual Users. The factory default
ADMINISTRATOR PIN is 0 (zero). The administrator's PIN can be
changed to any number in the range of from 0 to 256. If it is
changed and then somehow lost, you can always get administrative
access with a special number supplied by CalComp, 8378. In
administrative mode the user has full control. The ADMIN prompt
appears as the letter (A) followed by a small arrow. The USER
prompt is the arrow only.
Please refer all other general questions concerning OPCOM to the
Plotter Reference Manual, chapter 1. If you do not have a copy of
the User's Guide you may order it. The order part number for the
Plotter Reference Manual is M0016-310.