ANSWERS
GENERAL QUESTIONS
How do I contact Sealevel Systems?
Telephone
Switchboard Operator: 864.843.4343
Fax
Main fax: 864.843.3067
E-mail
Sales: sales@sealevel.com
Technical Support: support@sealevel.com
Mailing Address
Sealevel Systems, Inc
PO Box 830
Liberty, SC 29657 USA
Physical Shipping Address
Sealevel Systems, Inc
2779 Greenville Highway
Liberty, SC 29657 USA
Visit the Contact section of our website for sales reps by region, key contacts in the company, international contacts, and other details. If you need to return a product for repair, please read the FAQ "How do I arrange for a product to be repaired and how long do repairs typically take?"
What are office hours and holiday schedules for Sealevel Systems?
Normal Office Hours
Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 6:00PM US Eastern Time Sealevel observes the following US holidays and is typically closed for business on these days:
| New Years Day | (January 1st) | | Good Friday | (Friday before Easter Sunday) | | Memorial Day | (last Monday in May) | | Independence Day | (July 4th) | | Labor Day | (first Monday in September) | | Thanksgiving Day | (fourth Thursday in November) | | Day After Thanksgiving | (Friday after Thanksgiving) | | Christmas Eve | (December 24th) | | Christmas Day | (December 25th) | | New Years Eve | (December 31st) |
Where can I find the manual for my Sealevel product?
A CD containing the manual is included in your product shipment. The manual on the CD is in PDF format; you will need Adobe Acrobat to view the file.
You also have two navigation options for downloading a manual from our website:
1. Navigate to the product webpage for your item and use the "User Manual" link
2. Navigate to the Manuals webpage and select by interface/bus or part number
Where can I find software for my Sealevel product?
A CD containing the software is included in your product shipment. Following is a list the software to use based on product type.
You also have two navigation options for downloading software from our website:
1. Navigate to the product webpage for your item and use the "Download Software" link
2. Navigate to the Drivers webpage and select software by interface/bus, part number
How long is the warranty on Sealevel products?
A lifetime on all Sealevel manufactured I/O products. It's very simple: we're proud of our products and we value our customers. To us, that settles the issue; we'll stand behind our quality and our customers ... for a lifetime.
Learn more about our warranty
How do I arrange for a product to be repaired and how long do repairs typically take?
The first step is to request an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) number.
| 1. | Call our main switchboard at 864.843.4343 and tell the receptionist that you have a product in need of repair. | | 2. | You will be transferred directly to a Technical Support Specialist who will ask about your situation in hopes that the problem can be quickly resolved during the call. | | 3. | If it is determined that the product requires service, the Technical Support Specialist will provide you an RMA number and instructions for return. | | 4. | Ship the product to the address below. (Also write the RMA number on the outside of the box where it can be easily identified.) | | |
Sealevel Systems, Inc
Attn: (RMA Number)
2779 Greenville Highway
Liberty, SC 29657 USA |
Our goal is to have RMA repairs completed in less than 5 business days.
What is the correct procedure for installing a Sealevel product?
Always install the software before the hardware.
Refer to the product manual to determine the correct hardware installation procedures.
Download your product manual here
Can Sealevel modify an existing product or design a new custom product?
Absolutely. In fact, modifications and customizations are a significant part of our business. We have provided modified and customized products for projects involving NASA, Department of Defense, IBM, Raytheon, and numerous others.
Our capabilities span the spectrum from simple oscillator or UART swaps to complex industrial computer designs.
Following are two examples of our success in these areas:
Custom Solutions - Isolated USB to 16 Serial Ports
Custom Solutions - Serial Isolation Board
To discuss you project contact your Sales Representative at 864.843.4343 or sales@sealevel.com.
I have a Sealevel product, but can't find the part number on your website. Do you still carry this product?
It is very likely that we still offer the product as a limited support item. Call your Sales Rep at 864.843.4343 or email sales@sealevel.com.
How do I determine what part number I have?
Sealevel maintains a four digit numbering system that breaks down products into different categories. Part numbers can be found in the silk screen on the board or on a label on the exterior of the product. If you still have trouble finding the part number, the following list explains this part numbering system:
1000 series numbers are Interface Converters, small devices that sit outside the computer and convert serial data from one electrical interface standard to another.
2000 series numbers are USB Serial products.
3000 series numbers are typically ISA Serial, PCMCIA Serial, or PC/104 Serial products, but can also be ISA Digital I/O and PC/104 Digital I/O products.
4000 series numbers are typically Ethernet Serial products, but can also be ISA Digital I/O, ISA Parallel (obsolete), or ISA Synchronous products.
5000 series numbers are typically PCI Synchronous products.
7000 series numbers are PCI Serial or Compact PCI Serial products.
8000 series numbers specify PCI Digital I/O or USB Digital I/O products.
9000 series numbers specify custom designed products.
This list is not all-inclusive. Sealevel Systems continues to develop new products and may use a different part numbering system in the future. Please contact your sales representative or technical support for further assistance.
ASYNCHRONOUS SERIAL
What are the definitions of typical communication standards such as RS-232 and RS-422?
Click here to view an article titled Choosing Serial I/O for Control Networks that describes the most common communication standards.
Do you have sample Windows programs for writing to a serial port?
Sealevel provides three sample programs, available on our FTP site. These are simple windows console applications without the GUI:
TERMINAL - A simple terminal program
MODEMCTR - A program to toggle modem control signals
UARTTEST - A Win32 API program to send and receive test data
If you still need help, please call our technical support staff at 864-843-4343 or send an e-mail to support@sealevel.com.
Does my Sealevel Product work with 3rd Party software applications?
Sealevel has tested their products with many popular 3rd Party HMI/MMI, Recipe/Batch Management, Test, and Instrumentation software packages. Check Sealevel's 3rd Party Software page for whitepapers and to see if your software package has been tested. If your software has not been tested, please let us know at support@sealevel.com.
Are there any tools to help in writing serial communication programs?
Yes. PortMon for Windows (Microsoft) can be a big help. This utility monitors all serial port activity, shows how an application uses a port, and helps track down problems with system or application configurations. You can find other helpful freeware utility programs on Microsoft's Windows Sysinternals web site, including source code.
Does the Sealevel serial driver use the same calls as the Microsoft serial driver?
SeaCOM, the Sealevel serial driver, looks exactly like the Windows driver using the same API. SeaCOM offers many extended features over the Microsoft serial driver. Here are just a few extended features:
RS-485 RTS control
Support for advanced UARTS
Interrupt sharing in Windows 95/98 for ISA Products
Suppression of modem control interrupts
More extended features on the SeaCOM page
Are there any known problems with Windows XP SP1 and USB devices?
Yes, the USB driver built into Windows XP SP1 (Service Pack 1) has issues with suspend, hibernation, and restarting. This issue potentially affects all USB devices and is not specific to those manufactured by Sealevel Systems. Microsoft released Hotfix 822603 to address this problem. If you are running Windows XP SP1, visit this link for information on how to download and install the patch.
If you are running Windows XP SP2 (Service Pack 2) or greater, you are already using the updated driver and do not need to apply the patch. If you are having other problems with a Sealevel device, please contact Technical Support.
Do Sealevel products support interrupt sharing with other devices?
Yes. The Sealevel SeaCOM serial driver fully supports interrupt sharing. There are however a couple of points to mention.
Several Sealevel 4 and 8 port ISA serial boards have special onboard circuitry to support interrupt sharing. The ISA interrupt sharing is only supported on these select boards with the Sealevel serial driver.
All Sealevel PCI serial cards fully support interrupt sharing across all versions of Windows. In order for interrupt sharing to work properly, all devices connected to a particular interrupt must support sharing. The failure of a connected device and it's associated driver to support interrupt sharing will cause the other connected devices to fail.
I have to reinstall a Sealevel serial product. What is the best way?
For Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP, use Device Manager to uninstall the product prior to removing it from the computer or unplugging it, as in the case with USB serial. This ensures that when the product is reinstalled, the system will see it as a new piece of hardware.
Since many Sealevel devices install as "Parent/Child" devices, the trick is making sure to uninstall the Parent device. Our PCI serial and ISA serial cards will typically have the Parent device installed under the "Multiport Serial" category. Uninstalling this device will remove both the Parent and Child COM port devices. For USB serial devices the Parent device will be installed in the "Universal Serial Bus" category. If it is a single channel USB serial device the Parent device will be either a SeaLINK or SeaPORT entry. For multi-port USB serial devices, uninstall all occurences of "Generic USB Hub".
For Windows NT, the system should be shut down and the product removed. Allow Windows NT to boot without the product. The device driver will detect that the product is no longer in the system and will remove the now invalid device. Shut back down and reinstall the product. Upon boot up the device should be reinstalled. Contact technical support for additional information.
What is the maximum distance I can run RS-232?
The RS-232C standard specifies a maximum cable length of 50 feet or 2500 pF of capacitance. A typical off the shelf cable is capable of 9600 bps at 50 feet. However, data rate and performance decreases as cable length increases. As cable length increases so does capacitance and the maximum data rate is a direct function of the capacitance of the cable. It is recommended to use a shielded cable since this can help to reduce stray capacitance. If running distances over 50 feet, you should use the lowest capacitance shielded cable available. If you are terminating your own cable, connect the shield to chassis ground only at one end.
How do you connect an RS-232 serial device that is several hundred feet away from the computer?
There are several methods for getting longer distances out of RS-232. The old method was to use a line amp but the signal was still subject to line noise problems and other issues related to RS-232 communications.
Currently, the best method is to use an Interface Converter to convert the electrical interface from RS-232 to RS-422 or RS-485. Use an Interface Converter at both ends and, using standard twisted pair cable, you can run your RS-232 device up to 4000' away from the computer. The Interface Converter handles the electrical interface conversion in hardware so it is completely transparent to your software application.
Another good method is to use an Ethernet Serial Server located near the RS-232 device. This allows you to communicate with your RS-232 device, anywhere on your Ethernet network, as though it were connected directly to your computer. Contact your sales representative or technical support for other connection methods.
What is "serial tunneling"?
Simply stated, serial tunneling is a bidirectional communication method that Ethernet-enables serial devices. This allows asynchronous serial devices to communicate over an Ethernet network without requiring costly changes to application programs or device firmware. Barcode scanners, RFID readers, scales, sensors, and hundreds of other serial devices can now be located remotely on the network, yet communicate with a host serial device as though they were directly connected to a local serial port. Two Sealevel Ethernet Serial Servers are paired together by configuring each others IP address, thus creating an active network connection. When one serial server receives serial data, it initiates a connection, converts the data into network packets and transmits the data to the other serial server. Sealevels family of Ethernet Serial Servers (running firmware v2.2 or greater) support Serial Tunneling.
What type of cable does Sealevel recommend?
The demands of the application will determine the quality and type of components needed. A quality shielded cable is always a good place to start. If you are terminating your own cables, connect one end of the shield to chassis ground and leave the other end of the shield floating.
If using RS-422, RS-485, RS-530 or another differential signal use twisted pair cable. Connect each twisted pair to the same set of signal pins (i.e., TX+/TX- would be one twisted pair of conductors and RX+/RX- another set of twisted pair conductors). This helps to cancel out noise or voltage differences that are induced or radiated into untwisted cables.
If running long distances choose a low capacitance cable. Try to avoid running communication cables near AC power lines, fluorescent lights, transformers or any devices with a strong magnetic field. Make sure connections are clean and secure and thumbscrews are tightened. High-quality shielded cables are included with certain Sealevel serial devices and are also available as accessories.
Do I need to connect a ground line using RS-422, RS-485 communications?
The short answer is yes. Differential serial communications such as RS-422 and RS-485 use the ground as a reference. If there is no ground, the reference is basically floating. Many installations do not connect the ground line and have no problems. Electrically, it will work unless the floating reference causes the data line voltage to exceed the common mode range of the transmitter/receiver. If you have devices on different power circuits there is a high probability of ground differences that can lead to the same condition.
If you are unsure of the logic ground potential differences you can measure the voltage level between logic ground and earth ground. The voltage on the logic ground line will be added to the signal voltage level and may exceed the common mode range of the transmitter/receiver. Using an optically isolated serial device alleviates this problem. Sealevel offers a variety of optically isolated serial products including the following:
PCI - 7103, 7108 and 7203
USB - 2103 and 2104
Interface Converter - 1103 and 1105
Ethernet - 4103
Compact PCI - 7903
ISA - 3189
Sealevel's technical support staff are very well trained on these issues and will gladly offer additional assistance if needed.
Do I need to terminate modem control signals if I'm not using them?
It is always a good idea to terminate any un-used signal lines. Floating signals can generate interrupts. The Sealevel SeaCOM serial driver provides a means of suppressing modem control interrupts. This feature is located in Device Manager for Microsoft Windows 95/98/2000/ME/XP or Advanced Ports in Windows NT. If you are not using the Sealevel SeaCOM serial driver, or are using a different operating system, terminate each modem control line by connecting it to its complement:
Connect CTS to RTS
Connect DCD to DTR to DSR
When should I consider upgrading to an advanced UART?
Several factors must be considered when upgrading to a 16850 or 16950 UART. Most importantly, advanced UARTS offer deeper FIFOs. When running at data rates above 115.2 Kbps, an advanced UART can help prevent data loss by buffering more data between interrupts. Slower processors, heavy disk activity, or running multiple applications can cause interrupt delays, resulting in buffer overflows and data loss. A high throughput rate, typically experienced when several serial ports share a single interrupt, will also benefit from an upgraded UART. If you are using isosynchronous communications or require 9th bit support, upgrade to a 16950 UART. Sealevel part numbers for 16850 upgrades are appended by "-SE" and 16950 upgrades are appended by "-SN". Contact your sales representative for a quote.
Will a standard RS-232 DB25 to DB9 adapter or cable work with my RS-422, RS-485 board?
No. Standard DB25 to DB9 adapters and cables are made to convert an RS-232 DB25 pin out to an RS-232 DB9 pin out. As such, they do not pass the correct signals through for RS-422 or RS-485. Please see the following question regarding using standard RS-530 cables or visit the cable accessories page for cabling options.
Will standard off-the-shelf RS-530 cables work with my Sealevel RS-422, RS-485 device?
Yes, with a few exceptions. The RS-422, RS-485 specification does not define a connector pin out. However, Sealevel adheres to it's own standard for RS-422 and RS-485 pin outs, for both DB9 and DB25 connectors, across the entire product line (except a few older ISA products). Sealevel RS-422, RS-485 products adhere to the industry standard RS-530 specification meaning that standard RS-530 cables for connecting DTE to DCE devices can be used. Sealevel offers several optional cables and terminal blocks that can simplify field wiring and are available on the accessories page. If using an RS-530 cable from another manufacturer, it should be confirmed that the cable is constructed with a shielded, twisted pair cable and that the signals are paired correctly.
Does Sealevel provide any type of kit for making cables?
Sealevel offers several accessories that allow customers to interface to just about any type of serial connector. The universal DB converter kit, part number DB101, includes DB9 and DB25 M/F connectors, hoods and wires and make it easy to build a custom gender adapter or convert a legacy pin out. The modular adapter kit, part number DB102, makes it easy to connect DB9 and DB25 serial connectors together using standard CAT5 cables. Modular adapters are also available individually. Many other cabling options are available on the accessories page.
Can I change the COM number assignment for my Sealevel serial card?
There are only a few cases where you would want to change a COM number assignment. Your application only works at COM1 through COM4 and the Sealevel serial device you just installed comes in at COM5 or higher. Or, you just installed a multiport serial card and the COM numbers were not assigned consecutively. The ability to change the COM number assignments depends on which Windows operating system you are using. To complicate things further, a previously installed USB or PCMCIA device may not even be physically in the system when you attempt to make the change. Sealevel highly recommends using the installed COM numbers if at all possible. However, Sealevel offers a few solutions for changing COM number assignments depending on which operating system you are using.
Older versions of Windows (95/98/ME) do not provide a way to change the COM number assignments. The Sealevel SeaCOM serial driver automatically installs the Port Manager utility and it can be found in the Start menu in the SeaCOM folder. Port Manager provides a method to change the COM number assignments in these versions of Windows.
Windows NT does not provide a way to change COM number assignments either. The Sealevel SeaCOM serial drivers installs the Advanced Ports utility in the Control Panel. Advanced Ports is used to change COM assignments in Windows NT.
In Windows 2000/XP, you can change the COM number assignment using Device Manager. In Device Manager, select the "Ports COM and LPT" category, select the COM port you want to change, click on the "Port Settings" tab, then click the "Advanced" button. A new dialog window appears with a drop down box that allows you to change the COM number assignment.
Contact our technical support department if you are still experiencing problems with getting your Sealevel serial device to work with your operating system and application.
What pins should I connect when performing a loop back test? Do all pins need to be connected?
For RS-232 serial devices:
Connect TX to RX
Connect RTS to CTS to RI
Connect DTR to DCD to DSR
For RS-422, RS-485 serial devices:
Connect TX+ to RX+ and TX- to RX-
Connect RTS+ to CTS+ and RTS- to CTS-
For RS-530 serial devices:
Connect TX+ to RX+ and TX- to RX-
Connect RTS+ to CTS+ and RTS- to CTS-
Connect DTR+ to DCD+ to DSR+ and DTR- to DCD- to DSR-
Only the data pins (TX and RX) are necessary for a loop back test. Unless you need to test the modem control signals (RTS, CTS, DCD, DTR, DSR, and RI) there is no need to connect them. Please refer to your manual for the correct pin assignments for your serial device.
I am using a Sealevel GPS modified board. How do I set the data rate?
The GPS modified boards are designed to work primarily with the Rockwell Collins GPS receiver with a data rate of 76.8 Kbps. The modification is necessary because 76.8 Kbps is not a standard baud rate. To get 76.8 Kbps select 115.2 Kbps as your data rate in the SeaCOM driver. This will result in an actual data rate of 76.8 Kbps. For a more detailed description of the two GPS modifications, download the GPS instructions (pdf). If you would like to order a GPS modified board, contact your sales representative for a quote.
SYNCHRONOUS SERIAL
Where is the description of the SeaMAC API?
This is located in the help file when SeaMAC is installed. From the Start menu, locate the SeaMAC folder and choose SeaMAC Help. In the contents you will find two sections, Application Programmer's Interface and Class Library, that fully document the SeaMAC API.
Does Sealevel provide sample applications and source code with SeaMAC v4?
SeaMAC v4 is the Sealevel HDLC/SDLC driver for synchronous serial products. SeaMAC automatically installs a C application sample with source code in the Samples subdirectory in the SeaMAC folder located on your hard drive. Contact technical support if you need additional information.
What is the maximum data rate of Sealevel synchronous serial cards?
Sealevel synchronous serial products fall into three categories: ZiLOG Z16C32 based devices, ZiLOG Z85230 based devices and older ISA DMA channel cards.
The fastest family of Sealevel synchronous serial products is built around the ZiLOG Z16C32 IUSC which has an onboard DMA controller. All Sealevel Z16C32 based products have 256K of onboard RAM that is mapped to the PC's internal memory. Using the SeaMAC v4 driver, the onboard DMA controller allows these products to achieve burst rates of 10 Mbps and sustained data rates of up to 6 Mbps.
The Sealevel synchronous serial products built around the ZiLOG Z85230 ESCC are supported by the SeaMAC v4 driver in interrupt mode. These products make use of the small onboard FIFO (8 byte receive, 4 byte transmit) in the ZiLOG Z85230 to achieve a maximum burst data rate of 128 Kbps with a sustained data rate of up to 56 Kbps.
The older ISA DMA channel synchronous serial cards are built around the ZiLOG Z85230 ESCC. Using the SeaMAC v4 driver, these cards operate in interrupt mode and are limited to a maximum burst data rate of 128 Kbps with a sustained data rate of up to 56 Kbps.
Where can I get the user manual for the ZiLOG synchronous serial controller chip (Z85230 or Z16C32)?
The Z85230 PDF user manual and the Z16C32 PDF user manual are both available on the ZiLOG web site and are used on a variety of Sealevel synchronous serial products.
Can you provide instructions for testing my synchronous serial card so that I know it is working?
After installing the Sealevel SeaMAC synchronous serial driver and then installing the synchronous serial card, start with the default configuration. SeaMAC installs a utility called WinSSD which can be found in the SeaMAC folder in the Start menu. WinSSD is also available on the Sealevel FTP site. Launch WinSSD, open the port and then select RS-232 as your electrical interface. Configure RSET source and TSET source for "SSI Timing BRG" and attach a loop back. In the WinSSD application is the "BERT" tab (Bit Error Rate Test) which will then transmit and receive data to confirm that the synchronous serial card is working correctly. Contact technical support if you have any questions.
What clock pins do I need to connect when testing my synchronous serial card with a loop back?
For Sealevel synchronous serial products, after connecting the Transmit (TX) and Receive (RX) pins, you will need to connect the Clock Output pin (TSET) to the Clock Input pin (RXC). In most cases, the Clock Output pin (TSET) should be used as the board's output clock. Transmit Clock (TXC) is an input and should not be used.
DIGITAL I/O
Where is the description of the SeaIO API?
This is located in the help file when SeaIO is installed. From the Start menu, locate the SeaIO folder and choose SeaIO Help. In the contents you will find two sections, Application Programmer's Interface and Class Library, that fully document the SeaIO API, including samples and descriptions of all calls.
Are there any known problems with Windows XP SP1 and USB I/O devices?
Yes, the USB driver built into Windows XP SP1 (Service Pack 1) has issues with suspend, hibernation, and restarting. This issue potentially affects all USB devices and is not specific to those manufactured by Sealevel Systems. Microsoft released Hotfix 822603 to address this problem. If you are running Windows XP SP1, visit this linkfor information on how to download and install the patch.
If you are running Windows XP SP2 (Service Pack 2) or greater, you are already using the updated driver and do not need to apply the patch. If you are having other problems with a Sealevel device, please contact Technical Support.
Are there sample applications provided with SeaIO?
SeaIO is the driver for Sealevel Digital I/O products. SeaIO automatically installs several application samples with source code in the Samples subdirectory in the SeaIO folder located on your hard drive. Contact technical support if you need additional information.
Can I use Sealevel reed relay cards to switch other relays or inductive loads?
Sealevel Digital I/O products with reed relays are not designed to switch inductive loads such as the coil on another relay. If you need to switch an inductive load, Sealevel recommends using a Digital I/O product with Form C relays instead. You should remember to place a diode parallel to the coil to suppress the inductive kickback voltage. Failing to install a diode will shorten the life of the relay contacts. Sealevel technical support can provide further assistance.
Can I use Sealevel digital input boards to sense 120 VAC?
Sealevel does not recommend this since high AC voltages inside a PC can be very dangerous. Sealevel offers Digital I/O TTL products that interface to industry standard relay racks and solid state relay modules that are better suited to sensing and switching AC voltages. Relay racks with solid state relay modules are also ideal for switching other relays and inductive loads. Contact your sales representative or technical support if you need additional information.
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