TBBS 2.x - Using the Hostess 550-8 Board from Comtrol Corporation

Contact:   eSoft, Inc. (Makers of TBBS)
           15200 E. Girard Ave., Suite 3000
           Aurora, CO  80014
           (303) 699-6565      Voice
           (303) 699-6872      Fax
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           support@esoft.com   E-Mail

USING THE HOSTESS 550-8 BOARD FROM COMTROL CORPORATION
------------------------------------------------------

THIS INFORMATION APPLIES TO TBBS VERSIONS 2.1 AND 2.2

The Hostess 550-8 board made by Comtrol can be used with TBBS to support up to 
16 lines.  The limitation of 16 lines is absolute due to the interrupt sharing 
architecture of the Comtrol board. 

The first Hostess 550-8 board switch settings should be:

     Switch Block SW1:

     1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8
     --------------------------------------
     ON   ON   ON   ON   OFF  ON   OFF  OFF


     Switch Block SW2:

     1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8
     --------------------------------------
     OFF  OFF  OFF  OFF  OFF  ON   OFF  OFF


    Switch block SW1 sets the base address to 140, therefore placing
    the status port at 147.

    Switch block SW2 sets the IRQ to 3.

    In CEDIT, in the MULTI-PORT HARDWARE OPTIONS, move the cursor to
    the section for interrupt number IRQ3.  Set Interrupt Handler
    Method to "Efficient".  Set MultiPort Board Type to
    "BitMap(+) LSB=1".  Set # of Lines on Board to "8", regardless of
    the actual number of lines you will support.  Set the Status Port
    Address to "147".

The second Hostess 550-8 board switch settings should be:


     Switch Block SW1:

     1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8
     --------------------------------------
     ON   ON   ON   OFF  ON   ON   ON   OFF


     Switch Block SW2:

     1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8
     --------------------------------------
     OFF  OFF  OFF  OFF  OFF  ON   OFF  ON


    Switch block SW1 sets the base address to 240, therefore placing
    the status port at 247.

    Switch block SW2 sets the IRQ to 4.

    In CEDIT, in the MULTI-PORT HARDWARE OPTIONS, move the cursor to
    the section for interrupt number IRQ4.  Set Interrupt Handler
    Method to "Efficient".  Set MultiPort Board Type to
    "BitMap(+) LSB=1".  Set # of Lines on Board to "8", regardless of
    the actual number of lines you will support.  Set the Status Port
    Address to "247".



The base addresses for the first board are:

    Line 01: 140  IRQ=3
    Line 02: 148  IRQ=3
    Line 03: 150  IRQ=3
    Line 04: 158  IRQ=3
    Line 05: 160  IRQ=3
    Line 06: 168  IRQ=3
    Line 07: 170  IRQ=3
    Line 08: 178  IRQ=3

The base addresses for the second board are:

    Line 09: 240  IRQ=4
    Line 10: 248  IRQ=4
    Line 11: 250  IRQ=4
    Line 12: 258  IRQ=4
    Line 13: 260  IRQ=4
    Line 14: 268  IRQ=4
    Line 15: 270  IRQ=4
    Line 16: 278  IRQ=4

It should be noted that the Hostess cards require more CPU time per interrupt 
than DigiBoards, thus you should not expect good performance with more than 
two or three 9600 (or higher) speed lines, except on 80386 or faster 
computers. 

- END -
TBBS0051
Rev. ??/??

Copyright (C) 1994 eSoft, Inc., All Rights Reserved.  Permission granted
to distribute this file in its entirety, without modification, to any
interested party.  Any other use requires the written permission of
eSoft, Inc.

IMPORTANT:  The information herein is subject to change without notice.
Please call or write to confirm factual information of importance to you
or your organization.

