Page 3 - Limited Warranty
Limited Warranty Copyright Rose Electronics 1990-2002. All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transcribed in any form or any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, without the prior written permission of Rose ...
Page 4 - Table of Contents; Contents
Table of Contents Contents Disclaimer .................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 Features .......
Page 5 - Introduction; Disclaimer
Introduction CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 1 Disclaimer While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this manual, the manufacturer assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither does the manufacturer assume any liability for damages resulting from the u...
Page 6 - Model Number and Options; First Steps
2 CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL Model Number and Options The Caretaker Plus consists of a switch unit and a separate wall mounted power adapter. It is available in several models: 2 to 8 ports, either serial or parallel, and Centronics tyhpe connectors or Db25 type connectors. Th...
Page 7 - FRONT PANEL DISPLAY; Caretaker Plus Front Panel Display; is lit whenever the unit is powered on.
FRONT PANEL DISPLAY CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 3 Caretaker Plus Front Panel Display POWER LED is lit whenever the unit is powered on. ADVANCE and SELECT switches are used to enter the configuration menu, go into diagnostic modes, or clear the buffer. MODE LED is lit to indicat...
Page 8 - QUICK SETUP LIST – Serial Units; Serial Set-Up for PCs
QUICK SETUP LIST – Serial Units 4 CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL Serial Set-Up for PCs 1. Connect your PC to port 1 on the Caretaker Plus with the proper cable. 2. Connect the power adapter to the Caretaker Plus and turn the Caretaker Plus on. Verify that the power LED is on. The ...
Page 9 - Caretaker Plus Rear Panel – Serial Model
CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 5 Caretaker Plus Rear Panel – Serial Model The diagram below shows the connector arrangement for model #CTP-8S. It has nine serial ports. The CTP-4S is similar but it doesn't have ports 5-8. Port 0, the rightmost port, is where you connect the printe...
Page 10 - QUICK SETUP LIST – Parallel Units; your computers to ports 1-8 with the correct cables.; Caretaker Plus Rear Panel – Parallel Model
QUICK SETUP LIST – Parallel Units 6 CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL Parallel Set-Up 1. Connect the Caretaker Plus port 0 to your printer with the correct cable. Connect your computers to ports 1-8 with the correct cables. 2. Connect the power adapter to the Caretaker Plus and turn ...
Page 11 - CABLING; Parallel Cabling; CONFIGURATION
CABLING CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 7 One of the most important steps in installing the Caretaker Plus is to connect the correct cables. We have tried to give as much information as possible to specify the correct cable. Please refer to Appendix A and B. Also refer to the previ...
Page 12 - Table 1. Configuration Menu Display
8 CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL to indicate entry into configuration mode. Entering configuration mode will stop data transfer to the shared device, and also erase all data in the buffer. No new data can be loaded into the unit while in configuration mode. Press carriage return o...
Page 13 - Configuration Menu Items
CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 9 Configuration Menu Items In the examples below, <ENTER> means "press the ENTER key", not "type the characters <ENTER>. Output from the Caretaker Plus is shown in courier type. Input from the user is shown in underlined couri...
Page 14 - Form Feed
10 CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL Form Feed The form feed, when enabled, sends a form feed character to the shared device to eject the last page printed when a port is disconnected. The factory default is a disabled form feed. When enabled the last character sent to the shared dev...
Page 15 - Exit
CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 11 Exit This command is used to exit the configuration menu and return the unit to normal (data transfer) mode. Enter X to the choice prompt. A termination message will print, and the BUSY, DATA, and MODE LEDs will return to the state they were in be...
Page 16 - Reverse Channel Data Timeout
12 CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL Reverse Channel Data Timeout This command (on the advanced features menu) determines whether or not to reset the timeout clock when data is received on port O "reverse channel data". When this feature is enabled, reverse channel data reset...
Page 17 - Configuration Commands
CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 13 Configuration Commands Configuration commands allow changing of the unit's setup parameters without the Use of a menu. They may be used on serial or parallel units. To enable processing of configuration commands, depress both of the unit's front p...
Page 18 - Protocol Command
14 CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL Protocol Command This command changes the communication protocol of a given port. If you enter a protocol that blocks communication with the unit or is otherwise undesirable, and you have not used KEEP, you may restore the previous format by power...
Page 19 - Parallel Enable Logic Command
CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 15 Parallel Enable Logic Command This command allows the Caretaker Plus to recognize when a computer that is connected to a parallel port on the Caretaker Plus is turned off so that the Caretaker Plus will not accept data from the PC. The factory def...
Page 20 - OPERATIONS; Initial State
OPERATIONS 16 CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL Initial State Following the successful completion of the power up tests, the Caretaker Plus turns all the port LEDs off. The BUSY LED may be lit if the shared device is busy. Normal Operation Input devices, usually computers, initiate r...
Page 21 - Buffer Characteristics; Printer Initialization Signal (Parallel Models Only)
CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 17 Buffer Characteristics The switch may have a buffer memory of 16K, 256K, 512K, 1 megabyte, or 2 megabytes. The Caretaker Plus uses an intelligent algorithm to allocate memory. The buffer is dynamically allocated which means that any port can utili...
Page 22 - Timeout; When typed at the DOS prompt. you get a blank line
18 CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL Timeout The default setting of 20 seconds is sufficient for most applications. Some computers, however, start printing and then pause to do some type of calculation or processing and then resume printing. If this pause is greater than the timeout ...
Page 23 - Initialization String
CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 19 Initialization String The initialization string is used to reset the printer to a defined state at the beginning of each job. In this way the printer settings of the last person to print do not affect the print settings of the next person to print...
Page 24 - Power Up Initial Display; Program Checksum Test
20 CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL Power Up Initial Display When powering on, the Caretaker Plus goes through a power up self-test which checks the main functions of its electronics. The leftmost LED labeled POWER should glow green and the other red LEDs should all turn on. Then th...
Page 25 - Static Ram Read/Write Test
CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 21 Static Ram Read/Write Test The next test is for static ram. Since the Caretaker Plus has no static ram, this test is displayed as shown in TABLE 6 for consistency with other Rose products. Non-volatile Ram Tests The fourth and final power up test ...
Page 26 - Flow Control Display Mode (Serial Models Only)
22 CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL Flow Control Display Mode (Serial Models Only) By pressing the ADVANCE switch during normal operation, the LED display is switched to the flow control display mode. The MODE LED illuminates to indicate this mode is active. You may return to normal...
Page 27 - TROUBLESHOOTING; Troubleshooting; Common Problems and Solutions
TROUBLESHOOTING CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 23 Troubleshooting Common Problems and Solutions I. Missing blocks of data on shared device and/or buffer Overflow error display occurs - serial only A. Flow control is not set or wired properly If your device uses X-on/X-off, ensure ...
Page 29 - Maintenance and Repair
CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 25 Maintenance and Repair The exterior surface of the unit may be wiped with a damp cloth to keep it clean. The unit does not contain any jumpers or serviceable parts inside. Opening the unit invalidates the warranty except in the case of an authoriz...
Page 30 - DIAGNOSTICS; Diagnostic Modes
DIAGNOSTICS 26 CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL Diagnostic Modes The Caretaker Plus has an extensive self-test diagnostic capability. Normally these features are only accessed by a technician to determine a failure with the unit. Through the diagnostic modes, you can: Print the conf...
Page 31 - Print Configuration/Test Pattern Function; Serial Units
CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 27 Print Configuration/Test Pattern Function Holding both switches down at the end of test 4 causes the unit to print its configuration out to port O, as shown in TABLE 8. Holding both switches down a second time at the end of test 4 causes a print e...
Page 32 - Long Test Without Loopback
DIAGNOSTICS 28 CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL Long Test Without Loopback This group of tests are entered by pressing the select switch only while powering up the unit with the on/off switch. All equipment should be disconnected from the unit prior to running this test. Test 1 - EP...
Page 33 - Long Test with Loopback; Table 9. Loopback Test Connectors
CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 29 Long Test with Loopback This test is entered by pressing the advance switch only while powering up the unit with the on/off switch. Special loopback connectors should be connected to each Caretaker Plus port. Tests 1-5 - These are the same as test...
Page 34 - APPENDICES; Appendix A: Serial Cabling; Other Devices
APPENDICES 30 CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL Appendix A: Serial Cabling The diagrams below show the Caretaker Plus pinout on the left and all other devices on the right. Read across to find the pinout. Connector types shown below refer to the connector on the device, not on the ca...
Page 35 - Appendix B: Pinout Specifications; Serial Models; Pin; Parallel Models
CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 31 Appendix B: Pinout Specifications Serial Models DB25 Female Pin Signal Name Acronym I/O Description 2 Transmit data TXD Output Serial data from port 3 Receive data RXD Input Serial data to port 4 Request to send RTS Output Always high 6 Data set r...
Page 36 - Appendix C: MP1000 Memory Board; About the Board; Installation; Opening the Caretaker Plus
32 CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL Appendix C: MP1000 Memory Board This memory board provides optional, add-on buffer expansion for the Caretaker Plus. Installing this board expands the Caretaker Plus buffer from the standard 64K to 256K, 512K, or 1 MB. "Stacking" two board...
Page 37 - Installing the Board; Adding Chips to an Empty Board or Adding Additional Chips; Verification of Installation
CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 33 Installing the Board Carefully plug the expansion pins of the board (the first board, if using two) onto the motherboard's sockets where the 64K chips were removed. Fasten the board down using the two threaded spacers. Screw them into the motherbo...
Page 38 - Appendix D: Factory Defaults
34 CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL Appendix D: Factory Defaults Upon receiving the Caretaker Plus from the factory, or restoring the unit to default parameters (see 'RESTORE TO DEFAULT FUNCTION'), The factory default settings are: Timeout: 20 seconds Protocol Serial: 9600 baud, no ...
