| # GRASS Help System

Installing an Altek Digitizer

This file covers how to set up the hardware for an Altek digitizer with an AC-30 controller. It includes set up instructions for the AC-30 controller, the cabling to the digitizer and a help section for problems. At the bottom of this file there is a description of the AC-40 controller switch settings; but beware -- these are untested.

On CERL's AC-30 controller the switches are inside the controller itself. It is necessary to remove 4 screws and the cover to reach the switches. There are two banks of eight switches. Switch settings are:

Left Bank Right Bank
1 --> 1 <--
2 --> 2 <--
3 <-- 3 <--
4 --> 4 <--
5 --> 5 -->
6 --> 6 <--
7 <-- 7 <--
8 <-- 8 <--

ON -->

What these switch settings give us is:

Resolution at .001 inches, format 8 (standard packed binary), 9600 baud,
and point mode.

The cabling between the digitizer and the computer differ for different computers. Some known cable configurations are given below:

AT&T 3B2: Cable was straight thru (ribbon cable).

## SUN 3/110:

Sun Altek

    	 2  ----  3

    	 3  ----  2

    	 4  ----  5

    	 5  ----  4

    	 7  ----  7

SUN SPARC Plus
While the above configuration has been known to work for Sparcstations,
it is reported that this below works where the other sometimes does not:

Sun4 Altek

    	 2  ----  3

    	 3  ----  2

    	 4  ----  5

    	 5  ----  4

    	 7  ----  7

## +-6 6--+

           |	     |

           +-8  ----  20 |

            	     |

             20 ----  8--+

## MASSCOMP :

Mass Altek

    	 2  ----  3

    	 3  ----  2

    	 4  ----  5

    	 5  ----  4

    	 7  ----  7

## 6 -

    	 8   |

    	 20 _|

Masscomp cable has 2 and 3 switched, 4 and 5 switched, 7 straight thru, and on the computer side 6, 8, and 20 are looped together.

If the v.digit program isn't working make sure that the tty the digitizer is on has the getty off, the tty permissions set to 'crw-rw-rw', the 'digitcap' file is correct for your system configuration, and the switch settings on the digitizer are correct. There are some diagnostic programs under $GISBASE/src/mapdev/digitizers/altek/Diagnostics. Read the README file in the Diagnostics directory for specific information on the programs. If none of the programs work, there is something wrong with either the cabling or the digitizer.

     ---------------------------------------------------------------------

I have two differents sets of digitizers switch setting for the AC-40 controller. If one set doesn't work, try the other.

AC-40 Switch Settings:
1 bank of 9 switches
4 banks of 8 switches

     ---------------------------------------------------------------------

First set of switch settings to try:

One bank of 9 switches all switches are on.
4 banks of 8 switches:

1st 2nd

             ---                  |      ---

      8       0      - 9600       |       0     -    Mode

      7       0      -  |         |       0     -     |

      6       1      -  |         |       0     -    Stream

      5       1      -  |         |       0     -     |

      4       1      -  2 stop    |       0     -    Strm. Value

      3       0      -  Dis par   |       0     -     |

      2       1      -  Even      |       1     -     |

      1       1      -  8 bits    |       0     -     |

1 is on, 0 is off

3rd 4th

             ---                  |      ---

      8       1      - Output     |       1     -    Binary 2

      7       1      -  |         |       0     -    Standard

      6       1      -  |         |       0     -    Run Type

      5       0      - English    |       1     -     |

      4       0      - No LF      |       0     -    Serial

      3       0      - Dis sign   |       0     -    DTR1 off

      2       1      - X on       |       0     -    DTR2 off

      1       1      - En Host    |       1     -    Reserved

1 is on, 0 is off

     ---------------------------------------------------------------------

If the first set of switch settings fail you may want to try these
settings.

One bank of 9 switches all switches are on.
4 banks of 8 switches:

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

           ---       ---      ---       ---

## 8 0 1 0 1 8

## 7 0 0 0 1 7

## 6 0 1 1 1 6

## 5 0 0 1 0 5

## 4 0 0 1 0 4

## 3 1 0 0 0 3

## 2 0 0 1 1 2

## 1 0 1 1 1 1

1 is on, 0 is off

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Automatically created on: Thu Mar 16 08:45:09 2006