Ann Arbor Ambassador User Guide

Checkout & Installation

Unpacking

Inspect the shipping carton for signs of damage before opening. If there is any evidence of damage, notify the carrier and Ann Arbor.

Remove the terminal from the shipping carton. The following items should be enclosed:

NOTE: The D-Case Keyboard is shipped in a separate carton.

Inspect the contents for damage. If damage is found, notify the carrier and Ann Arbor.

You may wish to save the shipping carton to facilitate return of the equipment for Factory Service should that become required.

Initial Turn-On

Remove the rear-access door from the VDU. It is attached by a slot-head screw at the base of the door.

For the E-Case, connect the Keyboard cable plug to the black connector closest to the door. The connector is keyed; it plugs in with the cable issuing out the door. It inserts easily; don't force it. Once inserted, press in lightly at top and bottom to be sure that it's well seated. For the D-Case, this connector is extended to the front underside of the VDU. Raise the front of the unit slightly and plug in the keyboard there.

CAUTION: If you have occasion to un-plug this cable, please use the pull-tab provided. Pulling on the cable can damage the cable's interconnect at the plug.

Plug the line cord into a standard three-pin 115VAC wall socket. If not possible, use a two-pin socket with proper ground wire attached and connect to ground.

Turn on power. The E-Case power switch is at the left front of the VDU below the screen. Push to turn on. The D-Case power switch is at the right rear of the VDU below the door. Slide to your left to turn on. You'll hear a short audio tone as the unit turns on.

Allow the tube to warm up. During this time, the terminal is performing its internal self-diagnostic tests. If it finds no errors, the cursor will appear in the upper-left corner of the screen. If it finds an error, and is able, it will display an appropriate error message on the screen. If not able, it will cause the audio to "chirp". See Diagnostics section for an explanation of the errors and possible courses of action.

You may wish to adjust the brightness of the characters. The contrast control on the E-Case is located on the front panel below the screen. On the D-Case, it is located on the rear panel below the door. It is recommended that the brightness be set at the minimum comfortable level to prolong the life of the tube and to minimize phosphor burn.

NOTE: Notice that the cursor is brighter than the characters. It is displayed with the 'bold' graphic rendition. You may adjust the differential between the 'normal' and 'bold' renditions with a trimpot located on the logic board near the keyboard connector.

Initial Checkout

Depress the SETUP key on the keyboard. This will bring Setup line A to the bottom of the screen. Turn to the Setup Mode section, and review how to step through, change, and save the contents of these lines.

Suggested settings for initial checkout are shown below:

A  1111 1111  0000 0000
B  9600  0100 1000  0000 0000  0000 0000  17  19
C   0   0   0   0  1200  0100 1100
D  0111 1000  0000 0010  1   0

After setting up the lines as shown (or as you want them), 'Save' them as explained in the Setup Mode section. This will ensure that the terminal powers up with the settings you've chosen.

Now, go back into Setup mode (by typing the SETUP key) and exit to Local Test (by typing the letter T). The terminal is now in Local. As you type keys on the keyboard, the generated character codes are passed to the terminal's communications interface but, instead of being passed on to the terminal's out-going data line, are instead wrapped back into its data input. You are in effect simulating the host from the keyboard.

Observe the Monitor line at the bottom of the screen. This line displays the character codes as they are processed by the terminal; see Diagnostics section. As you type keys on the keyboard, you can observe what codes are being entered and processed.

Take a few minutes to get familiar with this line. It can save you time in installation, and can be a valuable tool in your use of the terminal. Try a few character keys. Note that they are displayed on the Monitor line as well as being written to the screen. Try a cursor key. The ANSI code sequence generated by the key is displayed in the Monitor line and the cursor moves on the screen. Try some other control keys and see what's generated. Try typing in some control sequences, and observe their effect. Examples:

ESC [ 10 C Moves the cursor right 10 columns
ESC [ 10 ; 10 H Moves the cursor to line 10, column 10
ESC [ 1 K Erases from beginning of line to cursor
ESC [ 10 @ Inserts 10 spaces
ESC [ 10 P Deletes 10 characters

At this point you can skip to Installation if you wish to continue on-line. If you wish to continue off-line, try programming some of the PF (Programmed Function) keys; see Programmable Strings section. Any control sequence, that can be typed in, can be loaded into a Programmable key and, thereafter, executed with a single keystroke.

By using the Setup lines to change terminal modes, and the programmable keys to facilitate entry of terminal controls, you can explore their interaction to whatever extent you wish before involving the host.

Installation

NOTE: The following describes installation of the terminal to RS232 Data Communications Equipment. Ann Arbor provides accessory cables to mate with other interfaces. If one of these is ordered, installation instructions are included with the accessory cable.

Install the Computer cable through the rear access door. The small connector plugs into the bottom connector on the daughter board. (The upper connector is for the Printer cable.) The key (long centered rib) faces the main board. The connector snaps in easily; don't force it.

The other end of the cable is a standard RS232 DTE interface:

Pin Signal
2 Transmit Data
3 Receive Data
4 Request to Send
5 Clear to Send
7 Signal Ground
20 Data Terminal Ready

NOTE: The Clear to Send input from the terminal may be used (to enable/disable transmission from the terminal) or left open (= 'on' condition).

Connect the RS232 connector to the host or the data communications equipment.

Bring Setup line B to the screen. Set the Baud Rate, Parity, and number of Stop Bits, and exit by typing the letter M.

NOTE: Exiting Setup mode with the letter M, returns the terminal to normal (i.e. on-line) operation, with the Monitor line displayed at the bottom of the screen, permitting the codes echoed from the host to be observed; see Diagnostics section.

Try operating with the host. The Monitor line displays the codes being actually received from the host. If garbage is being received, check your Baud Rate, or check (or try a different) Parity or Stop Bit setting.

If you've changed any of your Setup settings in the process of going on-line with the host, you'll want to 'Save' them before proceeding. Check each of the Setup lines against the diagrams given previously to make sure you've changed only settings you're familiar with. Remember that when you 'Save' the settings you save all four lines at their present state.

When you've completed the installation (including the printer, as described below, if applicable), replace the door. The I/O cables are best brought out at the base of the door; the keyboard cable through either side. The door clamps the cables in place.

Printer Installation

NOTE: The following describes installation of an RS232-compatible printer to the terminal. The Ambassador supports such printers whether they use RS232 signals, or DC1/DC3 codes, for ready/busy control; see Printer section. Ann Arbor provides accessory cables to mate with other interfaces. If one of these is ordered, installation instructions are included with the accessory cable.

Install the Printer cable through the rear access door. The small connector plugs into the upper connector on the daughter board. The key (long centered rib) faces the main board. The connector snaps in easily; don't force it.

The other end of the cable is a standard RS232 DCE interface:

Connect the RS232 connector to the printer.

Bring Setup line C to the screen, and make the settings required for your printer; see Printer section, Printer Setups.

Exit back on-line (by typing either the SETUP or M key), and try printing. Type the PRINT key to start a Page Print. Type the BREAK key to abort it. If you're using the suggested settings, you're printing from top of screen to cursor (i.e. Transfer Termination Mode = 0) so be certain you have the cursor down into the text.

Once you've set up your printer, don't forget to 'Save' the parameters.