Software Bisque Knowledge Base Article – 8

INCORRECT RESPONSE FROM CLINK CARD

ISSUE

The CompuSky CLink card (a.k.a. “Dr. J Card”) does not respond correctly at any of the base addresses (0x300, 0x310, 0x320, 0x330). Sometimes the response is continually changing even if the encoders are not being moved.

May also manifest itself in the form of an encoder appearing to move in a fixed direction, regardless of the direction in which the encoder is turned?

RESOLUTION

There is probably a device contention on the base address. Check that the base address used by the CLink Card (0x300 by default) does not conflict with any other installed hardware. If there is a conflict, or if you simply wish to try a different address, follow the directions below.

(If it isn’t a base address problem, check the encoder wiring pinout.)

To change the base address used with the CLink Card:

First, set the Address Jumpers on the card to an available address. The card will use this address, and the four immediately following it (e.g. 0x300-304).*

Next configure TheSky for the same base address set above. Here’s how:

(Windows 3.1x)
1. If running, close TheSky.
2. Add the following two lines to the Sky.ini file:
(CLINK)
BaseAddress = 0x300
(Substitute the actual base address; 0x300, 0x310, 0x320 or 0x330.)
3. Re-start TheSky.

(Windows 95/NT)
1. If running, close TheSky.
2. Open the Registry Editor (Start / Run, then Open REGEDIT).
3. Switch to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER window (listed under Window menu).
4. Open the key list to Software/Software Bisque/TheSky/CLINK.
5. If not already present, add a value named “BaseAddress” of type string (Edit, New, String Value).
6. Set the BaseAddress string value to match that set of the CLink Card. This must be one of 0x300, 0x310, 0x320 or 0x330 (the “x” must be lower case).
7. Exit the Registry Editor (your changes will automatically be saved).
8. Re-start TheSky.

*The jumper pins are arranged in two rows of three each, labelled “ABC” and “DEF.” The top row is the hex “10” adder, the bottom row the hex “20” adder. When the middle pin of a row is jumped to its left neighbor, that row’s hex value won’t be added. When the middle pin is jumped to its right neighbor, the hex value is added. Thus, A-B/D-E=0x300, B-C/D-E=0x310, A-B/E-F=0x320 and B-C/E-F=0x330.

APPLIES TO

Telescope Interface

KEYWORDS

SBKB

This article was formerly published under the identifier Q58KB in Software Bisque’s prior knowledge base.

Last Reviewed: 11/24/2004