Ast SixpackPlus - Short version. Serial problem solved!

[dabone]

I've been trying to get a working 16550 serial port in my tandy 1000sx.
I've got a Sixpackplus short version installed for the clock, and finally tried using the serial port after I swapped the uart.
But with either uart I was getting just garbage at any baud rate, so last night I tried swapping the 1489, with no change,
and then sitting there on the board, mocking me, was a jumper labeled OSC, with no jumper installed.
I installed this jumper and the the serial port worked fine.

So a couple of questions.../rants.....
1. WTF would you design a jumper to disconnect the oscillator?
2. And if you did the above why wouldn't you cover that there is a jumper for that in the manual??

So, remember kids, if your serial port on your Sixpackplus short board isn't working, make sure there is a jumper on OSC.
But on the other hand, I have a nice new 1489 and socket installed.

Later,
dabone

 

[Great Hierophant]

My thought would be if you wished to use a custom clock rate for the serial port or you were using the card in a semi-PC compatible that did not provide a usable clock rate from the board. Otherwise it may simply be a diagnostic jumper intended for internal factory use that was not removed from production hardware.