EC-356 (650-0865) Data Communication Faxback Doc. # 3738
Data communications capabilities let you transfer data between two
Organizers, or between the Organizer and a personal computer. You can
perform such operations in the Telephone Directory, Memo, Scheduler
Keeper, Calendar, or Reminder mode.
Setting Up for Data Communications
The following describes what you should do to set up for data
communications between two Organizers or between the EC-356 and a
personal computer.
To connect the EC-356 to another Organizer
1. Make sure that the power of both units is switched off.
2. Remove the covers from the data communications jacks on the two
Organizers.
3. Connect the two units using the data transfer cable (Cat. No. 65-137,
available on special order from your local Radio Shack store.)
Important! Be sure to replace the connector covers on the Organizers when
you are performing data communications.
Performing data communications between an Organizer and a personal
computer
Note that the optionally available PC Interface Unit (Cat. No. 650-0848)
for data communications between the EC-356 and a personal computer is
available through the Consumer Mail Center.
To connect the Organizer to a personal computer
1. First ensure that the power of the Organizer and the personal computer
is switched OFF.
2. Connect the personal computer to the Interface Unit.
3. Remove the connector cover from the connector terminal of the
Organizer.
Be careful not to lose the connector cover. It should be replaced
in the connector terminal whenever the cable is disconnected.
4. Connect the Organizer to the Interface Unit.
5. Switch On the power of the personal computer, followed by the
Organizer.
When data transfer operations are complete, switch off power in the
following sequence; Organizer and then personal computer.
Next, disconnect the units.
For details on computer hardware requirements, see the communications
software manual.
To set the Organizer hardware parameters
1. Press FUNC twice to display the second function menu.
You can perform the above operation in the Telephone Directory, Memo
Mode, Schedule Keeper, Calendar, or Reminder.
2. Press 4 to select DATA COMM.
3. Press 3 to select SET UP PAR.
The highlighted items on the display are the parameters that are
currently set.
The PARITY parameter is flashing because it is selected.
4. Use the up arrow and down arrow cursor keys to change the selected
parameter on the display.
5. Use the < and > cursor keys to change the highlighted setting of the
currently selected parameter.
6. When the parameters are set the way you want them, press SET to store
them in memory.
About communications parameters...
Communications parameters make it possible for two communicating units
to understand each other. The following explanations are provided for
your information only. The only thing you need to remember is that the
parameters of the send unit and the receive unit must be identical.
Otherwise you will not be able to transfer data successfully.
Parity
Parity is used for error detection during data exchanges. You can set the
Organizer parity as even (E), odd (O), or none (N).
Bit Length
The bit length parameter states how many bits are to be used for each
character. You can set the Organizer bit length as 7 bits or 8 bits.
BPS
The letters "BPS" stand for "bits per second." and this setting represents
the speed at which data is sent. The Organizer lets you set a speed of
either 4800 or 9600.
To set up the Organizer to receive data
1. While an initial screen is displayed, press FUNC twice to display the
second function menu.
You can perform the above operation while the initial screen of the
Telephone Directory, Memo Mode, Schedule Keeper, Calendar, or Reminder
is displayed.
If you want the received data to be stored in the secret area, you
should also enter the secret area at this point. If you are in the
open area on the receiving unit, received data is stored into the
area.
2. Press 4 to select DATA COMM.
3. Press 2 to select RECEIVE.
This message indicates that the receive unit is standing by for data.
Perform the required procedures to start sending data from another
Organizer (see owner's manual for details) or a personal computer (see
the interface Unit manual for details).
To abort the receive operation at any time, press ESC.
This procedure is the same regardless of whether the data is received
from another Organizer or from a personal computer.
4. The display changes to the following once the Organizer starts
receiving data.
The number of data items received is counted on the display.
If an error occurs during the receiver operation, the message
"TRANSMIT ERROR!" appears on the display. Press ESC to clear the
error message.
Received data is added to the data already stored in memory. If the
memory becomes full during the receive operation, the message "Memory
FULL!" appears and data transfer stops. Press ESC to clear the error
message.
Some Organizers have modes (such as a Business Card Library or To Do
list) that are not included with this unit. Data from such modes
cannot be received by this unit.
The Schedule Keeper of some Organizers is capable of storing multiple-
date data items. Whenever you transfer such a data item to the
Organizer, it is automatically converted to a single-date data item.
The date used is one that starts the original multiple-data item.
If an alarm (Daily Alarm, Schedule Alarm, or Reminder Alarm) is
reached while data is being received, the alarm does not sound until
the data receive operation is complete.
Some Organizer models have a mark protection feature to protect
against accidental erasure of data. This unit does not feature mark
protection, and so such data is received by disregarding the mark
protection.
(LB/ir-08/10/95)