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From: jim@n5ial.mythical.com (Jim Graham)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Possible FAQ question about a UART
Keywords: 16550
Message-ID: <1993Apr17.135119.1855@n5ial.mythical.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 1993 13:51:19 GMT
References: <1993Apr15.054552.14548@henson.cc.wwu.edu>
Organization: what, ME???  you must be joking.
Lines: 48

thought I'd post this as well as e-mail it, just in case anyone else is
interested in this info.....

In article <1993Apr15.054552.14548@henson.cc.wwu.edu>
n9110338@henson.cc.wwu.edu (dan jordan) writes:

>   Hello, my question is could someone E-mail me the names of manufactures
>of the 16550 and predecsor UARTs.   I have only seen them refered to by
>number, however i would like to find a technical manual for these ICs.

>  any where i can find out the technical specs for these UARTs would be
>appreciated: prefereably the 16450 as well as the 16550 however one will do.

I suggest that you go direct to the original (and preferred...best quality)
source for all of this, just as you would (at least, should) for the chips
themselves:  National Semiconductor.  you can reach them at 1-800-272-9959.
they no longer package the data sheets in a book, as they did when I got
mine, but you can get them as individual sets of data sheets.  you want, as
a minimum, the following:

   *) 2 sets of data sheets:
      *) NS16450/INS8250A/NS16C450/INS82C50A
      *) NS16550AF

   *) 2 application notes (yes, GET THESE!):
      *) AN-491 The NS16550A: UART Design and Application Considerations
      *) AN-493 A Comparison of the INS8250, NS16450 and NS16550AF Series
         of UARTs

both of the application notes I listed have proven to be AT LEAST as
valuable as the data sheets themselves (more, actually).  AN-491, in
particular, is an exceptionally well-written application note that goes
into detail about how and why the 16550 does what it does, and how best
to take advantage of it.

btw, they send these out free, as long as you don't abuse it.

later,
   --jim

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