🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <13465.281d8745@ecs.umass.edu> ssircar@ecs.umass.edu (Good writers re-write -- not write!) writes:
>Recently, I've been reading a lot of posts concerning the 16550 UART.  Exactly, 
>what does it do compared to other UARTs?  For example, I ran a program which 
>told me that I have a 16450 UART.  Since the chip itself costs about $15, I am 
>wondering whether or not I should upgrade it.  Can I easily replace the chip 
>without any side effects?  Is it as easy as installing a math chip?

You can easily replace an older UART with a 16550 as long as the older 
chip not soldered in.  If it is, you'll need to be handy to take it out. 
Otherwise, just take the old one out and put the new one in.  

The advantage of a 16550 is that it contains a 16 byte FIFO buffer (first-
in, first-out).  This comes in very useful when you are using a multi-
tasking environment, such as Desqview, and a high-speed modem.  The
multitasker will cause the high-speed modem to start losing characters
every know and then without it.  The 16550 will buffer up to 16 bytes,
just enough so that the multitasker can give enough time back to the comm
program. 

However, programs you use must be written to take advantage of the 16550.
Comm programs such as Telix, Qmodem, Crosstalk, etc. are, though there
are some that are not.  I believe Procomm Plus 2.0 is written for it, but
has some bugs that were fixed with a patch recently released.


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Eric L. Thav                Florida Atlantic University - Boca Raton, FL
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