Comprehensive Product Summary – Rayon Technology A118 PCIe 8-Port RS232/RS422/RS485 Mixed Settable Card

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### 1. Product Overview

Product Name: A118 Advanced PCIe Serial Communication Card
Model: A118
Series: APCIe Series (Advanced PCI Express Serial Communication Interface Cards)
Article Number: A118
Manufacturer: Rayon Technology Co., Ltd.
Manufacturer Address: 2F, No. 177, Chung-Shan 2 Rd., Lu-Chou City, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan
Contact:
- Tel: +886-2-82858362
- Fax: +886-2-82857065
- Email: rayon@ms1.hinet.net
- Web: [www.rayontech.com](http://www.rayontech.com) / [www.computex.com.tw/rayon](http://www.computex.com.tw/rayon)

Product Description:
The Rayon A118 is an industrial-grade PCI Express (PCIe) expansion card providing eight independent serial communication ports, each configurable as RS232, RS422, or RS485. Designed for high-performance industrial control, automation, and communication systems, the A118 integrates a Moschip MCS9900 controller and supports data rates from 50 to 115,200 bps. Each port’s interface mode is selectable via DIP switches, offering flexible deployment across diverse serial communication environments.

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### 2. Key Features

- Eight Configurable Serial Ports: Each port can be independently set to RS232, RS422, or RS485 mode using onboard DIP switches.
- High Compatibility: Fully compatible with PCI Express bus architecture; plug-and-play installation with automatic resource assignment by PCI BIOS.
- Flexible Interface Selection: Supports mixed interface configurations across all eight ports, ideal for multi-protocol environments.
- ADDC (Auto Data Direction Control): Built-in ADDC feature for RS485 mode ensures automatic data direction management, eliminating the need for manual RTS control.
- Industrial-Grade Design: Suitable for industrial control systems, automation, and data acquisition applications.
- Wide OS Support: Compatible with Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Windows 7, and Linux operating systems.
- High-Performance Controller: Utilizes the Moschip MCS9900 serial communication controller with 128-byte transmit and receive FIFOs per port, reducing CPU load and improving throughput.
- Plug & Play Resource Allocation: I/O, memory, and IRQ resources are automatically assigned by the PCI BIOS.
- Flexible Connectivity: DB62 female connector on the card connects to an expansion cable (R804 or R801) providing eight DB9 or DB25 male connectors.
- Compact Form Factor: Standard PCIe bracket, dimensions 135 mm × 105 mm.
- Multi-Card Support: Up to two A118 cards can be installed per system, providing up to 16 configurable serial ports.
- Robust Environmental Tolerance: Operates in 0°C–55°C temperature range and 10–95% relative humidity.

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### 3. Technical Specifications

Controller:
- Type: Moschip MCS9900
- Function: Multi-port serial communication controller
- FIFO Buffer: 128 bytes transmit and receive per port

Bus Interface:
- PCI Express (PCIe) x1 slot
- Fully Plug & Play compliant

Ports:
- Number of Ports: 8
- Interface Types: RS232 / RS422 / RS485 (selectable per port)
- Configuration: DIP switch selectable
- Baud Rate: 50 to 115,200 bps (software programmable)
- Flow Control: XON/XOFF (software) or RTS/CTS (hardware)
- Connector Type: DB62 female on card
- Expansion Cable Options:
- R804: DB62 male to 8 × DB9 male connectors (included)
- R801: DB62 male to 8 × DB25 male connectors (optional)
- R802: DB62 male to 8 × DB25 female connectors (optional)

Physical Dimensions:
- Card Size: 135 mm (L) × 105 mm (W)
- Form Factor: Standard PCIe bracket

Environmental Conditions:
- Operating Temperature: 0°C to 55°C
- Storage Temperature: 0°C to 65°C
- Operating Humidity: 10% to 95% RH (non-condensing)
- Storage Humidity: 5% to 95% RH

System Requirements:
- PC/AT compatible system with available PCIe slot

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### 4. Functionality

Operation Overview:
The A118 card provides eight independent serial communication channels that can be configured for RS232, RS422, or RS485 operation. Each port’s mode is set via DIP switches located on the card (SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4).

Interface Configuration:
- SW1 & SW3: Select RS232 or RS422/RS485 mode for ports A–D and E–H respectively.
- SW2 & SW4: Select RS422 or RS485 mode for ports A–D and E–H respectively.
- OFF (default): RS485 mode
- ON: RS422 mode

RS485 Mode:
- Supports half-duplex communication.
- Auto Data Direction Control (ADDC) eliminates the need for manual RTS signal management.
- Requires shorting DB9 pins 2–3 (DATA+) and 4–6 (DATA−) for proper RS485 wiring.

RS422 Mode:
- Supports full-duplex communication.
- Ideal for point-to-point or multi-drop applications.

RS232 Mode:
- Standard asynchronous serial communication with full modem control signals (TXD, RXD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD).

Use Cases:
- Industrial automation and control systems
- Data acquisition and monitoring
- SCADA and PLC communication
- Serial device networking (sensors, controllers, modems)
- Multi-protocol serial communication environments

Compatibility:
- Supports Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7 and Linux.
- Compatible with Moschip MCS9900 drivers.
- Supports up to two cards per system (16 ports total).

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### 5. Components & Accessories

Included Components:
- 1 × A118 PCIe 8-port serial interface card (DB62 female connector)
- 1 × R804 expansion cable (DB62 male to 8 × DB9 male connectors)
- 1 × User manual and driver CD

Optional Accessories:
- R801 Cable: DB62 male to 8 × DB25 male connectors
- R802 Cable: DB62 male to 8 × DB25 female connectors
- R803 Cable: DB62 male to DB62 male cable (for RS4232-8 isolated box connection)
- RS4232-8 Box: Optional external isolation box for ground-isolated RS422/RS485 operation

Connector Pin Assignments:
- DB62 female connector pinout supports TXD, RXD, RTS, CTS, DSR, DTR, DCD, and GND signals for all eight ports.
- DB9 and DB25 connectors follow standard RS232/RS422/RS485 pin definitions.

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### 6. Installation & Setup

Hardware Installation Steps:
1. Power off the host system.
2. Insert the A118 card into an available PCIe slot.
3. Secure the card with the bracket screw.
4. Connect the DB62 expansion cable (R804 or R801) to the card.
5. Attach serial devices to the DB9 or DB25 connectors.
6. Power on the system.
7. Install the appropriate driver software.

Driver Installation:
- Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista:
- The system’s Plug & Play function detects the card automatically.
- Specify driver location (e.g., `A:\Win32` or `G:\PCIe_Card\APCIe\Win32`).
- Install “PCIe to Multifunction Peripheral Controller” and “PCIe to High Speed Serial Port” drivers.
- Windows 7:
- Manually install drivers via Device Manager (“Other Devices” → “PCI Simple Communications Controller”).
- Use the same driver as Vista (`StnMf.inf`).
- Linux:
- Copy driver package to `/etc/rayone`.
- Run installation script (`./Install.redhat`).
- Configure card type (APCIe/MPe9900) and kernel version.
- Rebuild and reboot system.
- Device names: `/dev/tty2[1–4][a–h]` for ports A–H.

Configuration Notes:
- Do not insert or remove the card while the system is powered on.
- Ensure correct DIP switch settings before connecting devices.
- Verify COM port assignments in the operating system after driver installation.

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### 7. Performance & Capabilities

Data Rate:
- 50 to 115,200 bps (software programmable)
- Supports standard and custom baud rates

Buffering:
- 128-byte transmit and receive FIFOs per port
- Reduces CPU interrupts and enhances throughput

Flow Control:
- Hardware: RTS/CTS
- Software: XON/XOFF

Communication Modes:
- RS232: Full-duplex, asynchronous
- RS422: Full-duplex differential signaling
- RS485: Half-duplex differential signaling with ADDC

Capacity:
- 8 independent serial ports per card
- Up to 2 cards per system (16 ports total)

Efficiency:
- Memory-mapped I/O for high-speed data transfer
- Automatic IRQ sharing and assignment by PCI BIOS

Limitations:
- Maximum of two A118 cards per system
- RS485 mode supports half-duplex only
- No isolation on base A118 model (use RS4232-8 box for isolation)

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### 8. Standards & Compliance

Bus Interface Standard:
- PCI Express (PCIe) 1.0/2.0 compliant

Serial Communication Standards:
- RS232 (EIA/TIA-232)
- RS422 (EIA/TIA-422)
- RS485 (EIA/TIA-485)

Electrical & Environmental Compliance:
- Designed for industrial operating conditions
- Meets standard PC/AT system electrical requirements

Driver Compliance:
- Compatible with Moschip MCS9900 chipset drivers
- Supports Windows and Linux kernel 2.6.x and later

Certifications:
- Manufacturer quality assurance per Rayon Technology standards
- CE/FCC compliance (typical for industrial PCIe cards; confirm per batch)

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### 9. Additional Information

Warranty:
- One-year limited warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship.
- Excludes damage from misuse, unauthorized servicing, or electrical faults.

Support & Maintenance:
- Technical support available via email (rayon@ms1.hinet.net).
- Driver updates and documentation provided on Rayon’s website.
- RMA (Return Material Authorization) required for repairs.

Repair Procedure:
- Contact Rayon for RMA number before returning products.
- Provide model number, serial number, and problem description.
- Warranty repairs are free of charge; out-of-warranty repairs incur a flat-rate fee.

Related Products:
- A168: 8-port RS232 PCIe card
- A138: 8-port RS422/RS485 PCIe card
- A132 / A134: 2-port and 4-port RS422/RS485 cards
- A112 / A114: 2-port and 4-port RS232/RS422/RS485 cards
- A124I / A134I: Isolated versions with ground isolation
- RS4232-8 Box: External isolation box for 8-port RS422/RS485
- UTS004 / UTS485: USB to serial converters with isolated ports

Maintenance Recommendations:
- Keep card contacts clean and free of dust.
- Avoid hot-swapping; always power down before installation or removal.
- Periodically check cable connections and DIP switch settings.

Software Updates:
- Updated drivers available for new OS versions (Windows 10/11, modern Linux kernels).
- Backward compatibility maintained with legacy systems.

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### Summary

The Rayon A118 PCIe 8-Port RS232/RS422/RS485 Mixed Settable Card is a versatile, high-performance serial communication interface designed for industrial and automation environments requiring multiple serial connections. Its eight configurable ports, broad OS compatibility, and robust Moschip MCS9900 controller make it ideal for integrating legacy serial devices into modern PCIe-based systems. With flexible DIP switch configuration, plug-and-play installation, and support for both full- and half-duplex communication modes, the A118 delivers reliable, scalable, and efficient serial connectivity for demanding industrial applications.