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C102P

RS422/485, 2-port with 16450cUART, IRQ 2-5/7/10-12/15
  • Manufacturer Moxa
  • Category: General Purpose Cards
  • The Moxa C102P is a dual-port asynchronous serial communication board designed for industrial applications requiring reliable long-distance RS-422/RS-485 connectivity. It belongs to the C102 Family of multiport serial boards, which are based on Moxa’s proprietary ASIC technology. The C102P provides two independent RS-422/RS-485 serial ports with software-configurable I/O addresses and IRQs, eliminating the need for jumpers or DIP switches. It is engineered for use in industrial automation, data acquisition, and control systems where robust serial communication is essential.
- Dual Independent RS-422/RS-485 Ports: Supports two fully independent asynchronous serial ports for industrial communication.
- Custom ASIC Design: Integrates multiple conventional ICs into a single ASIC, reducing board size to a compact half-length ISA form factor.
- Software Configuration: No jumpers or switches required; configuration is performed via the DOS utility *Io-irq.exe*, which writes settings to onboard EEPROM.
- Flexible Communication Modes: Supports point-to-point and multidrop connections, full-duplex and half-duplex operation, and both 2-wire and 4-wire configurations.
- UART Compatibility: Equipped with two 16550-compatible UARTs providing 16-byte FIFO buffers for reliable high-speed data transmission.
- Wide Baud Rate Range: Operates from 50 bps up to 115.2 Kbps (C102P model).
- Full Range of IRQs and I/O Addresses: IRQs 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, and 15; I/O address range 0x0000–0xFFFF.
- EEPROM Configuration Storage: Retains configuration data even after power-off.
- Surge and Isolation Options: Surge and isolation protection available in other C102 variants (C102HI, C102HIS).
- Operating System Support: Compatible with DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT, SCO UNIX/XENIX, OS/2, Linux, QNX, and FreeBSD.
- Driver Support: Moxa provides dedicated drivers for DOS, Windows 95, and Windows NT for optimal performance.
- Diagnostic and Development Tools: Bundled with Moxa’s *PComm* communication library and utilities for Windows, and *API-232* library for DOS.

Country of origin: Taiwan R.O.C.

Customs tariff number: 8473 3020 000

1. Product Overview

Product Name: C102P
Model: C102P
Series: C102 Family (includes C102P, C102H, C102HI, C102HIS)
Article Number: C102P
Manufacturer: Moxa Technologies Co., Ltd.

The Moxa C102P is a dual-port asynchronous serial communication board designed for industrial applications requiring reliable long-distance RS-422/RS-485 connectivity. It belongs to the C102 Family of multiport serial boards, which are based on Moxa’s proprietary ASIC technology. The C102P provides two independent RS-422/RS-485 serial ports with software-configurable I/O addresses and IRQs, eliminating the need for jumpers or DIP switches. It is engineered for use in industrial automation, data acquisition, and control systems where robust serial communication is essential.




2. Key Features

- Dual Independent RS-422/RS-485 Ports: Supports two fully independent asynchronous serial ports for industrial communication.
- Custom ASIC Design: Integrates multiple conventional ICs into a single ASIC, reducing board size to a compact half-length ISA form factor.
- Software Configuration: No jumpers or switches required; configuration is performed via the DOS utility *Io-irq.exe*, which writes settings to onboard EEPROM.
- Flexible Communication Modes: Supports point-to-point and multidrop connections, full-duplex and half-duplex operation, and both 2-wire and 4-wire configurations.
- UART Compatibility: Equipped with two 16550-compatible UARTs providing 16-byte FIFO buffers for reliable high-speed data transmission.
- Wide Baud Rate Range: Operates from 50 bps up to 115.2 Kbps (C102P model).
- Full Range of IRQs and I/O Addresses: IRQs 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, and 15; I/O address range 0x0000–0xFFFF.
- EEPROM Configuration Storage: Retains configuration data even after power-off.
- Surge and Isolation Options: Surge and isolation protection available in other C102 variants (C102HI, C102HIS).
- Operating System Support: Compatible with DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT, SCO UNIX/XENIX, OS/2, Linux, QNX, and FreeBSD.
- Driver Support: Moxa provides dedicated drivers for DOS, Windows 95, and Windows NT for optimal performance.
- Diagnostic and Development Tools: Bundled with Moxa’s *PComm* communication library and utilities for Windows, and *API-232* library for DOS.




3. Technical Specifications

| Parameter | Specification |
|----------------|-------------------|
| Bus Interface | ISA (EISA compatible) |
| Number of Ports | 2 independent RS-422/RS-485 ports |
| I/O Address Range | 0x0000 – 0xFFFF (software selectable) |
| IRQ Options | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 15 |
| UART Type | 2 × 16550 (C102P) |
| Baud Rate | 50 – 115,200 bps |
| Data Bits | 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Stop Bits | 1, 1.5, 2 |
| Parity | None, Even, Odd, Space, Mark |
| Connectors | 2 × DB9 male |
| Signal Lines | TxDB, TxDA, RxDB, RxDA, RTSB, RTSA, CTSB, CTSA, GND |
| Power Requirement | +5 VDC, 200 mA max |
| Dimensions | 15.7 cm × 8.3 cm |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 55°C |
| Surge Protection | Not included (available on C102HIS) |
| Opto-Isolation | Not included (available on C102HI, C102HIS) |
| Maximum Cable Length | Up to 4000 ft (RS-422/485 standard) |
| Maximum Data Rate (RS-422/485) | 10 Mbps (standard capability) |




4. Functionality

The C102P provides two asynchronous serial communication channels supporting RS-422 and RS-485 standards. Each port can be configured independently for full-duplex or half-duplex operation. The board’s design allows flexible deployment in industrial networks, including:

- Point-to-Point Communication: Direct connection between two devices using RS-422 or RS-485.
- Multidrop Networks: Connection of up to 32 devices on a single RS-485 bus.
- Full-Duplex and Half-Duplex Modes: Supports both simultaneous bidirectional communication and single-line half-duplex operation.
- Echo and Non-Echo Modes: Configurable receiver enable/disable for half-duplex communication.

The board’s configuration is stored in onboard EEPROM and managed via the *Io-irq.exe* utility. This software allows users to set I/O addresses, IRQs, interrupt vectors, and transmission control parameters (Tx/Rx enable modes). The C102P is compatible with standard COM port assignments (COM1–COM4) and can coexist with other serial devices.

Typical Applications:
- Industrial automation and control systems
- Data acquisition and monitoring
- SCADA and telemetry systems
- Machine-to-machine communication
- Remote terminal and sensor interfacing




5. Components & Accessories

Package Contents:
1. C102P dual-port RS-422/RS-485 board
2. User’s Manual
3. Driver diskettes for DOS, Windows 95, and Windows NT

Optional Accessories:
- RS-422/485 connection cables
- Terminal blocks or breakout boxes for DB9 connectors
- Surge and isolation protection modules (available in C102HI/C102HIS models)

Connectors:
Each port uses a DB9 male connector with the following pin assignments:

| Pin | Signal | Description |
|----------|-------------|----------------|
| 1 | TxDA | Transmit Data A |
| 2 | TxDB | Transmit Data B |
| 3 | RxDB | Receive Data B |
| 4 | RxDA | Receive Data A |
| 5 | GND | Signal Ground |
| 6 | RTSA | Request to Send A |
| 7 | RTSB | Request to Send B |
| 8 | CTSB | Clear to Send B |
| 9 | CTSA | Clear to Send A |




6. Installation & Setup

Hardware Installation:
1. Power off the PC and insert the C102P into an available 16-bit ISA slot.
2. Ensure the jumper JP1 is open (default).
3. Power on the system and boot into DOS.
4. Run *Io-irq.exe* from the driver diskette to configure the board.

Configuration Parameters:
- I/O Address: Select base address for each port (default 0x180 for port 1, 0x188 for port 2).
- IRQ: Choose from available IRQs (2–5, 7, 10–12, 15).
- Interrupt Vector: Optional; improves performance when enabled.
- Tx/Rx Enable Modes: Choose between Always On, By Register, or By RTS control.

Software Installation:
- Windows NT/95: Install via *Setup95.exe* or through the Control Panel → Network → Adapters → Have Disk.
- DOS: Install using *DOSINST.EXE* and configure with *SETUP.EXE*.
- Other OS: Use standard serial drivers or Moxa-provided drivers from the FTP site.

Driver Utilities:
- *Io-irq.exe* – Hardware configuration utility (DOS).
- *PComm* – Windows communication library and diagnostic tools.
- *API-232* – DOS communication library and utilities.




7. Performance & Capabilities

- Transmission Speed: 50 to 115,200 bps (C102P).
- Data Integrity: 16-byte FIFO buffers prevent data loss during high-speed transmission.
- Distance: Up to 4000 ft (1.2 km) over twisted-pair cable.
- Bus Architecture: 16-bit AT bus ensures compatibility with ISA/EISA systems.
- Power Efficiency: Consumes only 200 mA at +5 VDC.
- High Reliability: ASIC design minimizes component count and enhances stability.
- Scalability: Up to four C102-family boards can be installed in one system, provided IRQ and I/O resources are available.

Limitations:
- Maximum baud rate limited to 115.2 Kbps (for higher speeds, use C102H series).
- No built-in surge or isolation protection (available in other models).
- ISA bus interface limits use in modern PCI-only systems.




8. Standards & Compliance

- Electrical Interface Standards: EIA RS-422 and RS-485 compliant.
- Bus Interface: ISA (Industry Standard Architecture), EISA compatible.
- Operating System Compatibility:
- Native Moxa drivers: DOS, Windows 95, Windows NT
- OS-supported drivers: SCO UNIX/XENIX, OS/2, QNX, Linux, FreeBSD
- Environmental Compliance: Designed for industrial temperature range (0–55°C).
- Safety & Protection: Optional surge and isolation protection up to 2000 V (in C102HI/C102HIS).
- Regulatory Compliance: Meets general industrial electronic equipment standards for EMC and safety (manufacturer’s internal compliance).




9. Additional Information

Warranty & Support:
Moxa Technologies provides standard warranty coverage for manufacturing defects. Technical support is available through multiple channels:

- Email: support@moxa.com.tw
- FTP Site: ftp.moxa.com / ftp.moxa.com.tw (User ID: ftp, Password: your_email_address)
- Website: www.moxa.com / www.moxa.com.tw

Maintenance:
- Periodically verify cable integrity and connector tightness.
- Use diagnostic utilities (*PComm Diagnostic*, *Data Scope*) to monitor port status.
- Firmware and driver updates are available via Moxa’s FTP site.

Software Tools:
- PComm (Windows): Provides serial communication library, diagnostic, and monitoring utilities.
- API-232 (DOS): Offers programming libraries for C, Pascal, BASIC, Assembly, and other languages.
- Data Scope Utility: Enables real-time monitoring, terminal emulation, and protocol-based file transfer (ASCII, XMODEM, YMODEM, ZMODEM, KERMIT).

Programming Support:
Developers can use Moxa’s libraries to build custom serial communication applications. Supported languages include Microsoft C, Turbo C, Visual Basic, Visual C++, Borland Delphi, and others. The libraries simplify access to COM ports and provide functions for RTS/CTS control, data transmission, and event handling.

Troubleshooting Highlights:
- Board Not Found: Check I/O address conflicts, slot integrity, and JP1 jumper position.
- No Data Transfer: Verify cable wiring, IRQ settings, and flow control configuration.
- Io-irq Access Failure: Ensure correct CAP address (default 0x180 or forced 0xA700 via JP1).
- Configuration Mismatch: Align hardware and software settings using *Io-irq.exe* and driver configuration panels.

Recovery Procedure for Unknown CAP Address:
1. Power off PC.
2. Short JP1 to force CAP address to 0xA700.
3. Power on and run *Io-irq.exe*.
4. Enter CAP address 0xA700 to access configuration.
5. Modify settings if needed, then remove jumper and reboot.




Summary

The Moxa C102P is a robust, software-configurable dual-port RS-422/RS-485 serial communication board designed for industrial and embedded applications. Its ASIC-based architecture, EEPROM configuration storage, and comprehensive driver support make it a reliable solution for long-distance, noise-resistant serial communication. With flexible configuration options, compatibility across multiple operating systems, and support for both point-to-point and multidrop network topologies, the C102P provides a versatile platform for industrial data communication and control systems.

No accessories available.