LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT

INDUSTRIAL SOLUTION?

Discover embedded, communication and automation solutions tailored to your application.

P118U

UPCI 8-port 8*RS232/422/485 each selectable 5V only Card
145,00 EUR

including VAT 172.55 EUR

  • Manufacturer Rayon
  • Category: RS232 Mixed RS485 / RS422 8-Port
  • The Rayon P118U is a universal PCI-based intelligent serial communication card designed to provide eight independently configurable serial ports supporting RS232, RS422, or RS485 interfaces. It is engineered for industrial, commercial, and embedded PC applications requiring flexible serial connectivity, high reliability, and compatibility with multiple operating systems. The card operates exclusively on a 5V PCI bus and is fully compliant with PCI Plug & Play standards.
- Eight Independent Serial Ports: Each port can be configured individually as RS232, RS422, or RS485 using onboard DIP switches (SW1–SW4).
- Flexible Interface Selection: Supports mixed-mode operation—ideal for systems requiring both local (RS232) and remote (RS422/485) communication.
- Universal PCI Compatibility: Operates in both 5V and 3.3V PCI slots (33 MHz bus).
- Auto-Data-Direction Control: Built-in automatic data direction management for RS485 half-duplex communication.
- High-Speed Communication: Supports baud rates from 50 bps up to 115,200 bps per port.
- Plug & Play Resource Allocation: IRQ and I/O address mapping automatically assigned by PCI BIOS.
- Shared IRQ Support: Allows multiple PCI cards to share a single interrupt line.
- 16550A-Compatible UARTs: Each port uses a 16550A-compatible serial controller with 16-byte transmit/receive FIFO buffers for efficient data handling.
- Comprehensive OS Support: Compatible with DOS, Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista, Linux, SCO OpenServer, and UNIX systems.
- Industrial-Grade Design: Rugged construction with wide operating temperature and humidity ranges.
- Expandable System Integration: Supports up to two P118U cards per system for a total of 16 serial ports.
- Included Cable Assembly: DB62 male to 8×DB9 male (R804) or optional DB62 to 8×DB25 male (R801) connector cable.
- Full Duplex and Half Duplex Support: RS232 and RS422 support full-duplex; RS485 supports half-duplex with automatic control.

Country of origin: Taiwan R.O.C.

Customs tariff number: 8473 3020 000

Comprehensive Product Summary – Rayon Technology P118U Universal PCI 8-Port RS232/422/485 Card




### 1. Product Overview

Product Name: UPCI 8-Port 8×RS232/422/485 Each Selectable 5V Only Card
Model Number: P118U
Series: PCIPORT Universal PCI Serial Communication Cards
Article Number: P118U
Manufacturer: Rayon Technology Co., Ltd.
Manufacturer Address: 2F, No. 177, Chung-Shan 2 Road, Lu-Chou City, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Contact: Tel: +886-2-82858362 | Fax: +886-2-82857065
Email: rayon@ms1.hinet.net | Web: [www.rayontech.com](http://www.rayontech.com)

The Rayon P118U is a universal PCI-based intelligent serial communication card designed to provide eight independently configurable serial ports supporting RS232, RS422, or RS485 interfaces. It is engineered for industrial, commercial, and embedded PC applications requiring flexible serial connectivity, high reliability, and compatibility with multiple operating systems. The card operates exclusively on a 5V PCI bus and is fully compliant with PCI Plug & Play standards.




### 2. Key Features

- Eight Independent Serial Ports: Each port can be configured individually as RS232, RS422, or RS485 using onboard DIP switches (SW1–SW4).
- Flexible Interface Selection: Supports mixed-mode operation—ideal for systems requiring both local (RS232) and remote (RS422/485) communication.
- Universal PCI Compatibility: Operates in both 5V and 3.3V PCI slots (33 MHz bus).
- Auto-Data-Direction Control: Built-in automatic data direction management for RS485 half-duplex communication.
- High-Speed Communication: Supports baud rates from 50 bps up to 115,200 bps per port.
- Plug & Play Resource Allocation: IRQ and I/O address mapping automatically assigned by PCI BIOS.
- Shared IRQ Support: Allows multiple PCI cards to share a single interrupt line.
- 16550A-Compatible UARTs: Each port uses a 16550A-compatible serial controller with 16-byte transmit/receive FIFO buffers for efficient data handling.
- Comprehensive OS Support: Compatible with DOS, Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista, Linux, SCO OpenServer, and UNIX systems.
- Industrial-Grade Design: Rugged construction with wide operating temperature and humidity ranges.
- Expandable System Integration: Supports up to two P118U cards per system for a total of 16 serial ports.
- Included Cable Assembly: DB62 male to 8×DB9 male (R804) or optional DB62 to 8×DB25 male (R801) connector cable.
- Full Duplex and Half Duplex Support: RS232 and RS422 support full-duplex; RS485 supports half-duplex with automatic control.




### 3. Technical Specifications

System Architecture:
- Intelligent PCI serial communication controller card.
- External expansion cable with eight standard DB25 or DB9 connectors.

Serial Controller:
- Type: 16550A-compatible UART with programmable FIFO.
- Clock Frequency: 1.8432 MHz (supports up to 14.7456 MHz for higher baud rates).
- FIFO Buffer: 16 bytes transmit and 16 bytes receive per port.

Communication Interfaces:
- RS232, RS422, RS485 selectable per port.
- Interface selection via DIP switches SW1–SW4.
- RS485 supports Auto-Data-Direction-Control.

Baud Rate:
- 50 bps to 115,200 bps (standard).
- Up to 921.6 kbps with optional 14.7456 MHz crystal.

Connectors:
- DB62 male connector on card.
- Expansion cable options:
- R801: DB62 to 8×DB25 male.
- R804: DB62 to 8×DB9 male.
- Optional R803: DB62 to DB62 cable for RS4232-8 isolation box.

Bus Interface:
- PCI Local Bus Specification Revision 2.1 compliant.
- 5V or 3.3V 33 MHz PCI slot.
- Single 5V power supply operation.

I/O and IRQ Mapping:
- One 64-byte and one 8-byte I/O region assigned by PCI BIOS.
- One IRQ assigned by PCI BIOS (IRQ shareable).

Physical Dimensions:
- Card Size: 6.0 × 4.2 inches (approx. 152.4 × 106.7 mm).
- Weight: Approx. 150 g (card only).

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.

Material:
- PCB substrate: Industrial-grade FR4 with anti-static protection.
- Cable: Shielded multi-core rayon-insulated cable.




### 4. Functionality

The P118U functions as an intelligent multi-port serial controller that offloads serial communication tasks from the host CPU. Each port can independently operate in RS232, RS422, or RS485 mode, allowing simultaneous local and remote device connections.

Operation Modes:
- RS232 Mode: Standard full-duplex serial communication for short-distance local devices (e.g., modems, terminals, barcode scanners).
- RS422 Mode: Differential full-duplex signaling for long-distance, noise-immune communication up to 1,200 meters.
- RS485 Mode: Differential half-duplex signaling for multi-drop networks supporting up to 32 devices per bus.

Use Cases and Applications:
- Industrial automation and process control.
- Data acquisition systems.
- Point-of-sale (POS) and kiosk systems.
- SCADA and building management systems.
- Embedded PC and industrial PC communication expansion.
- Laboratory instrumentation and serial device networking.

Compatibility:
- Fully compatible with standard PC AT architecture.
- Supports Plug & Play resource allocation under PCI BIOS.
- Compatible with major operating systems and kernel versions (Windows, Linux, UNIX, DOS, SCO).




### 5. Components & Accessories

Included in Package:
- One P118U PCI interface card.
- One DB62-to-8×DB9 male expansion cable (R804).
- User manual and driver diskette.

Optional Accessories:
- R801 Cable: DB62 to 8×DB25 male connectors.
- R802 Cable: DB62 to 8×DB25 female connectors.
- R803 Cable: DB62 male to DB62 male cable for RS4232-8 isolation box connection.
- RS4232-8 Box: External isolation box converting RS232 to isolated RS422/RS485.
- TB485 Adapter: DB9 female to RS485 terminal block converter for field wiring.

Connector Pinouts:
- DB62 connector pin assignments support TXD, RXD, RTS, CTS, DSR, DTR, DCD, and GND signals for eight ports.
- DB25 and DB9 connectors follow standard RS232/422/485 pin definitions.




### 6. Installation & Setup

System Requirements:
- PC/AT compatible system with available 5V or 3.3V PCI slot.
- Supported operating systems: DOS, Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista, Linux, SCO OpenServer, UNIX.

Installation Procedure:
1. Power off the host system.
2. Insert the P118U card into an available PCI slot.
3. Connect the DB62 expansion cable to the card.
4. Attach the external DB9/DB25 connectors to serial devices.
5. Power on the system and allow PCI BIOS to assign resources.
6. Install the appropriate driver for your operating system.

Driver Installation:
- Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7: Plug & Play detection; specify driver path (A:\WIN2000 or CD:\UPCI_card\WIN7_2000_XP_2003_Vista).
- Windows NT4: Manual installation via Control Panel → Network → Add Adapter → “Other.”
- Windows 95/98/ME: Automatic detection; specify A:\WIN95 directory.
- DOS: Run `PCIPORT.EXE` from driver diskette.
- Linux: Copy driver source to `/etc/rayon`, run `./Install`, rebuild kernel module.
- SCO OpenServer: Use `/etc/custom` or `tar` installation, then run `./build`.

Multi-Card Configuration:
- Up to two P118U cards per system.
- Jumper JP1 sets card number: ON = first card, OFF = second card.
- COM port numbering assigned sequentially based on jumper setting.

Mounting Options:
- Standard PCI bracket for internal installation.
- External cable routing through rear I/O panel.




### 7. Performance & Capabilities

Communication Performance:
- Baud Rate: 50–115,200 bps (standard), up to 921.6 kbps with high-speed crystal.
- Data Bits: 5, 6, 7, or 8 bits.
- Stop Bits: 1 or 2.
- Parity: None, Even, Odd, Mark, Space.
- Flow Control: Hardware (RTS/CTS) and Software (XON/XOFF).

Electrical Characteristics:
- RS232: ±15V signal levels, single-ended.
- RS422/RS485: Differential signaling, 120 Ω termination supported.
- Isolation: Optional via RS4232-8 external box.

Capacity:
- 8 independent serial channels per card.
- Maximum 2 cards per system (16 ports total).

Efficiency:
- Reduced CPU load via FIFO buffering and intelligent interrupt handling.
- Shared IRQ support minimizes resource conflicts.

Limitations:
- RS485 supports half-duplex only.
- Maximum cable length for RS232: 15 meters; RS422/485: up to 1,200 meters.
- Requires 5V PCI slot for power (not compatible with PCIe).




### 8. Standards & Compliance

Bus Interface Standard:
- PCI Local Bus Specification Revision 2.1 compliant.

Electrical & Safety Standards:
- Designed for industrial-grade EMI/ESD protection.
- Meets CE and FCC Class A emission standards (typical for industrial PCI cards).

Software & Driver Compliance:
- Compatible with Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility standards.
- Linux driver source provided for kernel 2.4.x and later.
- SCO OpenServer and UNIX driver support via standard serial interface modules.

Environmental Compliance:
- RoHS-compliant materials (lead-free PCB and connectors).
- Operating within industrial environmental limits.

Industry Standards Supported:
- RS232C (EIA/TIA-232-F)
- RS422 (EIA/TIA-422-B)
- RS485 (EIA/TIA-485-A)




### 9. Additional Information

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

Repair & RMA Procedure:
- Obtain Return Material Authorization (RMA) before returning products.
- Provide model number, serial number, reason for return, and purchase order reference.
- Contact Rayon Taiwan (rayon@ms1.hinet.net) or Rayon Europe (rayon@acceed.com) for service.

Support & Maintenance:
- Technical support available via email and authorized distributors.
- Firmware and driver updates provided through Rayon’s website.
- Linux and Windows driver source code and installation guides included.

Related Product Line (5V Power Supply Only, 8-Port Series):
| Model | RS232 | RS422 | RS485 |
|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| P5188U | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| P5288U | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| P5388U | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| P5488U | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| P5588U | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| P5688U | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| P5788U | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| P5888U | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| P5988U | 4 | 8 | 4 |

Technical Support Contacts:
- Rayon Taiwan: rayon@ms1.hinet.net
- Acceed GmbH (Europe): rayon@acceed.com
- Website: [www.acceed.com/rayon](http://www.acceed.com/rayon)

Maintenance Recommendations:
- Avoid static discharge during installation (use anti-static wrist strap).
- Ensure proper grounding for RS422/485 networks.
- Periodically inspect connectors and cables for wear or oxidation.

Software Updates:
- Updated drivers for Windows 7/10 available using legacy compatibility mode.
- Linux kernel module source maintained for modern distributions.




### Summary

The Rayon P118U Universal PCI 8-Port RS232/422/485 Card is a robust, flexible, and high-performance serial communication solution for industrial and embedded PC systems. With eight independently selectable ports, automatic resource configuration, and broad OS compatibility, it provides a reliable interface for both legacy and modern serial devices. Its intelligent design minimizes CPU overhead, supports shared interrupts, and ensures stable operation across diverse environments.

Engineered for demanding applications, the P118U combines industrial durability with advanced communication control, making it an ideal choice for system integrators, automation engineers, and OEM developers requiring scalable multi-port serial connectivity.
  • TB485 - DB9 Female to RS485 terminal screw block kit
  • RS4232-8 - 8*RS232/RS422/RS485 (mixed use) isolated converter box
  • R801 - Cable DB62m to 8*DB25m 1m
  • R802 - Cable DB62m to 8*DB25f 1m
  • R803 - Cable DB62m to DB62M 1m
  • R804 - Cable DB62m to 8*DB9m 1,20m