Comprehensive Product Summary – Rayon Technology P518 PCI 8-Port Serial Communication Card

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### 1. Product Overview

Product Name: PCI 8-Port Serial Communication Card
Model: P518
Series: RAYON PCIPORT Series
Article Number: P518
Manufacturer: Rayon Technology Inc.
Manufacturer Locations:
- Headquarters: 2F, No. 177, Chung-Shan 2 Road, Lu-Chou City, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- European Support: Acceed GmbH, Arnoldstraße 19, 40479 Düsseldorf, Germany

Product Description:
The Rayon P518 is an intelligent PCI-based multi-port serial communication controller card designed for industrial and commercial PC systems requiring multiple serial interfaces. It provides eight serial ports—seven RS-232 and one isolated RS-422/RS-485 port with Auto Data Direction Control (ADDC). The card is fully Plug & Play compliant, supports 16550A-compatible UARTs, and operates at baud rates from 50 bps to 115,200 bps. It is engineered for high-performance serial communication with minimal CPU overhead, supporting up to eight cards per system for large-scale multi-port configurations.

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### 2. Key Features

- Eight-Port Serial Expansion:
Provides 7 × RS-232 ports and 1 × isolated RS-422/RS-485 port with ADDC for flexible serial connectivity.

- High Compatibility:
Fully compatible with 16550A UART standard, ensuring broad software and hardware interoperability.

- Plug & Play PCI Interface:
Automatic resource allocation (IRQ and I/O mapping) by PCI BIOS; no manual configuration required.

- Shared IRQ Support:
Allows multiple PCI cards to share a single interrupt, optimizing system resource usage.

- High-Speed Communication:
Supports baud rates from 50 bps up to 115.2 Kbps (standard 1.8432 MHz crystal) and up to 921.6 Kbps with optional 14.7456 MHz crystal.

- Isolated RS-422/RS-485 Port:
One port provides galvanic isolation for industrial environments, supporting both RS-422 and RS-485 modes with automatic data direction control.

- Multi-OS Driver Support:
Compatible with DOS, Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP, Linux, SCO OpenServer, and Windows 7 (using Windows 2000/XP/Vista drivers).

- Flexible Connector Options:
Uses a DB62 female connector on the card, with included DB62M-to-8×DB9M cable (DB25M version available on request).

- Scalable System Integration:
Supports up to 8 cards per system, enabling a total of 64 serial ports in one PC.

- Industrial-Grade Design:
Built with high-quality components and isolation features for reliable operation in demanding environments.

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### 3. Technical Specifications

| Parameter | Specification |
|----------------|-------------------|
| Bus Interface | PCI Local Bus, 5V, 33 MHz |
| PCI Specification | PCI Local Bus Specification Revision 2.1 |
| Ports | 8 total (7 × RS-232, 1 × RS-422/RS-485 isolated) |
| UART Type | 16550A compatible |
| Baud Rate | 50 bps to 115,200 bps (standard); up to 921,600 bps with 14.7456 MHz crystal |
| Interrupt Control | Plug & Play, IRQ shareable |
| I/O Mapping | Assigned automatically by PCI BIOS |
| Flow Control | Hardware (RTS/CTS) and Software (XON/XOFF) |
| Connector Type | DB62 female on card; DB62M-to-8×DB9M cable included |
| Optional Cable | DB62M-to-8×DB25M (P518-25) |
| Maximum Cards per System | 8 |
| Dimensions | 141 mm × 106 mm |
| Material | Industrial-grade PCB (Rayon proprietary design) |
| Operating Voltage | 5V PCI slot (Universal PCI version supports 3.3V) |
| Operating Frequency | 33 MHz PCI bus |
| Operating Environment | PC/AT compatible systems |
| Isolation | One port isolated RS-422/RS-485 |
| Supported OS | DOS, Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP, Linux, SCO OpenServer, Windows 7 |
| Weight | Approx. 120 g (card only) |

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### 4. Functionality

Operational Overview:
The P518 card functions as an intelligent serial I/O controller, offloading communication tasks from the host CPU. Each port includes a 16-byte transmit and receive buffer, reducing interrupt frequency and improving system performance. The card’s ASIC-based PCI controller ensures full compliance with PCI bus standards and automatic configuration by the system BIOS.

Use Cases and Applications:
- Industrial automation and control systems
- Data acquisition and instrumentation
- POS (Point-of-Sale) systems
- Serial device networking (modems, sensors, PLCs)
- Communication servers and terminal concentrators
- Embedded systems requiring multiple serial interfaces

Compatibility:
The P518 is compatible with standard serial communication protocols and can interface with a wide range of RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485 devices. The isolated port supports both full-duplex (RS-422) and half-duplex (RS-485) communication.

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### 5. Components & Accessories

Included Items:
- 1 × P518 PCI interface card
- 1 × DB62M-to-8×DB9M expansion cable (R804 type)
- 1 × User manual and driver diskette

Optional Accessories:
- DB62M-to-8×DB25M cable (P518-25) – for DB25 connectivity
- R803 cable (DB62M-to-DB62M) – for connection to RS4232-8 isolation box
- RS4232-8 Box – external isolation and signal conversion unit supporting RS-232/422/485 modes
- TB485 Converter – DB9-to-terminal block adapter for RS-485 wiring

Connectors:
- Card-side: DB62 female
- Cable-side: 8 × DB9 male (standard) or 8 × DB25 male (optional)

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### 6. Installation & Setup

System Requirements:
- PC/AT compatible system with available 5V or 3.3V PCI slot
- Supported operating system (DOS, Windows, Linux, SCO)
- Administrative privileges for driver installation

Installation Procedure:
1. Power off the system.
2. Insert the P518 card into an available PCI slot.
3. Connect the DB62 expansion cable to the card.
4. Power on the system.
5. Install the appropriate driver for your operating system.

Jumper Configuration:
- JP1: Card number selector
- ON = First card
- OFF = Second card

Mounting Options:
- Standard PCI slot mounting with rear bracket
- Optional external RS4232-8 box connection via DB62 cable for isolated operation

Driver Installation:
- Windows 2000/XP/7: Plug & Play detection; specify driver path manually if required.
- Windows NT: Install via Control Panel → Network → Add Adapter → “Other” → specify driver path.
- Windows 95/98/ME: Automatic detection; specify A:\WIN95 driver directory.
- DOS: Run `PCIPORT` utility from driver diskette.
- Linux: Install via `/etc/rayon/Install` script; rebuild kernel module.
- SCO OpenServer: Install using `/etc/custom` or manual `tar` and `build` commands.

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### 7. Performance & Capabilities

- Data Throughput:
Optimized for high-speed serial communication with minimal CPU load. Each port supports buffered transmission and reception to prevent data loss.

- Baud Rate Range:
50 bps to 115,200 bps (standard); up to 921,600 bps with optional high-frequency crystal.

- Interrupt Handling:
Shared IRQ support allows multiple cards to coexist without resource conflicts.

- Capacity:
Up to 8 cards per system, providing a total of 64 serial ports.

- Efficiency:
Intelligent buffering and hardware flow control reduce CPU interrupts and improve multitasking performance.

- Limitations:
- RS-485 mode supports half-duplex communication only.
- Requires proper termination resistors for long cable runs or high baud rates.
- IRQ sharing requires compatible hardware and OS support.

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### 8. Standards & Compliance

- PCI Compliance:
Conforms to PCI Local Bus Specification Revision 2.1.

- Electrical Standards:
- RS-232C (EIA/TIA-232)
- RS-422 (EIA/TIA-422)
- RS-485 (EIA/TIA-485)

- Isolation & Protection:
- One isolated RS-422/RS-485 port
- Optional surge protection via RS4232-8 box

- Operating System Certification:
Tested and verified for compatibility with major OS platforms including Windows, Linux, and SCO.

- Environmental Compliance:
Designed for industrial environments; conforms to standard PC/AT electrical and mechanical specifications.

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### 9. Additional Information

Warranty:
- Duration: 1-year limited warranty
- Coverage: Defects in materials and workmanship
- Exclusions: Damage from misuse, unauthorized servicing, or electrical faults

Support & Service:
- Taiwan: rayon@ms1.hinet.net
- Europe: rayon@acceed.com
- Website: [www.acceed.com/rayon](http://www.acceed.com/rayon)

Repair Procedure:
- Obtain Return Material Authorization (RMA) before returning products.
- Provide model number, serial number, reason for return, and purchase order reference.
- Warranty repairs are free of charge; out-of-warranty repairs are subject to a flat-rate fee.

Maintenance:
- Handle the card using anti-static precautions.
- Avoid inserting or removing the card while the system is powered on.
- Keep connectors clean and free of dust.

Software Updates:
- Updated drivers available for Windows 7 and later (use Windows 2000/XP/Vista driver package).
- Linux source drivers provided for kernel integration.

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### Summary

The Rayon P518 PCI 8-Port Serial Communication Card is a robust, high-performance solution for expanding serial connectivity in industrial and commercial PC systems. With seven RS-232 ports and one isolated RS-422/RS-485 port, it offers exceptional flexibility for mixed serial environments. Its Plug & Play PCI interface, broad OS support, and shared IRQ capability make it ideal for scalable multi-port applications. Designed for reliability and ease of integration, the P518 delivers efficient, buffered serial communication with minimal CPU overhead, ensuring stable operation across diverse platforms and demanding industrial conditions.