RS232 Network Cards and Network Controllers
Last Updated: April 1, 2025
Description
RS232 Network Cards and Network Controllers are devices that facilitate serial communication between data terminal equipment (DTE) and data communications equipment (DCE). They are designed to connect computers to modems and terminals, enabling data exchange over a serial interface. These cards typically use a 25-pin D-connector and are capable of point-to-point data communication.
Working Principle
RS232 operates by transmitting binary data serially over a communication link. It uses a single-ended signaling method where voltages are measured relative to a common ground. This standard supports data rates below 20,000 bits per second (bps) and is effective over distances up to 50 feet. The RS232 interface is known for its simplicity and reliability, making it a popular choice for connecting devices in close proximity. Its utility lies in its ability to provide a straightforward method for data exchange without the complexities of more advanced network protocols.
Applications
RS232 Network Cards are commonly used in SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems to configure instruments and controllers. They are also employed in connecting computers to modems for data transmission. In industrial settings, RS232 ports are used to gather data from Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) and display the results on a PC. Additionally, RS232 is utilized in programming ports for configuring various types of equipment.
Advantages over other Network Cards and Network Controllers
RS232 Network Cards offer several advantages over other types of network cards. They are more readily available than RS485 cards and do not suffer from the flow control issues that can affect RS485 cards in SCADA systems. RS232's simplicity and widespread adoption make it a reliable choice for many applications, especially where point-to-point communication is sufficient.
Limitations
The RS232 standard has limitations in terms of speed and distance. It is rated for data communication at speeds below 20,000 bps and distances up to 50 feet. These limitations are due to cable capacitance and electrical noise, which can affect signal integrity. Additionally, RS232 is not suitable for multi-point communication, which restricts its use in more complex network configurations.
Considerations
When considering RS232 Network Cards, it is important to evaluate the initial costs, which are generally lower due to the widespread availability of RS232 components. Operating expenses are minimal, as RS232 does not require complex infrastructure. However, the durability and accuracy of RS232 connections can be affected by environmental factors such as electrical noise. Replacement and maintenance costs are typically low, but it is crucial to ensure that the cabling and connectors are in good condition to maintain reliable communication.
from ELMA Electronic Inc.
The T4410a supports applications requiring fast data distribution and management. Data Plane: PCI Express Interfaces. • Six 4 lane PCIe ports on P1/P2. Control Plane: Ethernet Interfaces. • Six (or eight) 1000Base-BX ports on P2. (8 ports = > MOD3-SWH-6F8U version). • Two (or one )... [See More]
- Port Type: RJ-45; RS232
- Host Bus: PCI
- Protocol / Network: Gigabit Ethernet
- Number of Ports: 6
from Eaton | Power Quality
ConnectUPS Web/SNMP devices allow you to connect your Eaton UPS directly to the Ethernet network and the Internet. This unique solution allows you to conveniently monitor and manage your UPS with a standard Web browser, while simultaneously providing graceful shutdown for multiple computer systems... [See More]
- Port Type: RJ-45; RS232
- Host Bus: Minislot
- Protocol / Network: 10Base-T Ethernet
- Number of Ports: 2
from Opto 22
The M4SENET-100 provides an Ethernet interface for M4 series controllers such as the SNAP-LCM4 and the M4RTU. Connection is via a 10Base-T or 100Base-TX link, and standard TCP/IP transport is used for all transactions. [See More]
- Port Type: RJ-45; RS232
- Data Rate: 115
- Protocol / Network: 10Base-T Ethernet; Fast Ethernet; Serial
- Operating System: Windows 95/98; Windows NT
from ACCES I/O Products, Inc.
Features. Universal PCI, PCI-X, 3.3V and 5V compatible (Call for PCI-Express availability). Dual-port serial communications card for PCI bus. Supports RS-232(PCI-COM2S only), RS-422, and RS-485 protocols. Automatic control of RS-485 driver under Windows systems. Includes type 16550 UART with 16-byte... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232; RS422; RS485
- Data Rate: 460
- Protocol / Network: Serial
- Host Bus: PCI
from Digi International, Inc.
Digi Neo multiport serial cards are designed for reliable serial port expansion in tight workspaces and specialized server/PC environments. They are ideal for point-of-sale, industrial automation, factory control, kiosks and data collection applications. [See More]
- Port Type: RS232
- Data Rate: 922
- Protocol / Network: Serial
- Host Bus: PCI
from ProSoft Technology, Inc.
The ADM module is a single-slot, backplane compatible solution for the Quantum platform that supports user-developed applications. "C" code applications are developed using Digital Mars C++ 16-bit development tools (included), downloaded to, and then debugged on the module. The ProTalk module is a... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232; RS422; RS485
- Operating System: MS-DOS
- Protocol / Network: Serial
- Operating Temperature: 0 to 60
from ELMA Electronic Inc.
The 4582a implements a new generation of multi-layer Ethernet matrices for high speed embedded interconnect applications requiring low-power 10GbE and 40GbE connectivity. Our Switchware management application provides IPv6 support, RIPng, OSPF v3, VRRP, security features, configurable memory... [See More]
- Port Type: RJ-45; RS232
- Number of Ports: 5
- Protocol / Network: Gigabit Ethernet
from Eaton | Power Quality
Management Card Contacts & RS232/Serial offers possibility to interface with monitoring systems using contact-based status information or offer an additional RS232/Serial link to the U [See More]
- Port Type: RS232
- Host Bus: Minislot
- Protocol / Network: 10Base-T Ethernet; Serial
- Number of Ports: 1
from ACCES I/O Products, Inc.
Features. An independent, completely configurable, serial port. Supports conventional RS232, High-speed RS-422, and Multi-drop RS-485. Supports all standard RS-232 lines: TD, RD, RTS, CTS, DCD, DTR, and DI. Can be wired for 2 or 4 wire RS-422/485 communications. Supports RS-485 handshaking on-board... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232; RS422; RS485
- Data Rate: 115
- Protocol / Network: Serial
- Host Bus: ISA
from ProSoft Technology, Inc.
The PTQ-ADMNET module acts as an input/output module between the Ethernet Explicit Messaging network, and the Quantum backplane. Data transfer from the Quantum processor is asynchronous from the actions on the Ethernet network. A 4000-word register space in the module exchanges data between the... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232
- Operating System: MS-DOS
- Protocol / Network: Fast Ethernet; Serial
- Operating Temperature: 0 to 60
from Eaton | Power Quality
The Network Management Card + ModBus 2006 Edition is the combination of an SNMP agent, an HTTP/Web server and a ModBus card. Its compact form factor has been specifically designed for the Eaton Evolution series as well as Eaton EX RT and Eaton MX RT UPS series. It enables UPS supervision from any... [See More]
- Port Type: RJ-45; RS232; RS485
- Host Bus: Minislot
- Protocol / Network: 10Base-T Ethernet; Serial
- Number of Ports: 2
from ACCES I/O Products, Inc.
Features. Universal PCI, PCI-X, 3.3V and 5V compatible (Call for PCI-Express availability). Two or Four RS-232 Serial Communication ports. Throughput up to 921.6 Kbps. 32-Bit PCI-bus Interface. UART includes 16-Byte FIFO Buffer. Compatible w/ MS-DOS, Windows, & Linux. FCC and CE approved. The... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232
- Data Rate: 920
- Protocol / Network: Serial
- Host Bus: PCI
from ProSoft Technology, Inc.
The module has two serial ports supporting the DF1 protocol, with each port user configurable to act as a Master or as a Slave. Data transfer between the module and the Quantum processor is asynchronous to the DF1 network, with the module's internal database being used to exchange data between the... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232; RS422; RS485
- Number of Ports: 2
- Protocol / Network: Serial
- Operating Temperature: 0 to 60
from Eaton | Power Quality
The Eaton Network and MODBUS Card-MS provides continuous, reliable and accurate remote monitoring of a UPS system through a Building Management System (BMS) or Industrial Automation System (IAS). Enabling data to be integrated from the UPS into a wide variety of management systems, the MODBUS... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232; RS485
- Number of Ports: 3
- Protocol / Network: Fast Ethernet; Serial; Modbus
from ProSoft Technology, Inc.
The module has two serial ports supporting the DF1 protocol, with each port user-configurable to act as a master or as a slave. Data transfer between the module and the CompactLogix processor is asynchronous to the DF1 network, with the module's internal database being used to exchange data between... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232; RS422; RS485
- Data Rate: 115
- Protocol / Network: Serial; DF1
- Host Bus: CompactLogix
from Eaton | Power Quality
The Network Management Card 2006 Edition (NMC) is both an SNMP agent and an HTTP/Web server. Its compact form factor has been specifically designed for the Pulsar Evolution series as well as Eaton EX RT and Eaton MX RT UPS series. It enables UPS supervision from any Network Monitoring System using... [See More]
- Port Type: RJ-45; RS232
- Host Bus: Minislot
- Protocol / Network: 10Base-T Ethernet; Serial
- Number of Ports: 2
from ProSoft Technology, Inc.
The ProTalkQ DNPS 3.0 Slave Communication Module (PTQ-DNPS) is a Quantum backplane compatible module that allows Quantum processors to easily interface with DNP 3.0 compatible devices and hosts. Devices commonly supporting the protocol include relays, breakers, sub-station communication modules and... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232
- Protocol / Network: Modem, DNP
from ProSoft Technology, Inc.
The PTQ-DNPSNET-Q (Distributed Network Protocol Module over Ethernet) allows Schneider Electric Quantum processors to easily communicate with other DNP protocol-compatible devices. The module supports DNP Subset Level 2 features and some of the Level 3 features allowing the many SCADA systems... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232
- Operating Temperature: 0 to 60
- Protocol / Network: Fast Ethernet; Serial; DNP
- Operating Humidity: 5 to 95
from ProSoft Technology, Inc.
The PTQ-DNPSNET (Distributed Network Protocol Module over Ethernet) allows Schneider Electric Quantum processors to easily communicate with other DNP protocol-compatible devices. The module supports DNP Subset Level 2 features and some of the Level 3 features allowing the many SCADA systems... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232
- Operating Temperature: 0 to 60
- Protocol / Network: Fast Ethernet; Serial; DNP
- Operating Humidity: 5 to 95
from ProSoft Technology, Inc.
The module supports DNP Subset Level 2 features and some of the Level 3 features allowing the many SCADA and field devices supporting the DNP protocol to be integrated into the Quantum or Unity platform. The module acts as an input/output module between the DNP network and the Modicon backplane. The... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232; RS422; RS485
- Number of Ports: 2
- Protocol / Network: Serial; DNP
- Operating Temperature: 0 to 60
from ProSoft Technology, Inc.
The PTQ-DFNT module is a single slot solution that provides a powerful connection between Schneider Electric's Quantum and Unity processors and EtherNet/IP network applications. The module can send read or write commands to remote devices on the EtherNet/IP network. The PTQ-DFNT also has 20 servers... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232
- Operating Temperature: 0 to 60
- Protocol / Network: Fast Ethernet; Serial
- Operating Humidity: 5 to 95
from ProSoft Technology, Inc.
The ProTalk Liquid & Gas Flow Computer Module is a Quantum backplane compatible module that allows Quantum processors to easily support flow applications performing measurement of hydrocarbon gases or liquids using AGA 3, 7, 8 and API 2540 measurement standards. The module calculates flow rates,... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232; RS422; RS485
- Operating System: Windows 95/98; Windows NT; Windows 2000; Windows XP
- Protocol / Network: Serial
- Operating Temperature: 0 to 60
from ProSoft Technology, Inc.
The MVI94-GSC module has two active serial ports. PRT2 is jumper-configured for direct or multi-drop field communication via RS-232/422/485. Two ASCII ports are configured independently, allowing the module to operate using numerous configurations. Once configured via ladder logic, the module will... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232; RS422; RS485
- Data Rate: 115
- Protocol / Network: Serial
- Host Bus: Flex I/O
from ProSoft Technology, Inc.
Five servers and clients are present on the module permitting both the reception and transmission of data between the Quantum or Unity processor and attached devices. The PTQ-GEC module is a powerful communication interface for Quantum platform processors. Developed under license from Schneider... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232; RS422; RS485
- Operating Temperature: 0 to 60
- Protocol / Network: 10Base-T Ethernet; Fast Ethernet; TCP/IP
- Operating Humidity: 5 to 95
from ProSoft Technology, Inc.
The PTQ-HART module interfaces up to 15 devices on each of four HART Multidrop channels with a Quantum processor. The four ports on the module support HART master commands to interface with slave devices on their own networks. Each port is individually configurable. Compatible devices include a... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232; HART
- Number of Ports: 4
- Protocol / Network: Serial
- Operating Temperature: 0 to 60
from ProSoft Technology, Inc.
The MVI71-N2 module acts as an input/output module between the Johnson Controls N2 network and the Rockwell Automation backplane. The module acts as a slave receiving commands from a master device. The data transfer from the PLC processor is asynchronous from the actions on the Johnson Controls... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232; RS422; RS485
- Host Bus: Allen Bradley - PLC
- Protocol / Network: Serial; Johnson Controls N2
- Operating Temperature: 0 to 60
from ProSoft Technology, Inc.
The PTQ-103M supports up to 32 total field devices between the module's two IEC 60870-5-103 Master ports. The module's communication ports can each be independently configured, allowing two separate field networks to be implemented. The field device data is exchanged between the ProTalk module and... [See More]
- Port Type: RS232; RS422; RS485
- Number of Ports: 2
- Protocol / Network: Serial
- Operating Temperature: 0 to 60