Moxa CP-104UL Industrial Serial Device Networking Server

The Moxa CP-104UL industrial serial device networking server is a robust solution designed to expand serial connectivity in industrial environments. This Universal PCI board offers four RS-232 ports, ensuring reliable communication for a wide array of peripherals. Its key advantages lie in its high performance, extensive operating system support, and flexible power requirements. The CP-104UL is engineered for demanding applications, providing a stable and efficient way to integrate legacy serial devices into modern systems.

Product Specifications

| Feature                 | Specification                                                                                             |

| :---------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

| Model               | CP-104UL                                                                                                  |

| Number of Ports     | 4                                                                                                         |

| Serial Standard     | RS-232                                                                                                    |

| Bus Interface       | 32-bit Universal PCI                                                                                      |

| Comm. Controller    | MU860 (16C550C compatible)                                                                                |

| Max. Baudrate       | 921.6 kbps                                                                                                |

| FIFO Buffer         | 128 bytes                                                                                                 |

| Flow Control        | None, RTS/CTS, XON/XOFF                                                                                   |

| PCI Voltage Support | 3.3 V and 5 V                                                                                             |

| Operating Temperature | Standard Models: 0 to 55°C (32 to 131°F); Wide Temp. Models: -40 to 85°C (-40 to 185°F)                       |

| Connectors          | DB44 female (CP-104UL Series)                                                                             |

| LED Indicators      | Built-in Tx, Rx LEDs for each port                                                                          |

| ESD Protection      | 15 kV ESD protection on the board                                                                         |

| Certifications      | CE, FCC, KC (for CP-104UL-DB9M)                                                                           |

Core Features & Market Positioning

The Moxa CP-104UL stands out in the industrial serial device market due to its blend of high-speed data transmission, broad compatibility, and industrial-grade reliability. It is a preferred choice for industrial automation engineers and system integrators seeking to connect peripherals like terminals, modems, printers, scanners, cash registers, and bar code readers to PC servers. The board's ability to achieve over 800 kbps data throughput and a maximum baudrate of 921.6 kbps ensures efficient data exchange, critical for time-sensitive industrial processes. Its compatibility with both 3.3V and 5V PCI buses makes it highly adaptable to various PC architectures, minimizing integration challenges. Furthermore, the availability of wide-temperature models (-40 to 85°C) underscores its suitability for deployment in harsh industrial environments.

Key Application Scenarios

The CP-104UL is ideally suited for Point of Sale (POS) and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) applications, where reliable serial communication is paramount. Its four RS-232 ports facilitate the connection of multiple serial devices simultaneously, making it invaluable for systems requiring extensive data acquisition and control. Common use cases include integrating legacy industrial equipment, managing data from sensors and actuators, and ensuring seamless communication in factory automation, retail environments, and transportation systems. The board's robust driver support for various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and UNIX, further broadens its applicability across diverse industrial computing platforms.

Practical System Integration Guidance

Integrating the Moxa CP-104UL involves a straightforward hardware and software installation process. Hardware installation requires powering down the PC, inserting the board into a free PCI or PCI-X slot, and securing it with the holding screw. Connection to serial devices is typically achieved via a DB44 female connector on the board, utilizing provided or optional cables such as CBL-M44M9x4 (DB44 to 4x DB9) or CBL-M44M25x4 (DB44 to 4x DB25). Software installation involves loading the appropriate drivers from the provided CD or manufacturer's website. The operating system's Device Manager can then be used to verify the installation and configure port settings. Moxa also provides utilities and libraries, such as PComm, to simplify serial communication programming and reduce development time.

Operation and Risk Mitigation

The CP-104UL is designed for reliable operation, featuring built-in LEDs for monitoring Tx and Rx activity on each port, providing immediate visual feedback on communication status. The 128-byte FIFO buffers and on-chip hardware/software flow control mechanisms mitigate data loss during high-throughput operations. Standard models operate within a 0 to 55°C range, while wide-temperature variants extend this to -40 to 85°C, ensuring operability in diverse environmental conditions. The board also incorporates 15 kV ESD protection, safeguarding against electrostatic discharge, a common risk in industrial settings. For troubleshooting, checking the Event Log in Device Manager is recommended if any special marks (question marks or exclamation points) appear next to the board or port icons after installation.

Scalability & Long-Term Value

The Moxa CP-104UL offers significant long-term value through its broad compatibility and support for multiple operating systems, ensuring it remains relevant as systems evolve. Its ability to support up to 8 boards per PC allows for straightforward expansion of serial port density as application requirements grow. While the CP-104UL itself is a PCI-based device, Moxa's commitment to serial connectivity extends to newer interfaces, ensuring a migration path for users. Furthermore, Moxa actively develops solutions for Industrial IoT (IIoT), providing gateways and platforms that can interface with serial devices, enabling the integration of these older systems into modern digital and cloud-based infrastructures. This forward-looking approach ensures that investments in Moxa's serial connectivity solutions remain valuable within evolving industrial automation and IIoT landscapes.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the primary benefits of using the Moxa CP-104UL?

The Moxa CP-104UL offers high data throughput of over 800 kbps and a maximum baud rate of 921.6 kbps. It supports a wide range of operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and UNIX. The board is also compatible with both 3.3V and 5V PCI buses.

It provides robust industrial connectivity with 15 kV ESD protection and optional wide-temperature models for harsh environments. Its inclusion of 128-byte FIFO buffers and H/W, S/W flow control enhances data transmission reliability.

Key advantages include its suitability for POS/ATM applications, extensive peripheral compatibility, and Moxa's reputation for industrial-grade reliability and support.

2. What operating systems are supported by the Moxa CP-104UL?

The CP-104UL supports a broad spectrum of Windows operating systems, from DOS and older versions like Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000 up to modern iterations such as Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (x86/x64) and Windows Server 2008 R2/2012/2012 R2/2016/2019 (x64).

It also offers comprehensive Linux driver support for various kernel versions (2.4.x, 2.6.x, 3.x, 4.x, 5.x). Additionally, it is compatible with several UNIX variants, including QNX 6, SCO OpenServer, UnixWare 7, Solaris 10, and FreeBSD.

This extensive OS compatibility ensures flexibility and ease of integration into existing or new industrial computing environments, regardless of the chosen platform.

3. What types of serial devices can be connected to the CP-104UL?

The CP-104UL is designed to connect a wide variety of serial peripherals. This includes common devices like terminals, modems, printers, and scanners.

It is also well-suited for specialized equipment such as cash registers, bar code readers, keypads, numeric displays, electrical scales, and general data acquisition equipment.

The board's RS-232 standard and full modem control signals ensure compatibility with most serial communication protocols and devices used in industrial and commercial settings.

4. What are the physical connectors and cable options for the CP-104UL?

The CP-104UL series typically features a DB44 female connector on the board itself for its four RS-232 ports.

To interface with standard serial devices, users can employ various cable assemblies. Common options include cables that convert the DB44 connector to four individual DB9 male connectors (e.g., CBL-M44M9x4) or four DB25 male connectors (e.g., CBL-M44M25x4).

Specific models like the CP-104UL-DB9M come bundled with a DB9 male cable, simplifying direct connection to devices with DB9 ports.

5. How does the CP-104UL handle high data loads and ensure reliable communication?

The CP-104UL is equipped with 128-byte transmit and receive FIFO buffers. These buffers temporarily store data, reducing the burden on the CPU and preventing data loss during high-speed transmissions.

It also incorporates on-chip hardware (RTS/CTS) and software (XON/XOFF) flow control mechanisms. These features regulate data flow between the connected devices and the host, ensuring that data is sent and received at compatible rates.

Combined with a maximum baud rate of 921.6 kbps, these features provide robust and reliable serial communication, even in demanding industrial applications.

6. Can the CP-104UL operate in extreme temperature environments?

Yes, Moxa offers wide-temperature models of the CP-104UL series. These specialized versions are designed to operate reliably in ambient temperatures ranging from -40°C to 85°C (-40°F to 185°F).

Standard models are suitable for less demanding environments, typically operating within a temperature range of 0°C to 55°C (32°F to 131°F).

The availability of wide-temperature options makes the CP-104UL particularly valuable for deployment in harsh industrial settings, such as outdoor enclosures or factories with significant temperature fluctuations.

7. What is the voltage compatibility of the CP-104UL with PCI slots?

The Moxa CP-104UL is a Universal PCI board, meaning it is compatible with both 3.3V and 5V PCI buses.

This dual-voltage support allows the board to be installed in a wide range of PC servers, including older systems that utilize a 5V PCI slot and newer systems that employ a 3.3V PCI or PCI-X slot.

This flexibility in voltage compatibility significantly enhances its adaptability and ease of integration into diverse hardware infrastructures.

8. How is the CP-104UL protected against electrical interference and damage?

The CP-104UL board features integrated 15 kV Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) protection. This protects the sensitive electronic components on the board from sudden voltage spikes caused by static electricity.

It also meets various EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) standards, including EN 55032/24, CISPR 32, and FCC Part 15B Class B. These certifications indicate resistance to electromagnetic interference.

Additionally, specific EMS (Electromagnetic Susceptibility) ratings, such as IEC 61000-4-3 RS (Radiated Susceptibility), demonstrate its ability to withstand radio frequency fields.

9. What are the typical dimensions of the CP-104UL board?

The dimensions for the CP-104UL series can vary slightly depending on the specific model and bracket type. For instance, the standard Universal PCI board dimensions are often cited as approximately 65 x 120 mm.

Low-profile (LP) bracket versions are also available, with dimensions typically around 80 mm in height for the bracket. The overall board dimensions remain compact to fit within standard PC cases.

The CP-104JU series, which uses RJ45 connectors, has dimensions of 83 x 120 mm.

10. How can I upgrade or scale my serial connectivity using Moxa products?

The CP-104UL itself supports scalability by allowing up to 8 boards to be installed per PC, significantly increasing the number of available serial ports.

Moxa also offers a wide range of serial connectivity solutions, including PCIe, UPCI, and PCI serial cards with varying numbers of ports and interface types. This allows for phased upgrades or expansion as needs evolve.

For modern IIoT and cloud integration, Moxa provides advanced IIoT gateways that can interface with existing serial devices, enabling seamless data collection, analysis, and management in digitized industrial environments.