Fastcom®: 232/4-PCI-335 Universal PCI Bus Asynchronous Four Port RS232 Interface Adapter   $299.00

Fastcom®: 232/4-PCI-335 Cable

HDDB44 plug to four DB25 plugs (Included)

The new Fastcom, Universal PCI Bus, Asynchronous RS232 adapter utilizes the latest technology to live up to today's requirements for high bandwidth in communication systems.  The new Fastcom: 232/4-PCI-335 is capable of operating at virtually any baud rate up to and above 1 Mbps (See Maximum Data Rate section).  There isn't any fine print or asterisk pointing to notes; this card is capable of running at the maximum data rate, without any jumpers or hardware changes, right out of the box.

Designed to comply with the latest PCI specifications, the Universal PCI adapter will operate in both 5V and 3.3V PCI slots. This means the card will work in the high speed PCI-X slots commonly found in most new servers as well as the standard PCI slots in desktop PCs. The same PCI adapter can be made to fit into a 2U rack mount server’s PCI slot, without the need for troublesome riser adapters by simply switching the bracket¹, thereby changing the model name to Fastcom: 232/4-LPCI-335. This flexibility allows for a single serial interface board to be used across a wide range of different types of computers, including both current and future computing systems.

The Fastcom: 232/4-PCI-335 adapter utilizes an advanced quad Universal Asynchronous Receiver and Transmitter (UART).  Each channel of the 17D154 UART is independently controlled and has its own 16C550 compatible register set.  Each UART contains its own receive and transmit FIFOs of 64 bytes with programmable trigger levels.

Each board utilizes a programmable clock generator to create the UART's input frequency.  The clock generator is capable of generating frequencies from 6 to 50 MHz.  Utilizing this feature, it is possible to configure the board to operate at virtually any serial data rate that the user desires (1 Mbits/second and faster).

Additionally, this board is equipped with two general-purpose digital input and output pins.  These software controlled Digital I/O pins can be used to send or receive a TTL level digital signal to or from any other TTL level source.  For voltage and current tolerance information, please refer to TTL information for any standard 74LS00.

With the supplied software driver, the ports on the Fastcom: 232/4-PCI-335 will be seen as standard COM ports and can utilize all the same functions as a standard serial device.  With the addition of a few simple I/O commands to control the unique features of the board, the standard software interface to a serial port can be used to simplify program design.  Example C programs are provided to demonstrate how to effectively use the serial interface as well as control the board specific features.

Overall, the new Fastcom: 232/4-PCI-335 Universal PCI Bus RS-232 adapter is the ideal board for commercial and industrial applications demanding high data rates, reliability and ease of use.

Software drivers and examples are included for Windows 2000/XP and Linux Kernel 2.4.x.  Multiple Fastcom: 232/4-PCI-335 adapters can be installed in all operating systems.

• +5 500mA (typical)

• Storage Temperature Range: -20 to +70 C
• Operating Temperature Range: 0 to 70 C
• Humidity: 0 to 90% (non-condensing)

• Four independent RS232 channels

• Digital I/O's:

  • Two TTL level digital input pins

  • Two TTL level digital output pins

• High performance 17D154 UART

  • Standard on the FASTCOM: 232/4-PCI-335, no extra charge

• All standard and non-standard baud rates up to 1.0 Mbps

  • Features on-board clock generator to attain non-standard rates without modifying the hardware or changing the clock

  • Rates exceeding 1.0 Mbps can be achieved, but are not guaranteed.  (See Max Data Rate section)

• 64 byte FIFOs for improved through-put

  • 64-byte RX FIFO with programmable level control

  • 64-byte TX FIFO with programmable level control

• Durable Cable and RFI shielding

  • Cable assembly: DB44 male to four DB25 male receptacles

  • Other cable configurations available upon request

• Cable, documentation, and software drivers included

• Designed and manufactured by COMMTECH, INC. Wichita, Kansas, USA

(d) = approximate MAX cable length in feet (bps) = estimated MAX baud rate at given length

d = ( -0.0000904 * bps ) + 192

bps = ( -11,000 * d ) + 2,130,000

Equations are based on experiments using Olympic cable number 2829 with 30pf/ft nominal capacitance at a maximum of 83 ft (CL not to exceed 2500 pico farads per EIA-232). These equations are an estimate of the maximum capabilities in users' environment, different cable capacitance will yield different results.