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C104H

4-port RS232 ISA high speed 921,6kBd Card TI550c
  • Manufacturer Moxa
  • Category: RS232 4-Ports
  • The Moxa Smartio C104H is a 4-port RS-232 asynchronous serial communication board designed for ISA bus systems. It provides high-speed serial connectivity up to 921.6 kbps per port, utilizing a TI550C UART with 32-byte FIFO buffers and an ASIC-based architecture for enhanced performance and reliability. The board is engineered for industrial, commercial, and automation applications requiring multiple serial interfaces on a single PC platform.
- Four Independent RS-232 Ports: Each port operates independently with its own I/O address and IRQ configuration.
- High-Speed Data Transfer: Supports baud rates up to 921.6 kbps, ensuring fast and reliable communication for demanding serial applications.
- TI550C UART with 32-Byte FIFO: Provides efficient buffering and minimizes CPU overhead, preventing data loss during high-speed transmission.
- Custom ASIC Design: Integrates multiple discrete components into a single chip, reducing board size to half-length and improving reliability.
- Software-Configurable Hardware: No jumpers or DIP switches required; configuration is stored in onboard EEPROM and managed via software utilities.
- Flexible IRQ and I/O Addressing: Supports IRQ 2–5, 7, 10–12, and 15, with full 16-bit AT bus architecture.
- Hardware Flow Control: On-chip RTS/CTS and DTR/DSR flow control ensures stable communication with modems and other serial devices.
- Comprehensive OS Support: Compatible with Windows NT, Windows 95/98, DOS, Windows 3.x, Linux, SCO UNIX/XENIX/OpenServer, QNX, FreeBSD, and OS/2.
- Diagnostic and Programming Tools: Bundled with Moxa’s PComm (Windows) and API-232 (DOS) libraries for application development and port diagnostics.
- Compact Half-Size ISA Form Factor: Dimensions of 157 mm × 83 mm allow installation in space-constrained systems.
- High Reliability: ASIC design and FIFO buffering eliminate data loss even under heavy load.
- Connector Options: Includes DB37-to-4×DB9 male cable (Opt4D) or optional DB37-to-4×DB25 male cable (Opt4C).

Country of origin: Taiwan R.O.C.

Customs tariff number: 8473 3020 000

Comprehensive Product Summary – MOXA Smartio C104H / C104P 4-Port RS-232 ISA High-Speed Card




### 1. Product Overview

Product Name: Smartio C104H (also referenced as C104P in documentation)
Model / Series: C104 Series – Universal 4-Port Serial Board
Article Number: C104H
Manufacturer: Moxa Technologies Co., Ltd.
Manufacturer Contact:
- Tel: +886-2-8665-6373
- Fax: +886-2-8665-6372
- Website: [www.moxa.com](http://www.moxa.com)
- Support Email: support@moxa.com.tw

Product Description:
The Moxa Smartio C104H is a 4-port RS-232 asynchronous serial communication board designed for ISA bus systems. It provides high-speed serial connectivity up to 921.6 kbps per port, utilizing a TI550C UART with 32-byte FIFO buffers and an ASIC-based architecture for enhanced performance and reliability. The board is engineered for industrial, commercial, and automation applications requiring multiple serial interfaces on a single PC platform.




### 2. Key Features

- Four Independent RS-232 Ports: Each port operates independently with its own I/O address and IRQ configuration.
- High-Speed Data Transfer: Supports baud rates up to 921.6 kbps, ensuring fast and reliable communication for demanding serial applications.
- TI550C UART with 32-Byte FIFO: Provides efficient buffering and minimizes CPU overhead, preventing data loss during high-speed transmission.
- Custom ASIC Design: Integrates multiple discrete components into a single chip, reducing board size to half-length and improving reliability.
- Software-Configurable Hardware: No jumpers or DIP switches required; configuration is stored in onboard EEPROM and managed via software utilities.
- Flexible IRQ and I/O Addressing: Supports IRQ 2–5, 7, 10–12, and 15, with full 16-bit AT bus architecture.
- Hardware Flow Control: On-chip RTS/CTS and DTR/DSR flow control ensures stable communication with modems and other serial devices.
- Comprehensive OS Support: Compatible with Windows NT, Windows 95/98, DOS, Windows 3.x, Linux, SCO UNIX/XENIX/OpenServer, QNX, FreeBSD, and OS/2.
- Diagnostic and Programming Tools: Bundled with Moxa’s PComm (Windows) and API-232 (DOS) libraries for application development and port diagnostics.
- Compact Half-Size ISA Form Factor: Dimensions of 157 mm × 83 mm allow installation in space-constrained systems.
- High Reliability: ASIC design and FIFO buffering eliminate data loss even under heavy load.
- Connector Options: Includes DB37-to-4×DB9 male cable (Opt4D) or optional DB37-to-4×DB25 male cable (Opt4C).




### 3. Technical Specifications

| Parameter | Specification |
|----------------|-------------------|
| Bus Interface | ISA (EISA compatible, 16-bit architecture) |
| Number of Ports | 4 independent RS-232 asynchronous ports |
| UART Type | TI550C (16550-compatible) with 32-byte FIFO |
| Baud Rate | 50 bps to 921.6 kbps |
| Data Bits | 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Stop Bits | 1, 1.5, 2 |
| Parity | None, Even, Odd, Space, Mark |
| Flow Control | RTS/CTS, DTR/DSR hardware flow control |
| I/O Address Range | 0x0000 – 0xFFFF (default 0x180–0x198) |
| IRQ Options | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 15 |
| Interrupt Vector | Default 0x1C0 |
| EEPROM Configuration | Onboard EEPROM stores I/O and IRQ settings |
| Connectors | DB37 female on bracket; DB37-to-4×DB9M (Opt4D) or DB37-to-4×DB25M (Opt4C) cable |
| Signal Lines | TxD, RxD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, DCD, GND |
| Surge Protection | Up to 2000 V (C104HS variant) |
| Power Requirements | +5 V @ 90 mA max, +12 V @ 55 mA max, –12 V @ 75 mA max |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 55°C |
| Dimensions | 157 mm × 83 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 150 g (board only) |
| Material | Multi-layer PCB with gold-plated edge connector |
| Compliance | ISA bus electrical and mechanical standards |




### 4. Functionality

Operational Overview:
The C104H provides four asynchronous RS-232 serial ports for connecting terminals, modems, printers, data acquisition devices, or other serial peripherals to a PC/AT-compatible system. Each port is fully independent, allowing simultaneous communication with multiple devices at different baud rates and configurations.

Configuration and Control:
All hardware parameters (I/O address, IRQ, interrupt vector) are configured via software using Moxa’s IO-IRQ.EXE utility under DOS or through Windows configuration panels. The configuration is stored in onboard EEPROM, eliminating the need for manual jumper settings.

Use Cases and Applications:
- Industrial automation and process control
- Point-of-Sale (POS) systems
- Remote access servers and modem banks
- Data acquisition and instrumentation
- Office automation and serial printer connectivity
- Telecommunication systems
- Embedded PC-based kiosks and vending machines

Compatibility:
The board is compatible with standard RS-232 DTE/DCE devices and supports both straight-through and null-modem cabling. It integrates seamlessly with existing serial communication software that adheres to Microsoft Win32 COMM API or DOS API-232 standards.




### 5. Components & Accessories

Included Items:
- C104H 4-port RS-232 ISA board
- DB37-to-4×DB9 male connector cable (Opt4D)
- Device driver diskettes:
- Windows NT/95/98 driver disk
- DOS/Windows 3.x driver disk
- PComm Lite software diskette
- User’s Manual (printed and electronic versions)

Optional Accessories:
- DB37-to-4×DB25 male connector cable (Opt4C)
- Additional serial cables and adapters
- Diagnostic loopback connectors for testing

Connectors and Pinouts:
- DB37 Female (on board bracket): Provides all four ports’ signals.
- DB9 Male (Opt4D): Standard RS-232 pinout (1-DCD, 2-RxD, 3-TxD, 4-DTR, 5-GND, 6-DSR, 7-RTS, 8-CTS).
- DB25 Male (Opt4C): Standard RS-232 pinout (2-TxD, 3-RxD, 4-RTS, 5-CTS, 6-DSR, 7-GND, 8-DCD, 20-DTR).




### 6. Installation & Setup

Hardware Installation:
1. Power off the PC and insert the C104H board into a free 16-bit ISA slot.
2. For quick installation (single board, Windows 95/98/NT only), short jumper JP1 to fix CAP address at 0xA700.
3. For manual configuration, leave JP1 open and use IO-IRQ.EXE under DOS to set I/O addresses and IRQs.
4. Connect the DB37 cable to the board and attach the DB9/DB25 connectors to serial devices.
5. Power on the system and proceed with software installation.

Software Installation:
- Windows NT/95/98: Install via Moxa Smartio/Industio Configuration Panel. Supports up to 256 (NT) or 128 (95/98) COM ports.
- DOS/Windows 3.x: Use DOSINST.EXE or WININST.EXE to install API-232 or Standard COMM drivers.
- Linux/UNIX/QNX/FreeBSD: Use native serial drivers or Moxa-provided modules.

Configuration Utility:
- IO-IRQ.EXE: DOS-based tool for setting I/O address, IRQ, and interrupt vector.
- CAP Address: Default equals Port 1 base address; forced to 0xA700 when JP1 is shorted.
- EEPROM Storage: Configuration retained after power-off.

Mounting Options:
Standard ISA slot installation; no external power required.




### 7. Performance & Capabilities

- Maximum Baud Rate: 921.6 kbps per port (C104H); 115.2 kbps for standard C104P.
- FIFO Buffering: 32-byte transmit and receive FIFOs per port minimize CPU load.
- Interrupt Handling: Supports shared or independent IRQs; interrupt vectoring for optimized performance.
- Throughput: Capable of full-duplex communication on all four ports simultaneously.
- Latency: Low interrupt latency due to ASIC integration.
- Reliability: No data loss under full load due to hardware flow control and FIFO buffering.
- Limitations:
- ISA bus bandwidth limits total throughput when multiple high-speed ports are active.
- Requires available IRQs and I/O address space without conflicts.




### 8. Standards & Compliance

- Electrical Interface: RS-232 (EIA/TIA-232-F compliant)
- Bus Interface: ISA (Industry Standard Architecture)
- UART Compatibility: 16550/16650 standard register set
- Operating System Compliance:
- Windows NT/95/98/3.x (Moxa drivers)
- DOS (API-232 driver)
- Linux, SCO UNIX/OpenServer, SCO XENIX, QNX, FreeBSD, OS/2 (native or Moxa-supported)
- Software API Compliance: Microsoft Win32 COMM API, DOS API-232
- Regulatory Compliance: Designed to meet CE and FCC Class A standards (typical for Moxa industrial boards)
- Environmental Compliance: Operating temperature 0–55°C, standard industrial range




### 9. Additional Information

Warranty:
Standard Moxa limited warranty (typically 3 years) covering manufacturing defects and hardware failures under normal use.

Technical Support:
- Email: support@moxa.com.tw
- FTP: ftp.moxa.com / ftp.moxa.com.tw (User ID: ftp, Password: your_email_address)
- Online resources: driver updates, manuals, FAQs, and troubleshooting guides.

Maintenance:
- Periodically check for driver updates via Moxa FTP or website.
- Ensure proper grounding and shielding of cables to prevent EMI.
- Use diagnostic utilities (PComm Diagnostic, API-232 Diagnose) to verify port health.

Software Tools and Libraries:
- PComm (Windows): Professional serial communication library and utilities including terminal emulator, diagnostic, and monitor tools.
- API-232 (DOS): Serial programming library supporting C, Pascal, BASIC, Assembly, and Clipper. Includes modem control and file transfer functions (ASCII, XMODEM, YMODEM, ZMODEM, KERMIT).
- Utilities:
- *Diagnostic:* Tests IRQ, TxD/RxD, CTS/RTS, DTR/DSR, DCD lines.
- *Monitor:* Displays real-time port status and throughput.
- *Terminal Emulator:* Supports VT100/ANSI emulation and file transfer protocols.

Troubleshooting Highlights:
- Board Not Detected: Check slot seating, I/O conflicts, or CAP address.
- No Data Transfer: Verify cable wiring and flow control settings.
- IRQ Conflicts: Adjust IRQ assignments via IO-IRQ utility.
- CAP Address Unknown: Short JP1 to force CAP = 0xA700 and reconfigure.

Return & RMA Procedure:
- Obtain RMA number from dealer or Moxa representative.
- Provide proof of purchase and completed Problem Report Form.
- Ship product in anti-static packaging with RMA number clearly marked.




### Summary

The Moxa Smartio C104H (C104 Series) is a robust, high-performance 4-port RS-232 ISA communication board engineered for industrial and commercial multiport serial applications. Its ASIC-based design, high-speed TI550C UARTs, and software-configurable architecture deliver exceptional flexibility and reliability. With comprehensive driver support across multiple operating systems and powerful development tools, the C104H provides a complete solution for expanding serial connectivity in legacy ISA-based systems.

Its combination of high-speed performance (up to 921.6 kbps), hardware flow control, and easy configuration makes it ideal for data-intensive environments such as automation, telecommunications, and remote access systems. The inclusion of diagnostic and programming utilities further enhances its value for developers and system integrators seeking dependable multiport serial communication hardware.

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