Comprehensive Product Summary – Rayon Technology P5188U Universal PCI 8-Port RS232/RS422 Card

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### 1. Product Overview

Product Name: UPCI 8-Port RS232/RS422 Selectable Card
Model: P5188U
Series: PCIPORT Universal PCI Serial Communication Card Series
Article Number: P5188U
Manufacturer: Rayon Technology Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: 2F, No. 177, Chung-Shan 2 Rd., Lu-Chou City, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan
Website: [www.rayontech.com](http://www.rayontech.com)
Support (Europe): Acceed GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany

The Rayon P5188U is a high-performance, intelligent multi-port serial communication controller card designed for PC systems equipped with PCI bus architecture. It provides eight independent serial ports, each configurable as RS232 or RS422, and operates exclusively on a 5V PCI power supply. The card is part of Rayon’s PCIPORT family, engineered for industrial, commercial, and embedded communication applications requiring reliable, high-speed serial connectivity.

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### 2. Key Features

- Eight Independent Serial Ports: Each port can be individually configured for RS232 or RS422 operation, supporting full-duplex communication.
- Universal PCI Interface: Compatible with both 5V and 3.3V PCI slots (33 MHz), ensuring broad system compatibility.
- 16550A-Compatible UARTs: Each channel integrates a 16C550A-compatible UART with 16-byte transmit and receive FIFOs, minimizing CPU load and improving throughput.
- Automatic Plug & Play Configuration: IRQ and I/O address mapping are automatically assigned by the PCI BIOS, eliminating manual configuration.
- Surge Protection: Built-in surge protection on TXD/RXD lines enhances reliability in industrial environments.
- Flexible Power Design: Operates on a single 5V power supply for both RS232 and RS422 modes.
- High-Speed Data Transmission: Supports baud rates from 50 bps up to 115,200 bps (standard crystal 1.8432 MHz).
- Multi-OS Support: Compatible with DOS, Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista, Linux, SCO OpenServer, and UNIX systems.
- Expandable System Integration: Supports up to two P5188U cards per system, providing up to 16 serial ports.
- Comprehensive Driver Support: Includes drivers and installation utilities for all major operating systems, with detailed configuration options for multi-card setups.
- Industrial-Grade Reliability: Designed for continuous operation in demanding environments with wide temperature and humidity tolerance.

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### 3. Technical Specifications

System Architecture:
- Intelligent PCI multi-port serial controller card
- External expansion cable with eight DB25 or DB9 connectors

Serial Communication Controller:
- Type: 16550A-compatible UART
- Clock Frequency: 1.8432 MHz (supports up to 14.7456 MHz for higher baud rates)
- FIFO: 16-byte transmit and receive buffers per port

Ports and Interfaces:
- Number of Ports: 8
- Interface Type: RS232 or RS422 (individually selectable per port)
- Baud Rate Range: 50 to 115,200 bps (standard); up to 921,600 bps with optional crystal
- Connector Options:
- DB25 male (via R801 cable)
- DB9 male (via R804 cable)
- DB62 male connector on card for expansion cable connection

Bus Interface:
- PCI Local Bus Specification Revision 2.1 compliant
- 32-bit, 33 MHz PCI bus
- Supports 5V and 3.3V signaling environments
- Plug & Play resource allocation

I/O and IRQ Mapping:
- One 64-byte and one 8-byte I/O range assigned by PCI BIOS
- One IRQ assigned by PCI BIOS (IRQ shareable)

Physical Characteristics:
- Dimensions: 6.0 × 4.2 inches (approx. 152.4 × 106.7 mm)
- Weight: Approx. 150 g (card only)
- Material: High-quality PCB with anti-static protection

Environmental Conditions:
- Operating Temperature: 0°C to 55°C
- Storage Temperature: 0°C to 65°C
- Operating Humidity: 10% to 95% RH (non-condensing)
- Storage Humidity: 5% to 95% RH

Power Requirements:
- Power Supply: 5V DC only
- Power Consumption: < 5W typical

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### 4. Functionality

The P5188U functions as a universal serial communication interface for PCs, enabling simultaneous operation of up to eight serial devices. Each port can be independently configured as RS232 for short-distance, local communication or RS422 for long-distance, differential signaling applications.

Typical Use Cases:
- Industrial automation and control systems
- Data acquisition and instrumentation
- Point-of-sale (POS) terminals
- Networking and communication gateways
- Embedded system integration
- Serial device servers and multiplexers

Operation Principle:
The card uses an ASIC-based PCI controller that fully implements the PCI Local Bus Specification Rev. 2.1. It interfaces with the host system through the PCI bus, while each serial port communicates via UARTs. The onboard FIFO buffers reduce CPU interrupts, improving system performance and reliability.

Compatibility:
- Fully compatible with standard RS232C and RS422 electrical specifications.
- Supports full-duplex communication.
- Compatible with standard serial communication software and terminal emulators.

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### 5. Components & Accessories

Included Components:
- One P5188U PCI interface card
- One DB62-to-8×DB9M expansion cable (R804)
- Optional DB62-to-8×DB25M cable (R801) available on request
- User manual and driver diskette

Optional Accessories:
- RS4232-8 Isolated Box: Converts RS232 signals to isolated RS232/RS422/RS485 interfaces for enhanced electrical isolation.
- R803 Cable: DB62 male-to-male cable for connecting the P5188U to the RS4232-8 box.
- TB485 Converter: Converts DB9 connectors to 3-pin terminal blocks for RS485 wiring.

Connector Pinouts:
- DB62 connector pin assignments support TXD, RXD, RTS, CTS, DSR, DTR, DCD, and GND signals for all eight ports.
- DB25 and DB9 connectors follow standard RS232/RS422 pin definitions.

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### 6. Installation & Setup

System Requirements:
- PC/AT compatible system with available PCI slot (5V or 3.3V, 33 MHz)
- Supported operating system (DOS, Windows, Linux, SCO, UNIX)

Installation Procedure:
1. Power off the system and remove the cover.
2. Insert the P5188U card into an available PCI slot.
3. Connect the DB62 expansion cable to the card.
4. Attach the external DB9 or DB25 connectors to serial devices.
5. Power on the system.
6. Install the appropriate driver for your operating system.

Jumper Configuration:
- JP1: Sets card number (ON = first card, OFF = second card).
This allows consistent COM port numbering across multiple cards.

Driver Installation:
- Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7: Plug & Play detection; specify driver path (A:\WIN2000 or CD:\UPCI_card\P588U\WIN7_2000_XP_2003_Vista).
- Windows NT4: Manual installation via Control Panel → Network → Add Adapter → “Other.”
- Windows 95/98/ME: Automatic detection; specify A:\WIN95 driver path.
- DOS: Run `PCIPORT.EXE` from the driver diskette.
- Linux: Install via `/etc/rayon/Install` script; rebuild kernel module.
- SCO OpenServer: Use `/etc/custom` or `/etc/pciport/build` to install.

Multi-Card Installation:
- Supports up to two P5188U cards per system.
- Each card must have a unique jumper setting (JP1 ON for first, OFF for second).
- IRQ sharing supported under Windows and Linux; SCO requires unique IRQs.

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### 7. Performance & Capabilities

Data Throughput:
- Up to 115.2 Kbps per port (standard)
- Up to 921.6 Kbps with optional high-frequency crystal

Communication Modes:
- RS232: Single-ended, full-duplex, short-distance communication (up to 15 m)
- RS422: Differential, full-duplex, long-distance communication (up to 1200 m)

Buffering and Flow Control:
- 16-byte transmit and receive FIFOs per port
- Hardware flow control (RTS/CTS) and software flow control (XON/XOFF) supported

Interrupt Handling:
- Shared IRQ capability for multiple PCI cards
- Automatic resource allocation by PCI BIOS

System Capacity:
- Maximum of two cards per system (16 ports total)
- Each port independently addressable as a standard COM port

Limitations:
- RS232 mode limited to cable lengths under 15 meters
- RS422 mode recommended for longer distances or electrically noisy environments
- Requires 5V PCI slot for power (no external power input)

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### 8. Standards & Compliance

Bus and Interface Standards:
- PCI Local Bus Specification Revision 2.1
- RS232C and RS422 electrical interface standards

Software and OS Compliance:
- Microsoft Windows (95 through Vista, including NT/2000/XP/2003)
- Linux kernel 2.4.x and later (source-based driver installation)
- SCO OpenServer
- DOS and UNIX variants

Electrical and Safety Compliance:
- Surge protection on TXD/RXD lines
- ESD protection on all signal lines
- Designed for industrial-grade EMI/EMC compliance

Environmental and Manufacturing Standards:
- RoHS-compliant materials (lead-free PCB)
- Manufactured under ISO 9001 quality management system

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### 9. Additional Information

Warranty:
- One-year limited warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship.
- Excludes damage from misuse, electrical surges, or unauthorized servicing.

Repair & RMA Procedure:
- Obtain Return Material Authorization (RMA) before returning products.
- Provide model number, serial number, and problem description.
- Contact:
- Taiwan: rayon@ms1.hinet.net
- Europe: rayon@acceed.com

Technical Support:
- Email support for all operating systems, including Linux driver assistance.
- Documentation includes troubleshooting guides and pinout references.

Maintenance:
- No periodic maintenance required.
- Ensure anti-static handling during installation.
- Keep connectors and cables clean and properly seated.

Software Updates:
- Updated drivers available for Windows 7 and later (use same driver as Windows 2000/XP).
- COM port numbering can be configured via driver setup utility in Device Manager.

Related Models in the 5V Power Supply Series:
| Model | RS232 Ports | RS422 Ports | RS485 Ports |
|--------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
| P5188U | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| P5288U | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| P5388U | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| P5488U | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| P5588U | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| P5688U | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| P5788U | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| P5888U | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| P5988U | 4 | 8 | 4 |

Manufacturer Contact Information:
- Rayon Technology Co., Ltd.
2F, No. 177, Chung-Shan 2 Rd., Lu-Chou City, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan
Tel: +886-2-82858362
Fax: +886-2-82857065
Email: rayon@ms1.hinet.net
Web: [www.rayontech.com](http://www.rayontech.com)

- European Distributor:
Acceed GmbH, Arnoldstraße 19, 40479 Düsseldorf, Germany
Tel: +49 211 938898 0
Email: rayon@acceed.com
Web: [www.acceed.com/rayon](http://www.acceed.com/rayon)

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### Summary

The Rayon P5188U Universal PCI 8-Port RS232/RS422 Card is a robust, industrial-grade communication interface designed for systems requiring multiple serial connections. Its universal PCI compatibility, independent port configuration, and comprehensive OS driver support make it ideal for industrial automation, data acquisition, and embedded control applications. With automatic resource allocation, surge protection, and flexible configuration options, the P5188U delivers reliable, high-speed serial communication across diverse computing environments.

This card exemplifies Rayon Technology’s commitment to connectivity engineering—providing scalable, high-performance serial communication solutions for modern industrial and commercial systems.