StarTech.com USB to Serial Hub â€" 8 Port â€" COM Port Retention â€" Rack Mount and Daisy Chainable â€" FTDI USB to RS232 Hub

StarTech.comSKU: 4672546

Price:
Sale price$273.16

Description

StarTech.com USB to Serial Hub — 8-Port COM Port Retention, Rack Mount, and Daisy Chainable FTDI USB to RS232 Hub

The StarTech.com USB to Serial Hub is a factory‑level solution engineered to bring robust RS232 serial connectivity to modern industrial environments. Designed around a durable, enterprise‑grade enclosure and a high‑reliability FTDI chipset, this 8‑port USB to RS232 hub lets you quickly expand your serial port footprint without sacrificing performance or stability. It’s ideal for manufacturing floors, data acquisition systems, POS deployments, lab automation, and other scenarios where dozens of serial devices must share a single host or be deployed across a rack. With COM port retention, rack‑mount compatibility, and daisy‑chain capabilities, this hub provides a scalable, cost‑effective path to reliable serial communications in both new installations and legacy setups. Marine‑grade builds aren’t required when you’re in a harsh industrial plant, but the rugged construction and thoughtful design stand up to everyday wear and tear while delivering consistent, predictable performance.

  • Effortless expansion of serial ports: Add 8 RS232 ports to a single USB host to connect multiple devices such as barcode scanners, PLCs, CNC machines, robots, sensors, and test rigs. The hub consolidates devices that would otherwise require numerous USB adapters, simplifying cabling and management while preserving a clean rack or desk space.
  • COM port retention for simplified software deployment: The hub preserves COM port numbering across reconnects and reboots, reducing the likelihood of software reconfiguration when devices are swapped or rebooted. This feature is especially valuable for legacy software that relies on fixed COM port assignments, saving time during installation and maintenance.
  • Rack‑mountable, daisy‑chain capable design: Built to integrate into 19" racks with included mounting hardware, the hub minimizes footprint in control rooms and data centers. For larger deployments, you can daisy‑chain multiple hubs to scale port counts without sacrificing performance, making it easy to accommodate growing serial device networks.
  • Reliable FTDI USB to RS232 engine: Powered by the widely supported FTDI USB‑to‑Serial chipset, the hub delivers broad OS compatibility, stable drivers, and consistent performance across Windows, macOS, and Linux. FTDI’s mature driver ecosystem helps ensure predictable operation for mission‑critical devices and reduces troubleshooting time.
  • Industrial‑grade build with plug‑and‑play usability: The hub is designed to withstand continuous operation in industrial environments, with a solid metal enclosure and thoughtfully placed status indicators. It’s designed for easy installation, hot‑swap friendly devices, and straightforward maintenance, enabling you to deploy serial‑heavy applications quickly and confidently.

Technical Details of StarTech.com USB to Serial Hub 8-Port

  • Ports: 8 RS-232 serial ports (DB9 connectors) provide direct, multi‑device serial connectivity from a single USB host.
  • Chipset: FTDI USB‑to‑Serial chipset ensures broad driver support and reliable data transfer across major operating systems.
  • USB interface: USB 2.0 high‑speed connection for fast, stable data transfer between the host and the serial devices.
  • Power: Bus‑powered via USB; optional external power adapter supported for higher current demands or when powering multiple devices simultaneously.
  • Data rates: Supports common baud rates up to 115200 bps per port, with reliable framing and parity handling suitable for industrial protocols.
  • Rack compatibility: Includes 19" rack‑mount brackets for convenient integration into equipment racks and control rooms.
  • Daisy chaining: Capable of daisy chaining multiple hubs to scale port availability as your serial network grows.
  • COM port retention: Maintains assigned COM port numbers across reconnections to simplify software configuration and updates.
  • Software compatibility: Works with Windows, macOS, and Linux environments, backed by FTDI drivers and StarTech support resources.
  • Construction: Durable metal housing designed to withstand everyday use in demanding environments and reduce EMI/EMC concerns in complex installations.
  • Indicators: LED indicators provide at‑a‑glance status of power and port activity for quick diagnostics.

how to install StarTech.com USB to Serial Hub

1) Prepare your environment and hardware: Unbox the hub and verify you have the included 19" rack‑mount brackets if you plan to install it in a rack. Ensure you have a spare USB 2.0 port on your host computer or USB hub and access to the RS232 devices you intend to connect.

2) Connect the hub to the host: Use the included USB cable to connect the hub’s USB port to a free USB 2.0 port on your computer or USB hub. If you intend to run a large number of devices or anticipate high power demands, consider connecting to a powered USB hub or providing external power to the hub as recommended by your system requirements.

3) Install drivers and verify driver status: On Windows, the operating system may automatically install the FTDI drivers. On macOS and Linux, you may need to install FTDI drivers or use the built‑in FTDI support provided by your distribution. Confirm the drivers are loaded correctly by checking the device manager (Windows) or running system diagnostics to confirm the FTDI device is present.

4) Connect serial devices to the hub: Attach your RS232 devices to the eight available DB9 ports. Ensure each device is properly powered and configured for the expected baud rates and settings. The COM port numbers will be assigned by the OS according to the FTDI mapping and will be retained if COM Port Retention is active.

5) Configure software and test communication: Open your serial software and select the corresponding COM ports assigned to each device. Validate data exchange, error rates, and timing for all devices. If you encounter discrepancies, verify cable integrity, baud rate compatibility, and proper termination for distant devices. If you plan to expand later, you can safely add additional hubs in a daisy‑chain configuration and map the new ports in your software.

6) Mounting and final checks: If you’re deploying in a rack, secure the hub with the supplied brackets and confirm cable management keeps power and data lines orderly. Perform a final power‑on cycle and run a quick test suite to ensure all eight ports operate as expected in routine workflows.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is the primary purpose of this hub? It adds eight RS232 serial ports to a USB host, enabling multiple legacy and industrial devices to communicate with modern computers or control systems without requiring eight separate USB adapters.
  • Does this hub support COM port retention? Yes. The hub preserves assigned COM port numbers across reconnects to simplify software configuration and prevent disruption when devices are swapped or rebooted.
  • Which operating systems are supported? The hub is designed to work with Windows, macOS, and Linux. FTDI drivers typically provide cross‑platform support, and StarTech resources help guide installation across platforms.
  • How is power supplied to the hub? The unit is typically bus‑powered via USB, with an optional external power adapter available for high‑load setups or when powering many devices at once.
  • Can I daisy‑chain multiple hubs? Yes. The hub is designed to be daisy‑chainable, enabling you to expand port counts across multiple hubs to support larger serial networks while maintaining performance.
  • Is the unit rack‑mountable? Indeed. It ships with 19" rack‑mount brackets so you can integrate it neatly into standard equipment racks for organized, scalable deployments.

Customer reviews

(0)

0 Out of 5 Stars


5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Star
0


Showing - Of Reviews


You may also like

Recently viewed