NP301 - Industrial, universal serial device

Industrial, universal 1-port RS-232/422/485 serial device server with one Ethernet port.

In industrial automation, the “serial-to-Ethernet” link is often the weakest point of a system: long RS-485 lines, noisy cabinets, multiple software tools, and a requirement to keep legacy field devices online 24/7. NP301 is built exactly for that reality—bridging one RS-232/RS-422/RS-485 port to an IP-based Ethernet network while keeping data flow transparent for SCADA, historians, PLCs, HMIs, and service laptops. Beyond simply tunneling bytes, the platform adds practical control layers that integrators care about: selectable working modes (TCP Server/TCP Client/UDP/RealCom), session handling, and live status monitoring through the web interface. These elements matter when you scale from “one machine” to dozens of distributed serial endpoints across a plant network.

It provides 1 port RS-232/485/422 (RS232, DB9M; RS485/422, 5 bit terminal block) and 1 port 10/100Base-T(X). It makes them ideal choice for connecting decentral serial devices and Host computer to an IP based Ethernet, making it easily and conviniently for your management. Its software can be setting and updating by serial program group in the application. It supports TCP, UDP, ARP, ICMP, DHCP and Windows Native COM, LLF functions.

What this means in practice: you can keep the existing serial device exactly as it is (protocol, baud rate, parity, wiring) and move only the “transport layer” onto Ethernet—without rewriting your application. The NP platform supports standard serial parameters (baud rate, data bits, stop bits, parity) and adds useful framing controls such as Packing length, Delimiter, and Transmit time, which helps stabilize communication when your upstream software expects predictable packetization rather than random bursts. When FIFO buffering is problematic for a specific legacy device, FIFO can be disabled to avoid transmission errors—an underrated feature when you integrate older controllers or proprietary serial sensors.

What's more, NP301 serial devices server provides powerful management configuration tools based on Windows, guiding users’ configuration of the devices step by step. All configurations can be done by network and serial port, supporting communication across gateway and switch. In addition, it allows users to configurate flexibly IP address, Server or Client mode, size of packet, etc.

From an operational point of view, the biggest time-saver is consistent access and predictable onboarding. The default management address for NP series is 192.168.1.254 with a standard web login, and the web session times out after 300 seconds of inactivity (configuration is preserved, login is closed). That behaviour is important in commissioning: you can hand the device to a technician and be sure the UI won’t stay open indefinitely on a shared laptop. For multi-device rollouts, the IP Report function can periodically report a newly obtained IP address to a defined server—useful when DHCP is enabled and you want fast visibility of “where the device landed” on the network.

NP301 serial device sever is designed with EMC protection, and power supply have overcurrent and overvoltage protection. These make it woking stably in hazardous environment.

To keep communication stable over time, the operating modes include mechanisms that directly address “real life” issues: TCP Alive Time probes connections and can close dead links after repeated probes; Idle timeout can release sessions; and Ignore jammed helps the device continue sending to healthy connections when one host becomes blocked. For serial-to-IP projects where more than one host needs access (for example: SCADA + diagnostic workstation), the platform supports up to 4 session connections on one serial port (mode dependent), which lets you scale without installing additional converters.

Easy wall and DIN-Rail mounting. Alternative offer for NPort 5150.

In industrial networks, security and governance are no longer optional. NP series adds an Access Control layer with device security options (e.g., enabling/disabling Web Console), and filtering rules (IP and MAC filtering) to explicitly allow/forbid access. User management supports roles (observer vs administrator) to separate “view-only” monitoring from configuration rights—useful in plants where maintenance and IT have different responsibilities. That combination makes NP301 not just a “converter”, but a manageable endpoint in an Ethernet architecture.

Product features (commissioning & operational value):

• RealCom / Virtual COM concept to keep legacy serial software working without code changes (transparent mapping to COM/TTY on host).
• Multiple working modes to fit the topology: TCP Server, TCP Client, UDP Server/Client, Pair modes for distance extension, multicast/range scenarios.
• Web session behaviour: inactivity timeout helps keep commissioning controlled; configuration is preserved when timeout occurs.
• IP Report helps locate devices quickly after DHCP assignment in larger rollouts.
• Access Control: IP/MAC filtering and user permissions (observer/admin) for plant governance.

Features:

• Adopt 32 bit ARM processor
• Support 3-in-1 RS-232/RS-485/RS-422 serial interface
• Support TCP, UDP, ARP, ICMP, HTTP and DHCP protocol
• Support across gateway, switch communication
• Support standard TCP/IP SOCKET
• Support Windows serial interface driver mode
• Support Virtual serial driver access and auto connect once the network disconnect
• Support network and serial interface configuration mode
• Low consumption design
• Support DIN-Rail or wall mounting installation
• Working termperature: -40°C to 75°C
• Maximum number of TCP connections on one serial port: 4

Specification:

Ethernet:

• Standard: 10Base-T，100Base-TX
• Protocol: Support TCP, UDP, APR, ICMP and DHCP protocol
• Signal: Rx+, Rx-, Tx+, Tx-
• Speed: 10/100Mbps auto-sensing
• Working: TCP Server, TCP Client, UDP and Real COM driver
• Transmission: 100m
• Connector: RJ45

Serial interface:

• Serial interface number: 1 port RS-232, 1 port RS-422/485
• RS-232 signal: TXD, RXD, RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, GND
• RS-422 signal: T+ (A), T- (B), R+ (A), R- (B), GND
• RS-485 signal: D+ (A), D- (B), GND
• Parity bit: None, Even, Odd, Space, Mark
• Data bit: 5bit, 6bit, 7bit, 8bit
• Stop bit: 1bit, 1.5bit, 2bit
• Baud rate: 300bps ~ 115200bps
• Direction control: RS485 side adopt ADDC technology, auto text and control data transfer direction
• Loading: RS-485/422 side support 32 nodes (customize 128 nodes) loopback
• Transmission: RS-485/422 side 1200m; RS-232 side 15m
• Interface protection: 1500W surge protection, 15KV static protection
• Interface type: RS-232 side DB9 male，RS-485/422 side 5 bit terminal block

Power supply:

• Power input: 12VDC (9~48VDC)
• Consumption: Approx 1.4W

Environmental:

• Working temperature:-40°C to 75°C
• Storage temperature:-40°C to 85°C
• Humidity: 5% to 95%

Appearance:

• Color: Black and Blue
• Dimensions (LxWxH): 100mm x 69mm x 22mm
• Material: Iron (Shell)
• Weight: 240g

Standard:

• EMI: FCC Part 15, CISPR (EN55022) class A
• EMS:
• EN 61000-4-2 (ESD) Level 4
• EN 61000-4-3 (RS), Level 2
• EN 61000-4-4 (EFT), Level 3
• EN 61000-4-5 (Surge), Level 2
• EN 61000-4-6 (CS), Level 2
• Shock: IEC 60068-2-27
• Free fall: IEC 60068-2-32
• Vibration: IEC 60068-2-6

Warranty: 5 years

Approvals: FCC, CE, RoHS approvals

If you want NP301 to behave predictably in production, it is worth leveraging the built-in monitoring pages: you can see network connection state, COM TX/RX counters, pin states, and serial port error counts (frame/parity/overrun/break). This is the difference between “it sometimes drops data” and a clean diagnosis in minutes—especially when multiple stakeholders (automation, maintenance, IT) need one common source of truth.