Piper - our latest serial to ethernet converter.

Use two Pipers to send serial data across a network -

Hardware features -
  • Two completely independent RS232 ports supporting speeds to 115k - it's two units for the price of one.
  • 10Mb UTP Ethernet port.
  • Lots of Leds!
  • 12 month warranty.

More software features than you can shake several sticks at ! 

  • Configure using our free Windows utilities...
  • Broadcast data from one unit to many...
  • Send data from many units to one...
  • Send an alarm if RTS changes...
  • Mirror the state of RTS at one end of a link to CTS at the other, and back again...
  • Set it to understand modem AT commands allowing links to be made and broken by scripts...
  • Fine tune when packets are sent between units - based on the number of characters, or a given character, or time waiting...
  • Flash memory for easy upgrade. Upload new software over the network.
  • Rugged error checking protocol ensures error free data delivery. Data links automatically reconnect after power or network failures; no intervention necessary.
  • If you are not sure whether you need Piper or TNC, click here to compare them.

Piper supports Modem emulation.  

Treat Piper as a dial-up modem! Piper can replace modems in applications originally designed to use the Hayes AT command set. Dial by IP number! 

New - Piper can be set to send alarms.

A new feature has been added to Piper to send an 'alarm' message if the state of the RTS control inputs change state. For example, suppose a Piper unit is named BRISTOL and serial port 1 is named ALARM1 and then RTS on port 1 changes from off to on, a message 'BRISTOL ALARM1 ON' is sent to the destination unit for port 1. Go to downloads and get Version 422j - the latest user guide has all the details. 
Free Piper utilities allows you to browse edit, save Piper configuration from a Windows desktop. Visit downloads to try the latest version, and see a screenshot below -

Easy set-up from any unit. Once you have given a Piper an IP address it can be Pinged, configured and monitored from any other unit on your network. Use IP numbers to make & break serial data connections between units. Our TNC IP utility may be used to initialise Piper's IP number - visit the  downloads section and look under utilities. 
A sample screen shot of the IP setup utility

Do I always need to buy pairs of Piper units? No. Depending upon your application, you may be able to take advantage of Pipers port-to-many port broadcast feature. Alternatively, your application may be able to use Piper's unique modem emulation features to sequentially dial a series of units. One local Piper can be used to talk to literally thousands of remote Piper units. Piper can also deliver data directly to a UDP socket opened on your Ethernet Network Interface Adapter.

Why should I use Piper?

  • Self-repairing links. Every Ethernet network packet is error checked and sequence numbered to ensure that all of your RS232 serial data is delivered error free. Should the Ethernet network or the power fail, Piper will automatically re-link when the communication problem is resolved.
  • Point to point or point to multipoint operation. Choose between simple Serial port-to-Serial port connectivity or take advantage of the powerful data broadcast feature to send data from a single serial port to multiple serial ports.
  • Unique emulation of modem commands allows Piper to drop into many applications designed for modems.
  • Low cost per RS232 serial port. Piper offers outstanding cost per serial port value for money.
  • Powerful processing power. Piper has been designed with tomorrows networks in mind. Ample processing power ensures reliable operation whatever the local network conditions.
  • Piper's tiny footprint means that it doesn’t take up more expensive communications room space than is necessary.

Features.

  • High performance: low cost per port
  • Dedicated port-to-port mode or one port-to-many, broadcast mode.
  • Rugged error checking Ethernet protocol. 
  • Flash memory for easy upgrade. Upload new software over the network or through a serial port.
  • Powerful processor.
  • Serial port speeds up to 115k.
  • Password protection on unit configuration & link settings.
  • Wall mounting bracket supplied. 
  • Expandable Interface port.

Downloads -

Piper is available in an OEM PCB version. It is available in a board only version, or in a low cost Emc-proof case shown below. OEM Piper requires -

  • A 4” square footprint, where it can be mounted on pillars within the existing equipment's casework.
  • A regulated 5V dc supply @ 400ma

Click here to download design details.
The OEM PCB version of pIPer. - Only UKŁ245 Piper OEM board
OEM case.

Coming soon -

Piper's internal expansion bus allows a huge range of hardware options to be supported. The first optional daughter board is currently being designed and features -

  • An 8 bit analogue input port allowing measurement for example of temperature and humidity.
  • 6 digital input ports to sense a switch or relay contacts.
  • 4 relay outputs suitable to turn a remote controlled mains switch on and off.
  • Up to 128Mb of SDRAM for data storage.

Specification

  • 2 x RS232 ports with speeds up to 115k baud, 7 or 8 data, 1 or 2 stops, odd, even or no parity. Presented on D9 Female connectors which support Txd, Rxd, RTS, CTS, Signal ground, DCD and DTR.
  • 1 x 10Base-T Ethernet port
  • 240VAC power input
  • Network protocols – IEEE 802.3, IP, UDP, ARP, ICMP (Ping), TFTP.