Waveshare has launched the 8-Channel RS485 TO ETH (B) and 8-Channel RS485 TO POE ETH (B) industrial Ethernet serial servers designed for bi-directional transparent data transmission between RS485 and Ethernet networks. The only difference is PoE support, one has it, the other doesn’t, recognizable by their names.
It features eight RS485 channels that operate independently, and supports two Ethernet ports (with an optional PoE version compliant with IEEE 802.3af). Key features include working as a serial server, Modbus gateway, MQTT gateway, and RS-485 to JSON converter. It also supports protocols like TCP, UDP, HTTP, DHCP, DNS, and more. It works in the industrial temperature range (-40°C to 85°C), offers power and signal isolation, 2kV surge protection, and comes housed in a durable aluminum alloy enclosure. Additionally, it supports wall-mount or rail-mount installation, multiple power supply methods (DC 7–36V via screw terminal or PoE), and web browser/device library configuration. These features make this device suitable for applications such as data acquisition, IoT gateways, security IoT systems, and intelligent instrument monitoring.
8-ch RS485 to ETH/POE ETH (B) specifications:
- SoC – Not Specified
- Ethernet
- 2x RJ45 ports, 10/100M auto-negotiation
- PoE support (IEEE 802.3af) for PoE version
- 2kV surge protection
- Serial Ports
- 8x isolated RS485 ports supporting 300 to 115200 bps baudrate
- Independent transmission and reception on each channel
- Parity: none, odd, even, mark, space
- Data bits: 5 to 9
- Protocols
- Ethernet, IP, TCP, UDP, HTTP, ARP, ICMP, DHCP, DNS
- TCP server/client (coexisting), UDP, and UDP multicast
- Modbus gateway (Modbus RTU to Modbus TCP)
- MQTT gateway (supporting Baidu Cloud, Alibaba Cloud, OneNet, etc.)
- RS485 to JSON (HTTP POST/GET or MQTT upload)
- Protection
- Power and signal isolation
- Built-in TVS for surge protection, lightning-proof, and ESD protection
- Resettable fuse and protection diode for overcurrent and overvoltage protection
- Misc
- Bi-directional transparent data transmission (RS485 Ethernet)
- Ethernet port cascade for network expansion
- Multi-host roll-polling (no crosstalk)
- User-defined heartbeat/registration packets
- NTP protocol support (network time sync)
- Power
- DC 7V to 36V via screw terminal
- PoE power (PoE version only)
- Dimensions – 103.5 x 93 x 29.7 mm
- Temperature – -40°C to +85°C
- Humidity – 5% to 95% RH
- Enclosure
- Aluminium alloy with sand blasting and anodic oxidation
- Rail-mount and wall-mount installation options
- Certifications – Lightning-proof, ESD protection, overcurrent/overvoltage protection
The main function of this device is to enable transparent, bi-directional data transmission between eight RS-485 interfaces and Ethernet. It also supports Ethernet port cascade and PoE cascade power supply, which adds more flexibility to the setup. The device has two Ethernet ports: one can be used for dual serial server network communication, while the other can handle cascading or connect to other devices for communication.
The device supports multiple communication modes, including TCP server, TCP client, UDP multicast, and UDP modes. It also features flexible protocol conversion, from MQTT/JSON to Modbus for compatibility with platforms like Baidu Cloud MQTT, Alibaba Cloud MQTT, and China Mobile OneNet. It can parse Modbus RTU or non-standard serial data into JSON and package it into MQTT for uploading. When used as a JSON data acquisition gateway, it can connect to instruments via RS485, automatically acquire data, convert it into JSON, and upload it using MQTT, HTTP POST, or HTTP GET protocols. It supports Modbus RTU 645 (97 and 07 versions) and various non-standard RS-485 protocols. More information about this can be found on the wiki.
The company also mentions that the device supports multi-host roll-polling, which means that multiple network devices (hosts) can communicate with the same serial server (or serial device) without interfering with each other. This configuration can be done simply via a web browser, with support for DHCP dynamic IP assignment and DNS domain server access.
We’ve never written about this specific type of device before, but we did cover more versatile industrial gateways with RS-485 and Ethernet interfaces that can implement similar features, but do not offer quite as many serial interfaces. Some examples include LILYGO T-Connect Pro, EDATEC ED-IPC3100, and reComputer R1113-10, among many others.
The 8-Channel RS485 TO ETH (B) can be purchased on AliExpress for $89.99, and the PoE model for $93.59. The devices are also available on the Waveshare online store for $82.99 and $85.99, respectively. The company’s Amazon store does not list the new 8-channel models, only some earlier 2-channel and 4-channel RS485 to ETH options, and RS485 to USB variants.
Debashis Das is a technical content writer and embedded engineer with over five years of experience in the industry. With expertise in Embedded C, PCB Design, and SEO optimization, he effectively blends difficult technical topics with clear communication
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