The Modbus communications protocol has become the de facto industry standard, and is now the most commonly available means of connecting industrial electronic devices.

Modbus allows for communication between many devices connected to the same network,or example a system that measures temperature and humidity and communicates the results to a computer. Modbus is often used to connect a supervisory computer with a remote terminal unit (RTU) in supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems.
The I-7188-MTCP/uPAC-7186EX-MTCP series can also link to legacy serial devices that don't support Modbus/RTU. To use this function, you need to install the VxComm driver on the host PCs and create virtual COM ports for the remote serial ports on the I-7188(D)-MTCP/uPAC-7186EX(D)-MTCP series.
Using the Modbus SDK, users can develop their own custom Modbus firmware, allowing extra functions and integration of serial devices. In this way, the I-7188-MTCP/uPAC-7186EX-MTCP series becomes a powerful controller.
The I-7188-MTCP/uPAC-7186EX-MTCP series contains a built-in operating system, the MiniOS7, which offers a stable and high performance environment that is similar to DOS. The MiniOS7 can boot up the I-7188-MTCP/uPAC-7186EX-MTCP series within just one second, with the added benefit of no virus problems and a small footprint. Furthermore, the I-7188-MTCP/uPAC-7186EX-MTCP series is designed for low power consumption, maintenance elimination (no hard disk and no fan), and is constructed from fire-retardant materials (UL94-V0 level) with a robust case.
I-7188-MTCP — the 1st generation

"I-7188-MTCP Series", the first generation of Modbus/RTU to Modbus/TCP Gateway, has been widely used in various Industry Automation applications. It is characterized by fast-booting operating system MiniOS7, interchangeable X-Board for function expansion, flexible COM port configuration and user-defined I/O pins.
uPAC-7186-MTCP — the 2nd generation

"uPAC-7186-MTCP Series", debuting in 2008, further improves and upgraded features, such as faster CPU, better 10/100 Base-TX Ethernet port, lower power consumption and diversified Memory combination selections. With better performance, it is suitable for more sophisticated applications: auto-reporting data acquisition, M2M automation system, wire/wireless remote control, data logger application, redundant solution.
Generation | CPU | Ethernet | Memory Expansion | Power Consumption |
---|---|---|---|---|
I-7188-MTCP(D) | 40 MHz | 10 BaseT | SRAM, Flash | 2 W |
uPAC-7186-MTCP(D) | 80 MHz | 10/100 BaseTX | SRAM, Flash | 1.5 W |
Features
- Incorporate Serial Devices in an Ethernet network
- Supports Modbus/TCP and Modbus/RTU
- "Virtual COM" extends PC COM ports
- 10/100 Base-TX (Auto-negotiating, auto MDI/MDI-X, LED indicator)
- Self-Tuner ASIC Controller on the RS-485 Port
- 5-digit LED Display (for versions with a display)
- Built-in High Performance MiniOS7 from ICP DAS
- Virtual COM for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 SP1/10/2012/2016
- Programmable Internet/Ethernet Controller
- Watchdog Timer suitable for use in harsh environments
- Power Reverse Polarity Protection Circuit
- RS-485 Port ESD Protection Circuit
- RoHS Compliant & no Halogen
- Low power consumption
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uPAC-7186E series Programmable Modbus Gateway
The uPAC-7186E-MTCP is our new generation of palm-size Programmable Modbus Gateway. It equips a more power full CPU (upgraded from 40M Hz to 80M Hz) and a faster Ethernet port (upgraded from 10 Base-T to 10/100 Base-TX). Compared with I-7188E-MTCP series, uPAC-7186E’s computing speed is up to 4 times faster. And there are more memory configuration choices to select from. |
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Model | CPU | SRAM | Flash | EEPROM | Ethernet Port | RS-232/RS-485 | I/O Expansion | 7 Segment Display | PoE | |
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uPAC-7186EX-MTCP | 80186, 80 MHz | 512 KB | 512 KB | 16 KB | 1 | 2 | X-board (Note) | - | - | |
uPAC-7186EXD-MTCP | Y | |||||||||
uPAC-7186PEX-MTCP | - | Y | ||||||||
uPAC-7186PEXD-MTCP | Y | |||||||||
Note: The I/O Expansion Bus can mount one X-board only. |
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I-7188E series Programmable Modbus Gateway
The palm-size PAC all has the same form factor and system architecture. With different firmware and communication interface, they can be a gateway to transmite data to another media or translate to different protocol. |
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Model | CPU | SRAM | Flash | EEPROM | SN | RTC | Ethernet Port |
RS-232/ RS-485 |
I/O Expansion | |
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I-7188EX-MTCP | 80188, 40 MHz | 512 KB | 512 KB | 2 KB | 64-bit Hardware serial number | Yes | 10 Base-T | 1/1 | X-board (Note) | |
I-7188EXD-MTCP | ||||||||||
I-7188E2-MTCP | 384 KB | - | - | - | ||||||
I-7188E2D-MTCP | ||||||||||
Note: The I/O Expansion Bus can mount one X-board only. |
Most uPAC-7186 and I-7188 series have a built-in expansion bus.
X-board can be plugged on the Bus to expand I/O channels, COM Ports, memories or hardware functions.
For more information, please go to the following web page.
Remote I/O Selection
Ethernet
The available Ethernet I/O devices are ET-7000, ET-7200, ET-87P4/8-MTCP and I-8KE4/8-MTCP. The PAC can access them in Modbus/TCP protocol. A nModbus.dll is provided for C#, VB.net programming.
RS-485
The PACs are equipped with the RS485 COM ports which enable the transmission rate up to a maximum of 115.2 Kbps. The medium for connection is a twisted-pair, multi-drop, 2-wire RS-485 network that can link I-7000, M-7000, RU-87Pn with high profile I-87K modules. To access M-7000, a nModbus.dll is provided for C#, VB.net programming. To access I-7000 and RU-87Pn with high profile I-87K modules, PACSDK is provided for C#, VB.net, VC and VB programming.
FRnet
FRnet is an innovative industrial field bus that has many special features, such as high-speed deterministic I/O control, real I/O synchronization capabilities, non-protocol communication, and easy programming. With a FRnet communication module (I-8172W), the PAC can link FRnet I/O modules to implement high-speed distributed I/O (FR-2000 series). To access I-8172W, a pac_i8172w.dll is provided for C#, VB.net, VC and VB programming.
CAN Bus
The Controller Area Network (CAN) is a serial communication way, which efficiently supports distributed real-time control with a very high level of security. It provides the error-processing mechanisms and concepts of message priority. These features can improve the network reliability and transmission efficiency. Furthermore, CAN supplies the multi-master capabilities, and is especially suited for networking“intelligent” devices as well as sensors and actuators within a system or a sub-system. With I-8123, I-8124, I-87120, the PAC is able to demonstrate every feature of CAN, CANopen, and DeviceNet.