The Ebyte NB144E is an industrial-grade isolated 4-channel serial device server and Modbus gateway converting RS232/RS422/RS485 to Ethernet, supporting IEEE 802.3af PoE/DC 8-28V dual power input, bidirectional transparent transmission via TCP/UDP/MQTT/HTTP protocols, Modbus TCP to RTU protocol conversion with automatic polling, and -40 to +85 deg C wide-temperature operation.
| Technical Parameter | NB144E Specification | Industrial Application Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Serial Interfaces | 4 Channels (1x Isolated RS485, 1x Standard DB9 RS232, 1x Isolated RS422) | Supports multi-protocol fieldbus device aggregation |
| Ethernet Interface | 1x RJ45 Port (10M), Supports PoE Power Receiving | Simplifies field wiring with Power over Ethernet support |
| Power Supply | DC 8V to 28V (5.08mm Phoenix Terminal / 5.5x2.0mm DC Jack) | Dual redundant power inputs for uninterrupted operation |
| Baud Rate Range | 2400 bps to 115200 bps (Default 115200 bps) | Configurable data bits (8), stop bits (1, 2), parity (None, Odd, Even) |
| Network Protocols | TCP/IP, UDP, MQTT, HTTP, IPv4, ICMP, ARP, DHCP, DNS | Supports direct cloud connect (MQTT/HTTP) and local LAN bridging |
| Operating Modes | TCP Server (Default), TCP Client, UDP Server, UDP Client, HTTP Client, MQTT Client | Flexible socket management with auto-reconnect and heartbeat packets |
| Gateway Function | Modbus TCP to Modbus RTU / ASCII, Automatic Polling | Bi-directional protocol conversion and multi-host sharing gateway |
| Serial Buffer | 512 Bytes per channel packaging mechanism | Ensures zero packet loss during peak transmission bursts |
| Operating Temp & Humidity | -40 to 85 deg C, 5% to 95% RH (Non-condensing) | Industrial wide-temperature hardware design with hardware watchdog |
| Dimensions & Weight | 198 x 109 x 26.5 mm, 530g (approx.) | Rugged housing with positioning hole mounting |
|
Project |
Interface |
illustrate |
|
power supply |
Crimp terminal |
DC 8～28 Power supply, used when not available; |
|
D C female |
D C female head: straight plug-in round hole, outer diameter |
|
|
Network port |
RJ45 |
10M |
|
serial port |
Channel 1 to |
Interface 1 ( RS485 , 3.81mm Phoenix terminal, support isolation); |
|
Operating mode |
TCP Server (default), TCP Client, UDP Server, UDP Client, HTTP Client , MQTT Client |
|
|
Network protocol |
TCP/IP, UDP, MQTT , HTTP , IPv4, I CMP , APR , D HCP , D NS |
|
|
IP acquisition method |
DHCP, static IP (default) |
|
|
DNS |
Support, address can be configure |
|
|
configuration method |
Parameter configuration host computer , AT command |
|
|
IP address |
192.168.3.7 (customizable) |
|
|
local por |
Channel 1~ 4 : 8 001-800 4 (can be customized) |
|
|
subnet mask |
255.255.255.0 (customizable) |
|
|
gateway |
192.168.3.1 (customizable) |
|
|
Serial cache |
512 Byte |
|
|
Serial packaging |
512 Byte |
|
|
Serial baud rate |
2400 ~ 115200 bps (default 115200) |
|
|
data bit |
8 |
|
|
stop bit |
1 (default),2 |
|
|
Check Digit |
None (default), Odd, Even |
|
|
installation method |
positioning hole |
|
|
Product Size |
198 x 108x26.5mm （LxWxH） |
|
|
product weight |
530g ± 5g |
|
|
Working temperature |
-40 ～ +85°C, 5% ～ 95%RH (no condensation) |
|
|
storage temperature |
-40 ～ +105°C, 5% ～ 95%RH (no condensation) |
|
Practical Application Scenarios
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Industrial PLC Multi-Interface Protocol Gateway and Cloud Uplink
In smart factory automation lines, PLCs and legacy machinery often utilize different physical interfaces simultaneously—such as RS485 for power meters, RS232 for barcoding scanners, and RS422 for precise servo controllers. The Ebyte NB144E acts as a centralized protocol bridge, consolidating data from all 4 independent serial channels onto a single Ethernet RJ45 network port. Utilizing its integrated MQTT Client mode, field data is pushed directly to AWS IoT or private MQTT brokers without requiring expensive industrial PCs.
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Factory Energy Management and Modbus Automatic Polling
In large-scale microgrid and building energy monitoring systems, polling dozens of Modbus RTU power meters over legacy serial links often creates network bottlenecks and high latency for SCADA systems. By deploying the NB144E as a Modbus gateway, its active automatic polling function autonomously queries slave meters across the isolated RS485 channels and stores data locally. Upstream SCADA software retrieves data instantly via Modbus TCP, significantly reducing response delay and network traffic overhead.
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Distributed Edge Node Extension with Long-Range LoRa Mesh
When monitoring geographically dispersed assets such as oil pipelines or agricultural pumps, wired Ethernet is often restricted to central control shelters. By connecting Ebyte Sub-GHz LoRa radio modules (e.g., E32/E22 series) or industrial LoRaWAN gateways to the RS485/RS232 ports of the NB144E, engineers can establish a hybrid wireless-to-ethernet bridge. The NB144E transparently encapsulates serial packets from remote wireless LoRa nodes into TCP/IP frames, delivering continuous remote telemetry back to central management servers.
FAQ Section
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How does the NB144E handle simultaneous communication across its 4 independent serial channels?
The NB144E features 4 hardware serial ports (Channel 1 to Channel 4) mapped to separate configurable local ports (default range 8001 to 8004). Each channel operates independently with its own 512-byte packet packaging mechanism and buffer, allowing concurrent data transmission across RS232, RS485, and RS422 lines without cross-channel crosstalk or packet collision.
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What power supply options are supported on the NB144E for harsh industrial cabinets?
The device provides flexible triple-redundant power options: standard IEEE 802.3af PoE power receiving over the RJ45 Ethernet cable, a 5.08mm Phoenix crimp terminal block, and a standard 5.5x2.0mm DC female power jack supporting a wide DC 8V to 28V input range. This guarantees power redundancy in remote power panels and high-noise industrial control cabinets.
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What is the difference between TCP Server and MQTT Client modes on this gateway?
In TCP Server mode, the NB144E passively listens for incoming TCP socket connections from local SCADA systems or host software to establish transparent two-way serial-to-Ethernet sockets. In MQTT Client mode, the gateway actively connects to cloud IoT brokers, serializing incoming Modbus/ASCII payloads into JSON or raw strings for cloud-native IoT platforms without requiring a local master server.
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How does the hardware isolation on the serial ports improve system stability?
Channel 1 (RS485) and Channel 3 (RS422) feature electrical ground isolation to protect sensitive network infrastructure from high voltage surges, ground potential differences, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) commonly encountered near high-voltage motor drives and distribution panels. Combined with an internal hardware watchdog, the gateway automatically recovers from transient faults.
