In the wave of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and smart device upgrades, providing stable, flexible, and easy-to-integrate wireless networking capabilities for traditional serial devices (such as PLCs, sensors, and meters) is a core challenge faced by engineers. Ebyte officially launches its new product—the EWD103-W14P(485) WiFi & Bluetooth dual-mode serial server. This product integrates high-performance WiFi+Bluetooth dual-mode communication, robust industrial design, and convenient plug-and-play features, aiming to be the "standard solution" for wireless upgrades of industrial devices.

Overview of EWD103-W14P(485)

The EWD103-W14P(485) is a compact wireless communication terminal designed specifically for industrial sites. Its core mission is to seamlessly convert standard RS485 serial data into WiFi or Bluetooth wireless signals, enabling wireless connectivity between devices and the cloud, mobile terminals, or local networks.

Five Core Features 

Dual-Mode Wireless, Double Assurance

  • High-Performance WiFi: Supports the IEEE 802.11 b/g/n standard, operating in the 2.4GHz frequency band. It supports three working modes: STA (connecting to routers), AP (creating its own hotspot), and AP+STA, flexibly adapting to various network environments.

  • Bluetooth 5.2 BLE: Integrates low-power Bluetooth 5.2 and supports slave mode. Innovative applications include quick Bluetooth network configuration via a mobile app, solving the pain point of difficult WiFi password input in industrial sites without display interfaces. Additionally, Bluetooth can serve as an independent low-speed data channel for device debugging or near-field data transmission.

Industrial-Grade Hardware Design

  • Interfaces and Power Supply: Provides 1 standard RS485 interface (A/B terminals) with dual wiring methods of phoenix terminals and terminal posts for secure and reliable connections. It supports a wide DC voltage input of 9~24V and features reverse polarity protection.

  • Structure and Protection: Equipped with a metal casing and IP30 protection rating, effectively resisting dust and slight splashes. The dual design of DIN35 rail mounting and wall-mounting holes allows easy integration into power distribution cabinets and control boxes.

  • Wide-Temperature Operation: Operates within a temperature range of -20°C to +75°C, meeting the requirements of most industrial environments.

Robust Network and Protocol Support

  • Multiple Network Protocols: Supports TCP Server/Client, UDP, HTTP Client, and MQTT/MQTTS (compatible with mainstream IoT platforms such as Alibaba Cloud, Baidu Cloud, and Tencent Cloud).

  • Advanced Features: Supports 4 Socket connections, allows 3 STAs to access in AP mode, supports DHCP/static IP, remote AT command configuration, and features automatic reconnection after disconnection and a watchdog self-recovery mechanism.

Minimalist Configuration and Deployment

  • Multiple Configuration Methods: Supports three configuration methods: web page configuration (connect to the device's hotspot and visit 192.168.4.1 via browser), mobile app configuration (via Bluetooth), and AT command configuration (via serial port), adapting to different scenarios.

  • Plug-and-Play: The device defaults to AP mode after power-on. Users can quickly configure it by connecting to its WiFi hotspot via a mobile phone or computer without additional tools.

Transparent Transmission and Protocol Conversion

  • Core Working Mode: In transparent transmission mode, data received from the serial port is automatically packaged and sent to the server via the configured network protocol, and vice versa. Users do not need to worry about underlying details.

  • Optional Modbus Gateway: Supports bidirectional conversion between Modbus RTU and Modbus TCP protocols, enabling easy cloud connectivity for industrial control devices such as PLCs.

Typical Application Scenarios

  • Industrial Device Wireless Monitoring: Connect factory PLCs, frequency converters, and smart meters via RS485, and transmit data wirelessly to MES/SCADA systems.

  • Smart Agriculture and Environmental Monitoring: Outdoor-deployed soil sensors and weather stations upload data to the cloud platform via this device through WiFi or 4G routers.

  • Smart Buildings and Energy Management: Realize centralized wireless meter reading and management of water and electricity meters, as well as air conditioning controllers in buildings.

  • Remote Device Debugging and Maintenance: Engineers can connect to devices via Bluetooth for near-field parameter configuration or fault diagnosis without accessing the internal components of the devices.

  • Retail and Cold Chain Monitoring: Temperature and humidity monitors in chain stores and recorders in cold chain trucks automatically upload data via WiFi upon arrival at the store.

Quick Start Guide (Taking Cloud Platform Connection as an Example)

  1. Hardware Connection: Connect the device's RS485 port to your meter/PLC and turn on the 9-24V power supply.

  2. Network Configuration:

    • Connect your mobile phone or computer to the device's default WiFi hotspot (SSID similar to EWD103-XXXXXX).

    • Open http://192.168.4.1 in a browser to enter the web configuration page.

    • In "WiFi Settings", configure it to STA mode and enter the SSID and password of the on-site router.

    • In "Socket Settings", select MQTT as the protocol and enter the cloud platform's server address, port, and device triple (ProductKey, DeviceName, DeviceSecret).

    • Click save and restart the device.

  3. Data Verification: The device automatically connects to the router and cloud platform. When your serial device sends data, you can see the data stream update on the cloud platform.

FAQ About Ebyte WiFi and Bluetooth Dual-Mode Serial Servers

Q1: What is the difference between the EWD103-W14P(485) and ordinary WiFi serial modules (such as the E103-W14)?

A1: The main differences lie in product form and ease of use. The E103-W14 is a core "module" that requires users to design their own power supply, interface circuits, and casing for integration into product PCBs. In contrast, the EWD103-W14P(485) is a "ready-to-use device" with all industrial-grade designs (power supply, terminals, casing, protection) completed. It provides standard interfaces, allowing users to start using it simply by wiring and configuring, greatly shortening the project integration cycle.

Q2: What else can the Bluetooth function be used for besides network configuration?

A2: Bluetooth can serve as an independent second data channel. For example, when WiFi is unavailable or confidentiality is required, engineers can use a mobile app to read device data or modify parameters via Bluetooth. It also supports simple transparent transmission for connecting to Bluetooth handheld terminals, etc.

Q3: How many devices can connect to the same server at most?

A3: This depends on your server performance and network settings. As a client, the device can connect to one port of the server. The server side (such as a self-built TCP Server or cloud platform) can handle thousands of concurrent connections. In AP mode, the device itself allows up to 3 other WiFi devices (such as mobile phones and computers) to access its hotspot simultaneously.

Q4: How about communication latency and stability?

A4: With good WiFi signal, the end-to-end latency in transparent transmission mode is usually in milliseconds, meeting the requirements of most industrial monitoring scenarios. The device features automatic reconnection after disconnection and a hardware watchdog mechanism, effectively coping with network fluctuations and ensuring long-term stable operation.

Q5: How to ensure data security?

A5: The device supports WPA2/WPA3 WiFi encryption, MQTT protocol supports TLS/SSL encryption (MQTTS), and cloud platform access uses dynamic key or certificate authentication. Users can also customize encryption protocols at the application layer.

Q6: Does it support secondary development or custom firmware?

A6: Standard products come with fixed-function firmware. For large-volume customers with special protocol or functional requirements, Ebyte can provide custom development services, including hardware fine-tuning and firmware customization.