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Edgeport USB-to-Serial Converters

Easy out-of-the-box solution for I/O expansion is available in a wide variety of configurations for maximum flexibility and scalability

 
  • Add 1, 4, 8, or 16 serial ports to a PC, thin client or server in minutes
  • USB Plug and Play alternative to PCI cards
  • Designed for peripheral device connectivity in retail stations, self check-out systems, emergency vehicles, kiosks, ATMs and more
  • Software selectable MEI and industrial models
  • Low total cost of ownership with external, user-installable solution
  • Options for RS-232, RS-422 or RS-485 serial ports (software selectable) and rack-mount capability
How to Buy

Digi Edgeport® USB-to-serial converters offer instant I/O expansion for peripheral device connectivity.

An out-of-the-box (external) alternative to PCI cards, Edgeport makes it easy to add serial and USB ports to a PC, server or thin client in minutes – without opening the chassis, reconfiguring or rebooting the system.

Edgeport is available in multiple configurations for maximum flexibility and scalability.

Choose from compact form factors for space-prohibitive applications; single port “bump-in-the-cable” solutions for notebook expansion; software-selectable RS-232/422/485 models to connect any type of serial device to one box; and DB-9 or DB-25 connectors to meet cabling requirements.

Feature-rich design, reliability and unmatched operating system support make Edgeport USB-to-serial converters ideal for mission-critical enterprise applications.

Key Industries

Branch Office NetworkingComponents for Medical DevicesGamingOutpatient Care DevicesRemote Water & Wastewater MonitoringSecure ATM
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Specifications Edgeport Serial Edgeport Industrial
Interfaces (Varies by Model)
Serial Ports 1, 4, 8 or 16 1, 4 or 8
Serial Type RS-232 RS-422/485, software selectable RS-422/485
Serial Connector DB-9, DB-25 DB-9
Serial Data Rate 230 Kbps per port simultaneously 230 Kbps per port simultaneously
Downstream USB Ports 2 (16-port models only) 0
Features
USB USB 1.0 and USB 1.1 compatible; backwards compatibility for USB 2.0 and USB 3.0; USB-IF certified; Plug and Play
LEDs LED displays device status and COM port activity
Operating Systems Windows Server® 2019, Windows Server® 2016, Windows Server 2012, Windows 10®, Windows 8.1®, Windows 7®; Linux®
Cables 1-meter USB cable 1-meter USB cable
Other (General) Automatic port reacquisition; COM port assignments maintained across reboots; Full hardware and software flow control; No additional IRQ or memory address requirements; Low power consumption; Rack mountable; Hot-swappable
Other (Model-Specific) N/A N/A
Power Requirements
Power Supply External power supply not required for models without USB ports (USB powered);
Models with USB ports (Edgeport/216) ship with power supply: 100/240 VAC 60/50 Hz at 5 VDC @ 3 Amps max
Environmental
Operating Temperature 0° C to 55° C (32° F to 131° F) 0° C to 55° C (32° F to 131° F)
Relative Humidity 0% to 95% (non-condensing) 0% to 95% (non-condensing)
Approvals
Safety EN60950, UL 1950, CSA 2.2 No. 950, IEC 950
Emissions/Immunity CE, FCC Part 15, Class B, EN55022, EN55024

Edgeport/1, Edgeport/1i - Front

Edgeport/1, Edgeport/1i - Back

Edgeport/1, with 2-Meter Captive Cable

Edgeport/4, Edgeport/4s MEI

Edgeport/4/DB-25

Edgeport/8, Edgeport/8s MEI

Edgeport/8/DB-25 - Front

Edgeport/8/DB-25 - Back

Edgeport/216 - Front
Edgeport-216-line-art-front.gif

Edgeport/216 - Back

Access the official support website for this product to obtain firmware updates, driver updates, software downloads, knowledge base articles, and user manuals.

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General & Overview

What is Digi Edgeport?

Edgeport is a family of USB-to-serial converters that add RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485 serial ports to a PC, server, or thin client via a standard USB port—without opening the chassis, installing PCI cards, reconfiguring the system, or rebooting. It is the external, Plug and Play alternative to internal serial expansion.

What problems does Edgeport solve?

Modern servers and thin clients often ship with few or no serial ports, yet many industries depend on RS-232/422/485 serial devices (POS terminals, barcode scanners, receipt printers, medical instruments, industrial controllers). Edgeport bridges this gap instantly via USB without hardware modification.

What is the difference between Edgeport Serial and Edgeport Industrial?

Edgeport Serial models (EP-USB-4, 4-D25, 8, 8-D25, 216) support RS-232 only. Edgeport Industrial models (EP-USB-4S, 8S) support RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485—software-selectable per port—for mixed industrial serial environments. Industrial models use DB-9 connectors only.

What industries and applications use Edgeport?

Retail POS: connecting receipt printers, barcode scanners, pole displays, credit card readers, and cash drawers to a single host. Healthcare: adding serial ports for patient monitors, infusion pumps, and lab instruments. Emergency vehicles: adding serial connectivity for field equipment. Kiosks, ATMs, and self-checkout systems. Any application where legacy RS-232 devices must connect to a modern USB-only host.

Model Specifications

What serial data rate does Edgeport support?

230 Kbps per port simultaneously on all Edgeport Serial and Industrial models—adequate for all standard serial peripheral devices including POS, barcode, and industrial instrumentation.

What are the physical dimensions of Edgeport models?

Edgeport/1, 1i: 8.00 x 4.40 x 2.03 cm, 45.36 g (ultra-compact, "bump-in-the-cable"). Edgeport/4, 4S, 4 DB-25: 11.05 x 18.29 x 2.61 cm, 311 g. Edgeport/8, 8S: 11.05 x 18.29 x 4.45 cm, 453.59 g. Edgeport/216, 8 DB-25: 12.70 x 43.12 cm x 4.53 cm, 1170.84 g (rack-mountable with optional ears).

Does the Edgeport/216 require an external power supply?

Yes. The Edgeport/216 is the only standard Edgeport model that requires an external power supply (included: 100/240 VAC 60/50 Hz at 5 VDC, 3A max) due to its downstream USB ports. All other Edgeport models are USB bus-powered—no external power supply needed.

Connectivity & OS Support

What USB standard does Edgeport use?

Edgeport is USB 1.0 and USB 1.1 native with backward compatibility for USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 host ports. It is USB-IF certified and Plug and Play—appearing as a standard COM or TTY port to the host operating system.

What operating systems does Edgeport support?

Windows 10, 8.1, 7; Windows Server 2012, 2016, 2019; Linux. Edgeport maintains COM port number assignments across reboots—critical for applications that reference specific COM port numbers.

Does Edgeport support automatic port reacquisition?

Yes. Edgeport automatically reacquires assigned COM port numbers after reboot or reconnection—preventing port number changes that would break application configurations. Full hardware and software flow control is also supported.

Is Edgeport rack-mountable?

The Edgeport/216 and Edgeport/8 DB-25 models support optional rack mounting (rack ears sold separately; 43.12 cm/17" wide). All other models are desktop/panel-mount form factor.

Environmental & Certifications

What is the operating temperature range for Edgeport?

0°C to 55°C (32°F to 131°F) for all Edgeport Serial and Industrial models. Humidity: 0-95% non-condensing.

What certifications does Edgeport hold?

Safety: EN60950, UL 1950, CSA 2.2 No. 950, IEC 950. Emissions/Immunity: CE, FCC Part 15 Class B, EN55022, EN55024. USB-IF certified.

Competitive & Sales Positioning

How does Edgeport compare to generic USB-to-serial adapters?

Generic adapters offer 1-2 ports with limited driver support and no COM port number persistence. Edgeport provides 1-16 serial ports from a single device, COM port number persistence across reboots, automatic port reacquisition, software-selectable RS-232/422/485 on Industrial models, and broad OS support including Windows Server and Linux—making it suitable for mission-critical enterprise and industrial deployments.

When should a customer choose Edgeport vs. Connect EZ TS?

Choose Edgeport when serial devices must connect directly and locally to a single host PC or server (USB attachment, no network required). Choose Connect EZ TS when serial devices need to be accessed over a network by multiple hosts, remote users, or cloud-based management systems. Edgeport is local I/O expansion; Connect EZ TS is networked serial device server infrastructure.

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