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.


| 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