What advantage is there in using the NI USB-232/4 over an off-the-shelf USB to Serial hub?

[Agile]

What advantage is there in using the NI USB-232/4 over an offset USE to Serial hub?

I have an application that requires LabVIEW control of 19 instruments that communicate over RS-232.

I've read the data sheet for the NI USB-232/4, and I don't see any advantage of spending $528 for this device (times five) over an off-the-shelf USB to Serial hub for half the price.

Can someone tell me if there's an advantage to the NI USB-232/4 or if they've had experince with one?

Thanks in advance.

[crossrulz]

My main concerns would be the baud rate (I think the NI ones allow for non-standard buad rates), buffer size (very important for instruments that stream data), driver compatibility (which should not be much of an issue), and external power source (with that many channels, you will want this).  You will most likely be just fine with one of the cheaper adapters if they meet the external power standard.

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

If I had the choice, I would rather NOT deal with USB-Serial anything.

Get a desktop computer and put in PCI cards with actual serial ports.

[Agile]

Thank you crossrulz for the quick reply.

In this application, baud rade and data rate is not an issue. It is very slow, but that is definately something to keep in mind for future applications.

[Agile]

Thank you, NYC for the quick reply.

Why would you prefer a desktop with PCI card supported serial ports? Space? Stable COM #s?

[crossrulz · Accepted solution]

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@Agile wrote:

Thank you, NYC for the quick reply.

Why would you prefer a desktop with PCI card supported serial ports? Space? Stable COM #s?

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Stable COM#s, harder to randomly unplug, don't have to worry about the bus power, don't have to worry about Windows randomly turning off the bus power as a power saving feature, general reliability, often cheaper...

[Agile]

Thanks again. Both of these answers could be considdered the "solution."

I thnk for this application, I'll use an 8 Port Native PCI Express RS232 Serial Adapter Card.

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

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@Agile wrote:

Thanks again. Both of these answers could be considdered the "solution."

I thnk for this application, I'll use an 8 Port Native PCI Express RS232 Serial Adapter Card.

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Good decision. 🙂

Good luck!