StarTech.com ICUSB23208FD User manual

Manual Revision: 02/12/2019
For the latest information, technical specications, and support for
this product, please visit www.StarTech.com/ICUSB23208FD.
FR: Guide de l’utilisateur - fr.startech.com
DE: Bedienungsanleitung - de.startech.com
ES: Guía del usuario - es.startech.com
NL: Gebruiksaanwijzing - nl.startech.com
PT: Guia do usuário - pt.startech.com
IT: Guida per l’uso - it.startech.com
ICUSB23208FD
8-Port USB-to-Serial RS232 Adapter Hub
with Daisy Chain - Rack Mountable
*actual product may vary from photos

FCC Compliance Statement
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment
generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If
this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can
be determined by turning the equipment o and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct
the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit dierent from that to which the
receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Changes or modications not expressly approved by StarTech.com could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.
Use of Trademarks, Registered Trademarks, and other Protected Names and Symbols
This manual may make reference to trademarks, registered trademarks, and other
protected names and/or symbols of third-party companies not related in any way to
StarTech.com. Where they occur these references are for illustrative purposes only and do not
represent an endorsement of a product or service by StarTech.com, or an endorsement of the
product(s) to which this manual applies by the third-party company in question. Regardless of
any direct acknowledgement elsewhere in the body of this document, StarTech.com hereby
acknowledges that all trademarks, registered trademarks, service marks, and other protected
names and/or symbols contained in this manual and related documents are the property of
their respective holders.
Important: Read and understand the entire manual before you use this product,
and follow the instructions as they are outlined in the manual. Failure to do so
might result in damage to your property or equipment.
Quick-start guide

i
Table of Contents
Introduction............................................................................................1
Product diagram........................................................................................................................................ 1
Packaging contents.................................................................................................................................. 2
System requirements............................................................................................................................... 2
RS232 pinout .............................................................................................................................................. 3
About the LED indicators......................................................................3
Installation ..............................................................................................4
Install the USB serial hub using the power adapter ..................................................................... 4
Install the hub using the terminal block power input................................................................. 4
Conrm installation.................................................................................................................................. 5
Use the daisy chain feature ..................................................................5
Perform a serial loopback test .............................................................6
Mount the serial hub in a server rack .................................................6
Technical support...................................................................................7
Warranty information............................................................................7
Quick-start guide

1
Introduction
You can use the ICUSB23208FD to convert a single USB port into eight RS232 serial
ports, and connect multiple hubs together to create a scalable and economical
solution.
The ICUSB23208FD adds eight RS232 serial ports with data transfer rates up to 921.6
Kbps and can be controlled by a desktop or laptop computer system using a single
USB port. The durable metal chassis ts into standard 19-inch server storage racks and
supports an extended -40oC to 85oC (-40oF to 185oF) operating temperature range that
allows for reliable use even in harsh environments.
The ICUSB23208FD also features daisy chain capability, allowing you to connect
multiple hubs through a single USB port.
Product diagram
USB Type-B connector
(host)
USB Type-A connector
(daisy chain)
DB9 serial connectors
(1 to 8)
Receive LEDs
(yellow)
Transmit LEDs
(green)
Front view
Back view
DC power connector
Two-wire terminal block
(9-36V DC input)
Quick-start guide
-+

2
Packaging contents
• 1 x 8-port USB to RS232 hub
• 1 x USB 2.0 cable
• 2 x rack-mounting brackets
• 8 x rack-mounting screws
• 2 x DIN-rail mounting brackets
• 4 x DIN-rail mounting screws
• 4 x washers
• 4 x nuts
• 1 x universal power adapter (NA/JP, UK, EU, AU)
• 1 x driver CD
• 1 x terminal block plug
• 1 x quick-start guide
System requirements
• USB-equipped host computer system
• Any of the following operating systems:
• Windows® 10 (32-bit or 64-bit)
• Windows 8.1 (32-bit or 64-bit)
• Windows 8 (32-bit or 64-bit)
• Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit)
• Windows Vista®
• Windows Server® 2012
• Windows Server 2008 R2
• Mac OS 10.7 and later
• Linux® 2.4x to 4.4x LTS Versions Only
• System requirements are subject to change. For the latest requirements, please visit
www.startech.com/ICUSB23208FD.
Quick-start guide

Quick-start guide
3
15
69
RS232 pinout
PIN Signal
1 DCD
2 RxD
3TxD
4DTR
5 GND
6 DSR
7RTS
8CTS
9 RI
About the LED indicators
The ICUSB23208FD features a set of transmit and receive LEDs for all of the eight ports.
For more information about what the LEDs signify, see the table below.
LED LED behavior Signicance
Transmit LED (yellow)
Blinking Data is being transmitted
through the port.
Not illuminated No data is being transmitted
through the port.
Receive LED (green)
Blinking Data is being received through
the port.
Not illuminated No data is being received
through the port.

Quick-start guide
4
Installation
You can use the power adapter or the two-wire terminal block power input (9-36V DC)
to power the USB serial hub. You can also use redundant power input by connecting
both the power adapter and the terminal block power, and in the event that your
power source fails, the USB serial hub will switch to use the secondary power source.
Install the USB serial hub using the power adapter
Warning! Make sure that the driver installation is complete before you plug in and
connect the USB serial hub.
1. Insert the provided driver CD into your host computer.
Note: The CD should automatically open and display all of the folders contained on the
CD. If that doesn’t happen, navigate to the CD/DVD drive on your computer.
2. In the driver folder, double-click the appropriate setup le for the OS that you’re
currently running. The driver installation wizard will begin installing the driver and
automatically close when the installation is complete.
3. Connect the provided USB cable to the USB Type-B connector (host) port on the
USB serial hub and the USB port on your computer.
4. Connect the universal power adapter to the DC power connector on the USB serial
hub and a wall outlet.
Install the hub using the terminal block power input
Warning! Make sure that the driver installation is complete before you plug in and
connect the devices to the USB serial hub.
1. Insert the provided driver CD into your host computer.
Note: The CD should automatically open and display all of the folders contained on the
CD. If that doesn’t happen, navigate to the CD/DVD drive on your computer.
2. In the driver folder, double-click the appropriate setup le for the OS that you’re
currently running. The driver installation wizard will begin installing the driver and
automatically close when the installation is complete.
3. Connect the provided USB cable to the USB Type-B connector (host) port on the
USB serial hub and the USB port on your computer.
4. If the terminal block connector is already inserted in the USB serial hub, use a small
at-head screwdriver to loosen the screws to the left and right of the terminal block
connector until you can remove it from the USB serial hub.
5. Use a small at-head screwdriver to loosen the two screws located on the top of the
terminal block connector.

Quick-start guide
5
6. Connect the positive and negative wires from your DC power source to the
corresponding terminal block connectors.
Note: Make sure that the polarity of the input power, positive (+) and negative (-), is
matched correctly with the terminal block pins.
7. Tighten the two screws located on the top of the terminal block connector.
8. Reinsert the terminal block connector into the USB serial hub and tighten the
screws to the left and right of the terminal block connector.
Conrm installation
Windows OS
1. On your computer, navigate to Device Manager.
2. Expand the Ports (COM & LPT) option.
3. Verify that the additional COM ports are listed.
4. Double-click a port and review the device properties.
Mac OS
1. On your computer, press and hold the Option key and click the Apple menu.
2. Click System Information or System Proler.
3. Under Hardware, click USB.
The USB device tree lists all of the devices connected to each port.
Use the daisy chain feature
You can daisy chain up to three devices and add up to 24 ports in total.
1. Connect the ICUSB23208FD to your host computer. For more information about
how to do this, see“Installation.”
2. Connect a USB cable to the USB Type-A connector (daisy chain) on the
ICUSB23208FD connected to your host computer and to the USB Type-B connector
on the serial hub that you want to daisy chain.
3. If you’re connecting a third serial hub, connect a USB cable to the USB Type-A
connector (daisy chain) on the second serial hub and to the USB Type-B connector
on the third serial hub that you want to daisy chain.
4. On each of the USB serial hubs, connect the universal power adapter to the DC
power connector or the Two-wire terminal block input and a wall outlet.

Quick-start guide
6
Perform a serial loopback test
To verify that a port is operational and to map the ports, you should perform a serial
loopback test. A loopback test sends and receives data to and from the same serial
port. To complete the loopback test, you need to temporarily connect pin two and pin
three to allow the signals to be sent and received on the same port.
To perform a serial loopback test, you need a loopback adapter and a third-party
software program (for example, PuTTY or HyperTerminal®).
1. Download a third-party software program.
2. Open a connection on the COM port that you want to test.
3. Insert the loopback adapter into a serial port.
4. Type something in the third-party software.
If what you typed is displayed in the window, you have located the correct port. If the
text isn’t displayed in the window, move the adapter to another port and try again until
you nd the correct port.
Mount the serial hub in a server rack
The ICUSB23208FD comes with the necessary hardware to install the serial hub in a
regular server rack or on DIN rails.
1. Do one of the following:
• Use the rack-mounting screws to attach the two rack-mounting brackets to
both sides of the serial hub.
• Use the DIN-rail mounting screws to attach the two DIN-rail mounting brackets
to both sides of the serial hub.
2. To mount the serial hub in your server rack or on DIN rails, follow the instructions
that came with your server rack or DIN rails.

Instruction manual
7
Technical support
StarTech.com’s lifetime technical support is an integral part of our commitment to
provide industry-leading solutions. If you ever need help with your product, visit
www.startech.com/support and access our comprehensive selection of online tools,
documentation, and downloads.
For the latest drivers/software, please visit www.startech.com/downloads
Warranty information
This product is backed by a two-year warranty.
StarTech.com warrants its products against defects in materials and workmanship
for the periods noted, following the initial date of purchase. During this period,
the products may be returned for repair, or replacement with equivalent
products at our discretion. The warranty covers parts and labor costs only.
StarTech.com does not warrant its products from defects or damages arising from
misuse, abuse, alteration, or normal wear and tear.
Limitation of Liability
In no event shall the liability of StarTech.com Ltd. and StarTech.com USA LLP (or their
ocers, directors, employees or agents) for any damages (whether direct or indirect,
special, punitive, incidental, consequential, or otherwise), loss of prots, loss of business,
or any pecuniary loss, arising out of or related to the use of the product exceed the
actual price paid for the product. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation
of incidental or consequential damages. If such laws apply, the limitations or exclusions
contained in this statement may not apply to you.