COM Serial cable splitter

ewanko08

Reputable
Jun 10, 2014
2
0
4,510
We have a embedded system that is getting outdated. We just upgraded the motherboard to a newer model and have issues with interface compatibility, Currently, the motherboard is connected to another proprietary board through the 40-pin to 40-pin serial com cable like this:
5131hvBfnVL._SY300_.jpg


The old motherboard has all COM1-4 in one rack which is why we use the 40-pin cable. We have now upgraded to a new board, unfortunately, this one has COM1-4 in individual pin headers, and different locations in the board. I'm looking for some 4-way splitter from 40-pin to 4 10-pin headers that we can use. I'm not sure if this thing exists.

I found below item from ebay. We need something similar to that, except, instead of the external connectors, I need it to be pin header connectors that can go into the board.
$_57.JPG


Does anybody know if this thing exists? Or, can we purchase the above image and replace the individual connectors with female pin header connections and will it work?
 
Solution
You are probably going to need a crimper for female header connections and some blank connectors. If you are good with an Exacto knife you won't need to buy the above; use a standard cable, split it as above, crimp on the connectors.

That's the physical part of the solution. Whether it will work or not remains to be seen. You may also have to cross-wire to make a null modem connection if you are connecting serial header to serial header.

Any way on Earth to replace the proprietary board with something more modern that speaks, say, TCP-IP?
You are probably going to need a crimper for female header connections and some blank connectors. If you are good with an Exacto knife you won't need to buy the above; use a standard cable, split it as above, crimp on the connectors.

That's the physical part of the solution. Whether it will work or not remains to be seen. You may also have to cross-wire to make a null modem connection if you are connecting serial header to serial header.

Any way on Earth to replace the proprietary board with something more modern that speaks, say, TCP-IP?
 
Solution

ewanko08

Reputable
Jun 10, 2014
2
0
4,510


OK thanks for this help. I tried creating a custom cable. I bought 10pin IDC socket connectors and split the 40pin cable into 4. There's another problem, the new motherboard has a smaller type of pin header connection for serial port. I checked the com serial cable connector it came with and it is narrower than the one I have, even though it is also 10 pin. I wasn't aware there different type of COM port pin headers. Would you have any ideas?
 
Seriously - if it's important to the business, consider having it done by a pro (or are you the pro?). Otherwise, get the smaller connectors.

Be very sure that the right pins get attached to the right pins - do you have a pinout diagram for the board to help get this right?