XYCOM XVME-976204 – 4‑Port Serial Communications Board for VMEbus Systems

The XYCOM XVME-976204 is a practical choice when you need dependable multiport serial connectivity inside a 6U VME chassis. From my experience, it fits well in brownfield upgrades—especially legacy VxWorks or UNIX-based control systems—where you want to expand or replace RS-232/422/485 ports without changing the host architecture. You might notice that it keeps the essentials straightforward: solid VMEbus integration, per-port configuration flexibility, and stable long-term operation.

Order Placement Process and Guarantees

• Warranty: 365 days
• Lead time: In-stock items typically ship within 1 week; not more than 1 month at the latest
• Payment: 50% advance payment; full payment prior to delivery
• Express delivery: FedEx, UPS, DHL

We bench test boards prior to dispatch whenever possible. Packaging is ESD-safe, and we document jumper/switch settings on request to help you drop the card straight into your rack.

Key Features

• 4 independent serial channels – Typically configurable per port for RS‑232, RS‑422, or RS‑485 to match field devices like drives, HMI gateways, and barcode readers.
• VMEbus native integration – Standard 6U form factor with A16/A24 addressing and D8/D16 data widths; supports vectored interrupts for low-latency event handling.
• 16550‑class UARTs – FIFO buffering helps reduce CPU load at higher baud rates in polling or interrupt-driven modes.
• Flexible baud rate support – Common settings from 300 bps up to 115.2 kbps in most cases; higher rates may be achievable depending on host OS/drivers.
• Status visibility – Front-panel status indicators (where fitted) simplify port bring-up and quick diagnostics.
• Field-friendly connectivity – Typically cabled from the front panel to a breakout panel or ribbon-to-DSUB harness for easy wiring inside the cabinet.
• Well-suited for legacy controls – Often used in motion control cells, AOI stations, and MES links where stable serial links are still required.

One thing I appreciate is how predictable it is in mixed topologies. A customer running a hybrid RS‑232 scanner line and RS‑485 drive network swapped this board into a 10‑slot VME rack; it came up cleanly after setting the address DIP and port modes, no driver rewrites needed.

Technical Specifications

Related or Supporting Products

• VME 6U Chassis (8–12 slot) – Suitable rack with forced-air cooling and a regulated backplane PSU (+5 V, ±12 V).
• Serial Breakout Panels/Cables – Ribbon-to-DB9/DB25 harnesses or panel-mount terminal boards for field wiring.
• Baud‑rate/Isolation accessories – RS‑485 termination packs and inline surge protectors for long cable runs.
• Family alternatives – Higher port-count variants in the XVME‑97xx family are commonly used when 8 or more serial channels are required.

If you’re modernizing a mixed‑vendor rack, we can help map interrupt vectors and address ranges so the XVME‑976204 plays nicely with existing CPU and I/O cards.

Installation & Maintenance

• Cabinet environment: Use a clean, ventilated 19″ VME chassis with adequate airflow. Keep inlet temps under 50–55°C for best life.
• Wiring & grounding: For RS‑485/422, use twisted pair with characteristic impedance 100–120 Ω. Terminate the bus at the ends only. Tie shields at a single point to avoid loops.
• Addressing/interrupts: Set A16/A24 base address and interrupt level via DIP/jumpers before power-up. Label the settings on the front edge for serviceability.
• ESD & handling: Wear a wrist strap. Insert the board along the card guides and fasten the front‑panel screws to prevent backplane stress.
• Routine checks: Every 6–12 months, reseat connectors, verify baud/format settings, and inspect for bent pins. Clean dust from vents with dry air.
• Firmware/drivers: In many cases the UARTs are driver‑compatible with 16550‑class devices. Keep VxWorks/UNIX drivers aligned with the host CPU board version.

Quality & Certifications

• Certifications: CE and UL were commonly applied on this series; RoHS status can vary by build date for legacy units.
• Manufacturer policy: Industrial-grade VME hardware with long service life; we provide a 365‑day warranty on supply.

If you need us to preconfigure port modes or document the DIP matrix before shipping, just share your device list and baud/format. It typically saves an hour or two during commissioning.