PLANET has introduced two industrial communication gateways, the ICS-3105AT and IMG-3105AT, and updated the POE-E304 PoE extender to hardware version 3. The three devices address different requirements when existing network infrastructures need to cover longer distances or integrate additional equipment.
The POE-E304 V3 distributes one high-power PoE connection to as many as four powered devices over copper cabling. The ICS-3105AT connects serial equipment to a 100BASE-FX fiber network, while the IMG-3105AT performs dedicated conversion between Modbus TCP and Modbus RTU/ASCII. Both industrial gateways also support MQTT communication and hardware-based security.
Three Products for Different Connectivity Tasks
| Model | Function | Main Interfaces | Operating Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| POE-E304 V3 | PoE extender with four downstream ports | 1 × 802.3bt PoE++ input, 4 × 802.3af/at PoE output, Gigabit Ethernet | 0…50 °C |
| ICS-3105AT | Industrial serial device server with fiber uplink | RS-232, RS-422/RS-485, 1 × 100BASE-FX SFP | −40…+75 °C |
| IMG-3105AT | Industrial Modbus gateway with fiber uplink | Modbus RTU/ASCII, 1 × 100BASE-FX SFP | −40…+75 °C |
POE-E304 V3: Four PoE Outputs from One PoE++ Connection
The POE-E304 V3 receives up to 95 W through its IEEE 802.3bt PoE++ Type 4 input and provides four IEEE 802.3af/at output ports. Each output can supply up to 30 W, while the four ports share a total PoE budget of 65 W. This point is important when several cameras, wireless access points or other powered devices are connected simultaneously.
All five RJ45 ports support 10/100/1000BASE-T. A DIP switch provides three operating modes:
- Standard: all ports operate as a conventional Gigabit Ethernet switch with automatic speed negotiation.
- VLAN: the four downstream ports are isolated from one another and communicate only with the uplink port.
- Extend: ports 1 to 4 operate at 10 Mbps and support cable distances of up to 250 m.
The 250 m range is therefore available only in Extend mode and not at Gigabit speed. Version 3 adds the DIP switch functions and uses an Airoha LAN controller.
The compact metal enclosure supports desktop and wall mounting. With an operating temperature range of 0 to 50 °C, the device is intended for indoor and protected installations. It can provide network connectivity and power for up to four remote devices without separate local power adapters. Individual downstream Ethernet cables are still required between the extender and each connected device.
ICS-3105AT: Serial Communication over Fiber
The ICS-3105AT integrates equipment with RS-232, RS-422 or RS-485 interfaces into an Ethernet network over fiber. It offers a DB9 connector for RS-232 and a terminal block for 2-wire RS-485 or 4-wire RS-422/RS-485. Serial data rates of up to 921,600 bps are supported.
The network interface is a 100BASE-FX SFP slot. Depending on the selected SFP module, fiber distances from 2 km to 120 km are possible. This makes the device suitable for connecting serial controllers, measuring equipment and other field devices across industrial sites or between distant installations.
Available operating modes include Virtual COM, TCP Server, TCP Client, UDP Client, RFC2217, Telnet Server, Pair Connection and Modbus converter server/client modes. In TCP Client mode, up to four hosts can access the same serial device simultaneously.
For IIoT integration, the ICS-3105AT provides an MQTT client and a built-in MQTT broker. Serial data can be published to SCADA systems, MES platforms, edge servers or cloud services. The local broker also allows MQTT messages to be exchanged without deploying a separate broker. MQTT supports QoS levels 0, 1 and 2, username and password authentication, and TLS 1.2.
Hardware security features include Secure Boot, Arm TrustZone, a true random number generator, hardware-accelerated cryptographic functions and a hardware key store. Secure management is available through HTTPS, certificate management, IP-based access control, SNMPv3 and RADIUS/TACACS+ authentication. TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3 are supported for system security.
The IP30 metal enclosure can be mounted on a DIN rail or wall. Dual redundant 9 to 48 V DC inputs, support for 24 V AC, reverse-polarity protection, automatic hardware failover and a relay alarm output support deployment in industrial control cabinets. The specified operating temperature range is −40 to +75 °C.
IMG-3105AT: Modbus Conversion with MQTT Connectivity
The IMG-3105AT uses the same industrial hardware platform as the ICS-3105AT but is designed specifically for Modbus networks. It converts between Modbus TCP and Modbus RTU/ASCII and supports four operating modes:
- RTU Master
- RTU Slave
- ASCII Master
- ASCII Slave
In Master mode, the gateway supports up to 32 TCP slave connections. In Slave mode, it accepts up to 32 TCP master connections. Existing PLCs, RTUs, power meters and industrial controllers can therefore be integrated into Ethernet-based automation systems without replacing the serial field equipment.
The IMG-3105AT also provides an MQTT client and a built-in MQTT broker. Data collected from Modbus RTU/ASCII devices can be published to SCADA, MES, edge or cloud platforms, while the local broker supports data exchange within the installation. MQTT communication supports QoS levels 0, 1 and 2, username and password authentication, and TLS 1.2.
Its security functions include hardware-based Secure Boot, Arm TrustZone, hardware cryptographic acceleration and protected key storage. Secure management supports HTTPS, certificate management, TLS 1.2/1.3, SNMPv3 and RADIUS/TACACS+ authentication.
The gateway provides a 100BASE-FX SFP interface and operates from −40 to +75 °C. Its IP30 metal enclosure, DIN rail or wall mounting, dual redundant 9 to 48 V DC inputs and automatic power failover are designed for industrial installations. Free-fall, shock and vibration testing is specified according to the relevant IEC 60068 test methods.
Selecting the Appropriate Device
Choose the POE-E304 V3 when one PoE++ connection must supply and connect up to four IEEE 802.3af/at devices. The available 65 W PoE budget must be matched to the combined power demand of all connected devices, including a suitable reserve.
Choose the ICS-3105AT for transparent serial communication over Ethernet and fiber, particularly when Virtual COM, TCP/UDP communication, Pair Connection or flexible serial operating modes are required.
Choose the IMG-3105AT when Modbus TCP systems must communicate with Modbus RTU or ASCII equipment and when MQTT publishing is required for higher-level data processing.
PLANET switches, PoE devices, media converters and serial communication products are available from IPC2U. We support the selection of the appropriate device, SFP module and PoE power source for each application.
