ATEN UC232A1 USB to RS-232 Serial Adapter

Overview

The ATEN UC232A1 is a 1-meter USB Type-A to RS-232 DB-9 male adapter that adds a legacy serial port to any USB-equipped host. It handles data rates up to 921.6 Kbps — enough for serial console access, barcode scanners, industrial controllers, and rack-mount devices that still speak RS-232. The UC232A1 draws power entirely from the USB bus, so no external power supply is needed; the orange LED confirms an active connection at a glance. At 1 meter, it suits short-reach rack and desktop deployments where the host and serial device are within arm's reach.

Compatibility

The UC232A1 is supported across a wide range of operating systems. Driver support is confirmed for: Windows 95 and later Windows releases; Linux (kernel v3.0, plus legacy Red Hat 7.3, 8, and 9 builds); macOS including current macOS 15.0.2 (driver v2.2.5); and Android 3.2 through 14 via the UC232 Series Android SDK. The DB-9 male connector mates with standard female DB-9 RS-232 ports found on serial console interfaces, rack-mount KVM switches, AV controllers, and legacy serial peripherals. It is specifically noted for use with ATEN rack-mount products that expose a DB-9 serial interface.

Installation Notes

Bus-powered operation means plug-in is all that's required — no driver pre-installation on modern Linux or macOS hosts. On Windows and older Linux distributions, install the appropriate driver before connecting the adapter. Operating humidity range is 0–80% RH non-condensing; avoid condensing environments. Note that ATEN documents physical dimensions for rack-mount products in L×W×H order rather than the conventional W×D×H — confirm orientation when referencing any associated rack hardware specs.