Customer Reviews

StarTech.com 1U Rackmount Power Switch 8 Outlet 15 Amp RS232 Serial Control PDU PCM815SHNA (Black)

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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Comment 3/28/11:
Bought this unit so I could use RS232 to control using VB. Hyperterminal works only if you use the \r as the EOL terminating character. By default the EOL character is \n. However, I could not send text to the unit. I tried terminating text commands with vbCr, then vbCrLf, et al... and nothing worked. I saw the unit connected to the serial port, however.

I sent several emails to the company tech support, and no one responded.
I am initiating a refund.

This is the only product I could find that had a serial interface as opposed to a Web based front end. We need it to do automated power cycling of units and this allowed us to do it through simple custom serial software. Another reviewer complained about the host software. I can't comment since I never used it.

Update1: Won't recognize daisy chaining on power up. Have to plug cables in after both units are on. Makes it useless.

Update2: Had it apart because the display LED went out. For the DC component, the manufacturer actually put a wall transformer inside the case instead of building a power supply on the PCB. Very pool quality.

Update3: Can't update the firmware to 5.x from a 4.x model. Must have too little EEPROM.

Update4: Relays start failing after about 100+ cycles. This thing is junk. Great idea, just wish it was better quality

I have had nothing but trouble with this product since I received it. The software would work intermittently at best. When I tried to update the firmware, the unit crashed. When I called tech support, I was told there was nothing they could do...even if I sent it back to the factory. The excuse was that the unit is made in another country and the firmware is installed at the time of manufacture and there is no way to upload new firmware. I am now stuck with a $400 piece of junk!!!!!