The Contemporary Controls BASRTP-B Portable BASrouter is a pocket-sized, USB-powered BACnet multi-network router built for field commissioning and on-site troubleshooting. The BASRTP-B routes between BACnet/IP, BACnet MS/TP, and BACnet Ethernet (ISO 8802-3) in any combination - giving a laptop with an IP-only BAS commissioning tool (Niagara Workbench, Honeywell Spyder Tool, Centraline tools, Trend SET) full access to MS/TP field controllers without permanent infrastructure. Power comes from any 5 VDC USB Type B source (laptop port, hub, or power bank), and configuration is entirely web-page based - no driver, no software install, no licensing. The BASRTP-B ships in a compact plastic enclosure roughly the size of a deck of cards (108 mm × 67 mm × 32 mm), and includes both a 3-pin removable terminal block and an alternative RJ-11 jack for the MS/TP connection.
› True Plug-and-Go Field Tool
The BASRTP-B draws 300 mA at 5 VDC from any standard USB Type B port - laptop, USB hub, or power bank. No 24VAC transformer, no power adapter, no Windows driver install (ignore the "USB device not recognized" message - it's expected). Plug in the included USB cable, browse to the default IP (192.168.92.68 / 24), log in, and you're routing BACnet in under 60 seconds.
› Dual MS/TP Connectors + Live Diagnostics
The BASRTP-B provides both a 3-pin removable terminal block AND an RJ-11 jack for the optically-isolated MS/TP port - use whichever fits your test cable. With no internal bias or termination, the BASRTP-B can be inserted anywhere on an active MS/TP bus without disrupting it. Built-in web pages provide a graphical MS/TP Device Status table (all 128 master addresses, color-coded), BACnet routing table discovery, and live network packet statistics.
| BASRTP-B Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Model | BASRTP-B |
| Manufacturer | Contemporary Controls |
| Product Family | Portable BASrouter / BASautomation |
| Form Factor | Compact plastic case, handheld portable |
| Networks Routed | BACnet/IP, BACnet Ethernet (ISO 8802-3), BACnet MS/TP (in any combination) |
| BACnet Profile | BACnet Router (B-RTR) and BACnet Broadcast Management Device (B-BBMD) per published PIC Statement |
| BACnet Protocol Revision | 13 |
| BIBBs Supported | DS-RP-B, DS-RPM-B, DM-DOB-B, DM-DDB-B, NM-RC-B |
| Ethernet Port | 1 × Shielded RJ-45, 10/100 Mbps, IEEE 802.3, Auto-Negotiation, Auto-MDIX |
| Ethernet Cable Length | 100 m (max) CAT5 |
| MS/TP Connector A | 3-pin removable terminal block (+, -, SC) |
| MS/TP Connector B | RJ-11 jack (Pin 2 = RT-, Pin 4 = SC, Pin 5 = RT+) |
| MS/TP Transceiver | Optically-isolated EIA-485 |
| MS/TP Standard | ANSI/ASHRAE 135 (ISO 16484-5) |
| MS/TP Baud Rates | 9600, 19200, 38400, 76800 bps (selectable) |
| MS/TP Cable Length | 1200 m (max) |
| MS/TP Devices Supported | Up to 31 full-load (or 62 half-load) per segment, 254 total addresses |
| MS/TP Bias & Termination | None internal; can be inserted anywhere on the bus without disruption |
| BBMD & FDR | Supported per PIC Statement (BBMD use is not recommended for permanent deployments - the BASRTP-B is intended as a temporary commissioning tool) |
| NAT Traversal | Yes (dual BACnet/IP UDP ports) |
| Web Configuration | Resident HTTP server, any standard browser |
| DHCP | DHCP client supported (selectable; default is fixed IP) |
| Default IP / Subnet | 192.168.92.68 / 24 |
| Default Login | admin / admin (must be changed on first use) |
| Power Input | 5 VDC via USB Type B (host computer or USB hub) |
| Current Draw | 300 mA typical (1.5 W) |
| Driver Installation | None required (ignore Windows "USB device not recognized" message) |
| USB Cable | USB Type B cable included in the box |
| LEDs | Power, Ethernet (bi-color speed/activity), MS/TP (RX activity) |
| Reset | Side-mounted Reset IP button (3-second hold + power cycle restores defaults) |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 60°C (32°F to 140°F) - indoor commissioning use |
| Storage Temperature | -40°C to +85°C |
| Humidity | 10-95%, non-condensing |
| Protection | IP30 |
| Dimensions (L × W × H) | 108 mm × 67 mm × 32 mm (4.25 in × 2.63 in × 1.26 in) |
| Enclosure | Compact plastic case |
| Compliance | UL 508 Listed, c-UL Listed (CSA C22.2 No. 142-M1987); CE Mark; CFR 47 Part 15 Class A; RoHS |
| Warranty | 5-year manufacturer warranty |
BASRTP-B Product Documentation
Portable BASrouter Data Sheet Portable BASrouter Installation Guide BASrouter Application Guide (11 Routing Examples, incl. Portable) Successful BASrouter Installation & Operation Troubleshooting BACnet Networks (Status Screen Tech Note)BASRTP-B Application Notes & Compatibility
Adding Cube I/O Modules to BACnet Spyder Controllers (uses Portable BASrouter) Using the BASrouter with an Alerton Controller Using the BASrouter with a Honeywell Spyder Controller Using the BASrouter with a Centraline Lynx Controller Using the BASrouter with a Trend IQ Controller Using the BASrouter to Offload Your JACEBASRTP-B - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the BASRTP-B (Portable) and the BASRT-B (DIN-Rail)?
Both products provide the same core BACnet routing function (BACnet/IP to MS/TP to BACnet Ethernet) and use the same web-based configuration interface. The BASRTP-B is a pocket-sized portable tool in a plastic case, USB-powered (no transformer), with both 3-pin and RJ-11 MS/TP connectors and no internal bias/termination - designed for temporary commissioning and field troubleshooting at 0°C to 60°C. The BASRT-B is a DIN-rail mount metal-case router, 24VAC/VDC powered with redundant power input, internal MS/TP bias and termination jumpers, BTL-Listed, and rated -40°C to +75°C for permanent control panel installation. Choose the BASRTP-B for a service tool you carry to sites; choose the BASRT-B for a permanent BACnet/IP-to-MS/TP router that lives in the panel.
Does the BASRTP-B require any drivers, software, or licenses?
No. The BASRTP-B requires no driver installation - Windows may briefly show a "USB device not recognized" message when you first plug it in, which is expected and can be ignored (the BASRTP-B only uses the USB port for 5 VDC power, not for data). All configuration happens through a web browser at the default IP address 192.168.92.68 / 24. There are no per-device licenses, no annual subscriptions, and no proprietary commissioning software required.
Can I use the BASRTP-B as a permanent installation in a control panel?
Technically yes, but Contemporary Controls designs the BASRTP-B as a temporary commissioning and troubleshooting tool, not a permanent panel device. For permanent control panel installation, the DIN-rail BASRT-B is the correct choice - it offers metal enclosure, 24VAC/VDC power with redundant input, internal MS/TP bias/termination, BTL Listing, and -40°C to +75°C operating range. The BASRTP-B is rated 0°C to 60°C for indoor commissioning use and depends on a host USB power source that is not typical of permanent BAS panels.
Does the BASRTP-B support BBMD for routing across IP subnets?
The BASRTP-B firmware supports BBMD and Foreign Device Registration per its published PIC Statement, but Contemporary Controls' guidance is that BBMD on a portable router is generally inappropriate. The reason is operational: if the BASRTP-B is acting as the BBMD for a subnet and you remove it (which is the entire point of a portable tool), broadcast routing fails for any device that was relying on it. For permanent BBMD service across multiple IP subnets, deploy a DIN-rail BASRT-B, BASrouterLX, or BASrouterSX instead. For temporary commissioning where all your devices are on the same subnet as your laptop, BBMD is not needed and should remain disabled.
What is the RJ-11 port on the BASRTP-B for, and can I use a phone cable?
The RJ-11 jack on the BASRTP-B is an alternative MS/TP connection point - it carries the same EIA-485 signals as the 3-pin terminal block (Pin 2 = RT-, Pin 4 = SC, Pin 5 = RT+, other pins unused). It exists because some BAS manufacturers wire their MS/TP service jacks as RJ-11 sockets for convenient field connection. A standard 6P6C or 6P4C phone cable will work physically, but you must verify the wiring of the corresponding RJ-11 jack on the controller side - phone cables vary in pin assignment, and not all BAS manufacturers use the same pinout. When in doubt, use the 3-pin terminal block with known wire-to-pin mapping.
Where on the MS/TP bus do I connect the BASRTP-B?
Anywhere. Unlike the DIN-rail BASRT-B, the BASRTP-B does not provide internal bias or termination on the MS/TP bus. You can insert it at the start, end, or middle of an active MS/TP segment without affecting the network's existing termination scheme. If the BASRTP-B happens to be at the physical end of the bus (and no other end-of-line device exists there), apply an external 120-ohm resistor across the + and - terminals. The SC pin must always be connected to the signal common shared by all MS/TP devices on the segment, or MS/TP communication will not be reliable.
Which BAS commissioning tools and head-ends work with the BASRTP-B?
Any BACnet/IP-capable client. The BASRTP-B appears as a standard BACnet router on its IP side, so it works with Niagara Workbench, Honeywell Spyder Tool, Honeywell WEBstation-AX, Centraline Lynx tool, Trend SET, Distech EC-Net, Reliable Controls RC-Studio, and any other BACnet/IP commissioning or operator interface software. Contemporary Controls' free BACnet Discovery Tool (BDT) is a particularly useful companion for verifying the BASRTP-B is correctly routing between BACnet/IP and the MS/TP segment - BDT will list all discovered devices including their MS/TP MAC addresses and BACnet network numbers.
Can the BASRTP-B share signal common with non-isolated MS/TP devices like Honeywell Spyder or Centraline Lynx?
Yes - and this is the most common deployment. The BASRTP-B's MS/TP transceiver is optically-isolated, but most BAS field controllers (Honeywell Spyder, Centraline Lynx, many Alerton models) use non-isolated 2-wire MS/TP transceivers that need a shared signal common reference. Connect the BASRTP-B's SC pin to the COM (or 24VAC GND) terminal of the controllers, and ensure all controllers share an earth ground. This shared SC reference protects the EIA-485 transceivers from common-mode voltages that would otherwise cause data errors or transceiver damage. See the Application Notes for Spyder, Lynx, and Alerton wiring linked above.
Does the BASRTP-B include a USB cable, and can I power it from a USB hub or power bank?
Yes. The BASRTP-B ships with a USB Type B cable included in the box. Any 5 VDC USB Type B source rated 300 mA or higher will power the unit - this includes laptop ports, powered USB hubs, USB wall adapters, and USB power banks. The BASRTP-B draws 1.5 W and does not require a USB 3.0 high-current port; standard USB 2.0 is sufficient.
Your BASRTP-B Portable BASrouter is backed by Contemporary Controls' five-year manufacturer warranty against defects in materials and workmanship from the original ship date. The BASRTP-B is BACnet conformant per the published Annex A PIC Statement (B-RTR and B-BBMD profiles, BACnet Protocol Revision 13), UL 508 Listed and c-UL Listed (CSA C22.2 No. 142-M1987) for industrial control equipment, CE marked, and RoHS compliant.
- Sub-Category:
- BACnet Routers
