CRD880-M12 Vehicle Docking Station for MDT880
Vehicle docking station for the MDT880 8-inch 5G rugged tablet with threaded M12 Ethernet. Replaces the standard RJ45 jack with a lockable M12 industrial connector for deployments where vibration, moisture, or washdown conditions would loosen a conventional Ethernet plug. Combines serial communication, USB OTG expansion, GPIO control, and stable vehicle power in a single secured cradle.
The CRD880-M12 is available with two cable configurations — TYPE-A (full features) and TYPE-B (basic features) — that differ in serial channel count and GPIO capability. Both share the same physical dock, the same pogo-pin tablet interface, and the same M12 Ethernet architecture. The difference is in the cable harness.
CRD880-M12 Cradle with Full Features Cable (TYPE-A)
Provides a dedicated RS232 channel connected to the tablet CPU, a second configurable RS232/RS485 channel over USB, and four GPIO lines for sensor and relay control. Suitable for deployments that require simultaneous serial peripherals, GPIO-based automation, and lockable M12 Ethernet connectivity in high-vibration environments.
Interface Summary
CRD880-M12 Cradle with Basic Features Cable (TYPE-B)
Provides a single RS232 serial channel, lockable M12 Ethernet, and USB OTG expansion without GPIO. Suitable for deployments where the tablet is used primarily for vehicle power, rugged wired networking, and one serial peripheral — such as a receipt printer, weighbridge interface, or diagnostics dongle — in environments where a standard RJ45 plug would not survive.
Interface Summary
Why M12 Instead of RJ45
A standard RJ45 connector relies on a plastic retention clip that releases under sustained vibration, allowing the plug to work loose from the socket. In vehicles with high chassis vibration — mining haul trucks, agricultural machinery, construction equipment — an RJ45 Ethernet link can drop intermittently, interrupting vehicle network traffic. The M12 connector uses a threaded coupling that mechanically locks the plug to the socket, maintaining contact through vibration, moisture, and washdown conditions.
Deployment Scenarios for M12 Ethernet
Continuous vibration and dust exposure that would loosen or contaminate a standard RJ45 connector.
Field washdown and chemical spray environments where IP-rated connections are required.
Extended exposure to rain, road spray, and temperature cycling — where moisture ingress damages RJ45 contacts.
CRD880 Family Comparison
When to Choose CRD880-M12
Select CRD880-M12 when your deployment requires a lockable Ethernet connection that will not loosen under vibration or moisture exposure — mining haul trucks, agricultural machinery, washdown environments, and outdoor fleet vehicles. It is the appropriate choice when the tablet must maintain a reliable wired network link to vehicle systems over months of continuous operation. For controlled-cab deployments where standard RJ45 retention is sufficient, the CRD880 with RJ45 offers the same interface set at lower cost. For deployments requiring hardware-level CAN Bus vehicle integration, the CRD880-CAN adds dual J1939 channels.
EXT-USB-CAN-01 — USB to CAN Bus Adapter Cable
Adds CAN Bus capability to any MDT880 docking station equipped with a USB-A OTG port. One adapter cable supports up to 2 CAN Bus channels, enabling hardware-level vehicle network access without replacing the existing cradle — ideal for retrofit deployments, pilot fleets, or vehicles that require CAN data only in specific configurations.
Key Specifications
Note: Connects to the dock cable's USB-A OTG port and presents a CAN Bus interface to the Android OS through the standard SocketCAN driver stack. CAN Bus termination and baud rate configuration are handled at the software level.
Explore EXT-USB-CAN-01 →
Wiring examples shown — not all configurations. Pin-out details, cable lengths, M12 connector coding (A-code / D-code), and cable part numbers may vary by production batch. For the full datasheet with dimensioned drawings and M12 termination specifications, contact our engineering team.
Compatible Tablet Platform
This docking station is designed for one tablet model only
The CRD880-M12 cradle is built specifically for the MDT880 mechanical and electrical interface. It is not compatible with MDT865 or MDT1065 tablets.
Compare cradle variants across the full tablet lineup — interfaces, cable options, and configuration differences in one view.
