How It Works
Simple, elegant, and powerful — QuickPort uses proven USB technology to turn your iPhone into a terminal.
The Connection Flow
Physical Connection
Plug the QuickPort Dongle into your iPhone's USB-C port. The iPhone immediately recognizes it as a USB Ethernet device (CDC-ECM class).
Network Setup
The dongle runs a DHCP server and assigns your iPhone an IP address. No manual configuration needed — iOS handles this automatically.
App Connection
Launch QuickPort Terminal. The app connects to the dongle at 192.168.7.1 over WebSocket for real-time bidirectional communication.
Interface Bridge
The dongle bridges WebSocket data to physical interfaces: UART, I²C, or RS-485. Your commands reach the target device in real-time.
Technical Architecture
USB Layer
- • Class: CDC-ECM (Ethernet over USB)
- • Recognition: Automatic by iOS
- • Driver: None required (built into iOS)
Network Layer
- • Protocol: TCP/IP over USB Ethernet
- • Dongle IP: 192.168.7.1
- • Configuration: DHCP-assigned
Application Layer
- • Transport: WebSocket
- • Data Flow: Bidirectional real-time
- • Interface: QuickPort Terminal app
Physical Layer
- • Interfaces: UART, I²C, RS-485
- • Bridge: Hardware in the dongle
- • Target: Your embedded device
Common Questions
Why does the app show "Disconnected"?
This is normal! The app shows "Disconnected" until you physically plug in the QuickPort Dongle. Once connected, the status updates automatically.
Do I need to configure network settings?
No. iOS automatically recognizes the USB Ethernet connection and accepts the DHCP configuration from the dongle. Everything is plug-and-play.
Can I use this with a hub or adapter?
Compatibility depends on your specific hub. USB-C hubs that support USB Ethernet pass-through generally work. See our compatibility page for details.