The Allen-Bradley 1770-HT1 smart transmitter communications controller is designed to offer communication between the Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) field devices (actuators, transmitters, and transducers) and the Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation products such as host computers or PLC controllers. A smart transmitter interface has a single communications controller like the 1770-HT1 controller and 1 or more additional terminal blocks like the 1770-HT16 or the 1770-HT8. The Allen-Bradley 1770-HT1 communications controller gets commands from the processor and transfers them through the 1770-HT16 or 1770-HT8 terminal blocks. The communications controller transmits information to the host processor via its RS-232C or its Remote I/O port.

The Allen-Bradley 1770-HT1 communications controller has various features, including DIN rail clips for mounting in a field wiring system and a control cabinet. It supports the 2 types of HART field devices which are 2-wire transmitters that get power from a loop of 4 to 20 milliamps and 4-wire transmitters that require an external power supply. The controller has push buttons and a 7-segment display that is used for communications configuration. Other features include I/O modules with 4 to 20 milliamps of loop support, multi-drop wiring support, and burst digital transmission mode support. The Allen-Bradley 1770-HT1 communications controller has an operating temperature range from 0 to 60 degrees Celsius (32 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit) and a storage temperature range from -40 to 60 degrees Celsius (-40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit). It also requires a non-condensing operating humidity range between 5 and 95%. It has dimensions of  4.3 inches (10.9 centimeters) x 14 inches (35.6 centimeters) x 2.7 inches (6.9 centimeters) and an approximate weight of 1.8 pounds (0.8 kilograms).