A multi-channel I/O network module for a digital process control network, the multi-channel I/O network module comprising: a base mounting a plurality of sets of electrical connectors a plurality of I/O channels , and a network port , each set of electrical connectors of the plurality of sets of electrical connectors comprising at least one electrical connector; the network port being compatible with the process control network for attaching the multi-channel I/O network module to the process control network; each set of the plurality of sets of electrical connectors being connectable with field wires extending from a field device to carry I/O signals between the set of electrical connectors and the field device; each I/O channel of the plurality of I/O channels including a respective set of electrical connectors of the plurality of sets of electrical connectors, the I/O channel extending from the respective set of electrical connectors to the network port to carry I/O signals between the network port and the respective set of electrical connectors; each I/O channel of the plurality of I/O channels comprising a conversion circuit being configured to convert between the I/O signals and digital signals compatible with the process control network; each I/O channel of the plurality of I/O channels being associated with a respective unique network address and the plurality of I/O channels comprising a monitoring circuit disposed between the conversion circuit of each I/O channel and the network port, the monitoring circuit being configured to route digital signals received from the conversion circuit to the network port and to route digital signals received from the network port associated with a field device attached to the I/O network module to the I/O channel connected to the field device. a base mounting a plurality of sets of electrical connectors a plurality of I/O channels , and a network port , each set of electrical connectors of the plurality of sets of electrical connectors comprising at least one electrical connector; the network port being compatible with the process control network for attaching the multi-channel I/O network module to the process control network; each set of the plurality of sets of electrical connectors being connectable with field wires extending from a field device to carry I/O signals between the set of electrical connectors and the field device; each I/O channel of the plurality of I/O channels including a respective set of electrical connectors of the plurality of sets of electrical connectors, the I/O channel extending from the respective set of electrical connectors to the network port to carry I/O signals between the network port and the respective set of electrical connectors; each I/O channel of the plurality of I/O channels comprising a conversion circuit being configured to convert between the I/O signals and digital signals compatible with the process control network; each I/O channel of the plurality of I/O channels being associated with a respective unique network address and the plurality of I/O channels comprising a monitoring circuit disposed between the conversion circuit of each I/O channel and the network port, the monitoring circuit being configured to route digital signals received from the conversion circuit to the network port and to route digital signals received from the network port associated with a field device attached to the I/O network module to the I/O channel connected to the field device. <EOS>