diff --git a/artiq/devices/novatech409b/__init__.py b/artiq/devices/novatech409b/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/artiq/devices/novatech409b/driver.py b/artiq/devices/novatech409b/driver.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..952666791
--- /dev/null
+++ b/artiq/devices/novatech409b/driver.py
@@ -0,0 +1,262 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python3
+
+# Written by Joe Britton, 2015
+
+import time
+import math
+import logging
+
+import serial
+
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class UnexpectedResponse(Exception):
+    pass
+
+
+class Novatech409B:
+    """Driver for Novatech 409B 4-channel DDS"""
+
+    # maximum frequency of Novatech 409B when using PLL and external reference
+    max_freq_with_pll = 171.1276031
+
+    def __init__(self, serial_dev="/dev/ttyUSB0"):
+        if serial_dev == "sim":
+            self.simulation = True
+        else:
+            self.simulation = False
+            self.port = serial.serial_for_url(
+                serial_dev,
+                baudrate=19200,
+                bytesize=8,
+                parity="N",
+                stopbits=1,
+                xonxoff=0,
+                timeout=0.2)
+        self.setup()
+
+    def close(self):
+        """Close the serial port"""
+        if not self.simulation:
+            self.port.close()
+
+    def _ser_send(self, cmd, get_response=True):
+        """send a string to the serial port
+
+        Routine for sending serial commands to device. It sends strings
+        and listens for a response terminated by a carriage return.
+
+        example:
+        ser_send("F0 1.0") # sets the freq of channel 0 to 1.0 MHz
+
+        :param str cmd: a character string to send to device
+        :returns: None
+        """
+        if self.simulation:
+            print(cmd)
+        else:
+            self.port.flush()
+            self.port.write((cmd + "\r\n").encode())
+            if get_response:
+                result = self.port.readline().rstrip().decode()
+                if result != "OK":
+                    raise UnexpectedResponse(result)
+
+    def reset(self):
+        """command hardware reset of 409B
+
+        returns: None
+        """
+        self._ser_send("R", get_response=False)
+        time.sleep(1)
+        self.setup()
+
+    def setup(self):
+        """initial setup of 409B
+
+        Setup the Novatech 409B with the following defaults.
+        * command echo off ("E d")
+        * external clock ("") 10 MHz sinusoid -1 to +7 dBm
+
+        :returns: None
+        """
+        # disable command echo
+        self._ser_send("E d", get_response=False)
+        self.set_phase_continuous(True)
+        self.set_simultaneous_update(False)
+
+    def save_state_to_eeprom(self):
+        """save current state to EEPROM
+
+        Saves current state into EEPROM and sets valid flag.
+        State used as default upon next power up or reset. """
+        self._ser_send("S")
+
+    def set_phase_continuous(self, is_continuous):
+        """toggle phase continuous mode
+
+        Sends the "M n" command. This turns off the automatic
+        clearing of the phase register. In this mode, the phase
+        register is left intact when a command is performed.
+        Use this mode if you want frequency changes to remain
+        phase synchronous, with no phase discontinuities.
+
+        :param bool is_continuous: True or False
+        """
+        if is_continuous:
+            self._ser_send("M n")
+        else:
+            self._ser_send("M a")
+
+    def set_simultaneous_update(self, simultaneous):
+        """Sends the "I m" command. In this mode an update
+        pulse will not be sent to the DDS chip until
+        an "I p" command is sent. This is useful when it is
+        important to change all the outputs to new values
+        simultaneously.
+        """
+        if simultaneous:
+            self._ser_send("I m")
+        else:
+            self._ser_send("I a")
+
+    def set_freq(self, ch_no, freq):
+        """set_freq(ch_no,freq):
+        Set ch_no to frequency freq MHz"""
+        if ch_no < 0 or ch_no > 3:
+            raise ValueError("Incorrect channel number {}".format(ch_no))
+        if freq < 0.0 or freq > self.max_freq_with_pll:
+            raise ValueError("Incorrect frequency {}".format(freq))
+        # do this immediately, disable SimultaneousUpdate mode
+        self.set_simultaneous_update(False)
+        self._ser_send("F{:d} {:f}".format(ch_no, freq))
+
+    def set_phase(self, ch_no, phase):
+        """set DDS phase
+
+        :param int ch_no: 0 to 3
+        :param float phase: phase angle in cycles [0,1]
+        :returns: None
+        """
+        if ch_no < 0 or ch_no > 3:
+            raise ValueError("Incorrect channel number {}".format(ch_no))
+        if phase < 0 or phase > 1:
+            raise ValueError("Incorrect phase {}".format(phase))
+        # do this immediately, disable SimultaneousUpdate mode
+        self.set_simultaneous_update(False)
+        # phase word is required by device
+        # N is an integer from 0 to 16383. Phase is set to
+        # N*360/16384 deg; in ARTIQ represent phase in cycles [0,1]
+        phase_word = round(phase*16384)
+        if phase_word >= 16384:
+            phase_word -= 16384
+        cmd = "P{:d} {:d}".format(ch_no, phase_word)
+        self._ser_send(cmd)
+
+    def set_freq_all_phase_continuous(self, freq):
+        """set frequency of all channels simultaneously
+
+        Set frequency of all channels simultaneously.
+        1) all DDSs are set to phase continuous mode
+        2) all DDSs are simultaneously set to new frequency
+        Together 1 and 2 ensure phase continuous frequency switching.
+
+        :param float freq: frequency in MHz
+        :returns: None
+        """
+        self.set_simultaneous_update(True)
+        self.set_phase_continuous(True)
+        for channel_num in range(4):
+            self.set_freq(channel_num, freq)
+        # send command necessary to update all channels at the same time
+        self._ser_send("I p")
+
+    def set_phase_all(self, phase):
+        """set phase of all DDS channels simultaneously
+
+        Set phase of all DDS channels at the same time. For example,::
+            set_phase_all([0, .25, 0.5, 0.75])
+
+        :param float phase: vector of four  phases (in cycles [0,1])
+        :returns: None
+        """
+        self.set_simultaneous_update(True)
+        # Note that this only works if the continuous
+        # phase switching is turned off.
+        self.set_phase_continuous(False)
+        for ch_no in range(4):
+            self.set_phase(ch_no, phase[ch_no])
+        # send command necessary to update all channels at the same time
+        self._ser_send("I p")
+
+    def freq_sweep_all_phase_continuous(self, f0, f1, t):
+        """ sweep phase of all DDSs, phase continuous
+
+        Sweep frequency in a phase continuous fashion.
+
+        :param float f0: starting frequency (MHz)
+        :param float f1: ending frequency (MHz)
+        :param float t: sweep duration (seconds)
+        :returns: None
+        """
+        # TODO: consider using artiq.language.units
+        if f0 == f1:
+            return
+        # get sign of sweep
+        if f1 > f0:
+            df_sign = 1
+        else:
+            df_sign = -1
+
+        self.set_phase_continuous(True)
+        self.set_simultaneous_update(True)
+        # calculate delay
+        # note that a single call to self.set_freq_all_phase_continuous()
+        # takes time t_for_one_freq_set; fix duration empirically
+        t_for_one_freq_set = 0.264
+        dt = t_for_one_freq_set
+        n_steps = int(math.ceil(t/dt))
+        df = abs(f0-f1)/n_steps
+        for n in range(n_steps):
+            fnow = f0+n*df_sign*df
+            self.set_freq_all_phase_continuous(fnow)
+        self.set_freq_all_phase_continuous(f1)
+
+    def output_scale(self, ch_no, frac):
+        """changes amplitude of a DDS
+
+        :param int ch_no: DDS channel 0, 1, 2 or 3
+        :param float frac: 0 to 1 (full attenuation to no attenuation)
+        :returns: None
+        """
+        self.set_simultaneous_update(False)
+        dac_ch_no = int(math.floor(frac*1024))
+        s = "V{:d} {:d}".format(ch_no, dac_ch_no)
+        self._ser_send(s)
+
+    def output_scale_all(self, frac):
+        """changes amplitude of all DDSs
+
+        :param float frac: 0 to 1 (full attenuation to no attenuation)
+        """
+        for ch_no in range(4):
+            self.output_scale(ch_no, frac)
+
+    def output_on_off(self, ch_no, on):
+        """turns on or off the DDS
+
+        :param int ch_no: DDS channel 0, 1, 2 or 3
+        """
+        if on:
+            self.output_scale(ch_no, 1.0)
+        else:
+            self.output_scale(ch_no, 0.0)
+
+    def output_on_off_all(self, on):
+        """turns on or off the all the DDSs"""
+        if on:
+            self.output_scale_all(1.0)
+        else:
+            self.output_scale_all(0.0)
diff --git a/artiq/frontend/novatech409b_controller.py b/artiq/frontend/novatech409b_controller.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..8281f858d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/artiq/frontend/novatech409b_controller.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python3
+
+# Written by Joe Britton, 2015
+
+import argparse
+import importlib
+import logging
+
+from artiq.devices.novatech409b.driver import Novatech409B
+from artiq.protocols.pc_rpc import simple_server_loop
+from artiq.tools import verbosity_args, simple_network_args, init_logger
+
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def get_argparser():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description="ARTIQ controller for the Novatech"
+        " 409B 4-channel DDS box")
+    simple_network_args(parser, 3254)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "-s", "--serial-dev",
+        default="/dev/ttyUSB0", type=str,
+        help="serial port: on Windows \"COMx\","
+        " on Linux a device path (e.g. \"/dev/ttyUSB0\")")
+    verbosity_args(parser)
+    return parser
+
+def main():
+    args = get_argparser().parse_args()
+    init_logger(args)
+
+    dev = Novatech409B(args.serial_dev)
+    try:
+        simple_server_loop(
+            {"novatech409b": dev}, args.bind, args.port)
+    finally:
+        dev.close()
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/doc/manual/drivers_reference.rst b/doc/manual/drivers_reference.rst
index a2311c13d..eef5e9a1e 100644
--- a/doc/manual/drivers_reference.rst
+++ b/doc/manual/drivers_reference.rst
@@ -51,3 +51,5 @@ When writing a new driver, choose a free TCP port and add it to this list.
 +--------------------------+--------------+
 | LDA                      | 3253         |
 +--------------------------+--------------+
+| Novatech 409B            | 3254         |
++--------------------------+--------------+
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 4d1f8d417..bdda38e8f 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -5,25 +5,27 @@ import os
 
 
 requirements = [
-                "sphinx", "sphinx-argparse", "pyserial", "numpy", "scipy",
-                "python-dateutil", "prettytable", "h5py"
-               ]
+    "sphinx", "sphinx-argparse", "pyserial", "numpy", "scipy",
+    "python-dateutil", "prettytable", "h5py"
+]
+
 scripts = [
-           "artiq_client=artiq.frontend.artiq_client:main",
-           "artiq_ctlmgr=artiq.frontend.artiq_ctlmgr:main",
-           "artiq_master=artiq.frontend.artiq_master:main",
-           "artiq_rpctool=artiq.frontend.artiq_rpctool:main",
-           "artiq_run=artiq.frontend.artiq_run:main",
-           "lda_controller=artiq.frontend.lda_controller:main",
-           "pdq2_client=artiq.frontend.pdq2_client:main",
-           "pdq2_controller=artiq.frontend.pdq2_controller:main",
-          ]
+    "artiq_client=artiq.frontend.artiq_client:main",
+    "artiq_ctlmgr=artiq.frontend.artiq_ctlmgr:main",
+    "artiq_master=artiq.frontend.artiq_master:main",
+    "artiq_rpctool=artiq.frontend.artiq_rpctool:main",
+    "artiq_run=artiq.frontend.artiq_run:main",
+    "lda_controller=artiq.frontend.lda_controller:main",
+    "novatech409b_controller=artiq.frontend.novatech409b_controller:main",
+    "pdq2_client=artiq.frontend.pdq2_client:main",
+    "pdq2_controller=artiq.frontend.pdq2_controller:main",
+]
 
 if os.getenv("ARTIQ_GUI") == "1":
     requirements += ["pygobject", "gbulb", "cairoplot"]
     scripts += [
-                "artiq_gui=artiq.frontend.artiq_gui:main"
-               ]
+        "artiq_gui=artiq.frontend.artiq_gui:main"
+    ]
 
 
 setup(