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From: ddaniel@lindy.stanford.edu (D. Daniel Sternbergh)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware,comp.protocols.appletalk
Subject: Re: How long can a PhoneNet network be?
Message-ID: <1990Aug19.002954.1753@morrow.stanford.edu>
Date: 19 Aug 90 00:29:54 GMT
References: <2949@uakari.primate.wisc.edu> <36336@ut-emx.UUCP>
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In article <36336@ut-emx.UUCP> awessels@walt.cc.utexas.edu (Allen Wessels) writes:
>In article <2949@uakari.primate.wisc.edu> bin@primate.wisc.edu (Brain in Neutral) writes:
>>What's the maximum end-to-end distance a PhoneNet network can be,
>>and what factors does this length depend on?
>
>(This is from memory.)  The total bus length limit is around 3000 feet, but
>this assumes a particular wire gauge that I don't recall.  You might just go
>buy one connector kit and read their manual.  It is a pretty good intro to
>Mac networking and PhoneNet connector use.

The Farallon PhoneNET Connector User's Guide is one of the finest and
most useful pieces of technical writing I've ever seen, bar none.

Their "conservative guidelines" for normal LocalTalk speeds are as
follows:

Topology	22 gauge	24 gauge	26 gauge	Max # Nodes

daisy chain	n/a		n/a		1800 ft		24

backbone	4500 ft		3000 ft		1800 ft		48

3-branch
passive star	1500 ft		1000 ft		600 ft		16
(each branch)

4-branch
passive star	1125 ft		750 ft		450 ft		12
(each branch)