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From: bb16@prism.gatech.EDU (Scott Bostater)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Ethernet Cards and long lines
Message-ID: <17132@hydra.gatech.EDU>
Date: 15 Nov 90 13:48:30 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
Lines: 31

I'm looking for a manufacturer of ethernet cards that can RELIABLY handle
long drop lines.  We have several Western Digital WD8003E cards, some of
which can handle line lengths of 125 feet or so and others that can only
handle 65 feet or so.  I've talked to tech support at WD and they admit 
that they have a problem with longer distances and are "looking into the
problem"  Meanwhile, I'm looking for alternate sources of ethernet cards.

My constraints are:
  1)  Must handle drop line lengths of 125 feet or more
  2)  Must support NCSA telnet/ftp (with packet drivers)
  3)  Must be under $500 (<$300 is preferable so I bypass our purchasing dept.)
  4)  Must be relatively fast  (at least 50 Kbytes/s ftp transfer)

Desirable, but not required
  1) 16 bit bus   (I don't know if it will be that much faster, but having
                   having access to IRQ8-15 would be nice)
  2) Suport for Novell, PC-NFS, etc.  (we aren't using them now, but I can 
                                       always dream...)


What I really want is a reliable card 50% to 75% return rate is unacceptible!

Thanks in Advance,

                                  
                             
-- 
Scott Bostater      Georgia Tech Research Institute - Radar Systems Analysis
"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him"  -Ps 62.1
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