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From: karsh@geowhiz.UUCP (Bruce Karsh)
Newsgroups: net.lan
Subject: Need help with Ethernet
Message-ID: <185@geowhiz.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 16-May-85 18:38:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: geowhiz.185
Posted: Thu May 16 18:38:52 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 19-May-85 05:53:36 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: UW Madison, Geology Dept.
Lines: 66


  We are trying to set up Ethernet here.  We have 3 Masscomp systems
running the Excelan 201 board, and an Imagen laser printer running the
3-Com board.  We are having a hard time trying to figure out which
transcievers and transciever cables to order.

  As I understand it, there are 3 different Ethernet standards,
Ethernet 1, Ethernet 2, and IEEE 802.3.  I have been told that it is OK
to mix and match transcievers for these standards on a single Ethernet
coax.

  QUESTION 1:  Is it ok to mix and match the various Ethernet
standard's transcievers on the same coax?

  I have been told that you must pick a transciever cable that matches
the transciever you want to connect to.  So if I want to connect to
an 802.3 board, I have to get an 802.3 cable.  It doesn't work to 
hook an 802.3 board to an Ethernet 2 board.

  QUESTION 2:  Does my transciever cable have to match the same standard
as my Ethernet interface?

  QUESTION 3: What is the difference between the various transciever
cables?  Why are they not all alike?

  The TCL INC price list lists two kinds of transciever cables, Transciever
cables and 802.3 Transciever cables.

  QUESTION 4: Which specs work with which cables?

  QUESTION 5:  Which standards does the 3-Com board comply with.  Which
standard does the Excelan 201 comply with.

******************** FLAME ON *********************

  I have been buying computer peripherals for seven years now.  I have
never had this much trouble getting product information for *any* other
product.  When you call Ethernet manufacturers, you invariably get some
empty headed jerk that knows absolutely nothing about the product, but
is perfectly willing to give you his totally uninformed advice on what
to do.  When you push for a better answer, they contradict themselves.

  I have been told so many contradictory things about Ethernet parts 
that I can't believe anything I hear.  The conflicting standards for
Ethernet are going to set LAN's back ten years.

  We'd be better off with no standard at all.

  (I've been on the net for about a year now.  I've never flamed anything
before.)

******************** Flame Off **********************
  (Boy, that sure felt good.)

  I'd appreciate it if somebody could give me some help with this.  If
somebody knows of some good references for more information, I'd
appreciate that too.



-- 
Bruce Karsh                           |
U. Wisc. Dept. Geology and Geophysics |
1215 W Dayton, Madison, WI 53706      | This space for rent.
(608) 262-1697                        |
{ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!geowhiz!karsh    |