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From: skip@ubvax.UUCP (Skip Addison Jr)
Newsgroups: net.lan
Subject: Re: Can ethernet use branched cable?
Message-ID: <454@ubvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Feb-86 12:16:29 EST
Article-I.D.: ubvax.454
Posted: Fri Feb 21 12:16:29 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Feb-86 03:47:26 EST
References: <2239@phri.UUCP>
Reply-To: skip@ubvax.UUCP (Skip Addison Jr)
Organization: Ungermann-Bass, Inc., Santa Clara, Ca.
Lines: 16

In article <2239@phri.UUCP> roy@phri.UUCP (Roy Smith) writes:
>
>        Is there any reason why an ethernet (thin or thick) cable can't be
>branched?  All the diagrams I see only show linear layouts with taps off
> ...

Yes, there is a reason why that won't work, in general.  Just about anything
can work, as those of the bubble-gum and bailing wire school of thought so
often discover.  But branching an Ethernet will not work reliably in general.

The reason has to do with transmission line theory, maxwell's equations, or
the law of parallel resistors :-), depending on your persuasion.  Basically,
the cable needs to appear to be one continuous length of cable.

-- Skip Addison
   {lll-crg, decwrl, ihnp4}!amdcad!cae780!ubvax!skip