Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!uwvax!vanvleck!uwmcsd1!ig!agate!ucbvax!orc.olivetti.COM!roode
From: roode@orc.olivetti.COM (David Roode)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: Ethernet transceiver connector slide-locks
Message-ID: <8806181919.AA22300@orc.olivetti.com>
Date: 18 Jun 88 19:19:45 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 23

A variable which significantly affects reliability of the slide-lock
is the weight of the transceiver cable.  Some manufacturers have much
heavier cable than others.  Some (DEC) make an extra-light cable for
use when the run is not too far.  Also, right angle connectors are
available from some transceiver cable manufacturers (DEC again).

I second the comments for strain relief. Even the alternative
use of screws and nut posts is subject to mechanical damage due
to the vulnerable way these jacks are often located, and
strain relief via an offset bar or other means would be a good idea
regardless of the use of slide locks.  The slide locks are excellent
when used to couple two transceiver cables together.

In many cases the built in thin-net transceiver makes operation
without external transceivers over thin-net more desirable than using
the 15-pin transceiver port anyway.  For the price of 10 transceivers,
a multiport thin repeater can be purchased.  This will allow operation
of 8 independent thin segments with a length of 180 meters each,
fanning out from the multiport repeater.  On each segment, up to 31
thin transceivers may be located.  Holding each segment to 5 or so
stations yields a compartmentalized network which is easy to debug,
and robust in the event of a disturbance to the (now thin rather than
thick) coax.