Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!iuvax!uxc!uxc.cso.uiuc.edu!uxg.cso.uiuc.edu!uxa.cso.uiuc.edu!jsa00564 From: jsa00564@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans Subject: Re: Lattisnet/Ethernet over Twisted Pai Message-ID: <114400001@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu> Date: 18 Feb 89 06:32:00 GMT References: <98@cs.columbia.edu> Lines: 37 Nf-ID: #R:cs.columbia.edu:98:uxa.cso.uiuc.edu:114400001:000:2075 Nf-From: uxa.cso.uiuc.edu!jsa00564 Feb 18 00:32:00 1989 In article <98@cs.columbia.edu> benderly@cs.columbia.edu (Dan Benderly) writes: >Does anyone have any experiences with running Ethernet over unshielded >twisted pair ? I know that Lattisnet has such a product, and I was wondering >what people's impressions were. I am a University student who's been lucky enough to do systems integration for a medium sized LAN installation. We installed Lattisnet last August, and have had good luck with it. We did the installation a little differently than most, as we wanted to install 50+ PC's using existing wire and jacks (we just had a new PBX installed last April). Since the jacks installed were dual RJ-11 (2 pair), but Lattisnet uses 4-pair RJ-45 jacks (2 pairs are not used). So, we had some custom RJ11 to RJ45 cables made at Black Box to make the connection. I'd be more than happy to pass on the specs, as it made the installation (from the phone-trained installer) look just like another phone extension (i.e. it keeps the standard wire color code throughout the system). It doesn't sound like a big deal, but there was a lot of mistakes made before we got it right..... Anyway, the system works well, but the installation is finicky. The wire MUST be solid-core copper from end to end, with VERY solid punches at any punch blocks. Also, the cable-length limit of 360 feet is quite strict. (We use Lattisnet "Link Extenders" to go up to 720 feet). Initial installation is the only tough part, though. Day to day, the nodes stay up, with very little problem (at least, problems related to wiring and such...). We used Micom-InterLAN's NI-5210-UTP cards, but others are available. We've had good luck with them, only one defective unit out of 54 units. Please feel free to call me or email any questions.... ^^^^^-preferred ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jeff Autor jsa00564@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu "Help me! I'm an engineering student!" University of Illinois Also affiliated with Valmont Electric, Danville, IL (217) 446-4600