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From: mdc@spt.entity.com (Marty Connor)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Farallon vs. Nuvotech Star Control
Message-ID: <314@spt.entity.com>
Date: 28 Feb 90 00:17:39 GMT
References: <88500008@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu>
Reply-To: mdc@spt.UUCP (Marty Connor)
Organization: Hacks 'R' Us, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 67

In article <88500008@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu> ddunlap@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu writes:

>Hello Netland,

Hi hi.

>I am in the process of installing a building-wide AppleTalk network.  I have
>decided that a star controller is the way to go.  I had originally been
>planning on using the controller from Farallon, but have discovered that
>Nuvotech has a 16 port controller for only a slightly higher price than
>Farallon's 12 port box.
>So, what I want to know is, does anyone out there have experience with both
>controllers that can give a comparison?  If not, do you have anything good
>or bad to say about either of the controllers?  Is there another controller
>I should be looking at?

I have used both boxes.

My SO is waiting so this'll have to be quick.

Both boxes seem to work well.  The Farallon StarController has 12 ports, and
basically lets you connect up to 12 branches with lots of machines on
each branch to each other.  Gives a potential net of up to 36,000 feet
of cable.  The fox itself is about 9" sqaure, and has an external 12V
transformer.   You have to buy a phoneblock or adapter for hooking to
the outside world.   You can get it at a VERY competitive price from
MacConnection.  They also sell the phone block and cable.  There is
manager software for the box but only from one Mac, and it requires
you to connect that Mac to the StarController with a special cable.
No biggie, but read on...

The NuvoTech TurboStar is a sexier and more expensive box.  It is a
little larger (about 12" square), but mounts easily.  It also needs a
wiring kit.  (The one for the StarController works fine, though
(smile), and can be had for $64 from MacConnection overnight (smile)).

The nice things about the TUrboSTar are that it has LEDs on the box
telling you what branches are active, and it comes with software that
lets anyone (who knows the password and has the DA) to check out the
TurboStar and see what's happening (load, port activity, name ports).
You can even turn on and off ports (though I wouldn't recommend
turning off your own...).   The box seems solid enough, though, and I
can recommend it (assuming the first ammendment is worth ANYTHING
these days).  Also the LEDs tell you if a port is jamming, and turn it
off until it is fixed.  Nice touch, though I haven't had a problem
with this.

In anycase, if you have the extra few hundred dollars, spring for the
TurboStar.   If you just need more length, and need a brick that works
fine, and don't add users a lot, get the StarController.  Need
supplies, try MacConnection.  Now who's your pal, who's your buddy?

>Dave Dunlap
>Manager of Systems Services
>Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
>University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
>ddunlap@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu

I'm sorry, Dave, I can't do that...
(just kidding, but always wanted to use that line...)

Marty

-- 
Marty Connor, Marty's Computer Workshop,  "Specializing in Macintosh Training"
126 Inman Street, Cambridge, MA 02139; (617) 491-6935
mdc@entity.com, or ...{harvard|uunet}!mit-eddie!spt!mdc