Re: //e workstation card questions

[spqr@ruth.uucp (Will Baguhn)]

dempson@atlantis.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) writes:

| LocalTalk is Apple's cabling system.  A "drop box" is required for
| each computer, plus LocalTalk cabling is required between the computers.
|
| There are much cheaper alternatives: "Modunet", "Phonenet" and similar
| systems use telephone cable between their drop boxes, and the whole
| system is usually less than half the price of equivalent LocalTalk cabling.
|
| If you have an existing network, you may be forced to use the existing
| cabling system, unless you can get an adaptor to connect between
| LocalTalk and PhoneNet/ModuNet.  (I have heard that this type of
| adaptor is reasonably easy to get, but I've never seen one.)
|
| --
| David Empson
| dempson@actrix.gen.nz
| Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand

Well, on the network of Macs I run <sigh... money is nice tho>, we're
mixing Localtalk and some sort of PhoneNet.  Definitely to be
considered in this decision is "gee, if this is going to have more than
15 machines, some of it really should be Localtalk" because of
<substantially!> increased reliability.

If you're running PhoneNet, remember Category 5 wiring is almost
necessary.  ("That'll cost a fair coin")  Don't think you can go any
serious distance (we have problems at more than 25 metres) with
residential grade telephone wire.

The adapters to mix Localtalk and PhoneNet are usually a wire, with one
type of connector on each end (one LT, one phonenet plug).  should cost
$7 in an expensive store; maybe can get parts at ratshack for $5 (some
assembly required).


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