Specifications

October 8, 2003 Networking Alpha Signs (9700-0112C)

4 Network overview

Network overview

Alpha signs can be networked together in the following ways:

• Wired—a network in which there is a physical connection, such as with cables and servers, between a PC

and one or more signs. A wired network is either serial or LAN.

• Wireless—a network in which there is no physical connection between a PC and one or more signs. A

wireless network uses transceivers.

• Modem—a network in which there is a telephone line connection between a PC and one or more signs. A

modem network uses modems.

• Mixed—a combination of a wired, wireless, and modem network.

Wired network—serial

This configuration is a simple serial connection, which means that a sign connects directly to the serial port on

a PC through a cable.

Wired network—LAN

There are several ways to connect an Alpha sign to a TCP/IP network. However, in the configuration below,

signs connect to an Ethernet LAN using an Alpha Ethernet Adapter, which helps a PC communicate with the signs

attached to that network. On some signs, this adapter is internal. On other signs, such as the AlphaPremiere, an

internal Ethernet adapter is used.

Signs can also connect to an Ethernet LAN using MSS100 or MSS485 micro serial servers. These configurations

are documented later in this manual.

Alpha sign

RS232

Alpha sign

Ethernet