Specifications

Standard Ethernet Patch Cables

Category 5 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable

100 meters (328 feet) per segment*<

Standard Ethernet Patch Cables

Category 5 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable

100 meters (328 feet) per segment*<

Optical Fiber (×2)

62.5 µm multimode

2000 meters (6560 ft, or 1.24 mi)*<

Using fiber to link distant hubs in a network

NETWORK LIMITATIONS

There are more possible network configurations than can be shown in this or any book, and as long as they use no

switches or routers but otherwise meet Fast Ethernet standards, they generally will work with RAVE units. Keep in

mind, though, that every hub, length of cabling, media converter, etc., delays the data passing through it by a small

amount, and adding these to the system adds to the total delay time. CobraNet has a certain advantage over

regular Fast Ethernet, however, in that its deterministic nature affords more tolerance of delay than unregulated, non-

deterministic network traffic can handle: a network span or diameter of up to 2560 bit periods (with Fast Ethernet,

1 bit period = 10 nanoseconds), or 25.6 microseconds. Unless you are designing very large and complicated RAVE

networks, though, you’re very unlikely to reach these limits. For further guidance on designing large-scale

networks, consult the CobraNet network guidelines on Peak Audio’s web site: http://www.peakaudio.com.

Bit periods

1 RAVE bit period (@ 100

million bits per second) =

10 nanoseconds

Maximum CobraNet

span

2560 bit periods, or 25.6

microseconds

*Although any one fiber segment can be up to 2000 meters long,

and any single UTP segment can be up to 100 meters long, it may

be necessary to impose shorter limits, in consideration of

cumulative delays caused by devices and cabling. See text for

more information.

*Although any one fiber segment can be up to 2000 meters long, and any one UTP segment can

be up to 100 meters long, it may be necessary to impose shorter limits, in consideration of

cumulative delays caused by devices and cabling. See text for details.

Using fiber on individual network segments