Specifications

15
A
B
RAVE unit
RAVE unit
RAVE unit
RAVE unit
Class I hub
Class I hub
RAVE unit RAVE unit RAVE unit RAVE unit
Class I hub
Class I hub
RAVE unit
RAVE unit
RAVE unit
RAVE unit
Class I hub
RAVE unit RAVE unit RAVE unit
1
0
0
m
1
0
0m
1
0
0
m
1
0
0
m
1
0
0
m
Class I hub
Class I hub
RAVE unit
RAVE unit
1
0
0
m
1
0
0
m
1
0
0
m
1
0
0
m
1
0
0
m
1
0
0
m
The maximum span of
this network is from
device A to device B.
There are seven 100-
meter lengths of CAT-5
cable (111.2 bit periods
each) and six Class I
hubs (up to 140 bit
periods each) in
between, plus the
delay of the receiving
RAVE unit (up to 100 bit
periods) at the other
end. These add up to a
total of up to 1718.4 bit
periods, which is well
within the 2560-bit-
period limit.
Class I hub
RAVE unitRAVE unit RAVE unit
1
2
0
m
1
0
0
m
Class I hub
Media converter Media converter
RAVE unitRAVE unit RAVE unit
2500 m (optical fiber)
100 m
5 m
5 m
… but these seemingly simple networks won’t.
In this network, one of the CAT-5 cable
segments is 120 meters long, which exceeds
the 100-meter limit.
In this network, the maximum span comprises two 5-meter runs and one 100-meter
run of CAT-5 cable (total of 120 meters, or 133.4 bit periods), a Class I hub (up to 140 bit
periods), two media converters (let’s say you bought the really nice ones, at 48 bit
periods each—total, 96 bit periods), 2500 meters of optical fiber (2500 bit periods), and
the delay in the receiving RAVE unit (up to 100 bit periods). This makes a total of up to
2969.4 bit periods, which well exceeds the 2560-bit-period limit and spells trouble.
That’s why this network, despite its apparent complexity, will work …