Specifications

CP143 H1 / TCP/IP manual Network planning
Rev. 00/07 3-3
3.2 Thin-ethernet-cable networks
Thin-ethernet-cable network hardware
This chapter contains a description and an illustration (Fig. 3-2) of the hardware required for a thin-
ethernet-network.
Network adapter
Network adapters are installed in every station on the network and linked by means of a
network cable to provide the communication medium between these stations.
BNC-connectors
BNC-plugs and -sockets provide the electrical link between the hardware on the
network. The network cable is connected to the BNC-socket located on the network
adapter. BNC-plugs connected to both ends of the network cable link the different
segments of the cable via a T-piece or a barrel connector. The T-piece is connected to
the BNC-socket on the network adapter.
Thin-ethernet-cable
Thin-ethernet-cable consists of RG-58A/U 50 Ohm coaxial cable with a diameter of 0,2
inch (5,08 mm).
BNC-connectors
BNC-connectors are used to interconnect two thin-ethernet network cables. Where two
portions of a thin-ethernet network must be linked these connectors have a distinct
advantage over T-pieces. You may obtain these BNC-connectors from VIPA GmbH.
BNC-T-pieces
The two sockets located at opposite ends of the T-piece provide the connection to the
BNC-connectors on the thin-ethernet cable. The third connector on the T-piece is
connected to the BNC-connector on the network adapter and provides the physical link
to the network. You may obtain BNC-T-pieces from VIPA.
BNC-terminator
Every network must end in a 50 Ω BNC terminator which acts as a matched load and
which reduces electrical interference on the network. The terminator is connected to one
of the two sockets of the T-piece when no other cable is connected. Some BNC
terminators have a ground connection which may be used to ground the screen of the
network cable. You may obtain BNC terminators with and without ground connection
from VIPA GmbH.
One side of a network segment (it is immaterial which side) must be fitted with
a BNC-terminator which has a ground connection!
The other side of the segment may not have a terminator!