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Q20: What is Thinnet?
A20:Thinnet, also known as Thin Ethernet, is the 50-ohm "thin"
(5mm) coaxial cable used with Ethernet 10Base2 networks, supporting a
10 Mb/s transmission rate over a 185 meter maximum supported segment length.
The Thinnet cable for 10Base 2 has the advantages of being cheaper, lighter,more
flexible, and easier to install than the Thicknet cable for 10Base5.However
the thin cable has the disadvantage that its transmission characteristics
are not as good as the thick cable. It supports only a 185 meter maximum
segment length (vs. 500 meters for 10Base5) and a maximum of 30 stations
per cable segment (vs. 100 for 10Base5).
10Base2 transceivers (MAUs) are connected to the Thinnet cable segment
through a "BNC Tee" connector, and not through "tapping"
as with 10Base5.As the name implies, the BNC Tee connector is shaped like
the letter "T".The horizontal part of the "T" includes
female connectors that mate with the male BNC coaxial connectors on each
end of the attaching cable sections.The vertical part of the "T"
includes a male BNC connector that either computer station, or to an external
thin Ethernet transceiver that is then attached to the NIC through a standard
AUI cable. If stations are removed from the network, the "T"
connector is removed and replaced with a "BNC Barrel" connector
that provides a straight through connection.
Each end of a 10Base2 coaxial segment must be terminated with a BNC 50-ohm
terminator. For safety reasons, a ground wire should connect the segment
to earth ground at one point, typically at the terminator on the end of
the segment.
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