Proteon Inc, Westborough, Massachusetts has a a new generation of its ProNET-4 token ring network adaptors and intelligent wire centres, which support unshielded twisted pair cabling over IEEE 802.5 4Mbps and 16Mbps token ring networks. They feature unified media support and superior network management capabilities to simplify networking installations. The key to the unshielded twisted pair support is a new multi-access unit, the Series 70 Intelligent Wire Centre, a modular hub supports 4, 10, and 16 Mbps networks on unshielded and shielded twisted pair cables now, with the promise of fibre optics in the future. The Series 70’s unified cabling approach is claimed to offer long term solutions to corporate users, and is compatible with the AT&T Premises Distribution System and the IBM Cabling system. IBM boards will also work on 16Mbps unshielded networks using the Series 70 with a new media filter – Proteon recommends passive filtering as a simple and pragmatic way to address the technical challenge of 16Mbps running over unshielded twisted par. Passive filtering at both ends of the cable eliminates electro-magnetic interference and facilitates reliable signal transmission. The filtering approach also limits radio frequency interference within the acceptable frequency range, and Proteon’s 16Mbps unshielded twisted pair networks will support distances of at least 280 feet between the wiring closet and the workstation, and supports at least 72 devices on 16Mbps networks, and the Intelligent Wire Center’s modularity is promised to provide future support for even larger 16Mbps networks. The p7201 is for ProNET-4 and 16Mbps shielded networks and the p7202 for ProNET-4, ProNET-10, and 16Mbps unshielded networks are $1,300 each and are available next month. The p1347 AT File Server Adaptor is $650, the p1346 AT Workstation Adaptor is $550, both out now; the p1342 XT Adaptor is $500 from September.
