Photonics ships $895 bridge

*Photonics ships $895 bridge linking IR to Ethernet. (Collaborative EtherPoint) (PC Week Netweek)
PC Week Sept 19, 1994 v11 n37 pN16(1)
PC Week Sept 19, 1994 v11 n37 pN16(1)

Photonics ships $895 bridge linking IR to Ethernet.
(Collaborative EtherPoint) (PC Week Netweek)

by Blakeley, Michael

Abstract
Photonics Corp's $895 Collaborative EtherPoint bridge provides a link
between traditional Ethernet and Photonics' wireless diffuse infrared
(IR) networks, although the range of a single EtherPoint is limited.
Multiple EtherPoints can be used to extend Photonics' proclaimed
25-by-25-foot range. The roaming capabilities of multiple EtherPoints
are impressive, enabling laptops to cross boundaries without any
problems. On the downside, facilities with high ceilings may experience
range problems due to the EtherPoint's use of IR 'echoes' to resolve
signals. Photonics claims that the bridge's IR architecture has a 1-Mbps
capacity, which is slightly slower than solutions based on radio
frequency technologies. The installation process consists of plugging
the unit in, and it does not require any configuration.

Full Text
Shipping today, Photonics Corp.'s $895 Collaborative EtherPoint is a
bridge between Photonics' wireless diffuse infrared networks and
conventional Ethernet.

PC Week Labs tests found that although multiple EtherPoints provide
excellent roaming capabilities, the range of any single EtherPoint is
quite limited.

Photonics claims a 25-by-25-foot range, but multiple EtherPoints can
be used to extend this range, much as repeaters are used to extend
Ethernet cabling limits.

We occasionally failed to connect when only 15 feet away from the
EtherPoint. This might have been due to the high ceilings in our test lab,
because Photonics uses IR "echoes" to resolve signals.

We were pleased with Photonics' implementation of roaming --our
laptop automatically switched over to the EtherPoint with the strongest
signal and crossed boundaries without a hitch.

According to Photonics officials, manufacturing and medical markets
have shown interest in diffuse IR wireless networks because they are
not subject to RF (radio frequency) interference from heavy equipment
or sensitive medical apparatus.

Our testing made evident that manufacturing facilities with high
ceilings may run into range problems.

Photonics claims a 1M-bps capacity for its IR architecture, somewhat
slower than the 1.6M bps claimed by RF-based solutions. In PC Week Labs
tests, NETX file transfers averaged about 210K bps.

This performance level is probably more representative of the Photonics
Collaborative microPCMCIA adapter, a Type 2 card with an integrated
transceiver, than of the EtherPoint.

Setting up the EtherPoint amounted to simply plugging it in. Essentially
a 386-based slim-line PC with a built-in Eagle Technology NE2000
adapter and a Photonics ISA interface, the EtherPoint boots from a
single floppy and automatically runs its bridging software. The
EtherPoint does not require any configuration, but a VGA monitor and a
keyboard can be connected if desired.

Installation procedure

We also tested the installation procedure for the EtherPoint software on
additional PCs. We installed Eagle Technology NE2000+ and Photonics
ISA adapters in a Hewlett-Packard Co. 486/25 slim-line desktop PC.
After configuring interrupt requests and I/O addresses, we formatted a
bootable floppy disk, copied the EtherPoint software onto it, and turned
on the PC.

If desired, we could have removed the hard drive from the computer.

Although it requires a dedicated PC, the EtherPoint Kit could help
corporate sites expand their wireless coverage while recouping
investments in older PCs.

Photonics also ships ISA, parallel port, and PCMCIA wireless network
interfaces, priced from $495 to $595.

The $129 software-only version of the EtherPoint requires a dedicated
386 or better with a Photonics ISA card and an NE2000-compatible
Ethernet network interface card.

Photonics, of San Jose, Calif., can be reached at (408) 955-7930.

Type: Hardware Review
Evaluation

Company: Photonics Corp.

Product: Photonics Collaborative EtherPoint (Bridge/router)

Topic: Bridge/Router
Evaluation
Infrared Technology
Ethernet

Record# 16 251 832