IBM Corp and SynOptics Communications Corp are proposing that technology they have jointly developed, which supports 16Mbps Token Ring networks over unshielded twisted pair, should be incorporated into the developing Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.5 standard. The proposal was made at the IEEE 802 plenary committee meeting last month in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (CI No 1,797). It is understood that the proposal was viewed favourably, although it will be some time before the decision is known. A spokesman for Santa Clara-based SynOptics did say, though, that the Institute would want to move quickly on this and that, if adopted, the technology might be included within the standard in less than a year. The companies have also announced the first product to be developed as a result of the technology, which is designed to address customer concerns about the system – that network signal distortion and near-end crosstalk can occur at such high speeds with unshielded twisted pair wiring. The new product, SynOptics’ Model 3505A UTP Host Module, supports up to 132 Token Ring stations at a maximum distance of 100 yards from the hub when installed in a SynOptics System 3000 intelligent hub. The Model 3505A is compatible with the SynOptics Model 3505 unshielded twisted pair Token Ring Host Module and the two modules can be connected together in a single ring and/or in a single hub. Both twisted pair host modules are compatible with the SynOptics Model 955 and Model 956 Integrated Media Filters, as well as 4Mbps and 16Mbps Token Ring adaptor cards from IBM. The Model 3505A will ship in January for $2,100, while the Model 955 and Model 956 Integrated Media Filters are available now for $80 apiece. SynOptics has also introduced an upgrade programme for customers wanting to replace existing Model 3505 Unshielded Twisted Pair Host Modules. That IBM was involved in the development of the technology has been seen by some as an unusual step, since it continues to market actively the IBM Cabling System, which uses the more expensive Shielded Twisted Pair cabling. Indeed, the new technology may make IBM’s shielded system considerably less attractive, as one of the disadvantages of unshielded has been its inability to support high speed data networks such as 16Mbps Token Ring local nets. IBM will continue to market shielded, though, and a spokesman said that IBM’s involvement did not indicate that it was losing its commitment to shielded or that it was intending to develop any unshielded products. Separately, Synoptics announced price cuts of over 35% on its full range of 10Base-T products. These include its 12-port Model 2800 Workgroup Concentrator and the Model 3308 10Base-T Ethernet Host Module.
