Classic mac fun (and some questions) (continued...again...)

[Pete Turnbull]

On 09/07/2009 17:00, Ethan Dicks wrote:

>>  Then I would only need to find an AUI to RJ-45 doodad
>>  which is skinny enough to fit into the recessed ports on the IIfx.  I
>>  have an AUI thingy now, but it's too fat to reach the db-15 connector
>>  on the network card.
> 
> http://lowendmac.com/ii/macintosh-iifx.html
> 
> Are you sure that's an AUI connection?  I would expect a Mac of that
> vintage to have a DA-15 for video but not Ethernet.  Does it have 4-40
> screwposts or stud-heads to receive a slide-lock clip?  I've never
> worked with a IIfx, but I would expect it to need a NuBus Ethernet
> card.

I don't have it now to check, but I'm sure my IIfx was indeed a DA-15. 
I still have the DA15-to-something-sensible adaptor.  Mine did also have 
a network card, but the presentation was 10baseT.  If it has 4-40 
screws, it's video; if it's slide-lock, it's Ethernet.

> If it really is an AUI, what was also common in the day was an AUI
> cable to the transceiver.  I've seen plenty of heavy-duty ones from
> back in the 10Base2 days and lots of light-grade 1m to 2m-long thinner
> cables with molded black plastic ends that look suitable for
> office/desktop use.

Companies like Allied Telesyn made two types of mini transceiver, there 
was the normal one (AT-210T) that was a more-or-less rectangular box 
with a slide-lock DA15 and rounded corners which works on most things 
because they don't have stupid slim recesses, and there was the 
"micro-transceiver" (AT-210TS) which is very slightly longer, but 
stepped so the end with the DA15 is only as thick as it needs to be to 
accommodate the connector, and hence fits Macs -- which is what it was 
specially designed for.  Google will find you pictures.

The AUI drop cables are actually specified to be thick blue things 
(normally with diecast metal connectors) for normal grade, and thinner 
beige things (with beige or black plastic-covered connectors for what is 
officially called "office grade" and restricted to short lengths.  I was 
just about to put one or two (office grade) on eBay, if anyone needs one.

-- 

Pete						Peter Turnbull
						Network Manager
						University of York