SBX20
ARCNET® Network Interface Module for Intel iSBX
Compatible
INSTALLATION GUIDE
INTRODUCTION
The SBX20 series of ARCNET network interface modules (NIMs) links
single-board computers (SBCs) with the ARCNET local area network.
ARCNET is classified as a token-bus local area network (LAN) operating at
2.5 Mbps while supporting 255 nodes. Interfacing ARCNET to a host
computer usually requires a NIM which plugs into the host computer’s bus.
In the case of single-board computers which have no bus, a NIM solution is
not possible. However, many SBCs have an on-board expansion slot which
conforms to Intel’s iSBX Bus Specification. Using the SBX20 ARCNET
NIM, SBCs can now be linked to the ARCNET LAN via the iSBX
expansion socket.
The SBX20 ARCNET NIM is a compact, low power CMOS design, which
conforms to the single-wide iSBX Multimodule Board Outline with
variation (2.85" x 3.70"; 72mm x 93mm). However, the coaxial and fiber
connectors extend beyond the board outline and raise the maximum
component height of the SBX20 ARCNET NIM to 0.500" (12mm) instead
of the specified 0.400" (10mm) height.
There are several versions of the SBX20 ARCNET NIM. The SBX20-CXS
supports coaxial star configurations requiring external active or passive
hubs. The SBX20-CXB supports a multidrop or coaxial bus configuration
usually requiring no hubs. Other versions include the SBX20-FOG
which supports fiber optic cable with either ST or SMA connectors. The
SBX20-TPB supports multidrop twisted-pair cabling. The SBX20-485
supports backplane mode EIA-485 cabling, while the SBX20-485D supports
non-backplane mode EIA-485. The SBX20-485X supports transformer
coupled EIA-485.