daveavr 
Hi Freaks,
I've got a handful of XPort (TCP/IP-ethernet) devices that I want to connect up to a PC. I'm looking for the cheapest way of doing this. Do you have to use an ethernet hub or can you just make a t-connection on the Cat-5 cable. Is there anything out there for t-junction connections. I know you could do it with the old style coax able but i havent seen anything for Cat-5
Cheers
Dave.
lgijssel With UTP you can only interconnect 2 devices with a X-over cable. You will need a hub or switch when you want to connect more than this.
Regards,
Leo
If you are going to use several of those from the same pc (Netcard) , then buy a cheap 8-Port 10/100 Ethernet switch (Costs around $20..$30)
Connect PC netcard to switch and connect the Xports to the same.
If the switch supports MDII/MDII-X , it will even do "Automatic Crossover" , meaning that you wil not need to think about wether the cable (PDS Cat5) is straight or an X-Cable
/Bingo
pmurdock What if you're in a power constrained situation and you can't budget in the power for the ethernet switch (a significant amount > 200 mA @ 5V). Could they be connected manually together and just let the CSMA/CD algorithm handle the collisions?
cheers,
Paul
