• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Phoneline network for APPLE?

M

mmx

Diamond Member
I want to buy the new IMAC(yes people say it sucks, but i think its cool) + I wanted to try mac os x so i need to know if I can connect my phoneline netwrok to the imac or I have to use the ethernet?
 
The only phoneline nic I can find is a pci card. I didnt look too hard though. You would want to look for a usb version or something.

EDIT: They have media converters there which may work.
 
Time for a trip in the wayback machine folks! (future's so bright, I gotta wear shades...)

Those spiffy (not really) phoneline networking technologies that have shown up for PCs within the last few years? BIG WHOOP!
Macs were using phoneline networking WAY back around 1986, courtesy of a kick-@$$ company known as Farallon (now called Proxim 😀).

LocalTalk cabling (which was proprietary stuff from Apple) was EXPEN$IVE as a solid gold baby (thanks $tevie...nice to know some things never change!)
PhoneNet was not only MUCH cheaper (and some say, more reliable) but in most cases worked automagically with existing phone wiring in offices and buildings.

The biggest drawback to PhoneNet? SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOW speed (still a problem, IMHO). At best, you were looking at 1~2 Mbps. Add to that the inherent inefficiencies of AppleTalk (c'mon...someone, argue with me over this point!), and even with the relatively small data and file sizes back then, it was SLOW going.

For that very reason, Stanford started phasing out PhoneNet as early as 1995.

Here are Proxim's various Mac products.

HTH
 
What you want is an Ethernet to Phoneline bridge. Companies like Linksys and Farallon (proxim now) make these in various forms. Farallon also makes a USB to Phoneline thing with Mac drivers, but I would not recommend it because it is likely slower, less reliable, more CPU intensive, and takes up some of your usb bandwidth. This is why I woud recommend going with the Ethernet to HPNA bridge since those do not require drivers and are as plug and play as you can get.

Hope this helps.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top