8-bit Ethernet cards?

[Super-Slasher]

Just wondering if there are any 8-bit ISA ethernet cards in existance, because all I've ever seen or heard of is 16-bit EISA ethernet cards. I'd like to find one so I can get my Zenith on the Internet so I can use that Contiki OS on it.

:o

[Erik]

I'm pretty sure there are. I seem to remember networking AT class machines way back when using ISA cards.

That doesn't mean I have any, but you should be able to find one.

Good luck!

Erik

[finnegpt]

Yes, for instance the 3c501... I'd just seen one of these at the Surplus place I frequent the other day. However, you might try sticking a 16-bit ISA ethernet card in the machine.. I've used 16bit ISA VGA cards in a PC/XT before, so an Ethernet card might work as well. If you want me to grab the 3com 8-bit ethernet card for you, send me an email.

[Super-Slasher]

Plug an EISA card into an ISA slot? I dunno... wouldn't that not work? I mean, the extra connections not being made on the extended portion of the card edge?

Even if it did work, I doubt it would work to it's full potential, plus it would look rather shabby. I think I'd rather try to get an actual 8-bit/ISA slot ethernet card, that way I'm assured it'll work okay.

Thanks for your input. I might contact you in the near future about one of those cards. (Does it have the 9-pin ethernet connector in the back?)

[finnegpt]

Plug an EISA card into an ISA slot? I dunno... wouldn't that not work? I mean, the extra connections not being made on the extended portion of the card edge?
As I said, I've done it with VGA cards, I don't see why it wouldn't also work with ethernet cards. The only signals that matter on the 16-bit part (note, that's NOT EISA, EISA is a 32bit extension that won't properly fit into an ISA card slot) are address pins over A19 (>1MB) and D8-D15. If you get a simple NE2000 card, which doesn't use memory space, just i/O space, it already ignores the address pins. Also, the high byte (D8-D15 pins) won't be used unless the CPU uses a 16bit I/O instruction, which I can guarantee won't happen on an 8088 /8086 based machine.

The bigger issue is that just about every 8-bit ethernet card was unreliable at best. I'd rather klooge a 16-bit card to work in an 8-bit slot than try to use something with a 3c501 in it. However, if you're that worried about asthetics (I care more about functionality, personally...) then sure, go ahead and get an 8-bit ethernet card, it'll look less out of place. Just don't complain when it can't keep up with network traffic : ).

Thanks for your input. I might contact you in the near future about one of those cards. (Does it have the 9-pin ethernet connector in the back?)

I think you mean 15-pin, but yes, it should. I'd have to go back to check, but I'd doubt it would lack it for that era of card. If you want, I can send you both a 16-bit and 8-bit card so you can decide which you prefer. I've got plenty of the 16-bit ISA cards laying around here taking up space that should have DEC cards. : )

[barryp]

Just wondering if there are any 8-bit ISA ethernet cards in existance, because all I've ever seen or heard of is 16-bit EISA ethernet cards.

Well, I have three right here;

Two are Western Digital WD8003E and the other is a WD8003EB. However they are ISA. They have about 20 jumpers and they have both AUI and BNC connectors.

I've never been able to make them work.

[lither]

some of the 16 bit ISA card will work in the 8 bit slot and the 8 bit mode. some of them will work in the 8 bit slot and will not work in the 8 bit mode. (work in short ISA slot but require a AT CPU etc ) and some will not work in the 8 bit slot.
It depends on the chips.
As for the VGA card . The most well know example is the Tsenglab chips. Allmost all the VGA card with the ET4000AX chips will work both in the 16 bit slot and the 8 bit slot , and will work in the 8 bit mode ( so it will work in the 8088 machine) . In fact , i haven't seen a ET4000AX card not work in the XT. However the 16 bit VGA card with other Tsenglab chips will not work.

As for the netcard , i am not certain . However , i have a couple of Dlink 16 bit netcards ( dlink 220 series) . All of them will work on 8 bit mode. Acorrding to manual , the dlink 220 will automatically detect on what slot it was plugged and then switch the working mode accordingly. I dont know why dlink emphasize this. Do they imply that some of the other 16 bit netcard will not work in 8 bit mode? i am not sure.

[Super-Slasher]

Does anyone know if a 3COM 3C509B will work in an 8-bit slot/mode?

[ravuya]

NE1000 is a common 8bit ISA ethernet card.

[Blackcube]

I've used Intel EtherExpress 8/16 cards in my Tandy 1000.

[Jorg]

AFAIK the 3c509 does not work in 8 bit.

Stay clear of the 3c501 (and the 3c505 16 bit also), they have 'issues'

I think most 16 bit cards that work in 8 bit mode when in an 8 bit slot are of the NE2000 type (they then act as NE1000)

[NathanAllan]

I am looking at a catalog sent to me by Sena Technologies, promoting ethernet connectivity through a serial port using their Hello! device, RS232 ethernet. It is a small board that you can get in a variety of configs, in a small yellow box, a larger black box and a different one that connects rs232, 422, 485. Those are the "device servers." There are also terminal servers in the same configurations. Looks to be windows only, though I figure a dos app could be written for it.

Specs:
Male DB9 serial interface
Serial speeds 150bps-115Kbps
Flow control: hardware/software
Signals: RS232/Rx, Tx, RTS, CTS, GND

10 Base-T with RJ-45 Ethernet connector
Supports static and dynamic IP address

ARP, IP/ICMP
TCP
BOOTP/DHCP client

User ID/Password

HelloDevice Utility Software
O/S support: Win 89/ME/NT/2000/XP

Diagnostic LED
Power
Rx, Tx, Collision for ethernet

Operating temp
5-50 degrees celcius
Storage Temperature
-40-66 degrees Celcius

98x66x30mm
3.9x2.6x1.2in
240g

7.5~9vdc
300mA@7.5v

Though it doesn't advertise it, I presume this thing came out after the embedded ethernet chip came out. Seems it would be a great device to have for several different machines on a switch. No price given in the catalog, though. The website to get a free catalog from Korea in about 2 months is:

http://www.sena.com

Nathan