🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <EcNqZda00WCoQSzBtV@andrew.cmu.edu> tjh+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU (Tom Holodnik) writes:
>
>	Does anyone know of an infrared LocalTalk connection scheme? Does
>anyone have any experience with it? We have some temporary office space
>in a trailer parked next to a building (yes, both have windows), and we
>need a cheap way to connect them to a network, without exposure to
>problems like lightning and interference. Perhaps we'd have as many
>troubles with infrared...
>	
>	Does anyone have any expertise here? How reliable is it? Under what
>circumstances does it work best?

We use a pair of building-to-building Photolinks from Photonics Corp
of Campbell California. 

Telephone: (408) 370-3033.
Email: photonics@applelink.apple.com

They mount inside the windows, so are unaffected by the elements.

Siting is important.  You cannot face them directly into the sun.  They
should always be at least 7 degrees off of dead-on facing the sun.

Keep in mind that the sun moves a lot during the course of the year.

The building-to-building units are more expensive than the normal photolinks.
List price for a pair is about $4000.00.  We got ours for $2350.

Logically and topologically,  the building-to-building photolinks are
opto-isolated repeaters.  Since they add about 40 micro-seconds of delay,
you cannot use them in conjunction with any other repeaters, unless you
put in a bridge and create additional zones.

The units are very tolerant of interuption of their beams,  but don't plan
on using them across a road where delivery trucks will block the beam
several times a day.

Range is up to 600 feet.  We use them to cross a 50-foot driveway.

Once properly set up,  they work just like localtalk wire,  with the caveat
above about not adding more repeaters.

Photonics supplies superior tech support and is a pleasure to work with.

This stuff works and can be a real miracle-maker in certain situations.

Jim Bradley, Programmer/Analyst
CNR Computer Facility, UC Berkeley
jim@cavebear.berkeley.edu