🚀 go-pugleaf

We are facing a decision here regarding Appletalk connectors.  Up until
recently, we have been using Farallon PhoneNet connectors, Farallon Star 
controllers, and Kinetics Fastpath 4's.  We have 19 Appletalk zones, with 
450+ Macs total on the campus.

Wishing to get quantity price breaks on connectors, we decided to explore our
options on what was out there.  We found that for the price that the 
Nuvotech TurboNet ST suited our needs.  The LED's allowed us to test signal
strength on new Appletalk drops, the allowable distances were greater than
with PhoneNet, which we proved with installing a TurboNet for a user 
approximately 3500'.  He has been real happy.  Another plus was the self-
terminating capability.  After some pilot tests on our network for reliablity,
we decided to purchase 50.  

Our problem??  Apparently, there were concerns raised based on a Farallon
Tech Note #2 published on Applelink stating possible problems with these
devices.  We have a mixed Farallon and Nuvotech environment and we have not
experienced any of the problems mentioned in the article.  In fact, I have
replaced Farallon connectors with Nuvotech when we determined the user's
problem was a bad connector, and the problem has gone away.

What I need from the user community is some information and opinions.  We
are going to run some tests and from those results decide on what connector
to use.  I am flexbile, but I want the decsion to be based on cold, hard
facts, not heresay.

Thanks in advance.  Any technical information or testimonials for those of
you using both connectors or have switched from one to the other based on
problems would be greatly appreciated.

Nora Auseklis
Macintosh System Administrator
Mentor Graphics Corporation