Black Box LT0009A User manual

FEBRUARY 1997
LT0009A
LT0009A-UTP
Lobe Access Unit
CUSTOMER SUPPORT INFORMATION
Order toll-free in the U.S. 24 hours, 7 A.M. Monday to midnight Friday: 877-877-BBOX
FREE technical support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Call 724-746-5500 or fax [phone]
Mail order: Black Box Corporation, 1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, PA 15055-1018
Web site: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: [email protected]

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LOBE ACCESS UNIT
TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL
IBM is a registered trademark of IBM Corporation.
All applied-for and registered trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.

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LOBE ACCESS UNIT
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
The products listed in this manual conform to the following standard(s) or
other normative document(s):
EMC: EN 55022 (1994): Limits and methods of measurement of radio
disturbance characteristics of information technology equipment.
EN 50082-1 (1992): Electromagnetic compatibility—Generic
immunity standard for residential, commercial, and light
industry.
Supplementary Information: The products herewith comply with the
requirements of the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC. The products were tested
in a typical configuration.

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LOBE ACCESS UNIT
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
AND
INDUSTRY CANADA
RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENTS
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy
and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio
communication. It has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class A computing device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart J
of Part 15 of FCC rules, which are designed to provide reasonable
protection against such interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. Operation of this equipment in a residential area
is likely to cause interference, in which case the user at his own expense will
be required to take whatever measures may be necessary to correct the
interference.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible
for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emission
from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulation of Industry
Canada.
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les
limites applicables aux appareils numériques de classe A prescrites dans le Règlement
sur le brouillage radioélectrique publié par industrie Canada.

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LOBE ACCESS UNIT
NORMAS OFICIALES MEXICANAS (NOM)
ELECTRICAL SAFETY STATEMENT
INSTRUCCIONES DE SEGURIDAD
1. Todas las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser leídas
antes de que el aparato eléctrico sea operado.
2. Las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser guardadas
para referencia futura.
3. Todas las advertencias en el aparato eléctrico y en sus instrucciones
de operación deben ser respetadas.
4. Todas las instrucciones de operación y uso deben ser seguidas.
5. El aparato eléctrico no deberá ser usado cerca del agua—por
ejemplo, cerca de la tina de baño, lavabo, sótano mojado o cerca de
una alberca, etc..
6. El aparato eléctrico debe ser usado únicamente con carritos o
pedestales que sean recomendados por el fabricante.
7. El aparato eléctrico debe ser montado a la pared o al techo sólo
como sea recomendado por el fabricante.
8. Servicio—El usuario no debe intentar dar servicio al equipo eléctrico
más allá a lo descrito en las instrucciones de operación. Todo otro
servicio deberá ser referido a personal de servicio calificado.
9. El aparato eléctrico debe ser situado de tal manera que su posición
no interfiera su uso. La colocación del aparato eléctrico sobre una
cama, sofá, alfombra o superficie similar puede bloquea la
ventilación, no se debe colocar en libreros o gabinetes que impidan
el flujo de aire por los orificios de ventilación.
10. El equipo eléctrico deber ser situado fuera del alcance de fuentes de

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LOBE ACCESS UNIT
calor como radiadores, registros de calor, estufas u otros aparatos
(incluyendo amplificadores) que producen calor.
11. El aparato eléctrico deberá ser connectado a una fuente de poder
sólo del tipo descrito en el instructivo de operación, o como se
indique en el aparato.
12. Precaución debe ser tomada de tal manera que la tierra fisica y la
polarización del equipo no sea eliminada.
13. Los cables de la fuente de poder deben ser guiados de tal manera
que no sean pisados ni pellizcados por objetos colocados sobre o
contra ellos, poniendo particular atención a los contactos y
receptáculos donde salen del aparato.
14. El equipo eléctrico debe ser limpiado únicamente de acuerdo a las
recomendaciones del fabricante.
15. En caso de existir, una antena externa deberá ser localizada lejos de
las lineas de energia.
16. El cable de corriente deberá ser desconectado del cuando el equipo
no sea usado por un largo periodo de tiempo.
17. Cuidado debe ser tomado de tal manera que objectos liquidos no
sean derramados sobre la cubierta u orificios de ventilación.
18. Servicio por personal calificado deberá ser provisto cuando:
A: El cable de poder o el contacto ha sido dañado; u
B: Objectos han caído o líquido ha sido derramado dentro del
aparato; o
C: El aparato ha sido expuesto a la lluvia; o
D: El aparato parece no operar normalmente o muestra un cambio
en su desempeño; o
E: El aparato ha sido tirado o su cubierta ha sido dañada.

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Operating Voltage — 4.5 ±0.7 volts
Operating Current — 1.0 mA @ 5 VDC
Resistance TX to RX — 4.8 ±0.2 kΩ
Insertion Time — 5 seconds
Removal Time — 50 to 200 msec
Insertion Loss (Maximum) —
0.5–4 MHz 4–16 MHz 16–32 MHz
SUB TX to SUB RX 0.65 dB 1.3 dB 2.6 dB
MAIN RX to SUB RX 0.85 dB 1.8 dB 3.7 dB
SUB TX to MAIN TX 0.85 dB 1.8 dB 3.7 dB
Crosstalk (Maximum) —
10 KHz 0.5–4 MHz 4–16 MHz
SUB TX to SUB RX 55 dB 43 dB 37 dB
SUB WRAP to MAIN 50 dB 40 dB 35 dB
Return Loss (Minimum) —
1–6 MHz 6–12 MHz 12–24 MHz
20 dB 14 dB 11 dB
1. Specifications

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Common Mode Rejection (Minimum) —
1–6 MHz 6–12 MHz 12–24 MHz
40 dB 28 dB 25 dB
Electrical Connectors — LT0009A: MAIN:
(1) DB9 female; SUB-1
through -4: (1) DB9
male each; LT0009A-
UTP: MAIN: (1) RJ-45
female; SUB-1 through
-4: (1) RJ-45 female each
Indicators — (4) Red LEDs; lobe
activity
MTBF — 98,398 hours
Certification — CE
Operating
Temperature — 32 to 122°F (0 to 50°C)
Relative Humidity
Tolerance — 10 to 90%,
noncondensing
Size — 1.4"H x 4.4"W x 7.3"D
(3.6 x 11.2 x 18.5 cm)
Weight — 0.8 lb. (0.4 kg)

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2.1 Description
The Lobe Access Units are lobe extenders that
quadruple the lobe capacity of the standard Token
Ring MAU. The Lobe Access Unit increases the
flexibility of the Token Ring network by enabling its
topology to be expanded in a more cost-effective way.
It is especially designed to eliminate the need for an
additional MAU in situations where extra lobes are
needed. By using Lobe Access Units to add
workstations to the ring in place of extra lobe
cabling, overall design costs are reduced.
Connect four workstations to a single lobe with the
Lobe Access Unit. Or, an internal switch enables the
Lobe Access Unit to operate as a standalone access
unit. (See Figure 2-1.)
The LT0009A has five ports, each using DB9
connectors. The MAIN port is female, and the four
sub-ports are male. The LT0009A-UTP also has five
ports, but these use RJ-45 connectors. All five ports
are female.
2. Introduction

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LOBE ACCESS UNIT
To ensure proper operation, you’ll need to use an
initialization tool (our part number LT037) during
the initial setup. This will need to be ordered
separately.
The Lobe Access Unit is small, lightweight, and easy
to install. No strapping adjustments or external
power supply are required.
Figure 2-1. Use as a standalone unit or connect
four workstations to a single lobe.
Standalone operation
Lobe Access
Unit Lobe Access
Unit
MAU
4 workstations connected
to a single lobe

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2.2 Features
• Allows a single lobe to accommodate four
workstations.
• Operates at 4 or 16 Mbps.
• Compatible with IBM®Token Ring and
complies with IEEE 802.5.
• LED indicators monitor active workstations.
• Easy installation, wall-mountable.
• No external power supply required.
• Can operate as a standalone unit.
2.3 Package Contents
When you receive your Lobe Access Unit, it should
come with a user’s guide and two clip-on wallmount
brackets.

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LOBE ACCESS UNIT
3.1 Set-Up Procedures
Before connecting the unit to the network, use the
initialization tool (LT037, sold separately) as follows:
1. Connect the initialization tool to the port labeled
SUB-1 for about 10 seconds.
2. The two LEDs on the initialization tool should
light up and then fade. Up to two clicks should
be heard.
3. After both LEDs on the initialization tool have
faded completely (about 6 seconds), remove the
initialization tool. Two clicks should be heard.
4. Repeat the procedure for ports SUB-2 through
SUB-4. Note that for port SUB-4, only a single
LED will light on the tool, and only one click
will be heard.
3.2 The Standalone Option
The Lobe Access Unit can work as a standalone unit
if you set a switch inside the unit. Open the unit by
pressing the marked places on both sides. The switch
is located to the right of the MAIN connector. If you
3. Installation

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LOBE ACCESS UNIT
want the unit to work in a standalone environment,
change the switch to the TAU position; otherwise,
leave it in the LAU position (which is the factory
default).
3.3 Electrical Installation
The Lobe Access Unit does not require any external
power; only data cables should be connected to the
unit. LT0009A uses Type 1 cables, and LT0009A-UTP
uses Type 3 cables. Use the steps below to install the
unit in the token ring.
1. Connect the unit’s MAIN port to your MAU’s
LOBE port. Note that if you’re using the Lobe
Access Unit in a standalone mode, this step is not
necessary since the MAIN port is unused.
2. Attach the workstations’ token-ring cards to the
SUB-1 through SUB-4 ports. Some ports can be
left unused if you have fewer than four
workstations.
3. Load the drivers for the token-ring card in the
workstation. The workstation should insert into
the ring. The LED on the corresponding sub-port
of the Lobe Access Unit will light, and a clicking
should be heard.
Cable distances will vary depending on existing ring

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LOBE ACCESS UNIT
size or manufacturer “estimates.” In most cases, Type
1 should not exceed 269 feet (82 m), and Type 3
should not exceed 98.4 feet (30 m) at 4 MB (MAU to
MAIN port).
3.4 Cable Pinouts
4-Position Data
Connection
(IBM P/N 8310574)
MAU
DB9 Male
DB9 Female DB9 Male
Lobe Access Unit/Main
Lobe Access
Unit/Sub Workstation
Black
Orange
Green
Red
5
1
5
1
5
1
9
6
9
6
9
6

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6
5
4
3
6
5
4
3
6
5
4
3
6
5
4
3
Lobe Access
Unit/Sub
Workstation
Lobe Access Unit/Main MAU

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When all required connections are made (as
described in Chapter 3), the unit’s operation
becomes completely automatic and unattended.
Upon request of the token-ring adapter card, the
Lobe Access Unit inserts the corresponding
workstation into the network ring, lighting the LED
adjacent to the connector. When a workstation
removes itself from the active ring, the
corresponding LED turns off.
4. Operation

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5.1 Fault Isolation and Troubleshooting
NOTE
It’s assumed in this section that the workstation is active
(that is, requests to be inserted into the ring).
SYMPTOM ACTION
Corresponding LED is ON. 1. Check the switch for proper
Workstation remains out of position (see Section 3.2).
the ring (network).
2. If the problem still exists, dis-
connect all cables from the unit
and repeat set-up procedures
1 through 4, as described in
Section 3.1. Check all cables
for proper wiring; then
reconnect all cables back to
the unit and resume operation.
Corresponding LED is OFF. 1. Check the cable attached to
the port for proper wiring and
connections.
2. If the problem still exists,dis-
connect all cables from the unit
and repeat set-up procedures
1 through 4, as described in
Section 3.1.
5. Troubleshooting

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SYMPTOM ACTION
LED is flashing; repeating 1. Check if the 4-position data
clicks are heard from the connector is connected to the
unit. MAU.
2. If the problem still exists, check
the cable running from the
Lobe Access Unit’s MAIN to
the MAU for a possible short
circuit. If a short circuit is
found, replace the cable.
If any of these problems still exist after trying the
recommended action, call Black Box.
5.2 Calling Black Box
If you determine that your Lobe Access Unit is
malfunctioning, do not attempt to alter or repair the
unit. It contains no user-serviceable parts. Contact
Black Box at 724-746-5500.
Before you do, make a record of the history of the
problem. Black Box will be able to provide more
efficient and accurate assistance if you have a
complete description, including:
• the nature and duration of the problem.
• when the problem occurs.
• the components involved in the problem.

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• any particular application that, when used,
appears to create the problem or make it worse.
5.3 Shipping and Packaging
If you need to transport or ship your Lobe Access
Unit:
• Package it carefully. We recommend that you
use the original container.
• If you are shipping the Lobe Access Unit for
repair, make sure you include everything that
came in the original package. Before you ship,
contact Black Box to get a Return Materials
Authorization (RMA) number.

1000 Park Drive • Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 • 724-746-5500 • Fax [phone]
© Copyright 1997. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved.