The Series follows release 2.1 of the PC Card standard Type II (5.0 mm thick) cards. The ARCNET transceiver circuitry is located in a detachable MAU (Medium Access Unit) which plugs into the PCM20H adapter. MAUs exist for various cabling media including coaxial and twisted-pair cable, and are all interchangeable with one another. A 15-pin connector with a short cable attaches the MAU to the adapter.

The PCM20H is designed with the COM20022 ARCNET controller chip, offering data rates up to 10 Mbps. New features include command chaining, sequential access to internal RAM, duplicate node ID detection plus an improved adapter case and MAU cable combination with a locking mechanism.

There are six models of the PCM20H, each designated by a specific transceiver. The PCM20H-CXB supports either coaxial star or bus networks. Two models accommodate traditional ARCNET over twisted-pair cabling, but with unlike connectors; the PCM20H-TB5 uses the RJ-45 connector and the PCM20H-TPB uses the RJ-11 connector. Four models support the EIA-485 protocol. The PCM20H-485D and the PCM20H-485X implement backplane mode automatically via built-in hardware DC and AC respectively. With the PCM20H-485, the backplane mode is set via software for DC.

The product is shipped with a 3.5" (9 cm) disk containing our DOS, Windows 3.x and Windows 95, 98, 2000 enabler software. Once loaded, programs written for the PCX20 ISA bus adapter will operate transparently with the PCM20H.

Features

• Utilizes COM20022 ARCNET controller
• Interfaces ARCNET with PC Card bus computers
• Thin 5.0 mm Type II form factor
• Deterministic, high-speed ARCNET token-passing local area network (LAN)
• Supports coaxial and twisted-pair cabling including EIA-485
• Backplane or non-backplane mode operation
• Transparent operation after loading enabler software in DOS or Windows environments
• Variable data rates up to 10 Mbps
• Suitable with all Contemporary Controls' MOD HUB and AI Series active hubs
• CMOS design for low-power consumption