petej@eng.sun.com (Pete Jolly) (02/20/91)
I am working on determining the feasability of setting up a time share system and and I have been trying to price asynchronous multiplexors. The prices have been fairly high (almost to the point of recommending that I drop the whole idea!). The following diagram illustrates what I am trying to accomplish: __________ ______ _____ |Computer|----| M | | M |-----TERMINAL | |----| U |---MODEM-----MODEM---| U |-----TERMINAL | |----| X | | X |-----TERMINAL |________|----|____| |___|-----PRINTER The MODEM <---> MODEM connection is kind of an unknown to me. Since this will be within the local dialing area, I would presume a leased line using high speed modems would be sufficient. Does anyone out there have any ideas about how such a network could be built at reasonable cost? From what I have seen so far, the MUX boxes (eight ports) are running $1,000+ each and I would imagine to get reasonable throughput something comparable to a Telebit Trailblazer would be needed ($1,000 X 2?) on the modem end. This brings the hookup price to about 4K excluding terminals and printers. The modem connections are going to be local dial ups so I am not necessarily interested in X.25 or any other WAN high throughput solutions (only because they can end up adding to the price of the hookup). This kind of solution would be something used within a five or ten mile radius of the host computer. I am very interested in distributors of multiplexors. I have already looked over Glasgal Communications literature but there may be other, better priced, products. I am not sure if I could save installation cost by using some other form of physical link. Asynch dial up seems like the cheapest and most prevalent. Thanks in advance. Pete Jolly Mountain View, California.