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Computer networks

Broadcom Announces Industry's First Repeater Controller for 100BASE-T4, 100BASE-TX, and 100BASE-FX Fast-Ethernet Connections

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Broadcom Corp. has introduced the industry's first Repeater Controller to support 100BASE-T4, 100BASE-TX, and 100BASE-FX Fast-Ethernet connections with network management support in a single chip. The BCM5012 Repeater Controller, coupled with Broadcom's BCM5000 10/100BASE-T4 Fast-Phy Transceiver Chip, enables network manufacturers to design 100 Mbps networks that meet the price points and time to market demands of customers. This innovative solution reduces the cost per Fast-Ethernet connection, making Fast-Ethernet networks a more attractive choice than 10 Mbps switched Ethernet.

Key Takeaways:

  • The BCM5012 Repeater Controller is the industry's first to support 100BASE-T4, 100BASE-TX, and 100BASE-FX Fast-Ethernet connections with network management support in a single chip.
  • The chip enables network manufacturers to design 100 Mbps networks that meet the price points and time to market demands of customers.
  • Broadcom's high-performance, low-cost CMOS chips reduce the cost per Fast-Ethernet connection, making Fast-Ethernet networks a more attractive choice than 10 Mbps switched Ethernet.
  • The BCM5012 can support any port with 100BASE-T4, 100BASE-TX, and 100BASE-FX as specified by the IEEE 802.3u standard for 100BASE-T Ethernet.
  • The chip connects to any media type, including CAT 3, 4 and 5 unshielded twisted pair (UTP), shielded twisted pair, and fiber optic.
  • The BCM5012 is the first repeater controller to integrate management support features, allowing system managers to operate and troubleshoot networks using the same software across multiple physical layers.
  • The chip includes dedicated port connections for a local MAC and microprocessor, supporting up to ten stackable repeater hubs with 13 repeater ports on each hub.
  • The BCM5012 works with the company's recently announced BCM5000 to support 100BASE-T4, 100BASE-TX, and 100BASE-FX applications.

Statistics:

  • The BCM5012 Repeater Controller price is $108 in 1000 piece quantities.
  • Broadcom uses digital signal processing for adaptive equalization to achieve 3dB better signal-to-noise ratio than the ideal linear analog solution.
  • The BCM5012 supports up to ten stackable repeater hubs with 13 repeater ports on each hub, allowing for up to 130 ports with various Fast-Ethernet connections in a single stack.
  • The chip can support 100BASE-T4 applications with the BCM5000, a typical 12-port 100BASE-T4 repeater hub application using a BCM5012 with 12 BCM5000s.

Sources:

  • "Broadcom Corp. Monday announced the industry's first Repeater Controller to support 100BASE-T4, 100BASE-TX, and 100BASE-FX Fast-Ethernet connections with network management support in a single chip." - Business Wire, June 26, 1995
  • Philip Lozowick, Broadcom's director of marketing for high-speed networks, commented, "Repeaters are a key component in reducing the cost per Fast-Ethernet connection... By using Broadcom's high-performance, low cost CMOS chips, vendors such as D-Link and NetWorth can now produce 100 Mbps Fast-Ethernet repeater hubs starting at under $140 per port."
  • Cathy Batchelor, 619/259-6523, batchelors@aol.com
  • Philip Lozowick, 714/450-8700, lozowick@broadcom.com

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