Setting up old style LAC/E Box

[algae man]

Hi, our lab recently acquired an older style Waters LAC/E box and I am trying to figure out how it connects to the pc. There is a port labelled ethernet, but it is an odd connection...it looks like a coaxial cable. I was told that I should be able to hook up the comp via the IEEE cable, but I thought that was for communication with the instrument. There are no model numbers on the box. There is a serial # but I haven't found a way to look up any info from that. Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Sean

[tom jupille]

Coax cabling (10Base5 or 10Base2) was standard for Ethernet before twisted-pair/RJ45 (10BaseT) came along in the late 80s. You can still get Ethernet to Coax adapters for use with cable TV systems dirt cheap on Amazon. Whether those will work for you is an open question, though.

[James_Ball]

Coax cabling (10Base5 or 10Base2) was standard for Ethernet before twisted-pair/RJ45 (10BaseT) came along in the late 80s. You can still get Ethernet to Coax adapters for use with cable TV systems dirt cheap on Amazon. Whether those will work for you is an open question, though.

If I remember 10baseT uses 4 wires for communication and the coax uses a two wire setup so probably not the same. I wonder if anyone still makes a Coax ethernet adapter card for a PC?

[algae man]

I came across an old hub/router kicking around the lab that has a 10base2 connection along with standard 10baset ones. I think I am going to try setting up a lan with just my computer and the lac/e box. Now, I just need to find some cabling to test out the idea. Thanks!

[aidnai]

Tom's information about 10base2/5/T etc is correct.

[DR]

If you're using IEEE instruments, you'll need a BUS-LACE board. Connections are made w/ thick cables that use lengthy connectors w/ screws on them to hold them in. Plugs typically have male and female sides. The smaller ethernet-ish looking connectors are typically for serial connections where a SAT/IN sits between the LAC/E and the instrument.