• Supports workstation, ring-in, ring-out, lobe and lobe extension connectivity
• Compatible with auto-sensing Token Ring switch ports
• Includes speed auto-sensing
• Supports passive and active media access units (MAU) and concentrators
• Reaches the following distances:
  • UTP-- 300 meters
  • Multi-Mode fiber -- 2.5 km
  • Single-mode fiber -- 20 km
• Displays media and insertion status
• Provides copper and fiber ports auto-test
• Supports mounting directly to a workstation network interface card (NIC), to a wall or rack

The OmniHawk is a fully compliant IEEE 802.5j 4/16Mbps token ring copper-to-fiber converter. It auto-senses and self configures to the ring speed.

The OmniHawk features an intelligent attachment auto-sensing circuit. It identifies the type of device attached to its UTP or STP connector and self configures accordingly. A manual override option provides compatibility to non-compliant auto-sensing devices.

The UTP/STP ports of the OmniHawk may attach directly to a workstation network interface card (NIC) or to a concentrator ring-in, ring-out or lobe. The OmniHawk can attach the workstation via fiber to a concentrator lobe, extend ring-in and ring-out via fiber between concentrators and extend a lobe to a full concentrator using Omnitron's lobe extension technology. For smart auto-sensing token ring switches, the OmniHawk supports server or workstation fiber attachment and fiber ring extension.

The OmniHawk supports category 3 wiring or higher, with category 5 recommended for top performance. Using category 5 wiring, the OmniHawk reaches distances of up to 350 meters at 16Mpbs and 500 meters at 4Mbps. On the fiber port, it reaches distances of up to 2.5 Km when using multi-mode fiber and up to 20 Km using single-mode.

The OmniHawk provides media status and insertion progress indications for both its copper and fiber ports. Smart LED indicators display insertion status and report problems. The OmniHawk features a media test that checks the attached copper and fiber cables for integrity and reports any detected defects.

Inputs: The OmniRepeaterTM400 is built around a Digital Phased Locked Architecture (PLA). This technology allows effective discrimination between true data and noise. The incoming Manchester encoded data is sampled at 16 samples per bit, this facilitates digital filtering of noise and crosstalk. A unique clock recovery facilitates the capture of data with rate variations of -2% to +4%.

Processing: Once the data is recovered and synchronized, it is processed. The processor analyzes the frame header, if a legal header is detected, the port is "marked" active and the data is allowed to flow through the repeater.

Outputs: The retransmitted data is regenerated, reclocked and lost sync bits are recovered. The data is reclocked at 50% duty cycle to eliminate clock jitter. The signal is restored to nominal amplitude and the pre-distortion logic compensates for anticipated phase shift and attenuation.

Displays: True data activity and parity errors are displayed by green and red LEDs. The green activity LEDs assist in monitoring signal strength while the red Parity Error LEDs assists in monitoring connectivity quality, signal strength, impedance mismatches and reflections.