22
16-PORT TYPE 3 MAU
The signal generated by the attaching device must travel up its lobe to the
main ring, around the entire main ring, and back down the lobe to the device
without being regenerated. If the backup path were being used with the
shortest section of cable removed, the path would be much longer. Usually,
the longest possible transmission path occurs when the backup path is being
used with the shortest section of cable removed, and when the station on the
longest lobe is the only active station on the network. The longest possible
distance must be assumed when planning the network.
MAU
100 feet
x 2
Shortest Cable
Removed
150 feet
x 2
50 feet
x 2
Longest
Lobe
Attaching Device
Actual transmission path distance:
(50 x 2) + (150 x 2) + (100 x 2) = 600 feet
Ring Out
Looped Back
Ring Out
Looped Back
MAU
MAU
Figure 3-4. Transmission distance using the backup path.