Re: Move a line printer

John,

For real twinax, I believe that the official length, for a straight run,
is 5,000 feet. I remember hearing that you can actually push it to 7,000
feet. Splices and (unpowered) twisted pair reduces the distance.

-mark

The other limit on twinax I recall was distance of 1000 feet. I
haven't paced it off yet, but computer is in basement of hospital.
Proposed location is on third floor of connected building. If the
length is still an issue even with baluns than I kind of wonder if it
would work there.

Computer is a 520, running v5r4. On it's way out. Main functions are
to be removed in about 75 days. They have a countdown clock posted
outside the cafeteria. The 520 will continue to be used to close out
accounts for a number of months

Printer was booted from the computer room when it became "the server
room". Reason was the dust from printing. Network guy complained
that air filters on other equipment needed to be cleaned "too often".
Location it is in now is being repurposed, again.

We print (when it is working) a lot of paper through it. Reports
aren't as easy to read on 8.5 x 11 paper. I did get one application
to select legal size paper on a Xerox. But, there is still the issue
of loose pNone of this will matter very soon. Adapt or die, I
suppose.

John McKee

On Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 10:47 AM, <rob@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Could be a factor. I forget if the 2746 was the newer twinax
controller.
IBM did say the newest (which is REALLY relative) twinax controller did
not have the signal power of their earlier models. It was in a Memo To
Users or some such thing.

That standard RJ45 connector, if it is connected to the printer via a
balun should be connected to a balun on your 2746 (or some dongle
hanging
off of it). There may be items in between these two, like repeaters to
help the signal strength. Back when we were using this mess we had to
use
repeaters. But, we were stringing it through various cables throughout
our complex. We also ran into various other issues. Like at certain
times of the day when fans were turned on it would drop the signal on
the
cables (which were strung in close proximity to the fans).

Not sure where you'd find the specs on how far you'd get signal. I
remember real twinax had limits like:
- a cable had to be a minimum of 1 meter.
- There could be a maximum of 6 devices on the line.
- There could be a maximum of 11 devices and splices on the line.
(Which
we tried to push the splices a few times.)
And I forget the length.

You may want to find an alternative. The Power 7 does not support any
twinax controllers. That printer has really got to be showing some age.
Do you really need a line printer anymore? We do not use any. If you
need one this may be the time to get an ethernet printer.

Rob Berendt
--
IBM Certified System Administrator - IBM i 6.1
Group Dekko
Dept 1600
Mail to: 2505 Dekko Drive
Garrett, IN 46738
Ship to: Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com





From: John McKee <jmmckee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Date: 08/29/2012 11:27 AM
Subject: Move a line printer
Sent by: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx



We have a line printer attached to a 2746 controller.

People want to move it a considerable distance. It is attached to the
network via standard RJ45 connector. I couldn't see the other end as
yet. I thought that this was a twinax printer. Right now, it is a
broken printer with parts on order.

It is a 6262-T22, type 4245.

From memory a number of years ago, we have an IPDS twinax printer

connected to the network and a balun. Hard to even get to that
printer anymore with all the locked doors.

If the 626 is twinax going through the TCP/IP network, are there any
concerns, such as distance?

John McKee