The following tables list some of the characteristics for various media when used with LocalTalk, EtherTalk, and TokenTalk.
| LocalTalk Transmission Media Comparison |
| Medium | Transmission Rate | Topology | Max. Number
of Devices | Max. Length
per Network |
| Apple's Unshielded Twisted Pair | 230.4 Kbps | Bus | 32 | 1000 ft. |
| Unshielded Twisted Pair | 230.4 Kbps | Bus | 24 | 1800 ft. |
| 230.4 Kbps | Passive Star | varies | 750 ft. per branch, 4000 ft. total |
| 230.4 Kbps | Active Star | 254 |
| Infrared Light | 230.4 Kbps | n/a | 128 per receiver | transceivers must be within 70 ft. diameter |
| Ethernet Transmission Media Comparison |
| Medium | Min. Distance
Between Nodes | Max. Length
Per Segment | Max. Length
Per Network(1) | Max. Number
of Devices | Transmission
Speed | Standard
Supported |
Thin Coax
(10Base2)
Bus Topology | 1.6 ft.
(0.5 m) | 600 ft.
(185 m) | 3000 ft.
(925 m) | 30/segment(2) | 10Mbps | IEEE 802.3 |
Thick Coax
(10Base5)
Bus Topology | 8.2 ft.
(2.5 m) | 1640 ft.
(500 m) | 8200 ft.
(2500 m) | 100/segment(2) | 10Mbps | IEEE 802.3 |
Twisted-pair
(10BaseT)
Active-star Topology | n/a | 328 ft.
(100 m) | 328 ft.
(100 m)
from hub(2) | 1024 | 10Mbps | IEEE 802.3 |
Table Notes
(1) with use of repeaters
(2) segment figure is for contiguous length of cable without repeaters. |
| TokenRing Transmission Media Comparison |
| Medium | Transmission Rate | Topology | Max. Number
of Devices | Max. Length
per Network |
Shielded Twisted Pair
(IBM Type 1 or 2) | 4/16Mbps | Star-wired ring | 260/ring | 990 ft. from MAU to node |
Unshielded Twisted Pair
(IBM Type 3) | 4/16Mbps | Star-wired ring | 72/ring | 330 ft. from MAU to node |
Note: Cable (media) specifications can change, so be sure and check with the cable (media) vendors for current cable specifications.