Revised: December 6, 2002

MEDIA CONVERTER

Fiber to UTP Ethernet Media Converter

ET90110SC

ET90110ST

Instruction Guide

* Actual product may vary from photo

The Professionals’ Source For Hard-to-Find Computer Parts

FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.

This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Monitoring Your Media Converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Using the Loop-Back Testing Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

The Link-Loss-Forwarding Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

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Introduction

Thank you for purchasing a StarTech.com 10/100 Mbps multi-mode Fast Ethernet media converter. Now you can switch from fiber optic to UTP cables and vice versa. Simply plug your fiber optic cables into the two fiber optic ports (ET9110SC for cables with SC connectors, ET9110ST for cables with ST connectors) and your UTP cable into the RJ-45 port and your data transfers seamlessly between 10BaseT/100BaseTX and 100BaseFX

Fast Ethernet standards. The converter also supports automatic full- and half-duplex modes so that your network will always be operating at its maximum speed.

Features

• Converts fiber optic data to UTP data and vice versa

• Supports 10BaseT/100BaseTX and 100BaseFX Fast Ethernet standards

• Full wire speed 148,800 packet per second throughput that prevents bottlenecks

• Supports fiber optic transmission up to 2 km

• Supports full- and half-duplex operating modes

• The back cover can be removed and the unit can then be installed into a 3U media converter chassis

• Backed by StarTech.com’s one-year warranty

Before You Begin

To ensure a quick and easy device installation, please read through this section carefully before attempting to install the media converter.

WARNING! The media converter must be installed and operated in an environment with temperatures between 32-158ºF (0-70ºC) and humidity levels of 10-90% (non- condensing) . Make sure that the switch is kept away from heating sources. Do not place any objects on top of the device. Make sure that no water or moisture enters the unit. If necessary, use a dehumidifier to reduce humidity near the device.

Requirements

You must be using Category 5 or above UTP media cables and 62.5/125 multimode fiber optic cables with ST or SC connectors in order to use this device.

NOTE: StarTech.com carries a wide range of Cat5 UTP and fiber optic cables to suit your networking needs. Visit www.startech.com and click on the “Networking” tab for product information, as well as ideas and suggestions on setting up your network.

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Technical Support

The following technical resources are available for this StarTech.com product:

On-line help:

We are constantly adding new information to the Tech Support section of our web site. To access this page, click the Tech Support link on our homepage, www.startech.com. In the tech support section there are a number of options that can provide assistance with this card.

Knowledge Base - This tool allows you to search for answers to common issues using key words that describe the product and your issue.

FAQ - This tool provides quick answers to the top questions asked by our customers.

Downloads - This selection takes you to our driver download page where you can find the latest drivers for this product.

Call StarTech.com tech support for help: 1-519-455-4931

Support hours: Monday to Friday 9:00AM to 5:00PM EST (except holidays)

Warranty Information

This product is backed by a one-year warranty. In addition StarTech.com warrants its products against defects in materials and workmanship for the periods noted below, following the initial date of purchase. During this period, the products may be returned for repair, or replacement with equivalent products at our discretion. The warranty covers parts and labor costs only. StarTech.com does not warrant its products from defects or damages arising from misuse, abuse, alteration, or normal wear and tear.

Limitation of Liability

In no event shall the liability to StarTech.com Ltd. (or its officers, directors, employees or agents) for any damages (whether direct or indirect, special, punitive incidental, consequential, or otherwise), loss of profits, loss of business, or any pecuniary loss, arising out of related to the use of the product exceed the actual price paid for the product.

Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages. If such laws apply, the limitations or exclusions contained in this statement may not apply to you.

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Technical Specifications

Specifications IEEE 802.3 10BaseT

IEEE 802.3u 100BaseTX

IEEE 802.3u 100BaseFX

6562 feet (2km) Max. Fiber distance

Max. UTP distance 328 feet (100m)

Operating Temperature 32~158ºF (0~70ºC)

Operating Humidity

Power

Dimensions

Certifications

0~90% non-condensing

+9V DC, 1A (max.)

4.83 x 3.37 x 0.79 in. (122.6 x 85.6 x 20.0 mm)

FCC Class A, CE Mark

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Contents

This package should contain:

• 1 x media converter

• 1 x power adapter

• 2 x chassis mount brackets

• Thumbscrews

• Chassis mount bracket screws

Installation

This section will guide you through the installation of your media converter. Please read through the instructions carefully and complete each step in the order listed.

WARNING! Exposure to live fiber optic cable can potentially pose an irreversable threat to your vision. Under no circumstances should you look directly into a fiber optic cable. Before you begin make sure that all devices are turned off and disconnected and keep fiber optic cables pointed away from your eyes and face at all times. The delicate nature of fiber optic cabling also means it can be easily damaged or broken. Be sure to handle fiber optic cables carefully.

ET9110SC shown

Loop-Back

Testing

Switches between loop-back-testing and normal modes

LEDs

100: UTP transfer speed

Full: UTP duplex mode

LAN Link: UTP link status

LEDs

PWR: Converter power status

Fiber full: Fiber duplex mode

Link: Fiber link status

Full-Half

Fiber

Sets the fiber transmission mode to full or half duplex

LAN Port

Connects Cat 5

UTP cable to PC, hub, or switch

To PC/To Hub

IN if connected to

PC or adapter,

OUT if connected to hub or switch

Fiber TX

Connects to fiber optic transmission cable

Fiber RX

Connects to fiber optic receiving cable

1. Plug your Category 5 or above UTP straight-through cable into the RJ-45 LAN port.

2. If the other end of the cable is connected to a PC or adapter, make sure that the

To PC/To Hub button is in the To PC position. If the other end of the cable is attached to a hub or switch, make sure the To PC/To Hub button is in the To Hub position.

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3. Remove the rubber dust caps from the 100BaseFX ports. Plug your ST or SC fiber optic transmission cable into the TX port. Plug your receiving cable into the RX port.

NOTE: Always re-install the dust caps when the unit is not in use.

4. Set the Full-Half Fiber switch to either Full (full-duplex, 200 Mbps) or Half (halfduplex, 100 Mbps) depending on your preference.

NOTE: The ET9110SC and ET9110ST use an “Auto-Reset” function. While you are using the converter, you can flip between fiber full- and half-duplex modes without having to manually power down or reset the converter.

5. Plug one end of the power supply into the 9V DC port on the converter. Plug the other end into an available electric socket.

Monitoring Your Media Converter

The LEDs on the converter are your best indication of the converter’s activity.

LED

PWR

Function

Power

Fiber Full Fiber duplex mode

Link Fiber link

100

Full

UTP transfer speed mode

UTP duplex mode

LAN Link UTP link

Status

On

Off

Converter has power

Converter has no power

On

Off

Fiber side in full-duplex mode (200 Mbps)

Fiber side in half-duplex mode (100 Mbps)

On

Off

Fiber link is okay

No fiber link or fiber link is faulty

Blinking Receiving data on the fiber

On

Off

On

Off

UTP side operating in 100 Mbps mode

UTP side operating in 10 Mbps mode

UTP side in full-duplex mode

UTP side in half-duplex mode

On

Off

UTP link is okay

No UTP link or UTP link is faulty

Blinking Receiving data on Ethernet

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Using the Loop-Back Testing Feature

These media converters feature a fiber loop-back testing function that allows you to confirm that the fiber or Ethernet circuit loop is complete. The local unit will send out a detect message that includes both command and test-pattern data to the remote unit and request an answer. When the remote unit receives the message, it will attempt to recognize the command and deliver the test-pattern data back to the local unit to complete the circuit loop.

You can engage the loop-back testing feature by setting the Loop Back Testing switch to the LBT On position. To exit Loop-Back Testing mode, set the switch to the Normal position. While you are in Loop-Back Testing mode, other fiber transmissions will be halted . If the local unit can not access the remote unit, the circuit loop is broken and the

Power LED will flash rapidly.

NOTE: If the local unit is in Loop-Back Testing mode, make sure that the remote unit is operating in Normal mode.

The Link-Loss-Forwarding Application

The media converter uses a Fiber Link Forwarding feature that allows indirect sensing of a Fiber Link Loss via the 100 Base-TX UTP connection. When the media converter detects a Link Loss condition on the Receive fiber (Fiber LNK OFF), it disables the UTP transmitter so that a Link Loss condition will be sensed on the receive UTP port. The

Link Loss can then be sensed and reported by a Network Management agent at the remote UTP port’s host equipment.

This feature has no effect on the media converter’s UTP LNK LED, which continues to function normally, independent of the state of the Fiber LNK LED and the UTP transmitter.