Date   : Tue, 26 Jul 2005 16:21:52 +0000
From   : Jules Richardson <julesrichardsonuk@...>
Subject: Re: Econet-Ethernet bridge

On Tue, 2005-07-26 at 17:46 +0200, Mark Usher wrote:
> >How do you feel about using the Master econet module 
> >and a ready-made Ethernet module?
> 
> Phil's design already uses the Master econet module, at least as far as my
> limited understanding of the design goes, and the CS8900A Ethernet chip is
> basically a whole ethernet card on a chip, and at that price, there isn't
> much point in messing about with some adapter cards, that *everyone*
> implementing it would have to get hold of, now and in the future.

How obtainable is the chip likely to be in three years, or ten, when
someone might want to build one of these? 

That's my only worry about using custom parts (other than the Econet
module). It's going to be dead easy to get a free PC with an Ethernet
card supported by such as Linux for years to come yet, so all it depends
on is what circuitry would be needed to hook the Econet module up to the
PC by whatever means.

cheers

Jules