26 Jun
2018
26 Jun
'18
12:30 p.m.
On 06/26/2018 01:13 PM, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:
Not to mention the fact that if you just shoved a pin from the outside
to the center
conductor you were bound to create a short between the shield and center
conductor.
On Jun 26, 2018, at 1:04 PM, Grant Taylor via
cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
On 06/26/2018 10:31 AM, Mark J. Blair via cctalk wrote:
I don't remember
seeing the "insert between N connectors" type. "Tap" to me means a
DEC H4000 "vampire tap", and yes, those use a drill to install. That should be
non-disruptive if done correctly.
I believe the original concept was just a probe that would poke through the cable to
contact the center connector. The drill came because the cable was too tough to penetrate
without it. What does non-intrusive mean in this context? I
thought that thick ethernet taps always required drilling a hole in the cable.
There are taps that screw onto the N connectors. Thus you have to intrusively disconnect
segments, to insert the (so called) tap.
Conversely, you can drill / clamp / tap onto live segments in a non-intrusive manner.
My assumption was that "tap" comes from the second form. I always thought
there was a different name for the first form. But I believe they were less common, hence
fall under the "tap" term which is more popular. Maybe a side effect of switching to Teflon
flame-resistant insulation. Early prototype cable seemed to be polyethylene, with a
bright yellow outer jacket with black stripes marking the tap spacing. That might have
been softer and suitable for no-drill tapping.
I have never seen taps that could be installed without drilling.
By the way, I still have my drill.? :-)
bill