[hpsdr] Artemis - KS8995

[Kevin Wheatley]

Hi Jeremy

I've just been scanning the datasheet for the KS8995, if I'm reading this correctly we don't need an additional PHY (it's embedded), the PIC would interface direct to the KS8995 via MII, so the missing link is the MAC address, we could use the same chip as Metis, hooked up to the PIC, the problem would be solved via software.

Perhaps this option is a serious contender :)

73's
Kevin

On 25 Jan 2011, at 18:35, Jeremy McDermond wrote:

> On Jan 24, 2011, at 11:48 PM, Kevin Wheatley wrote:
> 
>> Hi Jeremy
>> 
>> Interesting addition, are you proposing an integrated, but stand alone 5 port switch here, i.e a loop back cable from the Micrel KS8995 to the ENC424J600, or doing away withe the ENC altogether?
> 
> I was just thinking that you put traces on the board from one of the five ports on the Micrel switch chip to your PIC.  You'd then have four ethernet ports to connect to the outside world (one of which would be uplink, so you'd have 3 for other devices).
> 
>> Main issues without reading the datasheet in detail is the PIC software (I have a module that 'talks' to the ENC),
> 
> Yeah, I noticed the ethernet chip you're using has an integrated MAC, and you can't get the MII interface or something interesting out of it.  If you were to do it, you might have to find an alternate part or something.  Just a suggestion from a software guy... and a high level software guy at that.
> 
>> plus the real estate along the edge of the board. If we place outside world connections on the short sides of the board, allowing the use of a large number of off the shelf extruded cases, we are limited to 200 mm of connectivity (100mm either side). One side is going to be taken up completely with the terminal I/O sockets, even then I've had to double stack them, so we've only 100mm to play with for, power, RJ11 (programming - I guess this could be moving off the edge), RJ45 ethernet, probably RS232, Mini USB for bootloader, SD Card slot. As you can see things are getting a bit tight. I'll have a good read of the Micrel Datasheet.
> 
> You could use stacked magnetics on the Ethernet side of things (i.e. http://www.tycoelectronics.com/catalog/bin/TE.Connect?S=23799&M=PPROP&P=&BML=10576,17960&LG=1&PG=1&IDS=470980,470981,470982,470983,421023,378482,378498,408086,378483,378487,378490,378499,428334,432496,465110,440718,408082,408083,440719,408085&N=15) which would allow you to stack two ethernet connections in one piece of horizontal space.  That way you get at least two ports in the space where you previously fit one.  That only requires you make space for one more ethernet port sized space on the side of the board.
> 
> Again, just a suggestion from a software guy.  I just thought it would be really cool to be able to throw an Artemis at the base of the antenna with a single ethernet cable coming out, and have 3 Hermes sitting out there beside it.
> 
>> 73's
>> Kevin
> 
> 
> --
> Jeremy McDermond (NH6Z)
> Xenotropic Systems
> mcdermj at xenotropic.com
> 
> 
> 


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