Data Communications
Hardwired Connections
If
you
have
chosen a
multipoint
hardwired connection, you
must
decide
if
you
want
to
use
a
Daisy
Chain
or
DSN
Data
Link
connection.
The
following information
may
be helpful
in
deciding between them:
•
The
Daisy
Chain
allows
the
computersystemto performgroupfunctions,
such
as
polling
the
group
rather
than
polling each
terminal
individually.
This
can
result
in
better
response
time,
as
the
computer system
can
be made
aware
that
the
user
has
entered
data
sooner.
•
The
DSN
Data
Link
provides a
higher
degree ofnoise immunity.
In
addition
it
allows you
to
powerdown a
terminal
or
remove
it
from
the
link
without
disturbing
data
on
the
line.
This
is
useful
if
you will be moving
terminals
around a lot, for example, from one office to another.
Modem Connections
If
you
have
chosen a
multipoint
modem connection you
must
now decide
what
type
ofmodemto
get.
If
you
are
going to be communicating
with
an
existing modem
at
a remote computersite,
then
you
must
choose
the
same
type
ofmodem (full duplex or
half
duplex)
as
already
exists
at
the
remote computer site.
If
you
are
choosing
the
modems for
both
ends of
the
line,
then
the
following factors
may
be
helpful
in
deciding between
half
and
full duplex:
•
Half
duplex modems
are
less expensive.
•
Full
duplex
data
links
are
more efficient (because
there
are
no ttline
turnarounds")
and
may
therefore provide
better
throughput.
• Multipoint is a
half
duplex protocol
in
that
data
can
travel
in
only one direction
at
a time.
However,
there
are
many
line
turnarounds
due to polling, so
it
may
be
advantageous
to
minimize
the
line
turnaround
time
by choosing a full duplex modem.
• Note
that
if
you select
half
duplex modems
they
do
not
have
to include
the
reverse
channel
option.The
HP
multipoint
protocol does NOTuse
the
reverse channel,
even
ifit
isphysically
present.
Having
defined
the
desired modem characteristics (full duplex or
half
duplex), you
then
select
the
appropriate cables
and
modems using
tables
7-2
and
7-3
as
a guide. Note
that
the
designation ttdialed/leased"
in
table
7-2 refers to
the
type
of telephone company facilities you
will be using.
If
you
plan
to
make
the
connection to
the
remote computer by
dialing
over
the
public telephone network,
then
the
designation ttdialed" applies.
If
your
terminal
will be
connected to
the
remote computerover a
set
ofleased telephone company lines
(that
is, you will
always be communicating over
the
same physical telephone lines),
then
the
designation
ttleased" applies.
Note
that
if
you wish to
establish
a multidropconfiguration(see figure 7-7),
then
you
must
use
a leased line.
7-18