Re: Interfacing With Ethernet

["Patrick Lidstone" <patrick@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Andy Laurence" <andy@a...> wrote:
> Whilst chatting in the pub last night, I came up with a good idea
(they
> always seem good in the pub, eh?).  Basically, some simple logic
based on
> events on a network.  Now, normally I'd use a serial>ethernet
converter, but
> this project really needs to be far cheaper to be viable.  Is there
any way
> to interface with a PCI/ISA/PCMCIA ethernet card simply from a cheap
> microcontroller?  Anyone ever attempted it?  Any other cheap
solutions?
> Probably clutching at straws here :-/

Events flying round networks sounds like xAP :-)

The cheapest ethernet interface I know of is the xPort, but it is
limited in its capabilities.

The rabbit core is quite expensive, but much more capable (and xAP
enabled).

Low cost in microcontroller terms often translates into PIC:

I have read about at least one past project to interface a PIC to an
old ISA network card. This looks like a good starting point
http://members.vol.at/home.floery/electronix/picnic/documentation.html

Crownhill also sell a PIC interface to an 802.11 card dev kit, but
it's also expensive.

Circuit Cellar magazine is a good hunting ground for this kind of
thing...

HTH
Patrick