Sytek, known as Hughes LAN Systems (HLS) after being acquired by Hughes Electronics[1] and known as Whittaker Communications (WCI) since April 24, 1995,[2] created the NetBIOS API, used by Microsoft to make its early networks.
Sytek was founded in Silicon Valley and last officed in their own building on Charleston Road in Mountain View. During this crucial period in LAN development, there were two factions within IBM competing over the basic LAN architecture. One group, the telco switch folks from Geneva liked a central hub, with a network of distributed twisted pair conductors, as is used in phone systems. The other group, Entry Systems Division from Boca Raton, liked the idea of a distributed bus architecture.
Building on prior work done by such companies as Intech Labs (aka American Modem & AMDAX), Sytek built an RFtransceiver that operated on cable TV frequencies. It received in the High VHF band and transmitted in the Low VHF band. These bands were referred to as the forward and reverse channels. Within any given frequency band, it was possible to have many, many, virtual circuits between devices. In order to increase the advantage of using FDM on the cable, Sytek added an algorithm based on CSMA/CD. There were few, if any, IEEE standards at that time. All of the devices, called T-Boxes, were equipped with an EIARS-232 serial interface, which had a 'legal' maximum data rate of 19.2 kbit/s. While this may seem slow by today's standards, it was considered very fast in 1982. Determining a need for PC-PC and (especially) PC-mainframe communications, IBM asked Sytek to manufacture LAN adapter cards based on their FDM/TDM technology for IBM PCs, which they did.
IBM saw the value of PCs as being a catalyst to sell more mainframe computers and understood that a LAN of the type Sytek made was superior to dedicated runs of RG-62 coaxial cable, which were required for 327X terminals and controllers. These IBM PC Network cards were available, from IBM for about $700 ea.
In the mid-80s, IBM moved its focus to Token Ring, and much of the rest of the market moved to Ethernet.
^"Sytek Inc., a local area network company, has agreed..." United Press International. March 2, 1989. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
^WHITTAKER CORP (Form: 10-K, Filing Date: 01/26/1996). EDGAR (Report). U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. January 26, 1996. p. 24. 0000898430-96-000215. Retrieved 2020-11-29. On April 24, 1995, the Company acquired all of the stock of Hughes LAN Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Hughes Electronics Corporation. The subsidiary was renamed Whittaker Communications, Inc. ("WCI") and is a designer and manufacturer of high speed switching and Asynchronous Transfer Mode ("ATM") compatible local area network communication hubs and network management software systems.
External linksedit
Setting Up OS/2 Peer-to-Peer Networking & Coexistence of Warp & NT Machines on the MITNet
Sytek brochures at bitsavers.org
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sytek, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, written, like, personal, reflection, personal, essay, argumentative, essay, that, states, wikipedi. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article is written like a personal reflection personal essay or argumentative essay that states a Wikipedia editor s personal feelings or presents an original argument about a topic Please help improve it by rewriting it in an encyclopedic style March 2013 Learn how and when to remove this message This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Sytek news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message This article has an unclear citation style The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of citation and footnoting October 2019 Learn how and when to remove this message Learn how and when to remove this message Sytek known as Hughes LAN Systems HLS after being acquired by Hughes Electronics 1 and known as Whittaker Communications WCI since April 24 1995 2 created the NetBIOS API used by Microsoft to make its early networks Whittaker CommunicationsFormerlySytekHughes LAN Systems until 1995 IndustryElectronicsFounded1979 FounderMichael PlinerHeadquartersCalifornia United StatesParentHughes Electronics Sytek was founded in Silicon Valley and last officed in their own building on Charleston Road in Mountain View During this crucial period in LAN development there were two factions within IBM competing over the basic LAN architecture One group the telco switch folks from Geneva liked a central hub with a network of distributed twisted pair conductors as is used in phone systems The other group Entry Systems Division from Boca Raton liked the idea of a distributed bus architecture Building on prior work done by such companies as Intech Labs aka American Modem amp AMDAX Sytek built an RF transceiver that operated on cable TV frequencies It received in the High VHF band and transmitted in the Low VHF band These bands were referred to as the forward and reverse channels Within any given frequency band it was possible to have many many virtual circuits between devices In order to increase the advantage of using FDM on the cable Sytek added an algorithm based on CSMA CD There were few if any IEEE standards at that time All of the devices called T Boxes were equipped with an EIA RS 232 serial interface which had a legal maximum data rate of 19 2 kbit s While this may seem slow by today s standards it was considered very fast in 1982 Determining a need for PC PC and especially PC mainframe communications IBM asked Sytek to manufacture LAN adapter cards based on their FDM TDM technology for IBM PCs which they did IBM saw the value of PCs as being a catalyst to sell more mainframe computers and understood that a LAN of the type Sytek made was superior to dedicated runs of RG 62 coaxial cable which were required for 327X terminals and controllers These IBM PC Network cards were available from IBM for about 700 ea In the mid 80s IBM moved its focus to Token Ring and much of the rest of the market moved to Ethernet See also edit3Com Ungermann BassReferences edit Sytek Inc a local area network company has agreed United Press International March 2 1989 Retrieved 2020 11 29 WHITTAKER CORP Form 10 K Filing Date 01 26 1996 EDGAR Report U S Securities and Exchange Commission January 26 1996 p 24 0000898430 96 000215 Retrieved 2020 11 29 On April 24 1995 the Company acquired all of the stock of Hughes LAN Systems Inc a subsidiary of Hughes Electronics Corporation The subsidiary was renamed Whittaker Communications Inc WCI and is a designer and manufacturer of high speed switching and Asynchronous Transfer Mode ATM compatible local area network communication hubs and network management software systems External links editSetting Up OS 2 Peer to Peer Networking amp Coexistence of Warp amp NT Machines on the MITNet Sytek brochures at bitsavers org nbsp This article about an IT related or software related company or corporation is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sytek amp oldid 1220815176, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
