10BASE2
10BASE2 is a physical layer specification within the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard for 10 Mbps baseband local area network operation using thin coaxial cable, typically RG-58 with 50-ohm impedance, supporting bus topology connections via BNC T-connectors and allowing up to 30 stations per segment[1] with a maximum length of 185 meters.[2] Defined in Clause 10 of IEEE Std 802.3 and specifically standardized as IEEE 802.3a, it employs Manchester encoding, half-duplex CSMA/CD access method, and requires 50-ohm terminators at segment ends to prevent signal reflections.[1] Also known as Thinnet, Cheapernet, or Thinwire, this variant was designed for cost-effective, simple daisy-chain installations compared to thicker coaxial alternatives.[3][4] Introduced as an evolution of early Ethernet to reduce complexity and expense, 10BASE2 was approved by the IEEE on November 15, 1985, and published as IEEE Std 802.3a-1988, with ANSI approval in 1987 under the task force chaired by Alan Flatman.[1] It addressed limitations of the original 10BASE5 by using thinner, more flexible RG-58 cable that could be directly attached to network interface cards via integrated transceivers or external Medium Attachment Units (MAUs), minimizing the need for bulky vampire taps and enabling easier routing in office environments.[5][6] Key operational parameters include a maximum attenuation of 8.5 dB at 10 MHz, propagation delay of up to 950 ns per segment, and a slot time of 512 bit times (51.2 µs) for collision detection, ensuring reliable half-duplex communication within a collision domain supporting up to 1024 nodes across multiple segments.[1] In practice, 10BASE2 networks could extend to 925 meters using up to five segments interconnected by four repeaters,[7] with a minimum inter-station spacing of 0.5 meters to mitigate reflections,[2] and incorporated features like jabber protection to isolate faulty transmitters.[1] Though widely adopted in the late 1980s and early 1990s for its affordability—earning the "Cheapernet" moniker—it was declared obsolete for new designs in IEEE Std 802.3-2011 and fully deprecated by 2012, superseded by twisted-pair standards like 10BASE-T due to easier installation, better scalability, and reduced susceptibility to interference.[8][1] Today, it remains a historical benchmark in networking evolution, illustrating early trade-offs in media access and physical layer design.[9]Overview
Naming and standards
The nomenclature "10BASE2" encapsulates the essential attributes of this Ethernet variant. The "10" signifies the nominal data signaling rate of 10 megabits per second, while "BASE" indicates baseband signaling, where the entire bandwidth of the medium is used to transmit a single digital signal. The "2" approximates the maximum length of a network segment at 200 meters, though the precise electrical limit is 185 meters to ensure signal integrity. 10BASE2 was standardized as part of the IEEE 802.3 family of specifications for local area networks, specifically through the supplement IEEE 802.3a, approved on November 15, 1985, which added Clause 10 defining the physical layer for thin coaxial cable media.[10] This amendment positioned 10BASE2 as a cost-effective evolution of the original thick coaxial Ethernet, maintaining full compatibility with the Ethernet II frame format developed by Xerox, Intel, and DEC.[11] At its core, 10BASE2 relies on the Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) medium access control protocol, which governs shared-medium contention and collision resolution across the network, as outlined in the foundational IEEE 802.3 standard.[11]Key specifications
10BASE2 operates at a data rate of 10 megabits per second (Mbps) in half-duplex mode, utilizing baseband signaling for transmission.[8] Each network segment supports a maximum length of 185 meters, using 50-ohm coaxial cable with specified attenuation limits to maintain signal integrity, ensuring a maximum of 8.5 dB loss at 10 MHz over the full segment distance.[1] The standard limits the number of stations to a maximum of 30 per segment to minimize collision probability and manage loading.[12] Under the 5-4-3 rule, a 10BASE2 network can incorporate up to five segments connected by four repeaters, with only three segments populated by nodes, resulting in a maximum total cable length of 925 meters across the collision domain.[13] Transceivers for 10BASE2 are powered either through the Attachment Unit Interface (AUI) cable from the data terminal equipment or via external power supplies, with typical consumption around 200 mA at 12 VDC.[14]| Specification | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Data rate | 10 Mbps | Half-duplex, baseband |
| Segment length | 185 m max | Per coaxial segment |
| Nodes per segment | 30 max | Including minimum 0.5 m spacing |
| Network extent | 925 m total | Up to 5 segments via 4 repeaters (5-4-3 rule) |
| Cable impedance | 50 ohms | RG-58 coaxial |
| Transceiver power | ~200 mA @ 12 VDC | Via AUI or external supply |