Ariadne RJ45 port broken, possible to use BNC/coaxial instead?

[First Ninja]

Unfortunately, it seems as if the TP/RJ45 port on my Adriane networking card has stopped working. Similar to what is being described in this old forum thread, the card fails to reach the LAN in a manner that makes me believe that the standard Ethernet jack is the culprit; the "Link" LED only lights up when I physically put some force on the Ethernet cable, and turns off as soon as I release the pressure. Even when I physically hold the cable on place and the LEDs light up, occasionally flashing too, no "pings" reach my router gateway (and before anyone asks; the route is sound, as is the rest of the TCP/IP setup; in fact, it has worked fine for years on end).

Trying to establish that the RJ45 socket really is the problem, it suddenly occured to me that the Ariadne also has a coaxial BNC female connector. If I can use it for a stable LAN connection, then I'll know for sure that the RJ45 socket needs fixing. Now, I've never used it (or any other plug like it), which is why I'm hoping someone here with better knowledge of networking basics than I have can help me out.

Is it possible to hook up the Ariadne card to an existing, modern LAN using some sort of "BNC to RJ45" adapter? I've searched for one, but so far I haven't come up with anything that seems to work. Any help would be highly appreciated; I really enjoy the Ariadne, and I'm not willing to write it off just yet.

[kolla]

What you search is called a 10Base-T - 10Base-2 media converter.

They exist, but are probably quite rare by now.

Alternatively, an old hub or (better yet) swtch with 10Base-2.

In addition you need a 50 ohm coax (“thin ether”), two T-joints and two terminators.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10BASE2

[First Ninja]

What you search is called a 10Base-T - 10Base-2 media converter.

[...]

In addition you need a 50 ohm coax (“thin ether”), two T-joints and two terminators.

@kolla,

many thanks for your explanation. I've managed to source a Voltek NWT-712 ("10Base-T to 10Base-2") media converter that will hopefully do the trick. However, and if you don't mind, I have a few follow-up questions. You mention that the media converter alone isn't enough. I get that I need to find a 50 Ohm Coaxial Cable to connect to the Ariadne, however those two T-Joints and two terminators aren't as obvious to me. Having read your reply, I do understand that just connecting the Ariadne to the Media Converter isn't sufficient?

Here's what I have in mind right now (picture below):

1: Ariadne card -> 2: 50 Ohm Coaxial Cable -> 3: Media Converter -> 4: Standard Ethernet Cable -> 5: Router



May I please ask you to fill in the missing pieces here? In the picture, where do the two T-Joints go? Also, where do the two terminators fit into all of this?

Again, this is totally out of my league so I really appreciate your help 👍.

[mechy]

You need these:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/265015798657
install a "T" on the Ariadne and one on the media converter. connect the cable to one side of the "T" on Ariadne and the converter. The other open end of the "T"s  get a terminator like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/280832236453

Wouldn't it be easier to solder in a new jack and keep using Rj45 than all this? Not sure of the style of jack you need but take a look here:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313&_nkw=pcb+mount+ethernet+jacks&_sacat=0

[First Ninja]

You need these:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/265015798657
install a "T" on the Ariadne and one on the media converter. connect the cable to one side of the "T" on Ariadne and the converter. The other open end of the "T"s  get a terminator like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/280832236453

Wouldn't it be easier to solder in a new jack and keep using Rj45 than all this? Not sure of the style of jack you need but take a look here:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313&_nkw=pcb+mount+ethernet+jacks&_sacat=0

Thanks for sorting everything out for me; everything is ordered, and I'll keep you posted about the progress. Regarding soldering in a new jack, I appreciate your help and thoughts. I'll absolutely consider desoldering the existing jack and replacing it ("how hard can it be?"). Before I venture into unchartered waters, I'd like to know for sure that the card itself is actually working and that the only thing that needs fixing is the RJ45 socket. That's why I think trying out the BNC jack seems like a good idea. Keep your fingers crossed for me; I might need it! 🙂

[kolla]

Think of the T-s as little antennas, and the 50 ohm cable is the “ether”, and the terminators in the ends are to ensure signals are terminated at end of cable, and not reflected back to the “ether”.

[First Ninja]

@mechy and @kolla - just wanted to report back to you guys. After a bit of sleuthing around, I did find a Volktek BNC/TP media converter, a couple of T-connectors, a matching pair of 50 Ohm terminators and a matching 50 Ohm coaxial "Cheapernet" cable. After setting everything up and powering on the converter and the Amiga, the converter "Link" LED powers up, suggesting a sound connection between the Ariadne card and the converter.

Unfortunately, that's where my luck ends. Despite having told the Ariadne card to use the BNC jack ("SetEnv Sana2/ariadne_0.config 10BASE2"), despite setting up the card1 ("ifconfig ether0 192.168.1.64 netmask 255.255.255.0"), despite checking the default route ("route add default 192.168.1.1"), AmiTCP still won't detect any incoming data. Pinging localhost works just fine, but pinging the gateway (i.e. 192.168.1.1) ends up with a 100% packet loss. When I ping the router like this, strangely the media converter's "Receive" and "Send" LEDs starting blinking, so there actually seems to be traffic going through the coaxial cable - but for some reason, AmiTCP doesn't see it coming back. Using Roadshow's DHCP functionality doesn't change anything - NetLogViewer shows that the stack never receive an answer from the gateway's DHCP server.

All in all, the outcome is the same no matter if I use the Ariadne's RJ45/Twisted Pair jack, or its BNC connector. Unfortunately, I'm leaning towards the Ariadne being busted somehow - which is really strange. It's been working flawlessly since I got it, and it's been stored in room temperature ever since.

[kolla]

Yes, appears to be broken on receiving somehow.

Just an idea… did you replace the twisted pair (TP) cable, or are you using same TP cable now with media converter as you did when plugged directly into the Ariadne? Have you tried a different cable?

Or to put it bluntly - are you sure it’s not the cable that’s broken, instead of the Ariadne RJ45 port?