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Beginning with the EMT product line, Melco has switched its network technology to Ethernet. The driving force behind this is the pending obsolescence of components used in Melco networks since 1988.

Among the advantages of Ethernet are its widespread use and low cost. This has also allowed Melco to provide a few new advantages with the EMT product line:

	For the first time, multiple EDS III or EDS IV systems can be operated on the same network; this means you can control EMT products from multiple EDS III / IV computers
	For the first time, a Melco sewing peripheral can be connected to a laptop computer
	Ethernet is up to 10 times faster than the older StarLAN configuration; this means RSA file transfers and design transfers are much faster
	Melco's Ethernet implementation will co-exist on most office networks (including Microsoft and Novell)
	Peripherals can now have meaningful names instead of just numbers
	Off-the-shelf Ethernet boards may be used in EDS III / IV computers; compatible wiring hubs and cables are readily available from Melco and other computer sources (Ethernet boards for the peripherals must be purchased through Melco)
	Wiring is much more robust and extensible
	You may have extended distances between the computer and peripherals with no signal loss

 

Network Applications

Old StarLAN™ Systems

All of Melco's sewing peripherals prior to the EMT series used StarLAN networking (I.E. All EMC machines and the EP1). A few of Melco's larger installations used hubs because of the number of peripherals or because of the long distance between endpoints on the network. Most networks are wired by simply daisy chaining the peripherals (see Figure 1).

 

New Ethernet systems

With Ethernet, all machines (both EDS III / IV systems and peripherals) connect to a wiring hub. The hub is a small electronic device that contains a number of cable jacks and diagnostic lights.

Refer to Figure 2 for a sample Ethernet network.

 

With an Ethernet hub, you may connect any item (a computer or a peripheral) to any plug on the hub. Melco provides hubs with eight connections. Figure 3 illustrates a typical single-hub configuration. NOTE: Some HUBS have a port labeled Daisy Chain or similar. This port is used for connecting 2 HUBS together. This port may not work correctly for use with a Melco EMT machine, or may not work correctly networking another computer to the network.

 

If you have more than 8 total connections (including all computers and peripherals), you must daisy-chain your hubs. Figure 4 shows how to daisy chain multiple hubs.

When you are using multiple hubs, connect the hubs as shown below. If you have up to 8 total connections, use a single hub. If you have 9-14 total connections, use configuration A shown below. If you have 15 or more total connections, use configuration B shown below.

The computer is shown in this diagram for illustration purposes only. Remember, any computer or peripheral can be plugged into any port on any hub.
Figure 4

 

Important!

You must always remember that when you are using multiple hubs you cannot use BOTH the daisy chain port and port number 8. These two ports are switched so that if you use one, the other is disabled. The large Xs in Figure 4 show which port is disabled.

Combined Technologies

Starting with any version after 3.00a, EDS III or EDS IV will fully support both networks in the same computer. That is, you can mix and match older StarLAN peripherals with newer Ethernet peripherals on the same EDS III / IV computer. You may not, however, connect StarLAN peripherals to the Ethernet network or vice-versa. Refer to Figure 5 for a sample application combining both network technologies.

 

EDS III / IV and Ethernet

Melco will provide three different kits to connect EDS III / IV computers to an Ethernet network. One of the issues a user will encounter is the limited number of card slots in many computers. In order to add Ethernet to an existing EDS III / IV computer, an additional slot is required. In systems that have no slots available, there are few options. The user may choose to remove another card or buy another computer. (NOTE: Referrence Melco Computer Requirements) It may also be possible to connect to the Ethernet network using a parallel port adapter, though this has not been tested by Melco.

For older computers (386s and 486s), an ISA Ethernet card is required. For Pentium systems, Melco recommends using a PCI network adapter— this will alleviate the demand for another ISA slot. Most Pentium systems have a free PCI slot. Laptop computers must use a PCMCIA Type II network adapter. Melco offers Xircom® adapters for laptop systems.

While most Ethernet adapters will work and are supported under Windows, Melco has approved (and will sell) SMC adapters for desktop systems and Xircom® adapters for laptop systems. These adapters have a proven track record at Melco and should provide years of trouble-free service. Melco's technical staff will not be able to assist users during installation of other types of adapters available on the market today.

 

Multiple EDS III / IV Systems

In the development of the software for Ethernet on EDS III / IV and the peripherals, work was done to ensure that multiple EDS III / IV systems can be connected to the same network. This feature has been requested by many of Melco's customers who own more than one EDS III / IV sys-tem. Under StarLAN, this would have been difficult to accomplish, but with the Ethernet system, it was a design goal.

What this means is that each EDS III / IV system on the Ethernet network is able to communicate with each sewing peripheral on the same network. Once the sewing peripheral has loaded its RSA program, any EDS III / IV system connected to the network may send designs, monitor status, etc. This effectively eliminates the need to partition your sewing machines to work with just one EDS III or EDS IV system. As a part of an integrated solution using Windows 95/98 or Windows for Workgroups, it is possible to give each EDS III / IV system access to the same files and the same sewing peripherals.

You may have as many licensed EDS III / IV systems operating on an Ethernet network as you choose. Each computer running EDS III / IV on the network must have a licensed EDS System (including the dongle) installed to operate properly. Melco's Ethernet implementation is fully compatible with Windows 95/98 and Windows for Workgroups. Given this, once you have two or more of these systems wired together, you may also share hard drives and printers between them.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use my old Melco cables for Ethernet?
A: No. While these cables look similar, they are wired differently and use a different type of wire and connector.

Q: Okay, so how can I tell the difference?
A: Count the number of "pins" in the connector. These are the little gold-looking contacts. Ethernet cables have 8; the Melco StarLAN cables have 6.

Q: Will I be able to connect my older EMC machines to Ethernet?
A: No. Ethernet will only be supported on new products (including the EMC 10/12).

Q: Will I be able to connect my new EMT machine to StarLAN?
A: No. StarLAN will not be supported on these (or future) products.

Q: Is there any way to run a StarLAN peripheral from more than one EDS III / IV system?
A: No. This capability only works with Ethernet peripherals.

Q: What about the EMC 10/12?
A: The 12-head EMC 10/12 is being converted to Ethernet. StarLAN will not be supported on this machine.

Q:What if I buy a new Ethernet system and then find a used StarLAN peripheral later. Will this work?
A: Yes. Contact Melco for a StarLAN network board for your EDS III / IV computer. Please refer to the Melco Computer Requirements for information on the proper computer specifications for StarLAN networking.

Q: I have an EDS III / IV system and several EMC machines. What do I need to add an EMT machine to this?
A: You will need to add an Ethernet card to your EDS III / IV computer and install the Windows software for this card. You will also need the latest version of EDS III / IV. Melco offers kits for this.

Q: I still run EDS II on one of my systems. Can I use this with an Ethernet sewing machine?
A: No. Ethernet is not be supported on EDS II.

Q: How can I connect my laptop computer to my Ethernet sewing machines?
A: Melco will have a kit for this. Your laptop must have one PCMCIA Type-II slot available for the Ethernet adapter. It must also meet all of the recommended requirements for running EDS III or EDS IV.

Q: What about EDS EZ?
A: EDS EZ supports any single needle embroidery peripheral that has Ethernet capability (currently EP 1B and EMT 1).

Q: My local computer store sells Ethernet hubs. Will these work?
A: Yes. Make sure any hub you buy is Ethernet 10BaseT compatible.

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