On 06/26/2018 01:13 PM, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote: > >> On Jun 26, 2018, at 1:04 PM, Grant Taylor via cctalk <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> On 06/26/2018 10:31 AM, Mark J. Blair via cctalk wrote: >>> What does non-intrusive mean in this context? I thought that thick ethernet >>> taps always required drilling a hole in the cable. >> There are taps that screw onto the N connectors. Thus you have to >> intrusively disconnect segments, to insert the (so called) tap. >> >> Conversely, you can drill / clamp / tap onto live segments in a >> non-intrusive manner. >> >> My assumption was that "tap" comes from the second form. I always thought >> there was a different name for the first form. But I believe they were less >> common, hence fall under the "tap" term which is more popular. > I don't remember seeing the "insert between N connectors" type. "Tap" to me > means a DEC H4000 "vampire tap", and yes, those use a drill to install. That > should be non-disruptive if done correctly. > > I believe the original concept was just a probe that would poke through the > cable to contact the center connector. The drill came because the cable was > too tough to penetrate without it. Not to mention the fact that if you just shoved a pin from the outside to the center conductor you were bound to create a short between the shield and center conductor.
> Maybe a side effect of switching to Teflon flame-resistant insulation. > Early prototype cable seemed to be polyethylene, with a bright yellow outer > jacket with black stripes marking the tap spacing. That might have been > softer and suitable for no-drill tapping. > I have never seen taps that could be installed without drilling. By the way, I still have my drill. :-) bill
