OverviewBeginning with the EMT product line, Melco is switching its network technology to Ethernet. Thedriving force behind this is the pending obsolescence of components used in Melco networkssince 1988.

Among the advantages of Ethernet are its widespread use and low cost. This has also allowedMelco 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 filetransfers and design transfers are much faster.

• Melco’s Ethernet implementation will co-exist on most office networks (including Microsoftand 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 wiringhubs and cables are readily available from Melco and other computer sources (Ethernetboards 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 signalloss.

Introductionto Ethernet™ networks

Part Number 110309-01 Rev. E

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Network applications

Old StarLAN™ systems

All of Melco’s sewing peripherals prior to the EMT series used StarLAN networking. A few ofMelco’s larger installations used hubs because of the number of peripherals or because of the longdistance between endpoints on the network. Most networks are wired by simply daisy chainingthe 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.

*Note: You may have as many licensed EDS III / IV systems operating on an Ethernet network asyou choose. Each computer running EDS III / IV on the network must have a licensed EDSSystem (including the dongle) installed to operate properly.

Ethernet hubEMT 10/12

EMT Products

EDS IIIComputer*

EDS IIILaptop*

Each cable may be up to 100 meters (327 feet) long. Hubs may be daisy-chainedfor more capacity or distance.

Figure 2

EDS IIIcomputerTerminator

cable

EMC 10/4

CH1 (Chenille machine)

EMC 10

Figure 1

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With an Ethernet hub, you may con-nect any item (a computer or a periph-eral) to any plug on the hub. Melcoprovides hubs with eight connections.Figure 3 illustrates a typical single-hubconfiguration.

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

Important!

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

The computer is shown in this diagram for illustrationpuposes only. Remember, any computer or peripheral

can be plugged into any port on any hub.

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 Ashown below. If you have 15 or more total connections, use configuration B shown below.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DaisyChain

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DaisyChain

C

A

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DaisyChain

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DaisyChain

C

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DaisyChain

Etc.B

Figure 4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Computer

With a single hub, your configuration may look like this:

Peripheral

Peripheral

Peripheral

Peripheral

Peripheral Peripheral

Peripheral

DaisyChain

Figure 3

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Combined technologies

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

EDS III / IV and EthernetMelco 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. Inorder to add Ethernet to an existing EDS III / IV computer, an additional slot is required. In systemsthat have no slots available, there are few options. The user may choose to remove another cardor buy another computer. It may also be possible to connect to the Ethernet network using a par-allel 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 ISAslot. Most Pentium systems have a free PCI slot. Laptop computers must use a PCMCIA Type IInetwork adapter.

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. Theseadapters 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 adaptersavailable on the market today.

Ethernet hubEMC 10/12

EMT Products

EDS IIIComputer*

EDS IIILaptop*

Terminatorcable

EMC 10/4

CH1 (Chenille machine)

EMC 10

Older models use theStarLAN network side

Newer models (including the EMC 10/12and the EMT product line) use the

Ethernet network side

Figure 5

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Multiple EDS III / IV systemsIn the development of the software for Ethernet on EDS III / IV and the peripherals, work wasdone to ensure that multiple EDS III / IV systems can be connected to the same network. This fea-ture 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, itwas a design goal.

What this means is that each EDS III / IV system on the Ethernet network is able to communicatewith each sewing peripheral on the same network. Once the sewing peripheral has loaded its RSAprogram, 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 IIIor EDS IV system. As a part of an integrated solution using Windows 95/98 or Windows forWorkgroups, it is possible to give each EDS III / IV system access to the same files and the samesewing peripherals.

You may have as many licensed EDS III / IV systems operating on an Ethernet network as youchoose. 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 forWorkgroups. Given this, once you have two or more of these systems wired together, you mayalso share hard drives and printers between them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)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 wireand 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 thismachine.

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Q: What if I buy a new Ethernet system and then find a used StarLAN peripheral later. Will thiswork?

A: Yes. Contact Melco for a StarLAN network board for your EDS III / IV computer.

Q: I have an EDS III / IV system and several EMC machines. What do I need to add an EMTmachine to this?

A: You will need to add an Ethernet card to your EDS III / IV computer and install the Windowssoftware for this card. You will also need the latest version of EDS III / IV. Melco offers kits forthis.

Q: I still run EDS II on one of my systems. Can I use this with an Ethernet sewing machine?

A: No. Ethernet will 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 theEthernet adapter. It must also meet all of the recommended requirements for running EDS IIIor EDS IV.

Q: What about EDS EZ?

A: EDS EZ supports any single needle embroidery peripheral that has Ethernet capability (currentlyEP 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.

Trademarks and trade names used throughout this publication are the property of their respective owners.

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