| Q: | What is the PCnet™-Home controller?
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| A: | AMD's PCnet-Home device is a single-chip home networking silicon controller that
includes all of the hardware and software required for PC or peripheral
manufacturers to bring HomePNA-compatible products to market.
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| Q: | How is the installation process done?
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| A: | Any home networking solution must be optimized for ease-of-use and installation
requirements. AMD has developed a set of point-and-click installation wizards that
require a user to only select the specific resources and peripherals they want to
share on the network.
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| Q: | How is Internet sharing done?
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| A: | Internet sharing is a key feature of the AMD PCnet-Home solution, allowing one PC to act as a central Internet gateway and distribute this access to any device on the network. Through a 3rd party license, AMD's PCnet-Home device includes Internet sharing software that enables this functionality to be easily installed and maintained on a home network through a simple, point-and-click interface. |
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| Q: | Will an AMD-enabled HomePNA device work with a HomePNA device using a
controller from another silicon manufacturer?
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| A: | All HomePNA-compliant devices must pass substantial compliance and interoperability
testing to receive the HomePNA seal. All products and devices that pass this
verification will interoperate with one another.
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| Q: | Will AMD offer its own end-user products?
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| A: | AMD has no plans at this time to offer end-user home networking products. |
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| Q: | Is it possible to integrate the AMD device into other non-PC devices to
enable them to access a HomePNA network?
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| A: | The current AMD PCnet-Home device is primarily intended for integration onto PC
motherboards and adapter cards. As the need for home phoneline networking
connectivity increases for other devices and applications, AMD plans to offer
additional products that meet these demands.
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| Q: | Is 1 Mbps fast enough?
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| A: | A 1 Mbps data transfer rate is nearly 18 times faster than standard 56k modem
connections, and provides ample bandwidth for nearly all of the current user
requirements for a home networking solution. |
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| Q: | Does the AMD PCnet-Home controller allow a user to run a mixed
Ethernet/HomePNA network in their house? Simultaneously?
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| A: | AMD's PCnet-Home controller supports both 1 Mbps HomePNA data networking as
well as standard 10 Mbps Ethernet networking. The
PCnet-Home controller auto senses the speed and type of network running, and
adjusts accordingly. Currently, the device does not support running a mixed network
simultaneously.
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| Q: | What are the technical aspects of the 1 Mbps HomePNA physical layer
technology?
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| A: | The HomePNA has chosen to standardize on a technology available now from Tut
Systems, allowing consumers to link devices at speeds up to
1 Mbps over existing home phonelines. The technology supports the complex,
random-tree type of wiring typically found in the home and does not require any hubs
or new Category 5 wiring. The HomePNA network requires no special terminations,
filters or splitters. It uses only the single pair of existing phone wires to make its
connection, and operates concurrently with any normal telephone service that might
be using those same wires. The technology also coexists with the new splitterless
Universal ADSL standard. It is fully compatible with the Ethernet MAC layer standard
(IEEE 802.3 CSMA/CD with a new physical layer) and meets applicable FCC
regulatory requirements.
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| Q: | Does AMD offer reference designs for network interface card (NIC) or
motherboard implementations?
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| A: | AMD currently offers peripheral and PC manufactures with a comprehensive set of
technical documentation enabling them to integrate the PCnet-Home device onto a
motherboard or adapter card. These documents include layout and design application
notes, bill of materials information, a complete installation guide and all of the
hardware and software required to support home networking functionality.
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| Q: | Does the AMD device support phoneline networking for Macs and older
PCs?
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| A: | AMD's PCnet-Home controller is specifically designed for motherboard and adapter
card implementations in Windows®-compatible computers. |
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| Q: | Has AMD tested this technology to ensure it works in homes throughout
the U.S.?
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| A: | AMD's PCnet-Home device is fully compliant with the initial 1 Mbps technology
specification adopted by the HomePNA. |
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| Q: | What is the Home Phoneline Networking Alliance?
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| A: | The Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA) is an association of industry-leading
companies working together to ensure adoption of a single, unified phoneline
networking standard. Founding companies include AMD, Compaq, IBM, Hewlett
Packard, Tut Systems, 3Com, and Epigram among others.
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| Q: | Does this technology interfere with standard telephone services?
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| A: | No. All Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA) devices use a technology
called Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) that enables multiple services to use the
same set of wires simultaneously without impacting one another. The HomePNA
technology can also operate simultaneously with the new UADSL technology that
delivers over 1 Mbps of bandwidth to the home via telephone wires.
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| Q: | How does home phoneline networking work? Will it require any special
equipment?
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| A: | The HomePNA is committed to the concept of a "no new wires" networking
technology that is simple to install and maintain. AMD has licensed the alliance's
technical specification to develop an Ethernet-compatible control that enables a LAN
over the complex, random-tree wiring found in nearly all homes. The technology does
not require any hubs, routers, splitters, filters, terminations or any other special
equipment. |
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| Q: | Is the AMD device primarily targeted at the United States market? Is there
a market for this overseas?
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| A: | Any household with more than one PC can benefit from home networking. However,
the regulatory environment concerning the use of public phone networks varies from
country to country. The United States currently has the largest population of multi-PC
homes. Therefore, AMD has focused on introducing this technology in the U.S. market.
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| Q: | Will all of the various home networking technologies (HomeRF, BlueTooth,
powerline) be compatible with one another?
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| A: | Ideally, end-users will be able to deploy multiple home networking technologies
throughout their home and not have to worry about various protocols. Compatibility
issues should be addressed within the various industry working groups.
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