The Mesa 4I29X is a 16-bit PC/104 bus interface module for embedded and industrial control systems requiring real-time Ethernet connectivity. It supports 10BaseT, 10Base2, and AUI standards with configurable NE2000 or WD8013EBT emulation modes, enabling broad driver compatibility across legacy and modern operating environments. The card operates on a single 5 V DC supply with current draw up to 100 mA (transceiver off) and power consumption below 2 W, making it suitable for power-constrained embedded platforms.
Technical Specifications
• Bus Interface: PC/104, selectable 8-bit or 16-bit operation via jumper
• Ethernet Standards: 10BaseT (twisted pair), 10Base2 (thin BNC), AUI (Attachment Unit Interface)
• Emulation Modes: NE2000, WD8013EBT (software-selectable via EEPROM)
• Interrupt Levels: IRQ2, IRQ3, IRQ4, IRQ5, IRQ10, IRQ11, IRQ12 (selectable)
• I/O Address Space (WD8013 Mode): 240H, 280H, 2C0H, 300H, 320H, 340H, 360H
• Shared Memory: 16 KB (8-bit and 16-bit CPU support)
• Power Supply: 4.5 V to 5.5 V DC, up to 100 mA
• Boot PROM: 5 V flash, location and enable selectable
• Physical Form Factor: PC/104 card, approximately 1.5″ × 1.5″
– Key Features
• Dual transceiver configuration: onboard or external AUI transceiver option (4I29E, requires +12 V system power)
• Low power consumption—below 2 W typical operation
• Multiple selectable interrupt and address configurations for flexible system integration
• EEPROM-based emulation mode selection eliminates hardware reconfiguration
• Support for both 8-bit and 16-bit processor architectures
– Typical Applications
Industrial automation, real-time motion control systems, embedded data acquisition, legacy PC/104 stack modernization with modern Ethernet connectivity.
– Compatibility & Integration
NE2000 and WD8013EBT emulation modes ensure compatibility with existing driver libraries across DOS, embedded Linux, and real-time operating systems. Integrates into PC/104 stackable computer architectures without additional signal conditioning.
