Re: Ethernet chip - newbie need help with selection

In article <1130517051.343055.254300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
cs_posting@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Why do so many of the "ethernet chip" solutions still require a
> seperate PHY?
>
> Does making a PHY suggest a different semiconductor process? It
> certainly can be integrated with the rest of the ethernet functionality
> or even a whole microcontroller, since a few like Freescale have done
> it.

Possibly because not everything ethernet is 10/100 UTP.

That not all PHY's are created equal.

That ethernet market forces have changed dominant PHY's several times
over the years.

Read the MC9S12NE64 data *** and note the lengths Freescale goes to
detail exactly how to bypass the built-in PHY.

Its nice to have the PHY built in, less work. But there are also
heat/power and isolation issues where it helps to have the PHY outboard.
.