Black Box LE1050A-BNC Multiport Repeater 1050 4-Port 10Base2 BNC Thin Ethernet

Black Box LE1050A-BNC Multiport Repeater 1050 4-Port 10Base2 BNC Thin Ethernet

The Black Box Multiport Repeater 1050 (LE1050A-BNC) is a 10Base2 coaxial Ethernet repeater designed to extend and segment thin coax (RG-58) network segments. It connects multiple 10Base2 coax segments and regenerates the signal, allowing networks to span greater distances than a single segment permits. The unit is manufactured by Garrett Communications, Inc. and is sold and branded under the Black Box name; some OEM variants carry the "EAZY" brand label on the front panel.

Specifications & What's Included

• Model: LE1050A-BNC
• Manufacturer: Garrett Communications, Inc. (sold as Black Box)
• Type: Multiport 10Base2 Coaxial Ethernet Repeater
• Network standard: 10Base2 (Thin Ethernet, IEEE 802.3)
• Data rate: 10 Mbps
• Front panel: 1 BNC uplink/backbone port
• Rear panel: 4 BNC coaxial segment ports
• Rear panel: 1 circular DIN connector (power input)
• Front panel LED indicators: PWR, COL (collision), JAB (jabber), ports +/1/2/3/4, RCV (receive), PART (partition)
• Form factor: compact desktop/standalone enclosure
• Country of manufacture: USA (per bottom label)
• Includes: external power adapter (IEC inlet type, as shown in photos)

Applications

The Multiport Repeater 1050 was designed for 10Base2 thin coaxial Ethernet networks, which were widely deployed in offices, schools, and small businesses from the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s. In a 10Base2 network, each segment of RG-58 coaxial cable is terminated at both ends with 50-ohm terminators and daisy-chained using BNC T-connectors at each node. A multiport repeater like the LE1050A-BNC allowed administrators to connect multiple such segments together, regenerating the signal and effectively extending network reach beyond the 185-meter single-segment limit. LED indicators for collision (COL), jabber (JAB), and partition (PART) helped network administrators diagnose common problems on each connected segment. By the late 1990s, 10Base2 networks were largely replaced by 10Base-T and 100Base-TX twisted-pair Ethernet using hubs and switches; however, this repeater remains relevant for maintaining, repairing, or extending legacy coax-based Ethernet installations still found in some industrial, educational, and government environments.