SynOptics 3333 LattisNet Ethernet Retiming Module 920-045 AUI MDA Card

SynOptics 3333 LattisNet Ethernet Retiming Module 920-045 AUI MDA Card

The SynOptics 3333 is a LattisNet Ethernet Retiming Module designed for installation in SynOptics modular concentrator chassis. It provides Ethernet signal retiming and repeating functions for AUI-connected segments within a LattisNet hub environment. The board carries a SynOptics-branded main controller IC (marked 9450VDS / 104-022-B) and includes an Auto Partition switch for automatic segment fault isolation.

Specifications & What's Included

• Manufacturer: SynOptics Communications, Inc.
• Model: 3333
• Part Number (PWA): 920-045
• Type: Ethernet Retiming / Concentrator Module (MDA — Medium Dependent Adapter)
• Network Interface: AUI (DB15 female connector on front panel)
• Auto Partition: Yes — on-board switch for automatic port partitioning on fault
• Main Controller IC: SynOptics 9450VDS, marking 104-022-B
• Form Factor: Chassis-mounted card/module (fits SynOptics LattisNet modular hub chassis)
• Country of Manufacture: USA
• Included: Module only — no chassis, cables, or accessories

Applications

SynOptics was a pioneering networking company of the late 1980s and early 1990s, widely credited with popularizing structured cabling and hub-based Ethernet. The LattisNet system was one of the first widely adopted modular Ethernet concentrator platforms, built around a chassis-and-card architecture that allowed network administrators to mix different media types (10BASE-T, AUI, fiber) in a single hub. The 3333 retiming module was used to connect AUI-attached Ethernet devices — workstations, servers, or other network nodes — into a LattisNet chassis, with built-in signal retiming to maintain signal integrity across segments. Auto-partition capability automatically isolated a faulty segment to prevent it from disrupting the rest of the network, a significant feature for the era. SynOptics was later acquired by Bay Networks (itself later acquired by Nortel), and LattisNet equipment is now sought by legacy network maintainers, collectors, and technicians supporting older institutional network infrastructure from the early 1990s.