media converter

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

Media Converter

   <networking> A component used in {Ethernet}, although it is
   not part of the {IEEE} standard.  The IEEE standard states
   that all {segments} must be linked with {repeaters}.  Media
   converters were developed as a simpler, cheaper alternative to
   repeaters.  However, in the 1990s the cost difference between
   the two is negligible.

   (1996-12-09)