> Unfortunately, FDDI ain't just a media conversion.  I'd basically need a
> router to do this.  I use media converters for all my other fiber
> connections (like 10BaseFL or 10BaseFB - these are more hardware level
> conversions - no actuall data translation occurs IIRC), but the FDDI
> protocol is much more in depth than just a media/electrical/optical 
> translation.

yeah.. 
> 
> So, I'm trying to build an FDDI->100BTX box that'll do the job for me...
> 
> And the DEFPAs I've found are 1) expensive and 2) hard to find [sic] :-(

ok, i dig it... well im afraid PCI is the only thing that'll do! :( 

i guess maybe find a cheap alpahstation 200 or something? :)