> So, I'm considering using 2 16F628's and having them swap
> data at a higher speed than either UART is running

The prototype I'm building has 22 16F628s on it. The intention
is to use two (PIC1, PIC2) as transceivers with external PCs,
with the other 20 in between. After receiving data from the PC1
PIC1 sends it to one of the others that isn't busy. After a little
processing, that PIC then passes the data on to PIC2 which
interacts with the second PC2. And all this has to happen in
reverse as well, ie PC2 becomes the transmitter and PC1 the
receiver, with each PIC in between them a transceiver

To take advantage of the addressable USART mode within
the network (probably at the highest speed available), I'll have
to use s/w UART for the two external connections, more than
likely 9600 or 19200

I don't know much about ASICs, PLDs etc. Can they be made
with smarts or are they just gates ?

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