Local area networks have been used successfully in data processing applications for several years. Recently, there have been several proposals for using these networks in real-time applications such as voice transmission. This project examines, by means of a simulation, the feasibility of using Ethernet for carrying data in real-time environments, and, in particular, studies the effect of channel load on network delay. The simulation described shows that, with appropriately chosen loads, Ethernet can keep within real-time constraints and service every node successfully.