The SN75176BPSR can support data rates up to 100 Mbps.
Yes, the SN75176BPSR is compatible with other RS-485 transceivers that comply with the EIA/TIA-485 standard.
To ensure proper termination, a 120-ohm termination resistor should be connected between the differential outputs (Y and Z) and a common-mode termination voltage (typically VCC or GND) at the receiving end of the bus.
The maximum cable length depends on the data rate and cable characteristics, but a general rule of thumb is to limit the cable length to 4000 feet (1219 meters) at 100 kbps and 1000 feet (305 meters) at 1 Mbps.
To handle bus contention and fault tolerance, use a combination of techniques such as bus arbitration, error detection and correction, and fault detection and isolation. Additionally, consider using a redundant bus architecture and implementing a fault-tolerant protocol.