Getting rid of ISDN 1

[Leacooper]

We currently have a network with ISDN internet connection. I am not quite sure how it works and want to know if it is using a normal phone line. If so, can that phone line be used for 56k modem dial-up to another ISP? Or, for that matter, ADSL connection?

Thanks

 

[larse]

If you have an ISDN line then it is almost certainly going to have been a simple change over of both socket and exchange equipment (BT end) with no physical change to the copper wiring. Therefore there is little problem with changing the line to be either analogue of aDSL. Why you would want to go to analogue again is questionable as compared to my experiences with aDSL it is far inferior. The cost of running aDSL is comparable to ISDN (or even cheaper) and the speed is incredible. There are many ISPs that are offering DSL links now. The only thing to bear in mind with DSL is that it is always connected and therefore you have to have some form of protection for your internal network, such as hardware firewalls. I have used small cisco, watchguard an sonicwall units and found them to be reasonable value and easy to use. The long and short is, Yes you can have the line changed by BT (or another party) and can go either way. aDSL is better, but analogue is possible.

 

[Guest_imported]

ISDN is not the same as analog lines or DSL. ISDN is digital which means that no D/A conversion is done which is what a modem does. Now an analog signal can travel across an ISDN line (i.e. voice or modem) but you would still need to have some sort of ISDN router or terminal adapter to be able to communicate with the ISDN d-channel. You cannot simply plug a modem into an ISDN line. Likewise you cannot change this type of line to aDSL. Although technically I think it is possible for your telco to physically unpatch your copper from the ISDN switch and move it over to a DSLAM thereby making it DSL, I doubt they will. DSL is meant to operate over regular analog 2 wire telephone lines (I know the phone line has 4 wires but only 2 are used for voice/data).

The question is why even consider 56k dialup when you probably already have that option...just over ISDN. Now if you get rid of ISDN and went back to analog lines, then your bandwidth will be SLOW (53K or less typically) versus 128 ISDN. ADSL seems a better "upgrade" if it is available in you area. Also consider satellite or cable as an option if ADSL is not available. Check out

http://www.getspeed.com.