I need ISDN help

[GSFly]

I am not a complete computer idiot,,I have built and sold sveral systems for yrs and but i am tired of only dialup being available and I am going to make a switch to ISDN...Info on the web is vague and I need some serious, sound advice....

1st off,,, the provider said I needed a modem/router that would handle 2 channels...i am getting 128k isdn....I want to hook both our home pc's to it...

What reasonably priced piece of hardware should I take into consideration?... I dont speak all the IT/ geek language so please be str8 forward and point me in an econimocal, yet reliable direction

Feel free to include suggestions, web links etc to your replies..I am so sick of surfing at 5k..

Oh yeah how much speed improvement in up/down speeds should I see once I make the switch

Thanx

GSFly

 

[ISDNman]

Well let me get the ball rolling, but I won't have specific equipment recomendations

1) ISDN is normally ordered and provisioned with 2 "B channels". Each is (normally) at 64 kbps each. Each B channel can be used indepedntly, for example wiht the right equipment you can place a normal voice telephone call on one B channel and be running data on the other B channel.

If you are primarily interested in using this for data, then you'll probably want to use both B channels and hence need a Terminal Adaptor that supports this ability. Most du.

2) The protocol used to split the data across these channels is not as defined as one would like. Therefore if you get the wrong box it may only work at 64 KBPS. Bummer.

3) Ordering ISDN can be a bit tricky. So ideally you should purchase the Terminal Adaptor (some tiems called an ISDN modem or ISDN Router) first, and use the information form the TA vendor to order the ISDN Line (or at the very least pick a TA and download there information about the ISDN requirements. Best to fax this info to the ISDN provider (not the ISP) when you place the order.

4) Since the ISP will have to deal with any issues that arise making 128 k connections work, you may want to get their advice on a TA that they know works at 128. Also, sinc eyou may need to rely on them for some support, a TA that is familiar to them will make things easier for both of you.

5) The ISDN TA should have the ISDN "U" interface to the ISDN.

If you would find it handly to use your B channels with a phone (second line for the kids?) or fax when not on-line, you should make sure your TA has one or more POTS emulation jacks to which you can connect a telephone or fax (or even a modem).

You should get one that supports Ethernet to connect to a switch or hub and from there to your computers. Most Etherent compatible units will have a web page for configuration.

You will prbably want to find a unit that has DHCP, otherwise your ISP will need to give you fixed IP adresses fo rthe two computer.

Make sure the Telco gives you three pieces of information that you may need to program into the TA:

a)
Your 2 "SPID numbers". These look like phone numbers but may have extra digts (or may not resemble phone numbers in rare cases).

b)
2 Your 2 "Directory numbers". These are your phone numbers, so these WILL look like phone numbers. You get one number per B channel

c)
The ISDN protocol of your ISDN line. This is often called "Switch type". This is technically not the same as the ISDN switch, since some ISDN-capable switches have support more than one protocol. Most likely this will be "National ISDN 1" or "National ISDN 2" but it could be "DMS Custom" or "5ESS Custom".

Regarding speed. The beaty of ISDN is that the actual ISDN speed is basically guaranteed (so if you don't get these speeds you can say for sure there is a problem,unlike certain other technologies where there is no guarantee). At the bare minimum you should get 56 kbps in each direction per B channel (112 kbp total) on every call. In the vast majority of locations you can get 64 kbps in each direction per channel (128 kbps total) on every call.

Speed does not vary call to call, nor will it vary during a call. If speed varies, most likely it is a bottle neck at the Internet service provider (or at the site you are connecting to). Calls also should not hang up unless you tell them to, or program your TA to do so (since there may be per-minute charges you may very well want to do so).

good luck

 

[MaxPipeline]

I have had alot of experience with the Lucent Pipeline series of ISDN routers. You can probably find one for cheap on eBay. For your purposes I would choose either the Pipeline 75 or 85. The 85 is basically a 75 with a built-in 4-port hub. I have also worked with Netgear ISDN routers as well and I think they work pretty well too. I forget the models exactly. In terms of ease of use, the Pipelines are not the most user friendly. You have to access them via telnet or Hyperterminal. I think alot of newbies may be intimidated by this. Some other brands give you a webUI which is better IMO. I recall the Netgear had one. Either way, I'd go with an ISDN router as opposed to a terminal adaptor. The difference is the TA has no real intelligence like your standard modem. The Router on the other hand can perform NAT and host several PCs sharing the same ISDN line.

Hope this helps