ISDN??

Hi all. "Shopping" around for a better/faster internet connection, mostly for N3. Cable and DSL are unavailable to me where I live, and there are "no plans at this time" by either local provider to change that. I do however have access to ISDN through Sprint. My main question is, of course, how is ISDN for online ***, specifically N3? Is anybody out there using it? How is your connection, ping times, ect.? Does this mean that the phone is still useable while online? After being online for over 200 hrs last month {mostly racing :) } my wife now wants to add a 2cd phone line. Sprint's web site says ISDN allows for simultaneous voice and data transmission, which would be a good (and cheaper) alternative. Thanks in advance, Dave, Fastdav on WON

The big deal about cable or Adsl is hosting. Unless your 56k modem is really poorly configured and/or your isp is crap, then 56k should be fine for participating in "most" online races. Keep in mind, the lower the ping the better not just for you, but the opponents as well. My cable sometimes is absolutley FABULOUS, but other times it's just as pokey as a pots modem. dave henrie

Quoted text (14 lines)

> Hi all. "Shopping" around for a better/faster internet connection, mostly > for N3. Cable and DSL are unavailable to me where I live, and there are "no > plans at this time" by either local provider to change that. I do however > have access to ISDN through Sprint. My main question is, of course, how is > ISDN for online ***, specifically N3? Is anybody out there using it? > How is your connection, ping times, ect.? Does this mean that the phone is > still useable while online? After being online for over 200 hrs last month > {mostly racing :) } my wife now wants to add a 2cd phone line. Sprint's web > site says ISDN allows for simultaneous voice and data transmission, which > would be a good (and cheaper) alternative. > Thanks in advance, > Dave, Fastdav on WON

I have ISDN. You have to get special lines run to your house. I have USWEST and it was 300+ for that plus I bought a $200 ISDN modem, and my line fees are around $86 a month, plus $40 for the ISP(for ISDN 128k) Now I know you can sometimes find deals where you get installation breaks like, free modem or a % off of the setup fee. I do like it, and hardly warp online, unless it's to a server with more than a 300 ping. Most servers I see are under 250, but that also depends on your ISP and how they are connected to the backbone. -- Sean Higgins

The Sprint deal is one of the best you'll find. It's flat rate, unlimited use, $25 a month more than a regular "POTS" (plain old telephone service) line. Basically, you get a full 64k on two channels. If an incoming or outgoing call occurs, the terminal adapter will drop one channel to handle the call, and you are reduced to one 64k channel, which is still better than 48k, or 49k, or whatever you're getting with so-called 56k dial-ups. It's a definite improvement, but it's not a miracle. I think you'll like it. Don't buy the unit Sprint will try to sell you. Get a 3Com Impact IQ, or, if you have $400 to spare, get the Office Connect LAN modem. Dan intercommunicated: ~Hi all. "Shopping" around for a better/faster internet connection, mostly ~for N3. Cable and DSL are unavailable to me where I live, and there are "no ~plans at this time" by either local provider to change that. I do however ~have access to ISDN through Sprint. My main question is, of course, how is ~ISDN for online ***, specifically N3? Is anybody out there using it? ~How is your connection, ping times, ect.? Does this mean that the phone is ~still useable while online? After being online for over 200 hrs last month ~{mostly racing :) } my wife now wants to add a 2cd phone line. Sprint's web ~site says ISDN allows for simultaneous voice and data transmission, which ~would be a good (and cheaper) alternative. ~ ~Thanks in advance, ~ ~Dave, Fastdav on WON ~ ___ Delete the dot (.) in "sand.man" and "inter.path" to send e-mail.

special lines? you need the normal twisted pair, thats all. that's pretty expensive! here in germany, you get ISDN (2x64kbps) for $25 (US) a month (installation about $50). an ISDN card (I recommend AVM Fritz! PCI) costs about $70 and the connection and ISP costs are the same as for analog connections. yep. usually you have about 50-100 ms less ping with ISDN. I am using ISDN for some years now and played all sorts of games on the internet and I must say: it's worth it! Lio

> how is ISDN for online ***? A definite improvement over modems. Since I have ISDN, my pings are typically between 100 and 220 in GPL. Disconnects are very rare for me. Ofcourse this depends heavily on the ISP and the quality of the host. However, for hosting ISDN is no substitute for ADSL. Even a 128K ISDN line will still allow only 10 cars on most systems. As a client, 64K is all you need. Yes, when connected at 64K. This lowers the domestic drag factor considerably <g> -- Bye, Leo

I am getting my ISDN installed next Tuesday. I paid Bell Atlantic $125 for installation. No special lines, they just need to connect to the house. I bought a 3Com TA on Ebay for $170.00 The Bell Atlantic phone package I got is $82 ($84 maybe?) and Earthlink is $29.95 for unlimited use. The thing about the $82 bill is I get rid of my 'normal' phone line which is $35 and you also get a second phone line with ISDN so subtract our the cost of my primary phone line and a secondary phone line and the cost is minimal for ISDN. The unlimited monthy usage with Bell Atlantic is way too expensive so you have to be careful because routine local phone calls count towards your monthly usage. However, long distance and incoming calls do not. I have DSL and cable available form a few sources, but I am moving in the not too distant future and I don't want to get locked into a contract, pay for installatin, etc and then move and find I can't get service there and get screwed with the contract. So ISDN is my short term fix for a digital connection <G> Scott PA-Scott PowerSims.com -- Scott B. Husted ICQ# 4395450

Hey Dave, Everyone else is giving you pretty good advice. The one thing I'd like to throw in is not to be tempted into giving up your regular phone service if you get ISDN. ISDN requires "active" termination. Meaning that the terminal adapter requires its own source of power. If your power goes out, you have no phone. Not exactly a safe situation in my opinion. -Bill

Quoted text (10 lines)

>Hi all. "Shopping" around for a better/faster internet connection, mostly >for N3. Cable and DSL are unavailable to me where I live, and there are "no >plans at this time" by either local provider to change that. I do however >have access to ISDN through Sprint. My main question is, of course, how is >ISDN for online ***, specifically N3? Is anybody out there using it? >How is your connection, ping times, ect.? Does this mean that the phone is >still useable while online? After being online for over 200 hrs last month >{mostly racing :) } my wife now wants to add a 2cd phone line. Sprint's web >site says ISDN allows for simultaneous voice and data transmission, which >would be a good (and cheaper) alternative.

-- | "Instead of letting the moon be the Bill Mette | gateway to our future, we have let Enteract, Chicago | it become a brief chapter in our

AFAIK ISDN can normally handle one passive device. and: how often does this happen? I haven't had a single power loss for some years now ... ok, this is different in the USA, I know ;-) Lio

Hmm, since I do customer support on ISDN here in Norway among other things, I'll have to put in a comment here :-) One of your B-channels will be up even if you have a power failure. For you to be able to phone without normal power, you'll need an ISDN phone that does not require a socket to operate, and it can not be an analogue phone through an adapter. That means, err...if you have a diesel running up power for your PC, you can still hang out at Monza:-D Matt, GPLEA >>Hi all. "Shopping" around for a better/faster internet connection, mostly >>for N3. Cable and DSL are unavailable to me where I live, and there are "no >>plans at this time" by either local provider to change that. I do however >>have access to ISDN through Sprint. My main question is, of course, how is >>ISDN for online ***, specifically N3? Is anybody out there using it? >>How is your connection, ping times, ect.? Does this mean that the phone is >>still useable while online? After being online for over 200 hrs last month >>{mostly racing :) } my wife now wants to add a 2cd phone line. Sprint's web

Quoted text (7 lines)

>>site says ISDN allows for simultaneous voice and data transmission, which >>would be a good (and cheaper) alternative. >-- > | "Instead of letting the moon be the >Bill Mette | gateway to our future, we have let >Enteract, Chicago | it become a brief chapter in our

Quoted text (19 lines)

>>Hey Dave, >> Everyone else is giving you pretty good advice. The one thing I'd like >>to throw in is not to be tempted into giving up your regular phone service >>if you get ISDN. ISDN requires "active" termination. Meaning that the >>terminal adapter requires its own source of power. If your power goes >>out, you have no phone. Not exactly a safe situation in my opinion. >>-Bill >Hmm, since I do customer support on ISDN here in Norway among other things, >I'll have to put in a comment here :-) >One of your B-channels will be up even if you have a power failure. For you >to be able to phone without normal power, you'll need an ISDN phone that >does not require a socket to operate, and it can not be an analogue phone >through an adapter. >That means, err...if you have a diesel running up power for your PC, you can >still hang out at Monza:-D

What Matt says is correct (of course). Problem is, true ISDN phones are very very rare in the States. Was I correct in my original thinking? If you have a regular phone plugged into the "analog" port on your TA, you're out of luck should the power fail. I've always liked ISDN as a technology. Lots of people bash it but I think the only problem is that (in the U.S. at least) carriers tend to substantially overprice it. -- | "Instead of letting the moon be the Bill Mette | gateway to our future, we have let Enteract, Chicago | it become a brief chapter in our

>>>Hey Dave, >>> Everyone else is giving you pretty good advice. The one thing I'd like >>>to throw in is not to be tempted into giving up your regular phone service

Quoted text (7 lines)

>>>if you get ISDN. ISDN requires "active" termination. Meaning that the >>>terminal adapter requires its own source of power. If your power goes >>>out, you have no phone. Not exactly a safe situation in my opinion. >>>-Bill >>Hmm, since I do customer support on ISDN here in Norway among other

things, >>I'll have to put in a comment here :-) >>One of your B-channels will be up even if you have a power failure. For you >>to be able to phone without normal power, you'll need an ISDN phone that >>does not require a socket to operate, and it can not be an analogue phone >>through an adapter. >>That means, err...if you have a diesel running up power for your PC, you can

Quoted text (10 lines)

>>still hang out at Monza:-D > What Matt says is correct (of course). Problem is, true ISDN phones are >very very rare in the States. Was I correct in my original thinking? If >you have a regular phone plugged into the "analog" port on your TA, you're >out of luck should the power fail. > I've always liked ISDN as a technology. Lots of people bash it but I >think the only problem is that (in the U.S. at least) carriers tend to >substantially overprice it. >--

Yup, originally, you're correct, I'm also beginning to think that you are using a different Make of TA/NT1 than us (since you have analogue ports). What happened in Norway was that in the beginning you had a box with two analogue outlets and one digital (The NT1+ we called it). This setup was very unstable (some thunder/heavy weather fried it) so the current setup only has two digital outlets. If you get your line converted to ISDN here now, you get the new box plus ISDN phone bundled with the subscription (45 for a conversion). As for quaility etc, I find ISDN very stable, but paying-per-minute is ancient.....:-) Norway has the largest rate of ISDN lines compared to subscribers in the world, simply because it has been dumped out cheaply, and anything else is hard to get (cable etc). Now, I'm just waiting for ADSL to become available everywhere...and at a normal price! (cost: 500 to set up, starting at 120 per month (!!!)) Wow, look at all the sentences in parenthesis! :-D Matt

It's probably because the house I bought was built around 1956, so they had to run a new line from pole to the house, and everytime a big truck goes down the street it rips it off my house. The Dumbasses have it the lowest line going across the street! lol -- Sean Higgins

~ I've always liked ISDN as a technology. Lots of people bash it but I ~think the only problem is that (in the U.S. at least) carriers tend to ~substantially overprice it. That's because of the enormous expense in providing ISDN. The equipment is v-e-r-y expensive. I had a phone co guy over here the other day talking about just that. D ___ Delete the dot (.) in "sand.man" and "ya.hoo" to send e-mail.

Almost all office phones in the US are ISDN these days. Yes, you're still out of luck with the analog phone; the TA needs power to convert the digital line to analog. Even an ISDN phone needs power to work. You're outa luck without backup power. For me, it's not a real issue, as I have cellular for backup. ISDN suffices for now, but I'll be overjoyed to replace it with DSL. Cable modems in my area still use the phone line for outbound traffic. Michael.

Why are you discussing power failure in this post? Is that so common in the USA?! Besides, when the power fails, GPL won't function either, so what does it matter? Just wondering.....

ROFLMAO -- Scott B. Husted "PA-Scott" COO MMMGI ICQ# 4395450 http://www.MMMGI.com http://www.Acrotech.net http://www.Powersims.com http://www.InternetMotorsports.net > It's probably because the house I bought was built around 1956, so they had > to run a new line from pole to the house, and everytime a big truck goes > down the street it rips it off my house. The Dumbasses have it the lowest > line going across the street! lol > -- > Sean Higgins > > I am getting my ISDN installed next Tuesday. I paid Bell Atlantic $125 > for > > installation. No special lines, they just need to connect to the house. > > I bought a 3Com TA on Ebay for $170.00 > > The Bell Atlantic phone package I got is $82 ($84 maybe?) and Earthlink is > > $29.95 for unlimited use. > > The thing about the $82 bill is I get rid of my 'normal' phone line which > is $35 > > and you also get a second phone line with ISDN so subtract our the cost of > my > > primary phone line and a secondary phone line and the cost is minimal for > ISDN. > > The unlimited monthy usage with Bell Atlantic is way too expensive so you > have > > to be careful because routine local phone calls count towards your monthly > > usage. However, long distance and incoming calls do not. > > I have DSL and cable available form a few sources, but I am moving in the > not > > too distant future and I don't want to get locked into a contract, pay for > > installatin, etc and then move and find I can't get service there and get > > screwed with the contract. So ISDN is my short term fix for a digital > > connection <G> > > Scott > > PA-Scott > > PowerSims.com > > -- > > Scott B. Husted > > ICQ# 4395450

Finally, somebody got to the point! :-D Matt

Hi David, I recently added a second line to my house and made sure it was an isdn line. My pings have dropped by about 60-70% and my disconnects have all but eliminated. Now, you had better get the second line as ISDN because in order for the line to work it must have a power source. This means that if it is your only ine and the power gos out you better have a cell phone handy. And yes ISDN can handle Analog calls while still online. That means that you can be online and still receive a call to an analog line. BTW you will need a terminal adapter to use. These can run from 55 - 355 dollars.

Quoted text (14 lines)

> Hi all. "Shopping" around for a better/faster internet connection, mostly > for N3. Cable and DSL are unavailable to me where I live, and there are "no > plans at this time" by either local provider to change that. I do however > have access to ISDN through Sprint. My main question is, of course, how is > ISDN for online ***, specifically N3? Is anybody out there using it? > How is your connection, ping times, ect.? Does this mean that the phone is > still useable while online? After being online for over 200 hrs last month > {mostly racing :) } my wife now wants to add a 2cd phone line. Sprint's web > site says ISDN allows for simultaneous voice and data transmission, which > would be a good (and cheaper) alternative. > Thanks in advance, > Dave, Fastdav on WON