ISDN or sat DSL?

[WadePatton]

The dial-up lines in my neck of the woods suck. 28,800 is the fastest I ever hook-up and sometimes it takes 3-4 tries to even get on.



ISDN and Satellite DSL is available in my area. Cable is not an option.



Anybody using the old-fashioned ISDN? Comments?



And I know about firewalls. I'm running one.



Sat DSL at first glance is $600 to get set up and then 80 per month after the "special" is over. A bit steep if you axe me. Then they start offering all these "specials" so I've got some more learnin' to do there. ISDN varies on how much speed you purchase.



A friend of mine, on a different cooperative, has real DSL and it ROCKS, way better than cable. And he's further in the sticks than me.



I'm still checking into it. I'm getting real tired of playing freecell while pages load--or not being able to get on at all.

 

[Ram4Sam]

For some learnin'

Wade, go to www.dslreports.com for your learnin'. Tons of info on the site and a good forum are where you can probably find reader reviews on the sat system you are considering.



Sam

 

[Un-Hemi]

I ran ISDN for a couple of years before I moved up to my present location. The Motorola terminal I used ran 128K when using both channels. If I got an incoming phone call, it would automatically revert back to 64K; when the phone was hung up, it would step up to 128K again. I did have some initial problems with the telco line as I was at about the maximum allowable distance from the telco switch; the telco had to terminate my pair at the pole across the street. * Overall, I was satisfied with the operation and speed that it gave me..... until I got cable, of course. BTW, the ISDN terminal has outputs for two telephones; you automatically get two 'phone numbers' out of the deal. The $55/month I was paying for the ISDN service was cheaper that having two discrete phone lines installed. ISP costs were on top of the ISDN line rental.



* Most people don't realize that their pair of wires may continue open ended to the edge of the service area, and their drop is just tapped into wherever their house is along its total length.



If the ISDN terminal uses a serial interface to the computer, it's necessary to have a serial port in the computer that is capable of running at more than 115. 2 kbps, or you won't realize the full potential speed of the ISDN connection. Internal terminals probably don't have this restriction. I went with an external box so I could see all the pretty LEDs blinking. I installed a Lava brand serial card that was capable of at least 230. 4 kbps. It wasn't that expensive.



If you have minimal experience with computers and the ISDN provider doesn't have a good support staff, I would pass on ISDN. If you are familiar with computer hardware, it's a practical solution.



Pssst! Wanna buy an ISDN terminal and high-speed serial card? It's surplus to my needs!



Good luck!



Tom

 

[WadePatton]

Sent you a PM Tommy.



It's goink to be ISDN. Gonna cost $40 for two phone lines and my ISP dude is only going to charge 10 more for bonded access. And 80 for installation. So for $30 more per month I'm going to have a second phone line AND 100K faster connect speed! What a deal.



Now if the terminals weren't so high!



Anyway, I'll soon be able to download more dragraces and burnouts!

 

[Un-Hemi]

Wade, check yer PMs.



Tom