A ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital Networks. It is an all-digital, circut-switched telephony system that is an alternative to analog modems, although both can operate over regular copper telephone lines. What this means for you is faster, more reliable connections. ISDN comes in two different speeds, 64k and 128k. Many of the problems that exist with normal analog modems which operate over POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) do not exist with ISDN.

A Speed is the main reason that users are drawn to ISDN. Even with the slowest ISDN option, 64k, it is still faster than the fastest analog modems at 56k. Also, the speed is constant and does not fluctuate during a session. However, monthly rates for ISDN service are more expensive than normal POTS access, and there are additional cost features to consider.

A Your local telephone exchange must support ISDN in order for it to be available. Today, most telcos now offer ISDN service. Even if the exchange supports ISDN, there are some distance limitations and equipment barriers that can prevent the phone company from providing ISDN service to some addresses within an exchange. The telephone company order processing center can determine if ISDN is available at a specific address.

A The data rate for a single B channel is 64kbps (about 64,000 bits per second) as compared to about 33.6kbps available with ordinary analog voice grade lines. The 64kbps data rate for ISDN is typical, while 33.6kbps for analog voice is rarely ever sustained in practice. In some parts of the country ISDN is not fully supported by the local telephone company or by particular long distance carriers.

A Periodically, the telcos offer to waive installation charges on ISDN BRI lines customers subject to some special conditions. Those special offers from tend to change, so you may wish to contact your telephone company and inquire about their current incentive programs.

A In our experience installation time is similar to that of a new ordinary voice grade telephone line. The phone company will not accept an order for ISDN service until they check to see ISDN is available at the desired address. Often, they are able to query a database and determine ISDN availability immediately. Sometimes it will take the phone company about three to seven days to confirm that ISDN is available because they must actually check their facilities capacity.

A HiWAAY believes ISDN is the future of data communications for the near term and most of our several hundred incoming telephone lines are digital ISDN service. HiWAAY has the equivalent of both a modem and a terminal adapter on every line, so subscribers dial the same number regardless of call type. HiWAAY also promotes digital ISDN service because we are one of the few providers in the nation that offers individual subscribers the same subscription rates regardless of connection speed.

A Individual subscribers should follow the steps outlined in our information sheet titled "Ordering ISDN services in Alabama for use with HiWAAY". The steps are simple: purchase a terminal adapter, order a BRI line, install and configure the terminal adapter and software on a personal computer and logon to HiWAAY. Nothing special has to be done at HiWAAY for individual subscriber accounts to connect using ISDN, ISDN connectivity is included at no extra charge as part of the individual account.

ISDN is a digital phone communications link system, which allows high-speed data to be passed over long distances. It is commonly used now for internet access. FSOL have used it in the past to transfer not just live music but also live video and images to different venues all over the world. 'The Kitchen' internet cafe in New York is a good example of a place suited to recieve both of these, as it has on occasions in the past