🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <ant1512060b0hxQ&@mackinlay.demon.co.uk>, Colin Mackinlay
<URL:mailto:colin@mackinlay.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> I have been considering an ISDN connection for some time and I would be
> very grateful for some advice from those already using it, particularly
> if you have signed up for BT's home highway.
> 
> I have a RISCPC Arm600 running ANT's InetSuite
> 
> 1. Which TAs if any are suitable for a RISCPC?

I think that the vast majority of external TAs are suitable.
As long as they present themselves as a 'modem' ie connect to serial port and
respond to standard AT commands you should be OK.

FWIW I use a Hayes Accura 128 without any great difficulties

> 2. Is a 128k TA worth the additional cost?

Yes. (and no.) 128K TA is pretty standard. Most of the time you will only use
1 channel -64K- anyway. Some TAs (including the Hayes) can switch the second
channel on and off automatically depending on the amount of data coming down
the line.

With two channels working I have been able to download binaries at over
10KBs.

Remember that when using 128K you are paying for two phone calls.

If you are downloading mainly text, eg browsing, email, news then your ISDN
line will not achieve rates comparable with a decent 56K modem, because text
is heavily compressed on the modem, whereas ISDN does not normally support
compression.

Some ISPs provide compression, but it is a bit hit and miss.

> 3. Is Home Highway working for you?!

Don't know never tried it! Lots of discussion about it on Demon.Service.ISDN


> 4. What are the snags?
> 

It can be a bit of a pig to configure your software to use the pap
authentication which your ISP will require. If you want to use it with Demon,
there are very conflicting reports about the quality of Demon's ISDN service.
FWIW connecting to the Green ROMP seem to be the way to go. ISDN works nicely
with Freeserve, which can be a nice cheap alternative.

Your serial port will never be able to cope with a 128K connection going flat
out. I would doubt that without a strongarm it would be worth your while
attempting  a 128k connection. If you were to buy a fast serial port and find
a strongarm upgrade then you could be more optimistic.

Personally I use the Internet a lot but cannot justify ISDN for the stuff I
do at home. I get more than enough speed from my 56K modem.

I do find a significant difference when downloading large binaries, so if you
are into NetBSD or other exotica then you may benefit from ISDN. 

I think that if I were setting up ISDN at home, I would buy a router and
attach it to my ethernet card using a crosswired cable. Then you *will* get
full speed out of your TA, plus the additional features that the router
provides.


> Thank you in advance!
> 

Regards,

JM


-- 
John Munro
No poems can please nor live long that
are written by water drinkers.

In article <ant1519431cbQ4#n@foulis.freeserve.co.uk>,
          jmunro@foulis.freeserve.co.uk (John Munro) wrote:

> In article <ant1512060b0hxQ&@mackinlay.demon.co.uk>, Colin Mackinlay
> <URL:mailto:colin@mackinlay.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > 2. Is a 128k TA worth the additional cost?
>
> Yes. (and no.) 128K TA is pretty standard. Most of the time you will only
> use 1 channel -64K- anyway. Some TAs (including the Hayes) can switch the
> second channel on and off automatically depending on the amount of data
> coming down the line.
> With two channels working I have been able to download binaries at over
> 10KBs.
> Remember that when using 128K you are paying for two phone calls.

This is interesting, as when I called Demon support recently, they told me
that there are no ISPs in the UK that support bonded (ie 128k) ISBN channels
[on a standard dial up account]. I was given the distinct impression that if
I got a home highway thing from BT, I'd only be able to get 64k on my 10 UKP
per month account.

Obviously Demon offer accouns that do support 128k, but you have pay extra
for them.

At least, that's what I was told.

-- 
"This moment hangs, like your ragged hair."
Celebrate - Fields of the Nephilim

In article <19981126.010924.57@cheesey.demon.co.uk>, Rik Griffin
<URL:mailto:mouse@cheesey.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <ant1519431cbQ4#n@foulis.freeserve.co.uk>,
>           jmunro@foulis.freeserve.co.uk (John Munro) wrote:
> 
> > In article <ant1512060b0hxQ&@mackinlay.demon.co.uk>, Colin Mackinlay
> > <URL:mailto:colin@mackinlay.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> > > 2. Is a 128k TA worth the additional cost?
> >
> > Yes. (and no.) 128K TA is pretty standard. Most of the time you will only
> > use 1 channel -64K- anyway. Some TAs (including the Hayes) can switch the
> > second channel on and off automatically depending on the amount of data
> > coming down the line.
> > With two channels working I have been able to download binaries at over
> > 10KBs.
> > Remember that when using 128K you are paying for two phone calls.
> 
> This is interesting, as when I called Demon support recently, they told me
> that there are no ISPs in the UK that support bonded (ie 128k) ISBN channels
> [on a standard dial up account]. I was given the distinct impression that if
> I got a home highway thing from BT, I'd only be able to get 64k on my 10 UKP
> per month account.
> 
> Obviously Demon offer accouns that do support 128k, but you have pay extra
> for them.
> 
> At least, that's what I was told.
> 

Demon do not have bonded ISDN channels for the standard Dial-Up account.

Freeserve definately do.

I recall others writing elsewhere that enterprise also support 128K.

-- 
John Munro
I happen to know quite a lot about the south.
Spent twenty years there one night. - Dick Gregory

In article <19981126.010924.57@cheesey.demon.co.uk>, Rik Griffin
<URL:mailto:mouse@cheesey.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <ant1519431cbQ4#n@foulis.freeserve.co.uk>,
>           jmunro@foulis.freeserve.co.uk (John Munro) wrote:
> 
> > In article <ant1512060b0hxQ&@mackinlay.demon.co.uk>, Colin Mackinlay
> > <URL:mailto:colin@mackinlay.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> > > 2. Is a 128k TA worth the additional cost?
> >
> > Yes. (and no.) 128K TA is pretty standard. Most of the time you will only
> > use 1 channel -64K- anyway. Some TAs (including the Hayes) can switch the
> > second channel on and off automatically depending on the amount of data
> > coming down the line.
> > With two channels working I have been able to download binaries at over
> > 10KBs.
> > Remember that when using 128K you are paying for two phone calls.
> 
> This is interesting, as when I called Demon support recently, they told me
> that there are no ISPs in the UK that support bonded (ie 128k) ISBN channels
> [on a standard dial up account]. I was given the distinct impression that if
> I got a home highway thing from BT, I'd only be able to get 64k on my 10 UKP
> per month account.
> 
> Obviously Demon offer accouns that do support 128k, but you have pay extra
> for them.
> 
> At least, that's what I was told.
> 

What's with this channel bonding anyway, when I was filling in
the Campus World form a bit back it asked if I wanted Channel
Bonding, I answered no. The 64K line is costing us plenty nuff.

Roger.

-- 
Roger Wylde - I.T. Technician, Droitwich Spa High School, Worcestershire
(Acorn Risc PC, 200Mhz StrongARM, 50Mb/1.2/6.4Gb and A4 Laptop, 4Mb/3Gb)
 _____ _ ___ _____ _   _  mailto:roger@nifty.demon.co.uk
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