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BKISDNCI.RVW   960314
 
"ISDN: How to Get a High Speed Connection to the Internet", Charles
Summers/Bryant Dunetz, 1996, 0-471-13326-4, U$22.95/C$32.50
%A   Charles Summers
%A   Bryant Dunetz
%C   5353 Dundas Street West, 4th Floor, Etobicoke, ON   M9B 6H8
%D   1996
%G   0-471-13326-4
%I   Wiley
%O   U$22.95/C$32.50 416-236-4433 fax: 416-236-4448 800-263-1590 800-567-4797
%P   346
%T   "ISDN: How to Get a High Speed Connection to the Internet"
 
It was kind of boring until page nine.  After having told us that ISDN was
good, that ISDN was probably available, and that ISDN equipment could be found,
that was where they'd placed a section entitled "You May Still Need a
Specialist to Assist".  What!?!  Look, I know you need a high speed serial
port; I know ISDN service isn't available everywhere; I know it may be
difficult finding ISDN hardware, ISDN Internet service, or someone at the telco
who even knows what ISDN *is*; but once you have that, connecting it up isn't
that much harder than dealing with a slightly non-standard modem!
 
Well, they do give you a *little* information.  There is, for example, the
warning not to replace your analog phone line with ISDN unless you have backup
power in the case of a blackout.  (ISDN lines and devices are not "line
powered" as are analog phones.)  There is some discussion of switches and
routers, which is unnecessary if you are using ISDN in the home or home office
but too little if you are connecting a corporation.  There is a section on
premises wiring which is irrelevant unless you are a telco.  And there are four
chapters on the ISDN protocols which are extraneous unless you are *developing*
ISDN hardware and devices.
 
Appendix B, however, may be worthwhile.  It is a list of ISDN products and
vendors.
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1996   BKISDNCI.RVW   960314

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