Exactly how does ISDN work?

H

henniedebeer

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 19, 2009
Messages
137
Reaction score
1
Location
Belville, Western Cape
Since ADSL is not available in my area, ISDN is the best option for me (dialup is way too expensive).

I have the Closer plan, Option 2. ISDN 2 & 2a is available for me, but what is the difference? Will I still get billed for the time I spend online (one eye on the clock - 50mins) or not, and can I use the phone while I'm on the net? The telkom operator is clueless, and I don't want to do anything untill I'm sure.

Thanks
 
We had ISDN at our office before ADSL. You pay for the time you are connected. Don't know about the closer plans though.
 
It's been ages since I dealt with ISDN but I assume the following still applies:

Will I still get billed for the time I spend online (one eye on the clock - 50mins) or not?
Click to expand...

Yes - but special (much cheaper) rates used to apply during callmore time.

... can I use the phone while I'm on the net?
Click to expand...

Yes, you effectively have two lines on a single Telkom number.
 
shame man, wouldn't a wireless option be better?
 
henniedebeer said:
ISDN 2 & 2a is available for me, but what is the difference?
Click to expand...
Supplied with different NT (Network Termination) units. Plain 2 will only have 2 digital ISDN ports, while 2a with have 2 digital + 2 analogue ports (to which you can connect a std phone/modem). BTW you pay a few bucks more a month for 2a.
 
Thanks for all that.

The Closer calling plans are great 'n' all, but dialup internet is still too slow and expensive. We seriously get 40kbps on a good day, and that is why I have a drinking problem. So the extra speed will help.

Apparently there is an Internet Option on Closer 1 - 3 that gives you a few hours mahala per month, but on dial-up that still won't be much help. So converting to ISDN will help greatly.

As for it providing two lines, I do not really care for that but it's a nice bonus. I am used to not being able to phone while I'm connected, so I don't think I'll be needing that. Unless there is a big speed difference between ISDN2 and ISDN2a. But right now anything is faster than dial-up.

Wireless? You mean 3G / iBurst? No coverage here I'm afraid.
 
myBB reviewed a satellite internet system that was reasonable, maybe you could check that out.
 
henniedebeer said:
As for it providing two lines, I do not really care for that but it's a nice bonus. I am used to not being able to phone while I'm connected, so I don't think I'll be needing that. Unless there is a big speed difference between ISDN2 and ISDN2a.
Click to expand...

It's not 2 physical lines but 2 channels operating over a single physical line. There is no speed difference but the 2a allows you to connect a normal analogue phone over isdn.

Double check pricing and whether closer packages & callmore apply as dialup could get pretty expensive!!!

How's mobile/3G coverage in Brandvlei?

http://www.telkom.co.za/common/pricelist/prices/local/custtomer_to_automatic_exh.html
Telkom Internet
(087 200 to 201)

Minimum Chage: R0.650
Standard Time: R0.01406 per second
Callmore Time: R0.01406 per second

So the rate is the same throughout the day dialing Telkom as your ISP (this does not apply to all ISPs unless listed in the table on that link I provided). Some other ISPs are actually cheaper, how the hell does that work Telkom?

So take whatever the per second rate is and double it seeing the price is per single B channel and you will be using 2 B channels to get 128kb/s.
 
Last edited:
Thanks ponder

I do not need \want a second line so thanks for clearing that up. Unfortunately there is no 3G coverage in Brandvlei, only EDGE. And that is a little iffy too. So I have to go the ISDN route if I want faster internet. Because waiting 30mins for a single email WITHOUT attachments to download is just ....

So I will call Telkom tomorrow (Monday) morning to do the conversion, and the ISP too. Now, will Telkom provide me with a modem (should I take it?) or do I buy one elsewhere? That means Upington. Any other help is welcome. The results in Google are just terrifying.
 
Have you tested your EDGE connection to check whether it is tolerable? My local tower is not 3G enabled so I'm also limited to EDGE, but I consistently get speeds well in excess of 128K ISDN (usually 180ish). It's slow compared to 3G but entirely workable. And anything is preferable to Telkom
 
The EDGE is tolerable somedays, but I wouldn't use it as my main connection method. See, Brandvlei is in the middle of nowhere. The Vodacom and MTN towers were put up years ago and never upgraded. And this is all we have. Whenever the MTN tower breaks down (it happens a lot) it takes days before it is repaired. So that is out of the question.

I really don't want to go Telkom, but iBurst and Neotel don't operate here.
 
henniedebeer said:
Now, will Telkom provide me with a modem (should I take it?) or do I buy one elsewhere?
Click to expand...
This is where you may have a problem. Not sure if Telkom still supply (doubt it), but they are not widely avaliable elsewhere today.

BTW since ISDN is digital, they arent refered to as modems, but rather TAs (Terminal Adapters). In ISDN's haydays you had a choice of;

- Internal PCI card TA
- External USB TA
- Router with internal TA (dangerous to your pocket if not set up precisely)

I think these days youre going to have a hard time finding something new locally?

ISDN's continued existance/use locally (both BRI & PRI) is almost exclusively for PABX trunk lines.
 
Last edited:
Yep I do. As I recall back in the days our homes connection was ISDN 128k :P far better 56.6k hehe.
Keeper said:
lol, remember the time when ISDN Dual Lines 128k was the bees knees? lol.... even 64k ISDN was good
Click to expand...

well first it was 56.6k, 128k ISDN and then ADSL arrived 384k :)
 
henniedebeer said:
Now, will Telkom provide me with a modem (should I take it?) or do I buy one elsewhere? That means Upington. Any other help is welcome. The results in Google are just terrifying.
Click to expand...

Telkom with supply you with a NT which is part of the rental and price depends on whether you take the NT1 or NT2a/b. http://www.telkom.co.za/common/pricelist/prices/local/isdn.html
You will however still require a ISDN modem/card for your pc/laptop. I don't think Telkom supplies these but you can always ask. Are you using a pc or laptop, I might have some lying around but would have to check.
 
henniedebeer said:
I'm using a pc. Will find out if Upington's retailer still has some of these things.
Click to expand...

Just occurred to me you are using Linux so just make sure the card is supported. So maybe look into hardware supported by Asterix, Digium etc should have Linux compatitble cards. There are quite a few people (Miro etc) doing Asterix related stuff in SA so it might be a good idea to contact them.

http://www.misdn.org/index.php/Main_Page
 
Last edited:
I was using Mecer ISDN PCI units (the Billion I think) on kernel 2.4 and up with no hassles or extra drivers that I can remember.

This is the only link I could find - obsolete products though :(

http://www.comx-computers.co.za/computer-hardware-expired.php?cat=194

In comparison with ADSL ISDN was very expensive. Dug up some old Telkom accounts and it would seem we halved our monthly costs when we upgraded.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X