Phoenix Rising BBS/phoenixrising.zip/phoenixrising/pac_bell/homeisdn.txt

Text File | 1994-07-31 | 18KB | 526 lines

What You Should Know About ISDN to Your Home
--------------------------------------------

Pacific Bell ISDN service call (800) 4PB-ISDN


What is ISDN?
-------------

ISDN is a new way of increasing the calling
capacity of your existing telephone line.  This
additional capacity is achieved when special
electronic components are added to your telephone
line - making it an ISDN line.  These components
digitize your voice or data and place them into
special channels called B channels that transport
information to the person you called.  These
channels can transmit information at 56kbps (56,000
bits per second).  These B channels can carry
voice (just like today's telephone), data (just
like your modem only much faster) and video
(pictures of the person to whom you are speaking).

There are 2 B channels on each ISDN line
and so two kinds of information can be exchanged
simultaneously.  In other words, you can be
speaking to someone on one B channel (a voice call)
and looking at them on the other B channel
(a video call).  Or you can be speaking to someone
on one B channel and transmitting or
receiving data on the other B channel.

Although ISDN has various capabilities it is
primarily used to transmit and receive data at high
speeds.  It is important to understand that these
channels are not physical channels - you cannot see
them as wires inside a telephone cable -
rather they are 'derived' channels created by the
ISDN electronic components installed on your
telephone line.  ISDN stands for Integrated
Services Digital Network.


ISDN Creates Three Channels
---------------------------

In addition, your ISDN line has a third channel
used for slower data speeds.  This channel is
called the D channel and can transport digital data
at speeds up to 9600bits per second.  This
channel can be used for such applications as E-
mail, word processing and small file transfers.
This type of data is called 'packet data' and it
uses a long established format entitled X.25.

An ISDN line has great flexibility and each B
channel can be used for different purposes.  One
instant the channel might be used for voice and the
next instant that same channel could be used
for data or video.  Or, if you buy the proper
equipment, both B channels can be used to transmit
data simultaneously thus doubling the data capacity
of your ISDN line.



What is Home ISDN?
------------------

As the name implies, Home ISDN is a service offered
by Pacific Bell to provide ISDN to your
residence.  Home ISDN offers a fully functional
ISDN line with simultaneous voice and data
capabilities as described above.  Home ISDN is
offered only with a 1MR which is a residential
telephone service with a different free calling
program than the one you may have in your home
today.  A 1MR charges for local calls from Monday
through Friday 8am - 5pm at the rate of $.04
for the first minute and $.01 for each additional
minute.  When you add ISDN to this line, local
calls are free at all other times (evenings,
nights, weekends).


How Much Does Home ISDN Cost?

Pacific Bell charges and features for Home ISDN
are:


Long distance charges may apply depending on where
you call.  Access to a long distance
company is required just like your telephone
service today.

Of course there are costs to purchase your terminal
equipment but the price of this equipment
varies greatly depending on your application and
the features you need.  Pacific Bell does not
recommend brands of equipment but we will provide a
list of known manufacturers of ISDN
terminals.  We suggest you shop carefully for the
equipment you need by contacting the suppliers
we have listed and discussing your needs with them.

What equipment do I need to make my telephone line
into an ISDN line?
To answer this question please refer to the diagram
on the next page.  Each home is somewhat
different but generally these steps should be
followed:

    1.  You must decide how you will be using your
ISDN line.  For example, if this line will be
used for data transmission (perhaps from your home
to the Internet) you will need some or all of
the following equipment:  A computer, a printer, a
fax.  While Pacific Bell can show you some
illustrations of how this equipment will operate,
we cannot sell nor do we endorse a specific
company's products and in fact, many products may
work equally well for what you are trying to
do.  You should first discuss your needs with
available suppliers of this equipment so you know
exactly how your ISDN line will work.

    2.  Assuming you have purchased the equipment
discussed in 1. above, you will need
some electronic equipment designed specifically to
make your telephone line become an ISDN
line.
        a.  Network Termination 1 (NT1).  This
piece of equipment creates the 2 B channels
and 1 D channel discussed previously and transmits
your voice or data call over your telephone
line to the Pacific Bell network.  Pacific Bell
then transmits your call to the person or computer
(or printer or fax) you are calling.

        b.  Power Supply.  The NT1 needs
electricity to operate and it gets this from your
local power company through the Power Supply.
Thus, your power supply is plugged into your
electrical outlet in the wall and the NT1 is
plugged into the power supply.

        c.  Terminal Adapter (TA).  Usually your
computer, fax, telephone etc are plugged
into the TA.  A TA performs two functions:  first,
it digitizes (puts into digital format) any
information that is not digital.  So your voice,
which is analog, is digitized by the TA.  Second,
it places the information it receives into a
special ISDN format (called protocol) so you can
communicate with the Pacific Bell network and the
person you are calling.  The TA is capable of
speaking ISDN toward the Pacific Bell network and
speaking the special language of your
computer or telephone towards you.  It bridges or
compensates for the language (protocol)
difference between your ISDN service and your
equipment.


Will ISDN Work if I lose Power?
-------------------------------

Your existing telephone service should not be
disconnected after ISDN is installed unless your
equipment has  battery
backup for emergency telephone service during a
power outage.



How do I get Home ISDN service in my house?
-------------------------------------------

    1.  You must first decide how you will use
your ISDN line.  What do you want to do or
accomplish and what performance do you need to have
from your equipment and your ISDN service.  Then
you should contact equipment sellers and discuss
your requirements.  Among the questions you should
ask the equipment vendor are:

    a.  What functions will this equipment perform
relative to my requirements?

    b.  What software is required to support my
equipment?

    c.  How does this equipment support or operate
with ISDN?

    d.  What additional equipment is required for
my ISDN service (for example, some equipment
includes the TA, NT1 and power supply in one unit)?

    e.  What type of ISDN does your equipment
support - AT&T Custom, Northern Telecom or National
ISDN?

    f.  Precisely what procedure is required to
activate my equipment in conjunction with my ISDN
service?

    g.  What maintenance support is available and
how is the equipment waranteed?

    h.  Does my equipment have battery backup in
case of local power failure?

    2.  Call Pacific Bell ((800) 4PB-ISDN) and
discuss your ISDN needs before you actually buy
any equipment.  Discuss your service needs and
proposed equipment with a Pacific Bell
representative.  If you decide to order ISDN
service be sure you have discussed thoroughly and
feel comfortable with the compatibility of the
equipment you are considering with your ISDN
service.  The representative will also discuss the
availability of ISDN in your area or the area(s) in
Pacific Bell territory you wish to call.

    3.  Order your ISDN service.  This can be done
with the same Pacific Bell representative.
Your service may take from 5 to 12 business days to
complete depending on the complexity of
your service.  Pacific Bell will provide service by
installing another line to the protector box (also
known as the network interface or demarcation
point) located on the side of your home.  If your
local power fails all terminals on your ISDN line
will stop working until the power is restored.
Thus, you should not disconnect your existing home
telephone service because you may need
service during emergency conditions.

    4.  Purchase your terminal equipment and set
it up near the telephone wall jack you will
use for your ISDN service.

    5.  Modify the wiring or telephone wall jacks
if required.  An ISDN line requires 2 pair (4
wires) to the wall jack from the Pacific Bell
protector box.  You can do this wiring yourself or
engage a private contractor (see Electric
Contractors in the Pacific Bell Yellow pages).  The
wall jack must be at least a 6-pin connector.
Pacific Bell will provide free guidelines on house
wiring upon request.

    6.  After receiving notification from Pacific
Bell that your ISDN service is ready, you
should connect all your terminals using the
appropriate cables supplied by your equipment
vendor, load all software, plug your NT1 into the
wall jack and the power supply, plug in your
power supply to 110V outlet and proceed to activate
your service.  (Although this sounds simple,
this process may be quite complicated depending on
your equipment type and your use of the
ISDN service.  Be sure you have thorough
instructions from your terminal supplier before you
start this process.)


Who do I call if I have trouble with my ISDN
service?
----------------------------------------------

If you experience trouble with your ISDN service
please call Pacific Bell first at 611.  Often we
can perform tests to determine if your trouble can
be fixed by us or needs to be fixed by your
terminal supplier.  But, before you call anyone you
should resecure all connecting cords and check the
indicator lights and displays on your terminals to
see if there is an obvious problem easily fixed
by you.  Refer to service manuals that were
provided you when you purchased your equipment.

Additional Information Available from Pacific Bell.
The following additional information is available
from Pacific Bell by contacting us at
1 (800) 4PB-ISDN:

    Ñ  Typical Home ISDN uses with terminal
        configurations:

        1.  Internet Access
        2.  Access to interactive service
              providers such as America Online,
              Prodigy
        3.  Occassional work at home

    Ñ  Instructions for wiring your home for ISDN
        if required.
    Ñ  A list of terminal manufacturers with phone
        numbers



ISDN Terminal Equipment Manufacturers
-------------------------------------

The communications field is one that is constantly
changing thus new terminal equipment and
manufacturers will continually appear.  You should
be aware that this list may not be complete.
Pacific Bell does not endorse products and is not
certifying this equipment for use.  Be sure to
discuss your needs thoroughly with several
manufacturers so you are aware of the differences
in features, performance and price.

To help you understand the information provided
below the following figure shows various
ISDN components.  ISDN lines normally contain some
of the components shown below but rarely do they
contain all of these elements.  This diagram shows
only the relative position of ISDN components or
how they interconnect with one another and is not
intended to represent an actual ISDN line.  The
components to the left of the 'telephone jack' are
connected using modular cables (cords with molded
connectors) provided by the terminal manufacturer.



NT1s and Power Supplies
-----------------------

An NT1 and a power supply are required for each
line.  The following companies make stand alone
components although this functionality may be
integrated in other terminals such as terminal
adapters or ISDN telephones.

Adtran                [phone]
AT&T                [phone]
Siemens Stromberg Carlson       [phone]
Tone Commander Systems          [phone]


ISDN Telephones
---------------

These telephones plug directly into the NT1.  In
some instances they have the terminal adapter
built in.

AT&T                    [phone]
Cartelco Inc                [phone]
Fujitsu ISDN Division                   [phone]
Lodestar Technology Inc                [phone]
Motorola UDS                [phone]
Northern Telecom Inc            [phone]
Siemens Stromberg Carlson        [phone]
Telrad Communications                [phone]


Terminal Adapters
-----------------

A terminal adapter 'function' is required on each
line.  Generally, there are two types of terminal
adapters - stand alone and Personal Computer cards.

Stand Alone Terminal Adapters
-----------------------------
As the name implies, these are terminals that stand
alone - that is they are not integrated into
other ISDN components.

Adtran                        [phone]
Controlware Comm Systems Inc            [phone]
Fujitsu ISDN Division            [phone]
Gandalf Systems Corp            [phone]
Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc    [phone]
Integral Communications, Inc        (800) ICI-8234
ISCOM, Inc                [phone]
Motorola UDS                [phone]
Newbridge Networks Inc                [phone]
Northern Telecom Inc            [phone]
Racal-Datacom, Inc            [phone]
TelePower                [phone]
XAN Communications, Inc                [phone]


Personal Computer Cards
-----------------------
These are cards that are installed inside the PC or
workstation usually in a vacant expansion slot.

Connective Strategies, Inc        [phone]
CoSystems, Inc                [phone]
DGM&S, Inc                [phone]
Digiboard                [phone]
Eicon Technology Corp            [phone]
Extension Technology Corp        [phone]
Fujitsu ISDN Division            [phone]
Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc    [phone]
Hewlett-Packard                    [phone]
IBM                        (800) IBM-CALL
ISCOM, Inc                [phone]
ISDN Systems Corp            [phone]
Link Technology, Inc            [phone]
Mitel Corp                [phone]
Motorola UDS                [phone]
MPR Teltech Ltd.            [phone]
NCR Network Products Division            [phone]
OST, Inc                [phone]
Silicon Graphics            [phone]
Sun Microsystems Computer Corp            [phone]


ISDN LAN Bridges
----------------

These components connect a computer at home to a
LAN usually at the office.

Combinet, Inc                [phone]
Develcon Electronics Limited        [phone]
Digiboard                [phone]
Gandalf                        [phone]
ISCOM, Inc                [phone]


Video Equipment
---------------

These components support video service over ISDN
lines.  These are called codecs and are used
for room or desktop video service.

AT&T                    [phone]
Compression Labs, Inc            [phone]
Hitachi America                    (404) 242- 1410
Intel Corporation            [phone]
ISCOM, Inc                [phone]
Northern Telecom            [phone]
Picture Tel                [phone]
Vitel                    [phone]
Pacific Bell ISDN service               (800) 4PB-ISDN


Personal Computer Cards
-----------------------
These are cards that are installed inside the PC or
workstation usually in a vacant expansion slot.

Connective Strategies, Inc        [phone]
CoSystems, Inc                [phone]
DGM&S, Inc                [phone]
Digiboard                [phone]
Eicon Technology Corp            [phone]
Extension Technology Corp        [phone]
Fujitsu ISDN Division            [phone]
Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc    [phone]
Hewlett-Packard                    [phone]
IBM                        (800) IBM-CALL
ISCOM, Inc                [phone]
ISDN Systems Corp            [phone]
Link Technology, Inc            [phone]
Mitel Corp                [phone]
Motorola UDS                [phone]
MPR Teltech Ltd.            [phone]
NCR Network Products Division            [phone]
OST, Inc                [phone]
Silicon Graphics            [phone]
Sun Microsystems Computer Corp            [phone]


Home ISDN Prices
----------------

Service          Monthly        Installation
- 1MR              $4.45*         $40.00
- FCC Access Chg.  $3.50             N/A
- ISDN            $15.00**       $125.00***

Home ISDN Total   $22.95          $40.00

Voice Features:
  - Multiple Directory Number, Primary or Secondary
  - Call Information Display
  - Time and Date Display

Circuit Switch Data Features:
  - Primary Directory Number only
  - Call Information Display

* Includes a monthly allowance of $3.00, applicable
to voice or data Zone Usage calls.

** Two tiered price structure for Zone 1 calls
(Free Calling Area).  From 8am - 5pm Monday -
Friday, Zone 1 calls are billed at $.04 for the
first minute and $.01 for each additional minute.
all other calls are not billed.

*** Waived if service is kept for two years.

Optional Features:

Optional Voice Features

                            Monthly   Installation
- Secondary Directory No.    $2.00       $5.00
- Hold, Consultation Hold,   $4.00       $5.00
  3-way Conference and
  Transfer

Each D Channel Packet Device (optional)

                            Monthly   Installation
- 4 logical channels         $4.00      $25.00
- 1 Packet Device
- Fast Select Initiate/Accept
- Flow control Parameter Negotiation