Quote:
Originally posted by Lord Nikon
why the heck would you WANT ISDN?
a single channel ISDN connect is 64k, a modem connects at 56k (alright typically 40.6k) and is billed a single phone call per data channel.
to bond the channels to 128k involves 2 calls, and is billed as such.
the only benefit is connect speed... (time taken to dial / handshake)
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OK so it connects quicker and is 50% quicker to download and over 100% quicker to upload (64k both directions). Thats 2 benefits over dial up. You also get second voice number and a third digital number included in the package. You can use any 2 of the three numbers at once and on the digital line if you are using a single channel then it will still recieve calls.
I've got ISDN at home as I got it 4 years ago before NTL were offering BB and BT were offering ADSL.
Most Fax software does not work well (if at all) with ISDN cards, so you need a modem card to send recieve faxes.
I've got Broadband so I need a NIC card (well I'm not plugging it into USB).
I'm not getting rid of ISDN as my wife uses the analogue line 2 and the digital line as a business number and business fax number. BT will not disconnect and ISDN and guarantee that you can keep the numbers allocated. (so I could not switch back to an analogue line, rent a second line and port the third number to NTL. We might lose a number and thats not good for business).
BT cannot DACS the line either.
Thats why the heck I would want ISDN!
I was also pointing out some of the shortfalls in Dell PCs when I can easily add all three to a PC bought elsewhere.