I don't have the option of normal broadband service either. I've looked at HH and Satellite delivery. Sat is prohibitively expensive and I don't like the idea of paying more for HH than Broadband and getting a lot less... Are there any alternatives that I've missed? What is ISDN2e and how much? What other providers should I investigate?

F
PS I've just seen another post on this...

[Edited by Floyd - 9/4/2003 12:38:53 PM]

I have just got rid of my HomeHighway connection from BT as it was so unstable/unrelable. Is ISDN2 with my own equipment likely yo be any more relaible/stable.

No broadband in my neck of the woods.

Ta

Saint

Depends waht you mean by "my own equpiment".

The home higway NTE (box on the wall) is an ISDN2 device then adds the PSTN ports and USB.

Personally I'd never use the USB side of things. For my PC in the past I've used an Eicon Diva PCI ISDN card. I now use a cisco isdn router. I get occasional problems with the router not properly releasing the isdn channel. twice in about 3 years I've gone as far as power cycling the HH NTE.

I would expect a vannilla ISDN2e to absolutely stable but the price diff between HH or PhoneLine + ISDN2e wouldnt anywhere near justify it.

What sort of problems were you getting ?

Deano

Apparently they are having a few issues with the firmware in the Home Highway NTE, especially the bit that does the USB connectivity. Had ISDN2E and never had a single problem.

Si

got isdn2e - works fine for me past 3 years..

HH is ISDN2e with some POTS added on (simple terms). The USB connection direct from the box to your PC is fairly new and unreliable the times I've dealt with it.

ISDN2e has a greater range from the exchange than HH so this may help if you are getting unreliable connections. However, also look at line quality and standard of internal wiring.

Look at other ISDN providers who may be able to do ISDN2e cheaper than BT. They usually send BT round to install it though!

I had HH (sans USB model) at home (heck, my folks still have it).

Had two to three years of fine service with it. Originally an Eicon Diva PCI TA, then a 3Com OfficeConnect ISDN LAN Modem. Had a line fault once but otherwise it's a <Ronseal> product.

Chris.

Thanks for the advice guys. I have had problems with usb side, I think. The port not being recognized, and the system just freezing up. Having to restart my computer etc etc.

???


Saint

I am with Titan - very pleased with the service btw.
Looking for an alternative to HH.

Saint

If you never tried standard isdn cards/routers with HH, you may have been too hasty. The only major probs I've ever heard of with HH has been via the USB port.

Deano

Never had HH as I got ISDN before it was available.

Never had any problems in just over six years using a Cisco ISDN router (775M, OK, not really a Cisco). Absolutely rock solid, never once a dropped connection.

Cheers

Ian

I'd certainly agree with Deano.

Dabs have the Diva v2.0 ISDN PCI for £49+VAT. Very reliable item IMO.

Chris.

I have a Diva ISDN PCI card at home if you want it for a small(er) consideration that the £49+ vat ;)

Also - does anyone know the max range of ISDN2e + max signal loss supported in DB ??

:D:D

wwsd:

Might be interested. How do you connect it up to the HH box.

Saint

You just need a length of standard CAT5 cable with RJ45 connectors - a network patch lead will do.

HH is usually a better choice for a home user.

ISDN 2e provides two RJ45 ports. So, there's the first potential problem. If you're using it at home as your only phone line, where do you plug in your phone? You'd need an ISDN Terminal Adapter (TA) that has analogue phone sockets on it.

HH provides the digital features of ISDN2 but gives you two analogue wall sockets to plug your phone, fax etc straight into. You also get two RJ45 ports for your TA, so you're PC can connect at 64k or 128k to the Internet. Connect at 64k and you can make/recieve a phone call without disconnecting.

Chris.

"less for more"

only in terms of bandwidth - not in terms of features. I know for many homeworkers ADSL actually give them less than HH

HH gives effectively 2 lines & 3 numbers (2 x analogue + 1x digital). Can simultaneoulsy have 2 seperate phone calls, phone + fax, phone + isdn data or 2 x isdn data. Although i'd love ADSL but cant have it - HH is actually very convenient for me. Allows me to work from home and dial into both Corporate Network and also network test bed which is seperate from adsl.
If I had dsl I can get access to the internet - and thats it. vpn access to corporate net is possible but rules are strict and open to only full-time homeworkers. so it would be back to modem for both that and test-bed access - or keep ISDN aswell @ significantly increased cost.

Deano