bud@uunet.uu.net> (06/25/91)
In article <telecom11.477.7@eecs.nwu.edu> Guy Helmer <dsuvax!ghelmer@ uunet.uu.net> writes: > I called USWest about a second line into my apartment about eight > months ago, and I spoke with a person who was very pleasant. After I > asked about the second line, though, her immediate question was, "Oh, > is that for a fax or modem?" Not wanting to leave myself open to any > possibility of being charged business rates for a residential line, I > mumbled something about just needing a second line for voice. This division (the former PNB) of US West was running a second line promotion a few years back with no business conotation whatever. The literature that I got emphasised "teenager" phones. I'm not sure whether they actually knew that I was "afflicted" with them (teenagers) or it was just a broad marketing ploy -- after all, they are "The Phone Company" :-). Just tell them that it's for your teenager -- and list it under your computer's name: "Foo W. Smith". > More recently, I tried to find out if ISDN service would be available > here in Madison, SD. A new switch was installed here about 20 months > ago, and I've heard rumblings in the rags about USWest offering ISDN > in a few locations real soon now. The residential customer service > rep I spoke with had no idea what ISDN was, so I talked with a > business rep and ended up talking with a guy who wanted to know what I > wanted it for and then told me he'd have to look up some things and > call me back (he never did, of course). Being a telecom newbie, I > haven't pursued this any further :-) It would be great, though, to > have high-speed switched service from home into LANs I manage in town > and in Sioux Falls. ISDN comes in a number of flavors, but the two most developed are called "Basic Rate" and "Primary Rate". Basic Rate is the one you are probably thinking of: 160 kB on the pair (the "U" interface) with two 64 kB data channels ("B" channels) and one 16 kB control, etc. channel (the "D" channel). What the telcos are mostly flogging at this point is Primary Rate. Here the "U" interface is a T1 (1.544 Mb) line with 23 64 kb "B" channels and one 64 kb "D" channel. Since a lot of businesses already have the T1 line in place, this gives them more "bucks for the bang". All they have to do is upgrade the software in their digital switch. For Basic Rate, they not only have a software upgrade (probabably the same one), but have to install new line termination equipment, as well. Bud Couch - ADC/Kentrox If my employer only knew. standard BS applies