geo@orac.hss.bu.oz.au (George Bray) (12/08/89)
Here is some information that may interest Macintosh connectivity people based on an independent analysis of recent ISDN trials. (ISDN is Integrated Services Digital Network, a new communications technology for voice, data and video). C&C News, organiser of the "How, When and Why to Use ISDN" conference recently contracted me to prepare a demonstration of how ISDN could be used with current electronic publishing technology. The result was a concoction of communications software and a HyperCard magazine. The magazine is a stack containing examples from the range of C&C newsletters on computers and the Australian telecommunications community. On the communication side we managed to establish a 'live' AppleTalk connection through the new Telecom ISDN from Sydney to Melbourne. Using a Macintosh connected to a Telecom handset we operated Microphone II 2.0, Liaison 2.04, QuickMail 2.01, Public Folder 1.0, Timbuktu 2.01 and 3.0 and Timbuktu Remote 3.0 over an asynchronous 19.2Kbps channel. Liaison from Infosphere worked flawlessly as the AppleTalk bridge so we could run all our regular network services on top. Most exciting was controlling and observing a remote Macintosh with Farallon's Timbuktu. File transfer throughput ranged from 100K per minute (using the Microphone II terminal software) down to 79K per minute using QuickMail running on top of Liaison. This works reliably while simultaneously conducting voice conversations with the same handset. At present, each ISDN B-channel will run up to 64Kbps (quarter LocalTalk/Phonenet speed) however we were restrained by the asynchronous interface in the current handset, and Liaison's (current) upper limit of 19.2Kbps. Looking ahead, a faster version of Liaison with scripting will be useful for semi-permanent connections where you might want to connect to multiple remote networks. Alternatively a Macintosh ISDN interface card with appropriate software could provide faster links. The future looks bright. Faster handset interfaces and compatibility between PABXen mean world-wide AppleTalk networks may be reality quite soon. geo ________________________________________________________________________ George Bray > CompuServe:72711,253 Phone:075-30-3705 Sand Consulting Pty Ltd > AppleLink: Mobile: P.O. Box 157, > Internet:geo@orac.hss.bu.oz.au MacNet:GEO Bond University, 4229. > UUCP: ..!uunet!munnari!orac.hss.bu.oz.au!geo A U S T R A L I A. > Disclaimer: All Applicable Disclaimers Apply