<<--Although Cisco's AS5300 is capable of higher data throughput rates per user
than Ascend's MAX TNT, the AS5300 is only capable of supporting four T1/E1
interfaces as compared to 150 in the MAX TNT. In English, that means the MAX
TNT is capable of supporting more users concurrently, with the basic configurations
boiling down to 672 users as opposed to 120 users for the AS5300. <<---
I don't have the specs in front of me, but the MAX TNT, like the Total Control Hub, is a chassis based modular product, so that the owner (most likely an ISP) can insert various modules into the chassis and configure it in a variety of ways. Each module can receive 1-PRI ISDN connections, each capable of 24 basic rate ISDN connection, 2-T1 leased lines, or 3-analog modem calls. In other words, there are 3 types of modules the ISP can put in the slots, ISDN modules, modem modules or T1 leased line modules. I believe the 672 # refers to a TNT that is configured for only ISDN modules, which means if some ISP is lucky enough to have 672 ISDN users in their region one TNT should satisfy them at the same time. However, for analog calls (you know, the telephone we normal folks use to dial AOL and our ISPs), one TNT can only take 192 (pretty sure on this number, but not positive, anyway, I know TNT is lower desity for analog calls than the Total Control Hub) calls simultaneously.
So, when reading your articles, pay attention to how many analog calls can be terminated in one device, because analog phone calls are what most ISPs care about, and look for the phrase device as opposed to system, because since 3 TNTs can be linked together Ascend will often refer to a TNT system (meaning 3 TNTs) but make it sounds like one box. |
