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Non-Tech : CYBERTRADER -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Cormac who wrote (2014)	3/9/1999 8:13:00 PM
From: William W. Dwyer, Jr.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3216

Bill, I, too, have been using a dual B-channel ISDN line for about two years. Without any problem. Your computer can be connected to the ISDN line and up to two other devices can also be connected to the 3 Comp modem (really a terminal adapter). Under normal operation, your computer uses both ISDN B-channels to get full speed of the data line. However, when you use one of the external devices (e.g., phone or fax), then your computer will automatically drop down and use one line and the phone or fax will use the other line (channel). When you get your ISDN line setup by the phone company, each B-channel will act as a separate line with separate telephone numbers. All this is pretty much automatic and transparent to you. Therefore, your ISDN line will give you functionality of two separate phone lines, both of which can be used by your computer normally for maximum speed. Occasionally, a phone call or fax can be made on the other. I have not noticed any problem with this as far as connecting with CyBerTrader. However, you should be aware that your actual connection speed is momentarily cut in half when using one ISDN line for the phone or fax and only one channel for your computer, but automatically returns to full speed when both B-channels are available to the computer. So, normally, you'd want to use the phone or fax for brief periods, not continuously. Since you now have two phone lines in your home, one can be your family voice line and the other (your ISDN line - 2 B channels) could be dedicated to your computer and occasionally to your fax or a second phone - especially useful at night in case you need to make a call and your wife or kids are on the main line. As you said, this really gives you three separate lines, although you only have two pair of copper wires running into your home. No call-waiting feature is necessary. There is one thing you need to do, though. It's been a long time ago that I did this, but I do remember I had to designate to the phone company which B-channel (phone number) was going to be the primary one and which was going to be the line that dropped off to catch a fax or separate phone call. I forgot why, but they do need to know this so they can set up the features in the phone company switch. Also, you'll probably need to notify your ISP that you'll be connecting with two B-channels. I believe they need to change something. I found that I'd been connecting with ISDN for about a year and was only connecting at half speed. They had not made the change to set me up as connecting with two channels. I was not impressed. So, you should definitely let the ISP know. My ISP, by the way, increased my monthly connect fee from $20 to $60 in order for me to do this. It is well worth it. Keep in mind also that your ISDN line may have certain restrictions on it that effect your dialling into your ISP. For example, I live outside the city of New Orleans and my regular voice line has a feature that allows me to call into New Orleans as a local call, not a long distance call. However, my ISDN cannot have this feature (something to do with phone company tariffs) and, therefore, using my ISDN line to dial into New Orleans would be a long distance call. I had to make sure my ISP had a dial-up number that was local to me, local for my ISDN line. Something to keep in mind. You wouldn't want to be connected all day at long distance phone rates. I think you will like ISDN, although I do believe ADSL and cable modem (if available) are much faster. I have neither available to me here, unfortunately. I am not sure how well CyBerTrader works with anything less than ISDN speeds. Bill