[NTLUG:Discuss] Off-Topic - ISDN Phones

[Kevin Brannen]

Greg E wrote:
> 
> Eric,
> 
> What I was planning on running was the ISDN (4 wire as installed by

Actually, that's a 2 wire line.  I have one from GTE. :-)

> GTE) into the house and throughout.  1 jack would have a Pipeline 75
> UBRI NI1 router connected to a Linux server, 1 analog phone, and maybe
> 1 fax.  2 jacks connected to ISDN phones.  All 3 jacks will be RJ45.
> As I understand all the ins and outs this will give me 2 spins and I'm

Thats "SPIDs", but yes, 1 for each B channel.

> having them bonded so I can do Bandwidth-On-Demand.  The phones will
> give me 1 spin so that anytime I connect the 2nd spin will renegotiate
> down to 64K until the phone is dropped and then back upto 128K.

My 3Com does this.  Depending on the level of service you get from GTE,
this may or may not be easy.  I have the basic "$29" (100 hr base) a
month service.  The second B channel for 128K service is not guaranteed,
but is usually available.  I was told it has to do with their
equipment.  When the 2nd B-channel goes to connect, if it can attach to
the same "block" (I think that was their word), then they (the 2 B
channels) can connect and you get 128K; if they can't, you stay at 64K. 
GTE also said that if you try to connect with both channels and fail,
hangup and try again; you'll probably get it within a "few" tries.  They
have higher levels of service that will guarantee this, but you also pay
for it too. :-)

> 
> As I understand it I can also have more numbers added on the same
> circuit (upto 5 total) and the phones and T/A can be configured to
> differentiate between the number called.

I haven't heard about extra numbers, but I suppose it's possible.  It's
a CAT3 line they run to your house, so there are multiple twisted pairs
in the cable.  They just hook up 2 of them for normal service.  I
suppose they could just hook up a few more to the block on your house
and in their cabinet, if you router can handle the extra input.  But
this is all a guess on my part.

Kevin