RE: ISDN vs ADSL

["Steve Morgan" <steve@xxxxxxx>]

OK, here's my opinion...

I currently use a 56k analogue modem, though I rarely exceed a connection
>40kbps.

I used to run ISDN (true ISDN, not HH) with an ISDN router. This used to
cost me an absolute fortune because the router would keep dialling up when
I
didn't want it to, then drop the connection 5 minutes later because I
wasn't
using it.

Today I've ordered ADSL from BTOpenworld (yesterday it wasn't available,
today it is!). Because I pre-registered in May, I don't have to pay for the
installation/USB modem which has saved me £150.

At the moment, my call charges for Internet access are in excess of £40 per
month even though I'm being 'careful' about how I use it. I don't want to
have to be careful about how or when I use the Internet.

I'd rather pay the same £40 per month for ADSL and not have to be careful
any more. With a 50:1 contention ratio, sure the connection speed could
drop
to less than 40kbps. However, if I'm downloading lots of data (and I will
be, believe me!), and the ADSL throughput drops below 40kbps, my download
takes longer. However, the cost is £40 per month regardless. With an
analogue connection I'm lucky to achieve this rate anyway. If a download
slows down (perhaps because of throughput problems elsewhere in the
network), my call takes longer and I get charged more for it. What's more -
it's tying up my telephone line at the same time. With ISDN, I can get
64kbps on one channel which is better than ADSL at it's worst but nothing
like ADSL at it's best. If I use channel bonding I can get 128kbps. Again,
much better than ADSL at it's worst but nothing like ADSL at it's best.
Plus, if I'm using both channels, I've got no phone line again. If a
download slows down now, I'm paying for two calls at the same time. Then, I
need to take into account the extra rental for ISDN/HH.

With packages such as Surftime, I can get 24x7 access for about the same
price as ADSL. However, with ADSL I can still use my phone without paying
for a second line rental [or HH costs] and there's the potential for far
higher throughput.

Also, with regard hosting a web server at home. If a dial-up service, your
server has to establish an Internet connection to allow access - tying up
the phone line and (potentially) costing you money.

Now, I know that hosting a web server is not supported using the ADSL Home
500 service. I don't know for sure, but I presume this is because they use
DHCP to allocate a short-term IP address. However, can't this be resolved
using a Dynamic DNS service? When the IP address changes, client software
connects to a Dynamic DNS server on the internet which registers the new IP
address. I've never (yet) used this approach because I'm using dial-up
access with a static IP address but I'll be doing whatever I can to get it
working when I'm connected to ADSL (assuming the line test is OK). Or do BT
block incoming ports? I read that they didn't some time ago, but can't be
sure.

Check http://www.bt.com/adsl (use the
Rollout Areas page to look for your
exchange). They're listing those exchanges which are due by the end of
March. For Shrewsbury [that's me], it says End of December but it's
available now. If your exchange is their, I'd recommend waiting for it. If
not, I'd stick with analogue or HH and a discount package like Surftime
until ADSL is available. Bear in mind that BT can't currently piggy-back
ADSL on HH or ISDN.

Cheers,
Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Williams [mailto:ccwilliams@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 17 November 2000 09:45
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: [ukha_d] ISDN vs ADSL


Hi folks,

I have a question:
We are getting a PC for Christmas and I would like to use the
internet etc...
Should I get BT HomeHighway or wait for ADSL?
Ideally I would like to be able to use the phone at the same time as
the PC.
If I go HH should I get a TA or an ISDN router (do I need both?).
Eventually I would like to connect several Computers to a house LAN
and have internet access from any.
I also intend to get Comfort, whill this work OK with either HH or
ADSL?
I am hoping to keep the cost down so I thought I would go for BT's
Talk'n'Surf Together with HH, £44.99 pm including free voice and data
calls evenings and weekends and some? free calls, apparently not £13
worth as it was with just HH.

We don't have access to ADSL yet.

Also is there any problem with installing HH in the loft (node zero
to be) and running CAT5 to the study?

I have an old 486/66 with dual serial ports, could I use this as a
router/firewall (linux?) with a TA??

Thanks alot,

sorry for the barrage of questions.

Cheers,

Chris Williams






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