Services

A:  Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is basically a digital telephone line.  It can actually be thought of as two digital telephone lines, or B channels.  Each B channel supports data at 56Kbps or 64Kbps depending on how the call was placed.

A:  The ISDN 56Kbps differs from the normal POTS or "plain old telephone service" 56Kbps data rate in that ISDN is actually a full 56Kbps rather than whatever speed below 53.3Kbps the analog modems can actually negotiate based on the quality of your phone line. ISDN is also able to upload and download at the same speed, at the same time, which means your downloads don't have to wait for the acknowlegement packets to be sent out.  With analog modems you are either sending or recieving at any one time.  You cannot do both simultaneously.

A:  To do 128Kbps ISDN connections both B channels are used in 64Kbps mode.  Both channels dial into our equipment at the same time an negotiate what is called a Multi-link PPP session.  Multi-link PPP allows the two channels to appear as one line. 

A:  AR. B.B.S. currently offers ISDN service in the Conway, Arkansas area.  The telephone company may have a plan which supports using ISDN to call our Conway number from AT&T areas.  We have had customers using ISDN in Mayflower, Morrilton, Searcy and a couple of other surrounding areas.

The type of line required for us to provide ISDN service is typically much more expensive than lines which support only POTS dial-up service.  We haven't had enough demand to justify the additional cost in other areas.

A:  Unfortunately, ISDN service from the telephone company is somewhat more expensive than a normal telephone line.  In fact, it costs much more than DSL which would be several times faster than ISDN.  The last ISDN prices we have seen from AT&T was approximately $100/month with an installation fee of $80.  Those numbers may have changed.  Check with the telephone company for details.  Any extended calling plan fees would be on top of the base ISDN line fee.