better connection- ISDN?

[TMAN]

I've been looking into this for a while and reading other posts... is ISDN a real improvement over dialup? The price thing doesn't seem to be an issue where I live... all the providers are actually much cheaper than dialup. What is the speed <b>really</b> like- could I actually download something at 64k/s or 128k/s? Where can I find a modem to try this out... my current provider supports ISDN but first of course I need to check my line. Thanks!

[glc]

ISDN is a digital technology, so it's a true 64 or 128k. You need to verify cost - line charges, usage charges, and hour limits with the ISP. Here an ISDN line costs $50 a month with local (less than 8 mile) connects at 5 cents a CHANNEL (a 128k line is 2 channels), anything farther is billed by the minute, and the ISP's charge by the hour over an initial allotment of around 100 channel hours a month. Install runs about $125, it does NOT run over your existing analog line, it's a dedicated line.

You honestly aren't going to find ISDN for an "unlimited" connection for less than $100 a month when you add up the phone company and the ISP charges.

[TMAN]

so i'll get 64 or 128 kiloBYTES not kiloBITS!? WOW. I've considered hour and bandwidth limits- I was never looking for an unlimited connection- just a freaking GOOD connection for anywhere from 150-300hrs/mo. Well, I'll check all the other hidden charges. Gonna call telco now. But where can I find an ISDN modem? Thanks

[Confused]

You had better check on that. I do believe transmission is measured in bits per second.
Chas

[TMAN]

dang. You're right. kilobits. Still a beter connection (8KB/s or 16KB/s). The install here would cost $125 and the telco charges $23.50/mo + 3c/min for the line (both channels). ISP averages $15/mo. considering we would be eliminaing the two current telephone lines (giving back $30/mo to us) we can't get dsl, and roadrunner sux around here, this looks very good. Whuddya all think? Am I missing something. And what about the adapter?

[glc]

Trust me - if roadrunner is available, get it, no matter how bad it is. Add up that 3 cents a minute - you are gonna break the bank. If you use 150 hours a month, that's $270. If you are prepared to pay that much for 128k bandwidth, I'm sure some telco can sell you a fractional T1 for that price with at least twice the bandwidth of the ISDN.

[TMAN]

ddn't think about that... Man, the problem is that roadrunner isn't just pretty bad it's depressingly awful. Horrible customer support, constant downtime, extremely subpar connections- and yet almost no one around here has it so it's not like the connection is being shared (I'm reffering to the few friends that have it).