[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference ssdevo::colorado

Title:	Colorado
Notice:	Welcome to COLORADO on SSDEVO::please type DIR/KEY=NEWCOMERS
Moderator:	CSC32::HADDOCK

Created:	Tue Jan 06 1987
Last Modified:	Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2424
Total number of notes:	40416

2402.0. "ISDN Problems with US West" by KDX200::COOPER (There is no TRY - DO or DO NOT!) Tue Mar 18 1997 15:50

    I just got off the phone with US West, and didn't like what they told
    me.
    
    See, I'm looking for ISDN service in my home.  What I'm really looking
    for is a dedicated circuit into a local ISP (RMII, CSN, Integra,etc) so
    I can use the AltaVista Tunnel to get back to DEC, and actually get
    some decent band-width.
    
    US West says that ISDN service is not available to my home, and there
    are no plans to implement it in my area.
    
    My other choice appears to be a Frame Relay circuit with some MAJOR
    costs associated with it (payable by DIGITAL of course).
    
    So, has anyone had any luck getting USWest to help out with ISDN,
    or??
    
    Thanks,
    Jeff

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2402.1	tried & failed	CSC32::S_LEDOUX	Want some cheese with that whine ?	`Tue Mar 18 1997 22:09`	4
	Hi Jeff ! When people first started talking about ISDN I called and asked about getting loop certified to Divide. They laughed until they hungup.
2402.2	to busy to really care?	CSC32::C_BENNETT		`Wed Mar 19 1997 06:17`	12
	I doubt if you will get any action from U.S. West anytime soon. Their standard answer is no - we are too busy... I was talking with a crew from U.S. West in a bar a few months ago - they were shipped here from other midwest locations because there is just too much work in this area to keep up with. Apparently the Colorado PUC - public utilities commission has received lots and lots of complaints around U.S. West's customer services and at one point was ready to give them a BIG BOOT... Send the PUC a letter complaining and add to the tons of mail they probably have about U.S. West already...
2402.3		DRAGNS::RMULAC::S_WATTUM	Scott Wattum - FTAM/VT/OSAK Engineering	`Wed Mar 19 1997 09:02`	4
	ISDN may not be the cheapest way to go. I know a person in California that found it was cheaper to get a T1 line than to go with ISDN (based on a rather exhaustive cost/comparison study). Of course useless west may not have T1 available either.....
2402.4		CSC32::BUTTERWORTH	Gun Control is a steady hand.	`Wed Mar 19 1997 10:41`	5
	The cost of ISDN varies widely. I have one WFH'er on my team that can get an ISDN line for $48 a month and they live in Cleveland, OH. And I have another in Dallas and their rate is over $100. Dan
2402.5		KDX200::COOPER	There is no TRY - DO or DO NOT!	`Wed Mar 19 1997 14:16`	7
	It's supposed to be $64/month here... If the gear is in place (which, i guess for me, it is not). :-( Plus, if you go with a frame relay solution, you've got to have a router and a CSU/DSU. That's about $2K to start-up. Ouch. This sux.
2402.6	Look at Direct PC too for speed.	CSC32::M_HERODOTUS	Mario at CXO3/B10 Colorado	`Fri Mar 21 1997 15:37`	8
	Check out the latest Direct PC from the Direct TV folks. I think it's faster than ISDN and cheaper. It may be a better solution in a lot of cases. They have a unit at one of the North Academy computer stores over in the Media Play strip mall...I can't remember which one had the unit on display, sorry. Mario
2402.7	cable modems?	CSC32::J_MANNING		`Sat Mar 29 1997 12:14`	5
	You can also check into cable modems. John
2402.8	Direct PC info...	LORRIN::LEE		`Mon May 12 1997 14:53`	15
	Jeff, The place with the PC Direct setup working and demo-able is "Wireless Universe" on the corner of Centennial and Garden of the Gods close to the new Alberston's. PC DIRECT uses a small satellite dish, so remember that you will only get the advertised through put of about 400KB on the down link, you use a regular 28.8K modem for the uplink. They also sell the service at the new "COMP USA", but they don't have one set up and working. Make sure and check the pricing closely, unless you get the "unlimited hours" plan, they charge a ton per megabyte. Lorrin Lee
2402.9	Wait for bi-directional Direct PC	FX28PM::SMITHP	Written but not read	`Tue May 13 1997 09:35`	11
	Wait on Direct PC until Q2/Q3 1998. There is a new version in the works that is bi-directional (uplink/downlink). The test unit I saw was a pc card that could handle the uplink/downlink functions of Direct PC plus a feed for your TV set (replaces the current Direct TV functions). The dish will probably not be compatible with the current crop of Direct PC/TVdishes. I don't have any information on initial pricing but the monthly fees will be based on the amount of band width you want (i.e. 200K, 400K, 600k, 1M etc) plus standard Direct TV programing selections/packages if any.
2402.10		CSC32::BUTTERWORTH	Gun Control is a steady hand.	`Wed May 14 1997 15:28`	3
	Interesting! I hope they have the smarts to offer an external "router" ala Digitals Routeabout products to allow multiple CPU's to use the same link.