ISDN Modem...why won't it work?

Dooom

Right, a while ago we got an ISDN (well Hi-speed) Modem from Eircom, that acts as a second phone line. Now according to Eircom, it should combine the two lines when the first isn't in use, and when someone rings the phone, it seperates again etc etc.

But it's not doing that, I'm still stuck at horrible slow standard speeds. I rung up Eircom about a week ago about it, and conveniently got cut off. Does anyone here know how to enable it?
I don't think there were any driver disks or anything...and it doesn't even have a name on it. Anyone?
Thanks

Cabaal

Not dealt with ISDN much but tbh I can't see any software doing such things

For example
Line 1 - In use
Line 2 - Not inuse so you can take calls
Speed 64K

or

Line 1 - In use
Line 2 - In use
speed 128K

Thats basically the sort of it from what I know,
Those are your options, if a line is inuse I can't see it hanging up because of a incoming call,
But hay I could be wrong..

Dooom

Yeah but I'm still connecting at 56k speeds (eg 45.2kbps) and it's as if the hi-speed modem doesn't even exist. It should be combining the 2 lines when the 2nd line isn't in use, but when someone's using that line, it breaks away from being combined with the 1st line - and hence when the 2nd line isn't being used again, it combines back with the 1st line....

But it's not doing that!

pablo21

Firstly, What ISDN TA are you using?
Secondly, you need to install software for that specific modem.

the one normally given out with eircom is the draytek. If thats the one your using, google for it and download the nescessary drivers. THis software includes control for combining the two lines once the traffic reachs a certain limit.

rash

What kind of ISDN T/A Modem have u got.
Was the Eircom support site any good

http://support.eircom.net/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE/,/?St=53,E=0000000000016372409,K=2305,Sxi=3,Problem=obj(6525)

astrofool

sounds like he hasn't even got an ISDN TA tbh.

You need an ISDN card in your computer, and it plugs into the isdn ports on the box on your wall.

pablo21

The TA doesnt have to be card based, the USB is also considered a TA.

gamer

I think its simpler just get eircom or esat broadband installed and u,ll free up ur phone line and cheaper unless u have some technical reason that u must have isdn, u,ll prbly get faster download speeds too.i see no advantage too isdn maybe its more secure or u r using a privatecompany network or getting a taxalowance on isdn rental,or just get esat free trial broadband on ur phone and see what u think of it.you should have no problem getting techsupport from eircom considering how much rental you are paying for isdn.I failing line test in regard to provision of eircom broadband or in a rural location.

Capt'n Midnight

Spike wrote:

Yeah but I'm still connecting at 56k speeds (eg 45.2kbps) and it's as if the hi-speed modem doesn't even exist.

Defo sounds like you are using an analog modem instead of a NEW ISDN one. (or possibly dialing into one ??)

Did eircom tell you that you may need a new kind of modem to use the new line ?

(apologies for the use of the word New for what is 1970's technology)

Dooom

Right to answer your questions:

Firstly, I'm not even sure if it is an ISDN modem, but it's a hi-speed one. So I just assumed.
Secondly, I have no software, no drivers, and no cards of any sort.
Thirdly, I haven't been able to get through to the Eircom website today for some reason.

This is my first foray into my internet connection (only recently started questioning it after the parents threw stupidly large bills in my face and asked was it worth it etc.) so I've no idea what a TA is...

Oh and if it's any use, where I'm living at the moment, I can't get bb. Otherwise I would've done so a long time ago!

Here's a description of what this er..thing looks like, its basically a small white box, stuck to the wall with 2 phone line sockets and I think what I suppose is an ISDN socket, aswell as a power cord etc.
Lol, was that any help?
Also, I'm using the internet via a standard 56k modem in my pc, using a normal phone line/cable that plugs into the box stuck on the wall.

SantaHoe

Here's a rule of thumb for you...
If you're connecting your PC to that 'white box' with a cable that uses rj45 connectors on both ends, then you're using a TA... if you're using rj11 connectors on both ends of the cable then you're using a ~56k modem on the POTS line of the box.
Google image search for rj45 = http://images.google.ie/images?q=rj45
Google image search for rj11 = http://images.google.ie/images?q=rj11

AFAIK this isn't always the case (hence "rule of thumb"), since I heard reports of people frying their 56k modems by plugging them into ISDN lines in the USA... but any ISDN lines and TA's I've seen in this country use rj45 connectors.

Dooom

Yeah the cables I'm using have rj11 connectors. Although both my pc and the (ominous voice) "white box" have sockets for rj45 connectors.

SantaHoe

Ok, this still doesn't mean you have a TA though, because the rj45 socket on your PC could just be an ethernet network card... I'd be absolutely sure which it is before you even think of connecting it to the wall-box.
Although if you didn't have this device installed at the same time as you got your ISDN wallbox installed, then it most likely isn't what you're looking for, as most recent motherboards will have an ethernet network interface onboard.

What you need is an ISDN Terminal adaptor and a length of CAT5 UTP cable to connect your PC to the ISDN wallbox.
The analog line (rj11) on the wallbox is just the same as a regular phoneline and will only give you standard modem speeds.
The only way you're getting 64k/128k is through the rj45 ports on the wallbox.
If you're connecting anything to these ports make sure 100% that it's an ISDN TA... since anything that isn't meant for an ISDN line may be seriously damaged by the extra voltage.
If your modem doesn't have an rj45 socket on it, forget about it... in fact, ISDN TA's can't technically be considered 'modems' anyway.

I got an ISDN TA quite cheap in Peats for ~50 quid, a length of CAT5 should be less than a tenner (make sure it's a straight-wired cable and not a crossover cable... or just tell them it's for isdn and they'll know which one to give you).

Dooom

Right, I'll pop into a computer shop when I'm next near one and see what I can get.
Thanks a mil for the info.

rash

Spike wrote:

Right to answer your questions:

This is my first foray into my internet connection (only recently started questioning it after the parents threw stupidly large bills in my face and asked was it worth it etc.) so I've no idea what a TA is...

How come the bill was so big. Are you using a flat rate package?.
are u sure your modem has not been hijacked?

I am MAN

if you got one from eircom you would have been supplied with a Draytek minivigor 128...and thats USB.

Dooom

Rash - The bill was so big because I have a habit of wanting to play Call Of Duty online during peak times, and I'd use the eircom connection for that (almost 100% of the time I use IOL No Limits), and there was the odd leaving something to download for a few days etc etc!

Man - Got this modem a few years ago, I'm sure at that stage there might've been cables and cards with it, but if there were I can't find them now. All that it says on the box is "ISDN Plug 'n' Play", so clearly it's one of the older ones...

rash

IOL do not allow you to run 2 channels with their flat rate product.
So the max u can use is 64K
http://www.iol.ie/anytime/anytime_faq.htm

Eircom do allow 128K access with their flat rate product

flyinfishmonkey

Spike,

I had ISDN but now have BB. Your missing the ISDN Modem for sure as the white/cream box on the wall is only the Terminal. From this you must connect your RJ45 cable and it then plugs into your ISDN Modem and consequently the Modem plugs into your pc via a serial RS232 port. So I reckon this means you need an ISDN modem my friend. I have one but I also have the white box and I don't really want to split them up as I want to sell them as a complete package. Sorry, but at least you know where you're going wrong. Why didn't you get a modem off Eircom when they installed your ISDN Terminal?? Seems to me like they screwed up there as one won't work without the other! Give them a ring and explain your predicament. You might even get them today...

tribble

Few things.

The white box on the wall is what eircom installed to allow you to plug both phones and ISDN "modems" into.
If you are using your ordinary modem plugged into the phone socket on the white box then you are getting NO BENIFIT from having ISDN.
You need an ISDN TA ("modem").
These come in 2 flavours - 1/ a card that slots inside your computer or 2/ a small box that connects via a USB cable into the back of your PC.

Also - call charges for using ISDN and ordinary modems are the same (except when combining the two ISDN channels when the cost is multiplied by 2).
If you were told otherwise then you were lied to.

tribble

flyinfishmonkey

tribble wrote:

Few things.


These come in 2 flavours - 1/ a card that slots inside your computer or 2/ a small box that connects via a USB cable into the back of your PC.


tribble

The "modem" I have is a serial port adapter connection and I have it about 3 years so maybe they changed to USB in recent times but there is no USB port on it. Not that it makes a difference... It still means you need a modem Sparky as at the moment your only connected with your bog standard pc modem 56K (with ****ty speeds) and you can't access your higher 64k connection speed and then double it to give you 128k.
Feel the force!

tribble

flyinfishmonkey wrote:

The "modem" I have is a serial port adapter connection and I have it about 3 years so maybe they changed to USB in recent times but there is no USB port on it. Not that it makes a difference... It still means you need a modem Sparky as at the moment your only connected with your bog standard pc modem 56K (with ****ty speeds) and you can't access your higher 64k connection speed and then double it to give you 128k.
Feel the force!

Fair enough but I haven't seen (external) ISDN serial modems for a few years.
You can still get then but they aren't popular.

Problem with tehn is the serial port on most PC's is only good for 115,000 baud (bit/sec).
This is fine for ISDN BR (basic rate) at 64kb.
But with 128k ISDN there is a bottle neck.
This is especially true for sending text files or any compressible (sp?) data which is sent to the modem for compression.

Dooom

Rash - I use IOL No Limits which is free between 6pm and 8pm weekdays, free at weekends and bank holidays etc, I'll check the site and see what it says.

Tribble - Are you sure the cost will be doubled if I combine the two lines? That'd suck a bit if it's the case, I'll give Iol a ring next week and see what they say...

Flyinfish - When we got this ISDN box, it was a few years ago! I never really thought much of it until recently, but to my knowledge I don't think we got a TA. I think originally it was just supposed to be a second line. Hm, I'll give a eircom a ring this week aswell and try and yell at them.

Also, I'll be picking up an ISDN TA this week (aswell as a cable), any advice on getting one? As in, should I go for internal or external?

TacT

I use an eircom free 150hr account and and IOL anytime account for my monthly net access between work and play. I use the eircom one for work mostly so I can combine the two lines for downloading/uploading and use the esat one for play on 64K, it doesn't support a 128K connection, eircom anytime does but when you use it you'll be using your time twice as fast -- 1 minute = 2minutes of your time when using 128K.

Have you got the TA setup with both primary and secondary isdn line numbers to allow use of both lines?

tribble

Spike wrote:

Tribble - Are you sure the cost will be doubled if I combine the two lines? That'd suck a bit if it's the case, I'll give Iol a ring next week and see what they say...

Yes that is the case - you are making two phone calls.
However - if you have a FLAT RATE package from a provider then all bets are off as they aren't billed like standard phone calls.