BKISDNCI.RVW 960314 "ISDN: How to Get a High Speed Connection to the Internet", Charles Summers/Bryant Dunetz, 1996, 0-471-13326-4, U$22.95/C$32.50 %A Charles Summers %A Bryant Dunetz %C 5353 Dundas Street West, 4th Floor, Etobicoke, ON M9B 6H8 %D 1996 %G 0-471-13326-4 %I Wiley %O U$22.95/C$32.50 416-236-4433 fax: 416-236-4448 800-263-1590 800-567-4797 %P 346 %T "ISDN: How to Get a High Speed Connection to the Internet" It was kind of boring until page nine. After having told us that ISDN was good, that ISDN was probably available, and that ISDN equipment could be found, that was where they'd placed a section entitled "You May Still Need a Specialist to Assist". What!?! Look, I know you need a high speed serial port; I know ISDN service isn't available everywhere; I know it may be difficult finding ISDN hardware, ISDN Internet service, or someone at the telco who even knows what ISDN *is*; but once you have that, connecting it up isn't that much harder than dealing with a slightly non-standard modem! Well, they do give you a *little* information. There is, for example, the warning not to replace your analog phone line with ISDN unless you have backup power in the case of a blackout. (ISDN lines and devices are not "line powered" as are analog phones.) There is some discussion of switches and routers, which is unnecessary if you are using ISDN in the home or home office but too little if you are connecting a corporation. There is a section on premises wiring which is irrelevant unless you are a telco. And there are four chapters on the ISDN protocols which are extraneous unless you are *developing* ISDN hardware and devices. Appendix B, however, may be worthwhile. It is a list of ISDN products and vendors. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1996 BKISDNCI.RVW 960314 ============== Vancouver ROBERTS@decus.ca | "A modern US Navy cruiser now requires Institute for (This space for rent) | 26 tons of manuals. This is enough Research into rslade@vcn.bc.ca | to affect the vessel's performance." User rslade@vanisl.decus.ca| "New Scientist" article Security Canada V7K 2G6 | on the "paperless office"