ISDN configurations: The form of ISDN of most interest to broadcasters and audio professionals is Basic Rate Interface, or BRI. (In Europe, this service is called S0.) On a single pair of ordinary phone wires, BRI offers two "bearer" channels at a 64kbps transmission rate and one "data" channel at 16kbps. This configuration is often referred to as 2B+D. When ISDN BRI is installed in your facility, each line is brought in on only one pair of wires.
 

ISDN availability and cost: From Germany and Portugal to Hong Kong and Singapore, ISDN lines are used extensively. The opportunities for connectivity between countries is increasing, and international calls can be accomplished effortlessly. In the US, the Regional Bell Operating Companies are gradually making ISDN available in more localities. Currently, there is better than 85% coverage, and by the end of 1996, ISDN should be available in nearly all of the US. Most long-distance ISDN connections within the US are 64kbps, with a few connections limited to the old 56kbps standard. Zephyr can operate at both rates with the same superior performance. In most countries, the monthly maintenance fees and per call charges for each "B" channel approximate the costs of an ordinary analog business line. Generally, ISDN costs significantly less than dedicated lines. And an ISDN "B" channel can be used as a standard analog phone line, using a special ISDN telephone (or a POTS terminal adaptor and a regular phone), when full bandwidth is not required.

ISDN versus other services: Switched 56, as the name implies, has only one channel at 56kbps and is often available in US locations where ISDN service has not yet been implemented. An ISDN number can call a Switched 56 number and vice versa. When used with an external CSU/DSU, the Telos Zephyr works flawlessly with Switched 56. In addition, Zephyr, using its V.35/X.21 data port and an external CSU/DSU, can also transmit high-quality audio over fractional T-1, DDS (dedicated digital service), or any similar service.

For point-to-point audio delivery, ISDN has advantages over satellite. ISDN eliminates the inflexibility of reserved satellite time. ISDN is fully two-way, and startup hardware costs are significantly lower. Overall, ISDN has significant advantages for most occasional and point-to-point feeds and offers economical and reliable backup to your satellite system. While satellite is still a viable choice for full-time, one-way, point-to-multipoint transmission, ISDN BRI and PRI can be a more flexible and economical option for moderate-sized networks. With ISDN cost declining in many locations, larger networks may find it a very appealing alternative to satellite distribution.

Like a modem is used with analog data communications, a terminal adapter must be used to interface the data from your codec to the telephone network's fully digital ISDN connections. Our Telos Zephyr makes connection to ISDN easy by incorporating both a codec and a terminal adapter into a single integrated unit. In the past, you needed to connect external terminal adapters to your codecs. Unlike other manufacturers who buy ISDN terminal adapters to build into their codecs, we developed our own. This enables us to enhance the feature set for broadcast users and create a unified, easy-to-use set of controls for both the codec and terminal adapter functions.