Ticket Options

Question Details

TICKET ARCHIVE -> Isdn Internet Connection

brendle - Apr 20, 2005 - 5:31 am

Dear Tech Support,

Have G4 Powerbook running Mac OSX 10.3.4 Panther. Would like to log on to the internet using my ISDN line, but cannot find modem with any drivers matching the software (they tell me that Mac software is not backward compatible). I have tried with Dynalink pocket modem, Duxbury 128k mini modem, both running through USB port). Shops are far away from here and ISDN as modern as it gets for now. What can I do to get myself online through ISDN?

jimed - Apr 20, 2005 - 10:06 am

Hello Christina,

Thank you for choosing Mac OSX.com, my name is Jim and perhaps I can help you.

ISDN equipment is much different than a regular dial-up modem. If I remember correctly what you need what is called a terminal adapter. I have used TAs made by Shiva and Ascend and I believe both had a ethernet connector that allowed a LAN based connection. (Do you have a TA now that you use for a regular telephone line? If so your modem should be able to plug into the phone port and dial you ISP but not a ISDN speeds.) Now-days they are also available with a USB connection but you would need to be sure that Mac drivers are available for a USB 'TA'. The ISDN connection can have one or two channels. Either one or both may be used for data or voice. You need to know if you are going to use the ISDN line for data only or voice and data.

You will need to know the SPIDs that your ISDN provider wants you to use. You also will need to know the number the ISDN TA is to call to reach your internet provider.

These can be a bit 'daunting' to set up and both your ISDN provider and your Internet provider should help. Your ISDN provider may have a special deal on TAs - just be sure to ask for Mac compatible products.

I hope this information helps, please let me know if you need more information.

Jim Edmondson
Justin Texas

brendle - Apr 20, 2005 - 12:51 pm

Dear Jim,

Thanks so much for that information. I am a bit of a novice with Mac and so seems everyone else around here. I live in a lost corner of South Africa, thus shops are not nearby, not is any major city.

There are some modems I could find that work for Mac OSX but not for my version (I've tried a Duxbury 128k USB port modem) but the drivers available only went up to Mac OSX 10.2. version, me having Mac OSX 10.3.4. Thus the installation process led to nothing. The thing is that I cannot download anything onto my Mac as the phoneline connection (PPP with internal modem is bad and slow), so I cannot upgrade versions. I am currently logging on using my old computer. Nobody here seems to be able to tell me what modem would have a driver for my OSX version and where to get it. If you have any ideas please let me know.

Kind regards,
Christina

jimed - Apr 20, 2005 - 1:11 pm

Hi Christina, and a big Texas "howdy" to you in South Africa.

Please let me ask some questions.
Do you have a ISDN line now?

Do you use it for voice and data or just data?

Do you have a Internet service provider that supports ISDN?

Are you plugging your Duxbury modem directly into the ISDN line (ouch) or into an adapter that converts it to POTS? ie are you using a jack that you could plug a regular telephone into?

POTS = plain old telephone line = analog. An ISDN line is digital and a regular phone or modem will not work on it without a terminal adapter. I'm wondering it you already have a terminal adapter installed and are using the ISDN line for your regular voice line.

Sorry for all the questions, there a lots of 'flavors' of ISDN configurations.

Jim

brendle - Apr 21, 2005 - 10:29 am

Howdy to you too Jim,

My folks are just on their way to Texas, a small place called Malakoff (not too far off Corsicana). Great place, wish I were there, especially since Winter is approaching here.

To your questions: yes, I already have a ISDN line which I used to connect with my old windows PC. The modem was USB from the computer and had a phone plug on the other side plugging into the ISDN box (sorry, no clue of the correct IT terms) provided by South African Telkom. Our regular phone lines have a slightly different plug (smaller and only 4 cables inside), this looks actually exactly like a UK phone plug. Our ISDN services two lines, one for phone calls and one for fax and internet.

My internet service provider does support ISDN and even has a specialised Mac section, unfortunately they also seem clueless.

Thanks for all you help, keep well,
Christina

jimed - Apr 21, 2005 - 11:04 am

Hi Christina,

We have a good customer in Corsicana. Be sure your folks stop by the Collin Creek bakery in Corsicana. yum-yum

Thanks for the answers and I apologize for all the questions. I promise I'll stop soon. The plug your PC modem used, was it the big 8 pin modular? Can you get me the model number for the PC modem - was that the Duxbury you mentioned?

We're getting close here I just want to be sure I don't give you wrong advice.

Jim

brendle - Apr 22, 2005 - 3:25 am

Hi Jim,

Collin Street or Creek bakery is definitely a must: great fruit pie and pecan nut pies there! The rodeo there is also great.

The Duxbury tiny 128k modem with USB and 8 pin modular ISDN phone plug was the one I tried. I had a driver for Mac OS9, OSX 10.1 and OSX 10.2 but the ISDN connection was never taken by my OSX 10.3.4 version.

Thanks and keep well, by the way, where is Justin, Texas?
Christina

jimed - Apr 22, 2005 - 5:05 pm

Hi Christina,

I'll do a little research on your modem and get back to you ASAP.

Justin is about 25 miles north of Fort Worth (AKA "Cow Town") or about 40 miles Northwest or Dallas (AKA "Big D") And, it sounds like you have already found the bakery. :-)

jimed - Apr 25, 2005 - 9:05 pm

A little more information...

I sent Duxbury a email note about the USB mini and am awaiting a reply. While in their site I noticed they have a ISDN router that might do the trick. A router places the ISDN Internet connection on a Ethernet port so multiple computers can use it and since it is on the LAN is not so platform dependent.

I do not know the price but you might call them and ask about a ISDN router for your macintosh. They handle other brands and perhaps would have a refurbished unit you might consider.

You can search for ISDN router on google and come up with lots of comparisons. Be sure whoever sells it will support you and will give you a refund if it does not work with SA-Telco. Also be sure you can configure it using a web browser or terminal program so yo can make changes in the future.

Will let you know what they say.

Jim

brendle - Apr 26, 2005 - 8:16 am

Dear Jim,

Thanks for all that assistance, that's really great and I must say I have not seen or heard of such great support for PCs. I have single-handedly got rid of my problems: had a weekend visitor who is a graphic's designer and when he saw the laptop here he offered me a price I could not refuse (Macs are much moreexpensive in SA than in the UK). He bought it and left with it replacing it with a new powerful PC at wholesale price. Sometimes things just seem to fall in place in strange ways.

But thanks so much for all you've done, keep well and perhaps some time you'll want to visit the Southern Hemisphere a bit: it's quite cool!
Keep well,
Christina