Using ISDN for home telephone system?

Edwards Finance > Phones

Q. I would like to know if anyone is using ISDN for their home telephone system as well as data. Currently I can get ISDN to my house and I want to run data as well as the house phone system on a 128k Terminal Adapter, meaning getting rid of my current analog line all together and run everything off the ISDN line. The Bell tells me that you cannot run "extensions" off a terminal adapter, but you can hookup a regular phone. They don't recommend eliminating the regular line because if the electric goes out I have no phone, I don't care I have 2 cell phones. I think they just don't want me to cancel my current analog line. Does anyone have any ideas?

A. I currently use ISDN as my primary data and voice telephone systems. I have not had any problems so far other than the lack of advances calling features on my TA. (It doesn't support call waiting). Other than that, it's been fine. I currently have the following setup... POTS PORT 1 on my TA is feeding back through my house where I two other extensions and an answering machine located in different rooms in the house. POTS PORT 2 has my computer modem and another extension. Note that MOST TA vendors will tell you that the TA is "rated" for only one phone per POTS port, but in real world applications they can usually support more. I would definitely as some people on this group about the specific TA your looking at buying and see what their experiences have been. As far as the power goes, I just purchased a UPS that'll run my computer and TA for 20 minutes. If I don't have the computer running that'll probably be much longer. My next suggestion is to keep the very basic analog service for a few months after you get the ISDN. That'll give you a chance to see if you like the service you're getting. I have elected to keep one analog line and converted the other one to ISDN. I did this because in PA Bell Atlantic charges by the time after the basic hours are over. On the analog line I have unlimited metropolitan calling plan (Philadelphia) which saves me money as compared to a limited calling plan. Such a plan is not available on the ISDN line, or, would be too expensive. I use the analog line to mostly make outgoing calls. I reserve one POTS port for incoming voice calls and the other for incoming fax, outgoing fax and outgoing data calls. I have elected busy/no answer call forwarding (fixed) on the ISDN voice incoming g number in case of power failure or other problems with the ISDN modem. The calls get forwarded to the analog line. I may remove that feature in the future as I get more confidence with the ISDN setup.

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