Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!bionet!hayes.fai.alaska.edu!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: BRUCE@ccavax.camb.com (Barton F. Bruce) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Best Way to Long-Distance Connect Message-ID: <11909@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 8 Sep 90 21:18:45 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc. Lines: 54 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 631, Message 3 of 7 It depends on what sort of connections are supported at the Chicago computer. Does he want SYNC or ASYNC? Does Chicago support x.25 access? And if Chicago has x.25, is it for cpu to cpu, or does it support remote terminals dialing into a PAD? Does he have a terminal or a PC? Regardless of how many characters he needs to send, what upper and lower speed limits are imposed by each end? How many seperate times each day? Not knowing any of the above, I will toss out various things to consider. Renting a line will get you digital on the long haul even if you ask for analog local loops. Just get DDS II (NOT the old rip off DDS I) tail ckts and get fractional T1 (a DS0) bandwidth. The long haul part of that from AT&T bought as (Acunet Spectrum of Digital Service) for > 101 miles, the fixed charge is $248, and the variable is $0.32/mile. You then have local loops. If ordered 'right' you may even be able to do 64kb, but certainly at least 56kb. I have NO idea what the local loops are there, but, for example, NYC's DDS II prices are $72.13 per end (in each city you need 2, one at your end and one at the long haul carrier's POP). If the POP is in the same CO, all you pay is 2 x $72. If different COs, you pay a fixed charge of $29.41, plus $4.73 per mile. That is for ANY speed: 2.4,4.8,9.6,19.2,56kb. A 9.6 permanent Telenet x.25 line probably will cost $800/mo and packets on top of that! BUT many RBOCs are doing x.25 just for this sort of application. Here in MA it is $40/mo for a NET&T 9.6 x.25 port, and then you have to pay for a channel to that port. The channel could be leased 4 wire '3002' and you rent a v.29 modem from them for $95/mo (and supply yours at your end), DDS II, DOV using any CO voice line you have, or even over ISDN. You then also pay packets. He could get a Telenet account and dial their pad. He can simply dial up as needed, using all the usual games to keep DDD costs down. An auto dialing high speed modem helps, as does some comm program on a PC. It is probably too early, but you might just ask about ISDN. BTW, everyone else will be less than the AT&T prices above, some by a LOT. Some have 'deals' on now where they pay all installation (theirs and the LEC's) or give you a couple of free months backbone free. They want your long term business. Try C&W, Williams, MCI, SPRINT, and DEFINITELY ask AT&T, too. Some of those may not go where you want, and there wil be others that do. Check for BYPASS carriers in your terminal cities. The IXCs will know if they are available. Long term contracts can get you much lower prices.