1-2 CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED
ISDN can also be used to make voice calls using the OfficeConnect Remote from an ordinary telephone handset, connect faxes and other similar office equipment. All OfficeConnect Remote models have facilities for ISDN data transmission. Some models have an additional port for voice calls and/or a port to handle a third category of connection over a serial WAN port.
The WAN port connects to a permanent leased line, also available from your telephone carrier organization. Leased lines are available to work at a range of speeds which incur higher costs the higher the line speed. The benefit of leased lines is their permanence and fixed cost. No dialling is required but unlike ISDN you pay a fixed cost regardless of whether you transfer little data or high volumes of data 24 hours a day.
Overall ISDN is probably the most cost effective solution for small businesses. However, if your requirements to move data between sites is likely to increase you should consider purchasing the OfficeConnect Remote model fitted with both ISDN and WAN ports to ensure increased flexibility. The range of OfficeConnect Remote units is as follows:
■OfficeConnect Remote 510 – Provides connection from 10BaseT or Thin Ethernet (10Base2) LANs to ISDN services for data transfer between remote sites.
■OfficeConnect Remote 520 – In addition to the data transfer facilities, this model has a Voice port allowing a telephone (or other equipment such as a Fax) to communicate via ISDN.
■OfficeConnect Remote 530 – This model has the ISDN and Voice port facilities and additionally the ability to connect via a WAN port to a serial leased line.
All of the above models are available with U or S ISDN interfaces.
Typically, the OfficeConnect Remote is used to interconnect LANs running protocols such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) or Novell Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX). Offering full