[Asterisk-Users] OT: PRI costs in US

Tue Mar 4 17:10:14 MST 2003

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Johnson" <bjohnson at jecinc.on.ca>
To: <asterisk-users at lists.digium.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 11:46 AM
Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] OT: PRI costs in US

> I'm right here ... where are you?

Right about here..
>
> Just kidding, I'm in Stratford, Ontario, Canada

I'm in Lethbridge Alberta.
>
> As an aside, I looked at switching to your company for internet access
from
> Bell HSE but switched to istop.com instead.

My company? What made you choose istop.com?

>
> We have a branch office in Kemptville (currently using Bell HSE - but only
> until I get time to get them switched to something else) that I'd like to
> connect to here via VoIP

>
> I have ordered two digium dev lite kits to try to connect the two (with
> asterisk)

I'm looking at doing something similar, but I can't my asterisk box to work
right.
>
> For two small offices, it's questionable whether it's worth the effort ...
> but it's a learning experience that will hopefully pay off by easing the
> opening of additional branch offices and providing an integrated whole

It might be. Let me know how that goes.

_____________________________
Kris Cote
Director of Internet Engineering
StormServer Internet / Storm3 Communications
admin at stormserver.net

>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: asterisk-users-admin at lists.digium.com
> > [mailto:asterisk-users-admin at lists.digium.com]On Behalf Of Storm3
> > Communications
> > Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 22:39
> > To: asterisk-users at lists.digium.com
> > Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] OT: PRI costs in US
> >
> >
> > Brian, where are you?
> >
> >
> > _____________________________
> > Kris Cote
> > Director of Internet Engineering
> > StormServer Internet / Storm3 Communications
> > admin at stormserver.net
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Brian Johnson" <bjohnson at jecinc.on.ca>
> > To: <asterisk-users at lists.digium.com>
> > Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 7:02 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] OT: PRI costs in US
> >
> >
> > > I don't think I'd be stepping on toes if I told you guys we're paying
> > about
> > > $35/month per analog line with callerid, line hunting, call
> > waiting, etc,
> > etc
> > > (basically the works minus voice mail) through AT&T
> > >
> > > That's Canadian so you'll have to work out the currency conversion
> > > ie $1 USD = $1.65 CND
> > >
> > >
> > > Jon Pounder (JonP at inline.net) wrote*:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Hey I hear ya, I am in much the same situation.
> > > >
> > > >PRI or channelized T1 is not really a cost effective solution until
you
> > are
> > > >over at least 10 lines, and need features like the DID or
> > callerid, hunt,
> > > >etc. that you would pay a few bucks more each per line so the per
line
> > > >analog cost would have been driven up over $50/line.
> > > >
> > > >My thoughts were BRI's as well since they work out to about $40/B
> > channel,
> > > >and you can add and delete in fairly inexpensive groups of 2.
> > You get all
> > > >the CLASS features of the PRI, but without having to buy a ton of
lines
> > to
> > > >get them.
> > > >
> > > >BRI channel bank is one option I guess, but fairly rare and
expensive.
> > > >
> > > >I would love to find a bri to pri T1 multiplexer at a
> > reasonable cost. I
> > > >have seen a few for sale minus the BRI cards so no deal on them.
> > > >
> > > >The ones I have seen do much more than is actually needed here
> > so likely
> > > >the cost is excessive when bought new.
> > > >
> > > >I am still not really clear why the isdn modems that seem so common
> > > >can't/won't work in this situation. Is it simply an issue of software
> > does
> > > >not exist ? Does the modem do something other than simply dump the
> > > >composite digital datastream into the serial port ? I am
> > familar with how
> > a
> > > >channelized T1 can be output/input via a v35 HSSI port - Does this
same
> > > >concept not extend to the BRI isdn and a regular speed serial port ?
Is
> > the
> > > >issue that a conventional serial port is topped out at 115k
> > and bri would
> > > >be 64+64+16 ? If so, how does the modem work in bonded bearer channel
> > mode
> > > >for data ?
> > > >
> > > >Anyone got answers ?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >At 06:40 AM 3/2/2003 -0500, you wrote:
> > > >>Hello!
> > > >>
> > > >>Several of my customers would like to add a backup to their Internet
> > > >>connection.  ISDN is a good solution:  decently fast for a
> > dial-up-type
> > > >>connection, yet still faily affordable.  While I was at it, I
> > decided to
> > > >>look at a couple of more creative telephone service options
> > to possibly
> > > >>improve their service or lower costs at the same time.  These
> > customers
> > > >>range from having just a couple of POTS lines without a key
> > system up to
> > > >>as many as 18 POTS lines into systems such as AT&T Merlin or Nortel
> > > >>Norstar systems.
> > > >>
> > > >>My first thought on the higher end was a PRI line.  However, the
cost
> > > >>seems *very* prohibitive.  The average cost for a PRI line was
> > $550/month,
> > > >>just for "dial tone"!  I've heard others say that PRI becomes cost
> > > >>effective in the 8 line range, but the cost for the office
> > with 14 lines
> > > >>($25/line * 14 lines) is only $350.  It would take 22 lines before
the
> > PRI
> > > >>would equal the cost of individual POTS lines!
> > > >>
> > > >>As an aside, I did a survey of several of my customers with 10-30
> > > >>employees.  Most of them have POTS lines only (from between 4 and
10)
> > fed
> > > >>into some sort of PBX.  Only one of them has a PRI line, and they
wish
> > > >>they hadn't gone that way:  they thought they would need more
> > lines than
> > > >>they do, and now they feel that they're way over-buying.
> > > >>
> > > >>Am I missing something?  When is a PRI competitive with POTS?  And
if
> > I'm
> > > >>not missing something, is there an alternative between POTS and a
PRI,
> > > >>particularly for 5-15 lines?  None of the telephone companies I
called
> > > >>offered channelized T1 options for local service (let alone
frac-T1),
> > only
> > > >>PRI.  Are there other options?
> > > >>
> > > >>Finally, any alternatives for smaller companies?  I tried to get a
> > simple
> > > >>BRI ISDN line for Internet backup for the company with 18 POTS
lines.
> > > >>#$@%@ Ameritech (excuse me, SBC) charges $10/month more if you don't
> > sign
> > > >>a 36-month contract and wouldn't give it to them without a
> > credit check,
> > > >>several pieces of company information, the names and telephone
numbers
> > of
> > > >>at least two officers of the company and a personal guarantee from
an
> > > >>officer!  This for a customer who has had 18 POTS lines for
> > *15* YEARS!
> > > >>
> > > >>I hate SBC...
> > > >>
> > > >>Thank you for reading my rant.  I would greatly appreciate any
> > information
> > > >>or suggestions you might be able to give me.
> > > >>
> > > >>Tim Massey
> > > >>_______________________________________________
> > > >>Asterisk-Users mailing list
> > > >>Asterisk-Users at lists.digium.com
> > > >>http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >_______________________________________________
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> > > >Asterisk-Users at lists.digium.com
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> > > >
> > >
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