• New Search •
• References •
• Support •

Ordering an ISDN Circuit in North America

Article Number: I008
Article Type: Info
Modified: December 1, 1998

SUMMARY

When ordering an ISDN circuit in North America to be used with a Develcon Orbitor product, the Telephone company may ask a few questions about the needs of the ISDN circuit being requested. The answers to these questions are not obvious.

This article presents the answers to these configuration questions and does so in the form of a configuration sheet.

Note that this information only applies to North American applications.

MORE INFORMATION

Using the Capability Package Method

The NIUF (North American ISDN Users' Forum) has devised a method of specifying ISDN circuit functionality in terms of capabilities. A collection of circuit capabilities has been designated as a "Capability Package". To review details of the NIUF's definitions and collection of packages, please consult the NIUF document "NIUF 428R7-94 - Capability Packages and Solution Sets: Phase 3 Simplification".

When ordering ISDN circuits in North America, the ISDN provider may request what capabilities package the circuit should use. Most applications can be serviced by requesting one of two packages. Where you do not require any sort of voice connectivity (data only), you may request Package R or if you are using an Orbitor with integral voice capabilities, specify Package S.

When using this method, you may wish to ask the provider about "Additional Call Offering" (ACO) to see what benefits it may have in your application.

Using the Profile Method

This method is an older method, but one that is still in use. It is based on specifying the profile of a circuit dependent upon the type of ISDN switch equipment that is in place, and the capabilities of the line. The profiles of these configurations are listed below.

In North America, there are two common ISDN switches and various possible combinations of configurations.

Within the U.S., the two most common ISDN switches are AT&T's 5ESS and Northern Telecom's DMS-100, although there are many other ISDN switches available and installed. In Canada, the prime ISDN switch is the Northern Telecom DMS-100.

In today's ISDN network environment, these ISDN switch specifics are less important as North American ISDN providers have now standardize on the NI-1 specification. However, there are still configuration elements within each environment that go beyond the NI-1 specification and therefore may require other configuration parameters.

Also keep in mind that most ISDN providers are now familiar with the specific configurations required to support typical ISDN/Router applications. In these instances, they may not require any additional data.

The following section refers to three of the common switch configurations and the associated parameters for each.

Profile Configuration Details

In some instances, the telephone company will ask for a configuration sheet to be completed outlining the required configuration settings. The tables listed below, will help you complete this configuration sheet. In other cases, you may be asked questions for this information. In either situation, you will now be prepared for these questions.

In those applications that do not require voice connectivity and are operating in a data-only environment, the profiles below should suffice. However if you use an Orbitor product and it has the integral voice capability, you may wish to inform the provider that you also need voice connectivity with the ISDN circuit too.

AT&T 5ESS

Custom
Maximum Terminals		1
Maximum B-channels		2
Actual User			Yes
Circuit Switched voice		1
Circuit Switched voice channel	Any
Circuit Switched data		2
Circuit Switched data channel	Any
Terminal Type			A
Display				No
Call Appearances begin onbutton 1
Call Appearance quantity	1
Call Appearance preference	Idle

NI-1
Maximum Terminals		1
Maximum B-channels		2
Actual User			Yes
Circuit Switched voice		1
Circuit Switched voice channel	Any
Circuit Switched data		2
Circuit Switched data channel	Any
Terminal Type			A
Display				No
Circuit Switch voice additional call offering	unrestricted
Circuit Switch voice limit	1
Circuit Switch data additional	call offering	unrestricted
Circuit Switch data limit	2
Call Appearance quantity	1
Call Appearance preference	Idle


Northern Telecom DMS-100

NI-1
Circuit Switch option		Yes
Bearer Restrictions		No Packet Mode Data only 
Protocol			*2 (NI-1)
SPID Suffix			*1
Termanal Endpoint Identifier	Dynamic
Ring				Yes
Maximum Keys			10
Key System (EKTS)		No

* = These items may be Telephone Company specific.

REFERENCES

If there are any specific questions regarding the ISDN configuration required by an Orbitor product, please contact Develcon Support Services for details.§

Copyright © 1998 Develcon Electronics Ltd.  All Rights Reserved.