Patience and a sense of humor will be required, if your efforts result in similar responses to ASTEC's attempts.
ASTEC and ISDN
A summary of events in the course of ASTEC attempting to have ISDN installed to support 56k V.90 modems calling the ASTEC BBS.
Over two months have passed, involving the following and resulting in:
June 8 - ASTEC calls Bell Atlantic and requests 128k ISDN to be installed, converting existing ASTEC BBS phone numbers (2) and requests quote on cost of ISDN service.
June 12 - Bell Atlantic calls ASTEC, is confused that it does not want to call out using Bell Atlantic ISDN to connect to the Internet via Bell Atlantic Internet access plan. Bell Atlantic does not appear to understand that ASTEC wants ISDN to support incoming calls, not out going and can't quote cost of service at this time. Bell Atlantic says that a check of ASTEC's existing phone lines will be made sometime in the next two weeks, to confirm they will support ISDN service. They will advise ASTEC on test findings and cost of service in about two weeks.
June 29 - ASTEC calls Bell Atlantic to check on status of tests and ISDN installation. Bell Atlantic has no record of earlier conversations with ASTEC.
June 30 - ASTEC attempts to contact 3Com/USR "I-Team" to have them arrange ISDN installation. Unable to speak to a human being due to "Voice Jail" telephone support system at 3Com/USR. FYI... the "I-Team" is a free service of 3Com/USR to new owners of Courier ISDN I-modems, that takes care of all arrangements for ISDN implementation, specifically for use with the I-modem.
July 6 - ASTEC finally reaches a real person at 3Com/USR who says the "I-Team" no longer exists and the service is now provided by Eastern Telecom. ASTEC contacts Eastern Telecom and is told that ASTEC's existing lines will have to be checked for ability to support ISDN service. ASTEC authorizes Eastern-Telecom to proceed.
July 21 - Eastern-Telecom advises ASTEC that service from ASTEC's local CO (which has a 5ESS switch) can not be provided. ASTEC will have to have additional phone numbers installed from CO in next town, which is in a different area code. Cost not yet known.
July 24 - Eastern-Telecom advise ASTEC that there is no additional cost for new phone numbers and that Bell Atlantic will install and activate ISDN service on August 6. Please be at office on that date, all day, since a specific time can not be scheduled! (ASTEC does its business at client facilities, not at the office! But, we shift schedules to be available)
August 6 - Bell Atlantic technician seen working on telephone pole outside ASTEC office, but no other Bell Atlantic employees visit ASTEC on August 6.
August 7 - Bell Atlantic technician back again working on telco wires on telephone pole outside ASTEC office. ASTEC walks over to technician to see if work is associated with ASTEC ISDN order. Yes! Technician indicates he is connecting all new wire pairs from CO to this junction box for ASTEC to have ISDN on existing phone numbers. On existing numbers? New phone numbers are not required? Technician checks order... gosh, ASTEC is correct, it is supposed to get new, additional phone numbers!
However, new pairs for existing numbers already connected so they will be activated at local CO today and additional new numbers, to support ISDN, will be activated on Monday, August 10.
