About a year ago I thought about installing an ISDN line at home so I could do radio interviews on it. The logic was that the outlay would be more than recouped by the extra work I'd get. However, I eventually gave up as the whole thing seemed completely baffling. I kept getting completely conflicting advice on what equipment I needed and how it worked. So now a challenge...
Who can recommend a company who can tell me what I need, install it and get it working?!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6519681.stm
ReplyDeleteBT withdrew home ISDN. So would you need another provider?
This might be of interest to you
http://www.nildram.net/case_studies/football_association/
http://www.cbronline.com/news/isdn_vendors_form_association_to_promote_isdn_uptake
Vendors ISDN Association Does this still exist?
Thye technical people at Play Talk might be able to offer you some advice and help.
don't a lot of frontbenchers have these? maybe one could advise you.
ReplyDeleteBT can still install an ISDN 2e line on a business tariff, just under £100 per quarter.
ReplyDeletehttp://business.bt.com/phone-services/phone-lines-and-calling-plans/isdn
Try talking to Canford Audio www.canford.co.uk
ReplyDeleteAFAIK it's not the line so much as the bit of kit that will cost - a Portable Audio Contribution Unit, as used by professional radio broadcasters. And you need a decent mic. And a non-tinny sounding room to speak from.
Canford should be able to suggest the best solution.
GQ Contributing Editor, a weekly radio programme...Isn't that enough "extra work" in addition to your current average of 2-3 appearances per day?!
ReplyDeleteI have used VoxHub
ReplyDelete08000 470 490 knock three times and ask for Dan - tell him I said IF they do it, they will do it well. He will remember me from Balcony.
Alan Douglas
Hmmmm ISDN, which is not discontinued, would be nuts for you. Much better to get another bt voice line and put a dsl service on it these days.
ReplyDeleteJust go for ADSL2+ with a good VOIP box.
ReplyDeleteI use www.bethere.co.uk which allows up to 24 meg downstream, 2.5 meg upstream (depends on condition of line etc). They are trailing double-bonding, basically using 2 lines (gives up to 48 meg downstream and 5meg upstream).
Or go for SDSL (and pay lots of money).
try http://tinyurl.com/pq3elb
ReplyDeletemost telcos offer it, you just need an isdn modem and digital phone, or get an isdn pcmcia card if you have a laptop. I had back in the bad old days but they are still available...
Iain - ISDN from BT Biz simplest option. DSL does not work for broadcast quality as the voice channel is no different to your normal line.
ReplyDeleteThe broadband element is like a dog whistle - you can't hear it hence you can surf and talk at the same time.
And you'll need a room with lots of noise dampening [soft furnishing/carpet not the whitewashed brick office you used for your vlog]
*ex broadband/broadcast specialist*
No need for isdn line, better to get two empty tin cans, a piece of string and shout very loud.
ReplyDeleteYou have been getting a lot of strange advice here, Iain.
ReplyDeleteWhat you need is a bog standard Quark interfold, with paralell quadriplexed flux capacitor as standard (don't bother with the Heisenberg Compensator unless you want it to double up as a transporter).
Use your PC or Mac to control the linear transvernal audicable, get yourself a decent voice carapace and a Raytheon Mk11 nargle and Bob's your uncle.
Piece of piss really, if you know what you are talking about.
I actually sell everything you need for a turnkey operation, together with an extended warranty which includes call-out and annual virulence check (fully noded), for only £399
I’d go with Wrinkled Weasel’s advice Iain, seems sound. Or, as an alternative, trawl through www.demon.net – they do our stuff at work and seems to work. We switched from BT, go figure..
ReplyDeleteAsk Harriet Harman
ReplyDeleteWas that really Wrinkled Weasel ? Sounded much more like Stanley Unwin.
ReplyDeleteI quote : bog standard Quark interfold, with paralell quadriplexed flux capacitor as standard (don't bother with the Heisenberg Compensator unless you want it to double up as a transporter. Use your PC or Mac to control the linear transvernal audicable, get yourself a decent voice carapace and a Raytheon Mk11 nargle
I got the first 2 words.
Alan Douglas
Sentient WV : flouvent
No, no, not the Mk11 nargle: go for the Mark 10 with the cam chain.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.k-ht.co.uk/index.php
ReplyDeletetry googleing Glensound. They built the kit I use at work and will advise on lines etc. Good, honest, small scale experts - somewhere near you as well I think. Maybe maidstone way.
ReplyDeleteNot understanding any of this, I have found this one of the most entertaining posts, Iain has placed on his blog!!
ReplyDeleteKnowing of Wicked Weasel's excellent musical background (he was once lead in the Inverness ADOS production of Desert Song), I would like to think his was the best, but I didn't understand a word!
Question from a Mr Darling from Scotland. "Can I claim for this against tax"?
These guys could help:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSINO6MKtco
In my former life before working in politics I was TV Sound Mixer. I now work 3 days a week for www.showcomms.blogspot.com www.showcomms.co.uk
ReplyDeleteISDN kit isn't something we normally sell, but that doesn't mean we wouldn't. Canford are a good source of information, and we are Canford resellers. But they would probably point you at the Glensound GSGC24A
http://www.glensound.co.uk/ISDN.htm
I am sure we could quote you for one and somebody to install it!
I think my previous attempt at posting may have disappeared as I switched Blogger accounts.
ReplyDeleteBefore I worked in politics I worked as a TV Sound Mixer.
I am now working back with www.showcomms.blogspot.com www.showcomms.co.uk 3 days a week.
Raedwald is right about Canford, and we are Canford resellers. Though they would probably suggest a Glensound GSGC24A http://www.glensound.co.uk/GSGC24A.htm
More general info on Glensound ISDN at http://www.glensound.co.uk/ISDN.htm
I am sure we could quote you for installing one :-)
duncan@showcomms.co.uk
I had a doublr ISDN line a few years ago ewhen we had no broadband in the village. Supplied by BT. What you can could do is get satellite broadband. This can give you a very good bandwidth plus massive up load and download but with the fraction of a second delay owing to the satellite being 200 miles up. BT can help. They are too often derided IMO. They are still a good outfit.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.videomeetingcompany.com/index.phtml
ReplyDeleteFounded by none other than our own Noel Edmunds
Why don't you just speak to someone at the BBC or Sky next time you are there? Plenty of their staff can broadcast from home.
ReplyDeleteAsk for Chris Comley, at WizardsYou can also find Chris on CIX (the UK's oldest ISP and first ever on-line conferencing facility). Say kittiwake@cix mentioned them to you.
ReplyDeleteThe only connection I have with Wizards is as a customer of several years.
Why would you even think of buying such a thing? Sorry to say it but your radio show is very poor indeed. Stick to the writing!
ReplyDeleteCan't you do it with Skype?
ReplyDeleteDon't know if the BBC guys sorted you with VOIP. But if not we are now Glensound dealers. See www.showcomms.blogspot.com and www.showcomms.co.uk
ReplyDelete