VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Billy D · Guest

Anyone use Audio TX? I recently purchased Audio TX and even more recently started ISDN service with AT&T (which they've tested and swear is working). Problem is.....My Audio TX tells me that the line won't connect. I've had Digifon tech support on the phone and they can't figure out the problem. I'm waiting to hear back from Audio TX. Truth is I'm a newbie when dealing with the set-up of ISDN. I feel like a fish out of water. Anyone have experience in getting Audio TX up and running?

Deirdre · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:45 pm Post subject:

Take a look for Audio TX in the archives here, Mate.

The best way to search these archives is to use Google, type your chosen phrase in quotes, and then type site:vo-bb.com.

<"audio tx" site:vo-bb.com>

Here is that Google Search.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:51 am Post subject:

My experience with AudoTX goes back 6 years. The initial set up went something like this.

1 - Download software
2- Plug in dongle
3- Call Andy Turvey a fellow voice over here in the UK who lives about 500 miles south of me.
4 - Dial his ISDN codec. Connects no problem

If you'd like to try a test let me know.

Billy D · Guest

Philip, thanks for your response! I'm good with steps 1 and 2 that you outlined. I've downloaded the software, successfully installed the PCI card, plugged in the dongle, hooked up my NT1 box (I think correctly) but I get an error message that says that there is no connection. I used Digifon.com's tech support with no success. I'm waiting to hear back from Audio TX. AT&T is double checking things on their end to ensure that I have the proper service in place.

Until I get a connection to the line, I'm pretty much hanging in limbo. If you have any other thoughts as to what I may be doing wrong, I'd love to hear them. I appreciate your offer and once I get a line connection I may take you up on it. Thanks!

kgenus · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:11 pm Post subject:

What service, specifically, did you get from AT&T. It should have been 2 BRIs, no voice. It's been my experience, with Verizon, that the order is entered wrong although you may have faxed in the proper orders.

Also, try swapping the cables, RJ-11 for RJ-45 and vice versa. That's also been a minor problem. RJ-11 connectors will line up in the middle of the RJ-45 jacks.
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Billy D · Guest

The service I requested from AT&T is as follows (this was given to me by Audio TX to be used when ordering the service):

- Basic Rate ISDN with both B channels active
- Two DN's (telephone numbers, one for each channel), Two SPID's (one for each channel)
- CSD (and ideally CSV). Up to 2 simultaneous CSD calls must be supported
- ISDN switch protocol (sometimes called CO Protocol) either NI-1 or 5ESS
- S-interface or S/T Interface (RJ45 connector, 4 wire) - NOT a U-interface (2 wire). i.e. the ISDN provider should supply an NT-1 if the standard interface they supply is a U-interface.
- Your long distance (or international) carrier (if you need one) should also support 2 simultaneous CSD (ISDN Data) calls.

Yesterday I received an e-mail response from AT&T that said that both of my lines appeared to be voice lines. She asked if I wanted one of the spids to be a data line. Are you saying that both lines should be data and not voice??? Nothing (aside from having children) has made me feel as inadequate dealing with this ISDN stuff! Thanks for the suggestion on switching the RJ-11 and RJ-45 cables. I have an RJ-11 jack in which I have a cable running into the "line" input on my NT1 (the line input is an RJ-45 input but I have the RJ-11 cord positioned in the middle) and then an RJ-45 cable running from one of the 2 "ISDN" inputs on the NT1 to my computer.

anthonyVO · 14th Avenue Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 1470 Location: NYC

kgenus · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:02 pm Post subject:

Definitely data. Nothing to feel bad about, personally, I believe telcos do this purposely to increase the initial billing on ISDN orders. Verizon tried that isht with me and I knew what was going on - when I told the tech, he decided to go outside and "make everything look pretty outside" (the other scam they caught me on).

One thing is for certain - under no circumstances should you pay the huge bill they're going to attempt to sock you with, your order was very clear: "Your long distance (or international) carrier (if you need one) should also support 2 simultaneous CSD (ISDN Data) calls."
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Yoda117 · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:26 pm Post subject:

Kgenus is right. The telecoms will invariably screw things up if you let them, and they're not above trying to confuse you.

I had this happen yesterday when the Verizon guys decided to cold call my dad as I was visiting. Now my dad's no dummy (literally, he's a rocket scientist), but he's not as IT savvy as I am. Couple that with a sadistic sense of humor and I end up being handed the phone.

Long story short, not only were the "technical experts" that I was eventually transferred to completely inept, but the sales staff kept changing configurations. I can only imagine how they would screw up and ISDN service.

On my own front, I had an experience similar to K's, but I got lucky and caught on to what they were doing.

Make no mistake, incompetence rules the day with most large corporations, and they're hoping you don't catch on to it.
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todd ellis · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:35 am Post subject:

gaaa! in a previous life i designed voice & data networks for a company here in the heartland - and most of the local telco guys are very good at bringing the line to the demarc and hooking up the phones ... beyond that it is something less than a crap-shoot. if i wanted isdn here there are about 2 guys i would trust to do it - and one of them is iffy. i ran phone lines in my father-in-laws new office this past summer and could NOT get line "3" to work AT ALL - i was sure i had done something wrong at the block (not something i do every day, ya know) - i futzed with it for HOURS only to find - when i finally checked - that verizon had wired it ass-backward outside!
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Yoda117 · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:42 am Post subject:

ouch!

For me it was watching my friend James and his fiancee futz with the phone line for a few hours. After having them borrow all my telecom tools, I plugged into the phone line to discover that there was not power coming through the line. Checked the house box... no power. Quick call to Sprint and we find out that because it was a weekend, the guys setting up the phone line never bothered to, you know, turn it on...

Even for my ears, the response from those two was "colorful".

Telecom and data networking always bring out the "inner truck driver" in people.
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Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

georgethetech · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:04 am Post subject:

The last three clients of mine who had ISDN installed by AT&T had problems. Issues were caused by bad lines on the pole, problems at the Demarc, or lines inactive... Verizon botched an order for another customer of mine as well.
Each time the TelCo would magically produce some 'ubertech' who installed 'some famous guys' ISDN lines who would fix the problem swiftly.
Harass ATT until they get it right. Good luck getting service from AudioTX, though. For the cost of their software (ever rising with the fall of the USD) and an ISDN modem, you can buy used ISDN codec boxes, way less hassle, IMHO.
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Billy D · Guest

Well, after a full week of daily calls to AT&T, they finally found a "qualified" technician to come to my home. Seriously, they've been telling me daily, since last Friday, that someone was coming to fix my problem "today." It actually happened today. This guy said he was only 1 of 2 guys in this area that knew anything about ISDN and he hadn't had an ISDN call for 18 months! Anyway, he tested the lines in my home (actually called out and in to the lines and they worked just fine). But after I hook everything up to my NT1 box and computer, Audio TX still indicates that my "line isn't connected." I'm about at my wits end. I ordered another NT1 box today just in case that's the problem. Is there anyone who works as an on-site consultant that can just come in and trouble shoot this mess???? I'm beside myself!!!

georgethetech · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:18 pm Post subject:

Billy:
I feel your pain. I don't know any body to help you in Chicago. Give Dave Immer a call at http://digifon.com/ScienceSection.html
203-254-0869. He knows more about ISDN that most mere mortals. He'll charge you for phone consulting, but sounds like you are prepared for that. Let us know how it goes!
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If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Billy D · Guest

George...I appreciate your reply. I've already done a phone consult with Dave I. Good guy, but he finally gave up on me as well! Am I hopeless? Smile

I think I'm gonna try out this new NT1 and have an old radio buddy of mine (much more technical than myself) come over and we'll just sweat it out until something (hopefully good) happens. I appreciate your well wishes and will let you know the final outcome.