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Dan-O The Gates of Troy
Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1638
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Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:05 pm Post subject: COVID v ISDN |
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My last ISDN session was April 3rd. Prior to that my box was used daily. Now, it's a glorified phone patch and Source Connect does all the heavy lifting.
Has the pandemic finally put an end ISDN?
Is anyone else using ISDN frequently?
Should I cancel my service? |
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Jack Daniel Cinquecento
Joined: 23 Jun 2016 Posts: 577 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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What's the cost of your ISDN? I think it's low for you, right? Then keep it--I still do ISDN, though infrequently and via ipDTL, which is probably more expensive than your box and service right now. If you were here in LA or in most of the places of the US where ISDN is priced extremely high, dumping the box would be a no-brainer.
Also, when trailers come back, you'll occasionally need the box for directed sessions, infrequent as they are these days. _________________ Jack Daniel
Narrator / Man About Town |
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Dan-O The Gates of Troy
Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1638
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Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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Comparatively speaking, yeah, it's low cost. It's a hundred bucks a month. |
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Frank F Fat, Old, and Sassy
Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 4421 Location: Park City, Utah
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Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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I have not used ISDN in 3 years. There are way, way too many alternatives and the cost here (in my state) is way high.
The R.O.I. doesn't add up.
F2 _________________ Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com |
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Jack Daniel Cinquecento
Joined: 23 Jun 2016 Posts: 577 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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That is really cheap--I would hold on until ISDN goes away ("this time, it'll be different!"). ipDTL is about the same price for dedicated spids. Of course, ipDTL also offers the advantage of a much better phone patch, so that figures into the equation also. But the peace of mind of having true ISDN at the ready is worth a hundred bucks a month IMO.
If I'm wrong as proven by non-use of your box through September, I will ameliorate the pain with a case of the beer of your choice.
Oh, *now* I have your attention :) _________________ Jack Daniel
Narrator / Man About Town |
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Bruce Boardmeister
Joined: 06 Jun 2005 Posts: 7964 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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When my last regular ISDN using studio went to Source Connect a few months ago I killed the beast. IF a new client insists on ISDN there are bridging services we can use, but the way things are moving I don’t see that happening in my world. Plus I like having the spare $1,000+ per year in my bank account.
So long ISDN, we knew ye well.
B _________________ VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005
I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. . |
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Philip Banks Je Ne Sais Quoi
Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 11060 Location: Portgordon, Scotland
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Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 3:26 pm Post subject: |
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Around £60 per month. Most recent session for Pepsi 25th June. Service will be withdrawn by BT (BritishTelecomm) around this time next year. |
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Karyn OBryant Cinquecento
Joined: 23 Jul 2013 Posts: 561 Location: Portlandia-adjacent
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Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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Jack, just so you know what you've volunteered yourself for, Dan has expensive taste in beer.
_________________ * * * * * * * * * *
Pretending to be other people since 1986.
www.karynobryant.com |
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Jack Daniel Cinquecento
Joined: 23 Jun 2016 Posts: 577 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, I know--the expensive-est :)
But the poor sod is worth it. _________________ Jack Daniel
Narrator / Man About Town |
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Dan-O The Gates of Troy
Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1638
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Lee Gordon A Zillion
Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 6855 Location: West Hartford, CT
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Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 12:44 am Post subject: |
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I currently pay about $1800 a year for my ISDN service, knowing that, in a normal year, for the five months or so that I'm in Florida, I do not have use of it. And this year is anything but normal. I have yet to return to Connecticut, and it is likely that I won't until spring. So, I will have paid for about a year and a half's worth of ISDN without ever having the opportunity to use it, if I don't cancel it first. And I didn't use it all that much even when I was there.
A couple of months ago, I got an email from a client in Germany asking if I was available to record in the next few days. I replied that I could do it but that I was not at my normal studio and didn't have access to ISDN. I never heard back from him. This could have been because of the unavailability of the ISDN, or it could have been because the project has been delayed, which has happened with this client in the past. Either way, that job would most likely not have offset the cost of holding onto the service.
With an ILok and Source Connect, it shouldn't matter which location I'm at, so I think I am talking myself into cancelling my ISDN (and dumping my land line while I'm at it). _________________ Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice
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Jack Daniel Cinquecento
Joined: 23 Jun 2016 Posts: 577 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 10:14 am Post subject: |
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Dan-O wrote: | But I make it super easy to buy for me |
Always thinking of others! Thanks Dan-O.
Lee, one thought before you make the jump to a service offering ISDN. I have to have both Source Connect (Standard) and ipDTL (with permanent SPIDs and phone line) to make meet my connection needs. The reason for not using SC for ISDN is I had too many problems with it. Sometimes it would not be available, and a few times (I don't have exact numbers) it just wouldn't work. The ipDTL version of internet-based ISDN has worked much better for me. And I can't get rid of Source Connect since more and more studios are using it, and it works great as a SC-to-SC connection. Plus, I bought SC outright so its cost is by far the best value. If you *do* end up going SC, I recommend that you by it outright rather than pay month to month.
I wonder if SC has improved its ISDN implementation. _________________ Jack Daniel
Narrator / Man About Town |
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Jack Daniel Cinquecento
Joined: 23 Jun 2016 Posts: 577 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 10:18 am Post subject: |
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I should add that I've also had occasional problems using ipDTL for ISDN. Once in a while, on long sessions, I and the other party have had to restart with long sessions. Likely it's due to internet goblins, but that seems to be part of the deal with any internet-based solution. Usually the trouble arises in the form of "hits" that increase in frequency; then, the engineer will suggest we restart the connection. It can be frustrating, but it seems the world is adjusting its expectations and clients are more tolerant of tech problems and understand that they do not have to do with talent stupidity. Usually :) _________________ Jack Daniel
Narrator / Man About Town |
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Dan-O The Gates of Troy
Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1638
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Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 11:06 am Post subject: |
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Jack Daniel wrote: | Dan-O wrote: | But I make it super easy to buy for me |
Always thinking of others! Thanks Dan-O.
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You sure about that?
"Orders must be picked up at the sales centre at the Abbey and are never shipped."
Abdij Sint-Sixtus VZW
Donkerstraat 12
8640 Westvleteren
BE 0405 530 472 <--- That's Belgium. |
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Matto Club 300
Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 390 Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
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Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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I also had many-a-trouble with Source-Connect ISDN in the past. The whole "book a time" thing just didn't work for me. Quite convoluted.
I've had dedicated ISDN SPIDS on ipDTL for quite some time and I definitely use it every now and then. No where near as much as SC. But...
1. It works great
2. I can use it when travelling much easier than SC Standard (port forwarding ermergerd). US clients can dial my US ISDN no.'s when I'm in Australia!
3. It's my new phone patch. $80 per year for a dedicated phone patch number
4. All that for $470 per year works for me _________________ www.mattcowlrick.com |
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