djk, in your 11-16-2003 08:44 PM post, semi-rural ISDN in mentioned. Aside from regional regulatory issues, in the western US there is an unswitched or “nailed-up” version of ISDN data service called IDSL, that has rock-steady symmetrical 144kb/sec data, {from what we call “Basic-Rate Interface” here…64+64+16kb/sec on 2B+D service} up to an 18 000 ft loop from the switch, or 36 000 ft with a currently no-extra-charge repeater midspan. It’s pricey in NorCal and western Washington state at $104 a month, and borders on {as far as I can get out of a sales droid} the equivalent of a Virtual Private Network circuit to [SBC] Pacific Bell or Qwest captive ISP. It is apparently a ‘low-speed’ symmetrical digital subscriber loop (SDSL) on an single copper pair, but not subject to the variabilities of the typical analog dialup. Have you heard of anything like that rumoured in your area? Around here, it looks like it is the only near-term gap-filler between "56kb/sec" {ha!} dialup and 384/128kb/s ADSL over the PSTN or cablemodem.
Aside — An associate tried out geostationary-satellite internet through Gilat/Starband available on the main North American continent, {at ~$70/month} but with the 2 X 33,000-mile path, the latency was agonizing. The local roof-mounted ~½x1-meter “dish” actually has a real 1-watt Ku-band transmitter(!)
[This message has been edited by Bjarney (edited 11-18-2003).]
