In 1998 Monitor was appointed an eircom agent. This essentially means that you can conduct certain aspects of your business with eircom through us. The single biggest advantage with the agency is that you can order your eircom ISDN or analogue lines, or upgrade your existing lines to hi-speed, through us with none of the fuss and no extra charge. We can then monitor your request from order to installation. If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, then eircom hi-speed or ISDN is the essential tool for your business or home.

• Do you miss important calls because your sending a fax?
  
• Does being on the internet mean you can't make calls?
• Do you depend on couriers to send and receive important documents?

Using ISDN technology, eircom hi-speed is a high speed, dual channel, digital line which is the single most effective way to improve your business communications. eircom hi-speed is the flexible communications solution that not only improves the quality of your voice calls but can also send and receive faxes, files and video or graphic images in seconds. And because eircom hi-speed has two channels your business is constantly open, allowing you to conduct more business quickly and efficiently. For example being able to receive faxes or make and receive calls while still staying online.

Eircom hi-speed is the changing of a customers existing PSTN line from PSTN working to ISDN BRA working, without change of telephone number. With hi-speed the customer will be able to retain where possible the call management services that exist on their main phone line. It has two major differences compared to the standard Basis Rate Access. It uses a special network termination unit called an NT1+. This allows the customer use all of their existing PSTN equipment. There are separate sockets for PSTN equipment and for ISDN equipment. Hi-speed is a better option than having an ISDN line as an addition to a PSTN line, as the customers will have all the benefits of ISDN as well as all the applications associated with their previous line, without the hassle of having two lines to his home.

The benefits of Hi-Speed are

• two telephone lines
  
• faster access to all the data services via digital lines, Internet, File Transfer, Video Conferencing
• retention of their existing number
• DDI (Direct Dial Inwards)
• Minimal downtime

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When installing hi-speed, the technician will install a box called the NT-1+ at the customer's premises. Both ISDN and analogue equipment can be plugged into this NT-1+. This allows the customer to continue using all of their existing PSTN equipment. There are separate sockets for PSTN equipment and for ISDN equipment. The customer can keep their old PSTN telephone number, their analogue CPE and most of their call management services. The NT-1+ connects customer equipment (such as phones faxes and terminal adapters to the ISDN network.

Prices are quoted as from 01-01-02

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ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital Network. It's simply a digital phone line that allows you to send and receive voice, data, image and video conferencing over the one line; it is of a very high quality and much faster. ISDN offers you 2 channels at 64kbit/s and enables you to make 2 calls simultaneously. ISDN can be used for running many different types of applications; you can use an ISDN line for video conferencing, with an addition of extra equipment. This means that you have "virtual meetings" with colleagues all over the world.
ISDN call charges are exactly the same as with your present phone. For Internet access you'll need basic rate ISDN . A PC with a terminal adapter or PC card, and an account with an Internet Service Provider. This gives you 2 communications channels, ideal for small to medium sized businesses.
Choose from 3 types of eircom ISDN service.

Basic Rate (BRA) ISDN

Basic Rate Access provides you with 2 channels of communication. This allows you to do 2 things simultaneously. For instance, receive a fax while browsing the Internet, alternatively you can make or receive 2 telephone calls at the same time. The Basic Rate Access service is intended to met the needs of most individuals, including residential customers and small to medium business users. The basic rate interface is typically provided over an ordinary two-wire, unload twisted pair local loop. The basic rate interface can support up to eight terminals.

Primary Rate (PRA) ISDN

This provides you with 30 channels. It also has the DDI feature. The primary rate access is intended for users with greater capacity requirements, such as offices with a digital PABX or a LAN. The primary rate interface can be provided over; optic fibre, coaxial cable, 4-wire twisted pair (HDSL).

Fractional Rate (FRA) ISDN

Fractional Primary Rate is in between the two, you can have between 16 and 30 channels, one of its benefits are its flexibility. It allows channels to be added, as you require them, up to 30 channels, 'future proofing' your communications needs. It is essentially a PRA with some of the channels blocked to the user.

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Most of the benefits of ISDN stem from the fact that it is an all digital service. A single ISDN channel gives a guaranteed information transfer rate of 64kbits; this is fast enough to transfer 4 pages of electronic text in one second. In some cases the two channels can be used to double the speed i.e.128kbits or 8 pages per second. ISDN is fast becoming the standard voice and data communications service throughout the world. The benefit of using ISDN include - better reliability, performance, cost efficiency etc.... The ability to make 2 calls simultaneously and the potential to reduce your telecommunications costs.

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This will depend on the type of equipment connected to your line. Typical applications are telephony, file transfer, Internet access and video conferencing.

Prices are quoted as from 01-01-02

Connection Charge: €202.47
Monthly Rental: €30.19

Monitor is an approved Eircom Solutions Consultant.