ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is a technology that allows multiple digital channels to operate through the same regular phone wiring used for normal analog telephones. If a telephone company switch has ISDN capabilities, normal telephones lines can be set up to transmit a digital signal rather than the normal analog signal carried for telephone/modem use. This digital transmissions allows for higher speeds of data transmission with more reliability than the analog transfers at slower speeds. ISDN is not available in all areas and there are additional costs and equipment required.

Residents in the following towns (telephone exchanges) can use ISDN to connect to ElkNet. (Note: You need to verify with your telephone company that they provide ISDN. ElkNet will assist it's customers free of charge in setting up ISDN through their local telephone company.)

• Elkhorn (723, 741, 743)
• Lake Geneva (248, 249, 348)
• Lauderdale Lakes (742)
• Williams Bay (245)

Below are some frequently asked questions about ISDN to help you decide if it is an option to higher connect speeds that you want to pursue.

ISDN is not as prone to electrical noise as a standard telephone line. Therefore voice calls will be of higher quality, and computer (data) calls will be faster and more reliable. As an option, an ISDN line can act as two separate telephone lines, each with its own number. This is because ISDN can have two independent call channels, called B or Bearer Channels. Each channel can independently have a voice or data call, and the two channels can be combined when used for data for twice the speed. ISDN can provide either 64,000 bits of data per second (1B) or 128,000 bits of data per second (2B), compared to regular telephone service and a modem at 53,333 at best, more likely 26,400 to 40,000.

Yes, but you can not directly use your existing telephones, fax machines, answering machines etc. on an ISDN line. You will need a Terminal Adapter (TA) to connect them. Battery backup is strongly recommended for the TA as your phones will be unusable in a power outage, including 911 services. Inside wiring will be required to connect your existing equipment to the TA. For these reasons, it is recommended that ISDN be brought in as an additional line to your home, rather than converting your primary line. 

ISDN works over standard telephone lines. However, your local telephone company must offer ISDN service and changes need to be made in the company's central office to set up a line for ISDN service. Additional fees are also charged by telephone companies for ISDN service.

Yes, ISDN voice calls can be placed to, and received from, standard telephone numbers. However, data calls can only be placed to, and received from, ISDN or Switched 56 numbers.

The actual ISDN line costs are set through your telephone company providing the service. Elkhorn/Lauderdale ISDN service is through State Long Distance Telephone and SBC/ATT services Lake Geneva and Williams Bay.