A Core Competence Product Evaluation
Up and Running: Configuring the ISDN Card
If you’re installing a WaveRunner, we strongly recommend you back up your existing PC configuration and remove any existing Mwave device. Only one Mwave device can be configured per PC, and any existing Mwave device drivers and configuration are over-written during the installation process. We learned this the hard way. Before you install the card, use the Windows 95 Add/Remove Programs wizard to install and run setup software from the IBM WaveRunner Digital Modem Install disk. Run the MSISDN11.EXE program on the WaveRunner ISDN Adapter Windows 95 Support disk to determine the required COM Port, IRQ, and I/O Port Address values and associated dip switch settings. This install process is a long way from "plug and play", but we found the software’s visual depiction of DIP switches rather helpful. Our evaluation unit’s supported COM Ports (1 or 2) and IRQs (3, 4, or 5) were extremely limited; a newer version of the WaveRunner supports additional values.
To complete installation, you’ll need to set your card’s DIP switches to match the graphic display, shutdown your PC, install the ISA card, boot up, and then test the adapter by running the WaveRunner Digital Modem Diagnostics disk under DOS emulation.
The IBM 7845 Extended NT-1 is "programmed" using an analog telephone handset. The Extended NT-1 requires the ISDN switch type, a Service Profile Identifier (SPID), and an ISDN telephone number in order to make one ISDN B channel available for analog voice. The remaining B channel is available for use by up to 8 ISDN "terminals" connected to the S/T bus (in our case, one IBM WaveRunner ISA card).
The Windows 95 Control Panel Add Network Adapter process is used to install the WaveRunner’s ISDN Configuration wizard. This Configuration wizard provides a simple process for configuring the ISDN switch type, a Service Profile Identifier (SPID), and an ISDN telephone number. These SPID and telephone numbers must differ from those assigned to the Extended NT-1 for voice!
Once the NT-1 and card are installed, the fun begins: the WaveRunner documentation leaves you stranded with a diversity of application options (HDLC Async-to-Sync Driver, 14400 bps Modem Driver, V.120 Driver, an unconfigured NDIS packet driver) and little guidance as to what comes next. In our case, none of these driver applications were required to create a new connection with Windows 95 Dial-Up Networking. After a little experimentation, we were also able to place an analog data call with the 14400 bps Modem Driver.
Tell me about ISDN Internet Access Providers