H.320/ISDN Dialing Strings for Apple Media Conference (5/96)

How do I enter the SPIDs (Service Provider IDs) in Apple Media Conference for an ISDN line if it's an NI1 line, or if it's a 5ESS line?

In the United States there are two standards of ISDN lines, National Internet 1 (NI1) and 5ESS. The two standards were created by Northern Telecom and AT&T respectively when the initial H.320 specification did not clearly define the protocol that is used on the D (signaling) channel. Which standard you use depends on what type of equipment has been installed at you telephone provider's central office.

NI1 internet service usually consists of two separate SPIDs. One number for each B (bearer) channel. Typically these B channels are 64 Kbps wide, and when bonded, can provide a 128 Kbps effective throughput connection (144 Kbps including 16 Kbps D channel).

5ESS service usually consists on only one SPID that represents both B channels. AT&T initially thought they might run out of phone numbers, so their switch uses the single number to activate 2 B channels, all seamless to the ISDN customer. Typically these 5ESS B channels are 56 Kbps wide, and when bonded, can provide a a 112 Kbps effective throughput connection (128 Kbps including 16 Kbps D channel).

So with that in mind, here are some sample strings you might use when dialing an ISDN line from Apple Media Conference.

Sample local call, 1 channel
  XXXXXXX

Sample local call, 2 channels*
  XXXXXXX&XXXXXXX

Sample local call, 1 channel needing outside line prefix
  9XXXXXXX  or  8XXXXXXX

Sample local call, 2 channels* needing outside line prefix
  9XXXXXXX&9XXXXXXX  or  8XXXXXXX&8XXXXXXX

Sample long distance call (800 area code), 1 channel
  1800XXXXXXX

Sample long distance call (800 area code), 2 channels*
  1800XXXXXXX&1800XXXXXXX

Sample long distance call (800 area code), 1 channel outside line prefix
  91800XXXXXXX  or  81800XXXXXXX

Sample long distance call (800 area code), 2 channels* outside line prefix
  91800XXXXXXX&91800XXXXXXX  or  81800XXXXXXX&81800XXXXXXX

Sample long distance call (800 area code), 1 channel long distance access code
  103331800XXXXXXX

Sample long distance call (800 area code), 2 channels long distance access code
  103331800XXXXXXX&103331800XXXXXXX


* 2 Channel calls requiring both numbers are applicable ONLY when calling a H.320 system using a NI1 line.



Published Date: Feb 18, 2012