So? We do Frame Relay too on the PM-3. You missed that *huge* PM-3 thread
that has been going for over a week?
>also like the concept of an Ascend connecting to an Ascend considering
>most of the ISDN routers are Ascend in the first place.
You like paying for it too I guess - I've seen their pricing. They're
current best deal is the MAX 4000-EX bundle. This is a limited time offer
that expires soon and it requires a trade in unit:
Base unit (4/PRI): $18,600
CSU/DSU x4 : $3,000
ISDN Signalling : $1,000
48 digital modems: FREE (normally $36,000)
TOTAL ISP PRICE : $22,500
You know why they are giving away the modems? These are their OLD 8 modem
cards, NOT the new 12 modem models. They need to dump obsolete stock that
they couldn't sell anymore - so they are suckering people into this bundle.
Since it is a bundle you can't split it and still get the deal. And note
that they make you get the 4PRI base when the modems are only enough for
2 PRIs - AND YOU CAN'T PUT MORE IN! The 4000 only has 6 slots, with the 48
modems al six are full. Even with 12 modem cards you only get 72 modems,
still not enought to cover all channels.
Think about it - at this *deal* price, ignoring the modem cost since they are
free, ISDN channels are $244.56 EACH.
For ISDN only a 2 PRI T1 is $118.98 per port at our ISP prices - and that is
our everyday ISP price, not a limited time deal.
It is hard to figure out a fair modem comparision. Do you count all 92
channels? A PM-2 with 2 PRIs and 46 modems runs $355 per port. But that
means a modem on every port. You just can't do it with the MAX, and with
this deal you have 48 modems on 92 channels... Dividing this deal price by
48 gives $468.75 a port. But is that fair - ignoring the other ISDN ports?
I have an idea. Lets give them the benefit of the doubt and say the 44 ISDN
ports are $118.98 each. That is $125.58 off. Times 44 is $5525.52. So lets
apply that to the 48 full featured ports as the 'modem cost' divided by 48
yields $115.12 per modem. For a total cost on each modem port of: $359.68
Yay. So for this magnificent deal you pay $4.68 more per modem line, assuming
an equal cost for the ISDN only lines. And for that you get their older
modem technology that is being dumped to make room for the new cards. And
this price is good until 9/30/96 at 5PM. Oh sorry, there *is* more.
You can't just buy this. These prices are part of a trade in program. To
get them you must sacrifice a unit - so this isn't good for growth, it is
a box swap scheme to get into your business. To be fair, you trade in
analog only for analog plus ISDN.
You trade in one comm server from another vendor for each bundle. And
in addition to the above you get first year free tech support and first
year free software upgrades and cash rebate of $2550 ($53.125 (hey, Ascend
listed it that way) per modem port on the MAX) - for a final cost of $19,950
which is 66% off of list. (Before rebate is 62% off - full list is $58,500.)
Wow - let's see. Livingston gives LIFETIME FREE technical support and
software upgrades, on all products, at all times. No special deal.
ok, now, lets see what it cost per port pure ISDN - $216.85 for 96 ports.
Still more than $118.98. Counting just modem lines it is $415.63 each.
Now, my benefit of the doubt figures as done above: $97.87 difference, total
difference of $4306.28. Spread over 48 modems adds $89.71 each, for a total
cost of $306.56 each - a savings of $48.44 a port over a PM-3.
Is it worth it? Will you actually use the ISDN ports that you can't put
modems on, or are they idle? If they are idle their cost should be added to
the modem ports. Are you happy with their old modem cards? That's what you
are getting. How much will you pay for software and support after that
first year is gone? I bet the costs add up to the more than $2200 or so you
can eek out with this deal, which you get:
IFF you have a unit to trade in. (How much did you pay for that unit, we
really should be adding in the costs of that units value as part of the
payment. That would probably shoot the deal right there.)
IFF you rush to do it now.
IFF you support a paid subscriber base on at least 20 analog ports (Ascend
requirement)
IFF your primary place of business is in the US or Canada (ditto -and did I
mention this product isn't available for E1?)
Of course, you may find VAR's pushing this - they get a 10% commission on
each bundle - $2000. Gee, sounds like Ascend is desperate to dump these
boxes, doesn't it?
You know what is funny? All through their pricing material Ascend compares
their box to what? Guess? The Livingston Portmaster! Not the PM-3 of
course, but the PM-2. Not very fair, but still, wonder why they are so
anxious about Livingston products.
>Do these "DIGITAL MODEMS" do both analog and ISDN, or how does that
>work.
Short answer since I've given the long answer several times (someone want to
fill in the rest? I'm teaching a training this week and I have very little
time to do this):
ISDN is handled by the motherboard. You only need the digital modems *if*
you *also* want to handle analog calls. If the PM-3 detects an analog call
coming on on a B channel it will automatically switch that call to the
first available modem.
Livingston PM-3 Architecture
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
| PM-3 Chassis |
| |
| +-------+ |
|+---------+ +--------+ | High | +-----------------+ |
|| Digital | | Digital|---| Speed |---| Routing | |
- PRI --| Switch |--digital--| Modem |---| Back |---| Engine | |
|+---------+ +--------+ | Plane | +-----------------+ |
| +-------+ |
| |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
-MZ
-- Livingston Enterprises - Chair, Department of Interstitial Affairs Phone: 800-458-9966 510-426-0770 FAX: 510-426-8951 megazone@livingston.com For support requests: support@livingston.com <http://www.livingston.com/> Snail mail: 6920 Koll Center Parkway #220, Pleasanton, CA 94566 See me in person: Internet Expo, Boston, MA, October 16-17, Booth 422 ;-)