How am I billed?

You will be billed quarterly in advance of service. Any usage charges for metered service are billed monthly in arrears. Phone company line and usage charges are billed to you directly by the phone company.

Do you offer ISDN dial-up capabilities?

Yes, ISDN service is available using the same access numbers as analog modems. Information on pricing and support is available on this Web site or by calling 760-438-9555.

Do you support 2B connections? Why can't I get a 2B (128k) connection with my ISDN account?

Yes, we do support 2B connections. In simple terms, a 2B (128k) connection is achieved through a process of bonding. What actually happens is a connection is made with the first B channel and then a connection is made with the 2nd B channel. Once the 2nd B channel is connected the ISDN terminal adapter then attempts to bond the 2 channels to allow one 128 K connection to the Internet. However in order to bond, both channels must have been connected to the same modem or router box. If the calls are split between boxes then bonding will not occur. Most of our ISDN customers will be able to get 2B connections. But because of the nature of the process, we cannot guarantee a 2B connection.

There are two types of 56K modems. Which one do you support?

We support both K56flex and X2. K56flex is the protocol developed by Rockwell Semiconductor and Lucent Technologies. It is supported by modem manufacturers including Zoom Telephonics, Diamond Multimedia, Motorola, Hayes Microcomputer, Global Village, Xircom, Creative, Boca Research, Best Data, Micocom, and Ascend. X2 is the protocol supported by U.S. Robotics, 3Com, and IBM. X2 products are not compatible with K56flex products.

I've had problems connecting at 28.8K/33.6K with my current modem. Will I achieve a "true" 56K connection?

Unfortunately, no. The FCC capped certain types of data-transmission rates at 53K, which affects all 56K modems. After months of evaluation, we found that the average connection rate of 56K modems is only in the mid-40K range. Most independent testing puts it between 42K and 46K. 56K is not a guaranteed connection rate. Rather, it is a maximum speed that you may approach.

How does V.90 technology work?

It has long been thought that the theoretical limit on modem speed over an ordinary phone line was 33.6 Kbps. V.90 modems achieve their speed by avoiding a conversion from digital to analog lines in the connection between user and service provider. Ordinary connections begin over an analog line, are converted to digital by the phone company and are converted back to analog in the final segment before arriving at the service provider. 56K connections begin analog, are converted to digital and are not converted back to analog at the service provider. This requires the service provider to have a direct digital connection and therefore avoids one conversion of the signal. By avoiding this second conversion, speeds of up to 56K and faster are possible. Therefore, modem users need to know that they can only achieve 56K if their service provider supports it. V.90 modems download at speeds up to 56 Kbps, but can upload at only 33.6 Kbps.

What problems may I experience that I would not be able to connect at V.90?

Even if you have a V.90 modem, you may not be able to get V.90 speeds. This is due to some of the technical requirements not being met. It is not the fault of SelectNet or you.

Some of the requirements are:

• There may be only 1 digital to analog conversion: Telephone company central office equipment may only make 1 digital to analog conversion. From SelectNet to you there is 1 digital to analog conversion. Unfortunately, some older central offices may make 2. Long distance calls will almost always work since the U.S. long distance network is all digital. International 56K do not work.
• Digital Loop Carriers must be digital: The part of the telephone system between your home or business and the central office might use a digital loop carrier. A load coil used to boast signal strength may hinder, but not prevent 56K speeds. Also, telephone companies sometimes use a "Pad". Pads must be digital to use 56K over them. If they are analog, 56K will not work because it introduces another analog to digital connection.
• Analog lines must not have too much noise: Many Caller ID boxes, answering machines, and cordless phones add noise to analog lines and can impair 56K speeds. Disconnecting them from the phone lines will sometimes help. Also, electrical lines and other environmental or structural factors can impede 56K speeds.
• No PBX systems: If customers must dial "9" to get an outside line, 56K technology most likely will not work. This is because most PBX systems incorporate a "codec" that adds an extra analog to digital conversion, thus impeding the 56K technology.
• The FCC 53K speed limit: The FCC has placed a limit on all 56K modems of 53 Kbps. This is because at speeds faster than 53K, the noise will cross over to other telephone conversations. This is also known as "cross talk", and occurs whenever you can hear other people's conversation during a phone call.