Hi, 
        after being promised by one company that they could deliver in
mid-February a versatile ISDN Terminal Adaptor with dual port capabilities
and built-in X.3/X.28/X.29 D-Channel Packet Assembler Disassembler, I'm now
in the difficult position of having to find a substitute product.

The device should appear like a modem to bbs software, and support 2
virtual circuits (and more if Telstra allow it) over D-Channel X.25 to
separate serial ports with normal Carrier Detect / Data Terminal Ready
operation like a modem set with &C1&D2. This will allow low speed
modem callers to access a bbs from the SA country at around $2.50 per hour,
compared with $12.50 per hour for 1800 number access.

The nearest I've found that *might* work is combining a Philips TA Multi
with a JNA Megapac IX Packet Assembler Disassembler, but no-one has
combined the two products like that before, and I haven't yet been able to
persuade the company that couldn't deliver their own product to do the
necessary system integration, nor get anyone to do the same and stake their
reputation on it.

[Phillips also make the TA mini which supports a single virtual circuit,
and a few companies like RANDATA 03 9822 7858 have a router product which
*might* be capable of what we want, but no-one has demonstrated a dual
virtual circuit D-Channel X.25 PAD capability].

In the meantime I'm waiting for something like the Motorola/Telstra TA220
to become available in the 4 port version (for which I was told not to hold
my breath), or the Motorola 650 ISDN PAD to get Austel approval (which
might be Real Soon Now).

I've spoken with the Telstra Product Managers for Austpac (Chris Day), the
Network & Technology Group (Jim Maniatis), and ISDN (Ray Cao 07 3838
8261) and none of them have been able to suggest a viable D-channel ISDN
PAD nor cost effective alternative.

Any suggestions?

--- msgedsq 2.1