ISDN Setup? Server, hub, router?

[Humilliation]

Hi people, I'm going to be getting setup with ISDN by the end of the month and I was wondering if it was a pain to setup? I'd like to network a couple of computers together to access the internet thru the ISDN modem. What do I need, router? hub? switch? or should I just setup one of my systems as a server? But wouldn't the server cost more to run than a switch or router? I was wondering if anybody knew of any such device that I could share this internet access with other computers in my home and have a safe firewall. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[NooNoo]

Why have you gone ISDN? its almost as expensive as DSL but nowhere near as fast. Also most isps only support 64k anyway!

Before you commit, check out what your spending, unless this is supplied for free!

[Humilliation]

I understand what you're saying, but DSL is unavailable in my area. My ISP is capable of 128K so that's all I'm able to get. If I lived within the (18,000 feet of phone wire) from the substation I would of been able to get DSL but I'm not, so I figured ISDN is the way to go until DSL or Satilites available. The 56K dial-up is killing me with the download time, I connect anywheres between 45,555 to 50,667 but I'm only getting 4.5kbps -12kbps with 56K.

Sprint sent me a EICON ISDN Modem and I've got a SMC 7004BR Router / 4 port HUB. My question was if anybody knew of a better way of "sharing" this internet connection not what you think of it. Oh and the cost is cheaper for the ISDN than to have 4 computers dialing up to 56K @$20 a month each, my ISP doesn't give breaks in cost for multiple accounts so I figured having a bandwidth of 128K was better than 4 @ 4.5-12Kbps, no? $50 vs $80 a month for 4 56K, the ISDN is a sure victor I think.

Does anybody know if the EICON Modem and the SMC 7004BR Router/HUB combo will work together? Or would a Server/HUB be the way to share the connection? Any "help" would be most appreciated, thanks

[Silverman]

If you have an old 486 computer laying around collecting dust try <a href="http://www.freesco.com/" target="_blank">http://www.freesco.com/</a> I purchased a router a while back to share out my cable, then I stumbled across this freesco program and took the router back and setup a comp with the bare minimum over a month ago and have only done a reboot once since.

[3D Prophet III]

Yes, that router supports dial up modems and ISDN via its serial port. You will need to use straight-through category 5 cabling to plug your NICs into the router. Then use the serial cable that comes with your modem to plug into the COM port on the back of the router. Then follow the directions in the manual to log into the router and configure it for dial up networking.

Hope this helped, need anymore help, ask!

[humiliation]

Thanks guys, both of your suggestions were helpful. I chose using the router for the cost factor, running a 200w server would cost more in the long run than to power a 5 Volt DC Router.

Thanks for the replies, everybodies been real helpful.

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Tongue tied and twisted just an Earth bound misfit I.