APANA WA members can connect digitally at 64k, which can be about 70% faster than an analogue modem connection (even faster, compared to our 33.6k analogue lines). With a Telstra Home Highway Onramp ISDN connection to your home, it can also be exceptionally good value.

Most of the information below is taken (with thanks) from the Traverse Technologies Web site, as they have done some pioneering work on Home Highway Data-over-Voice (DoV) ISDN in Australia including writing driver support for Linux.

There are several once-off setup costs plus ongoing costs when choosing ISDN DOV, as with other technologies for accessing the world-wide-web.  These are (at the date of writing):

1. Getting a Telstra ISDN OnRamp Home Highway line installed.
   To upgrade your existing single telephone line, the installation cost for Onramp Home Highway is $173 *
   Benefit : You get 2 standard telephone lines down the one cable, plus the option to use ISDN DOV for data transfers at 64K (or 128K, but not at this stage through APANA).
   Note : as ISDN DOV uses synchronous digital transmission, your effective throughput is 70% higher than the best performance achievable from an analog 56K modem. Or at 128K, you get a 270% improvement.
2. Adding a NETjet-S PCI ISDN DOV modem to your computer
   RRP $267 inc GST direct from Traverse, also available from Terminus Network Services for $248.50 (disclaimer: Terminus owned by APANA WA's regional coordinator).
   Benefit : You can make DOV calls at the full ISDN digital 64K speed, for the cost of a standard telephone call.
3. Second Line Rental
   $22* per month, including 27 free calls (rebate value $5*).
   Benefit: For an extra line rental, you can share 2 lines between telephone calls and computer connections eg. 2 voice calls, 1 voice call and a 64K DOV call, or a 128K DOV call (APANA does not allow 128K at this time, but may do in the future).
4. Calls costs to APANA WA.
   The first 27 calls per month are free.  Thereafter, for each 64K ISDN DOV call, your call costs will be the same as for a 56K analog modem ie.18 cents* per call untimed.
   Benefit: For example, if you make one 64K call per day to your APANA (for as long as you like), for 30 days at 18c/call, then the total call costs = $5.40 - $5 rebate = $0.40 per month.
5. Internet Charges.
   ISDN DOV from APANA WA costs only $30 per month plus 10c/Mb, with free traffic from the WA Internet Exchange peering point.

* = +GST

In summary, once you install OnRamp Home Highway and a NETjet-S DOV modem, the only additional cost over and above a 56K modem is for the rental of the second telephone line, which you may want anyway.

For this you get rapid (1-2 seconds) connection, consistent 64K performance, fast ping times, error-free connections and access to a second telephone line.