From: steveh@rtsg.mot.com (Steve M. Hoffman)
Subject: Re: ISDN support for NeXT computers
Keywords: ISDN, NeXT, Hayes ISDN eXTender, 3.0
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 15:05:23 GMT

In article <1099@se.alcbel.be> magu@se.alcbel.be writes:
>In article <1992Jul21.140217.17351@rtsg.mot.com>, steveh@rtsg.mot.com (Steve M. Hoffman) writes:
>
>>In all the discussion on ISDN in Solaris 2.x and Sparc 10 machines
>>there's been no mention of the ISDNKit in NeXTSTEP 3.0 due August
>>'92 (now in 2nd beta release).  By using an ISDN eXTender box, available
>>from Hayes, you can use the NeXT DSP external port as a high speed
>                            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>ISDN connection....<etc deleted>
>
>Could you tell us more about this DSP port (eg. what's it like compared to
>ordinary comm ports, are they easier to program, how fast etc...) Sorry
>but I don't have a copy of the NeXTWORLD Summer '92 edition. 

I don't want to get too much into the NeXT nitty gritty 
in comp.dcom.isdn since it's more "proper" place is in 
comp.sys.next.misc or comp.sys.next.hardware so I'm 
going to be very brief.  If you want more details I 
recommend posting to one of those groups.  I don't 
consider myself a NeXT "expert" anyway.

Basically, to date, all NeXT computers have come with a 
Motorola 56001 DSP in addition to the main CPU (68040, 
or '030 is you have one of the real old ones).  It was 
originally put in for high speed number crunching, CD 
sound, etc.  There are many more applications than I 
can come up with since I don't normally use it.  Anyway, 
there's an external port for the DSP availale that Hayes 
and NeXT have developed an ISDN box (once codenamed 
"babblefish", now called the Hayes ISDN eXTender).  
Since the computer already has the DSP horsepower 
required, the box only needed an ISDN chipset.  Power 
is run off the computer as well (no extra plug).  The 
box itself lists somewhere in the $350 range (don't 
remember exactly).  Speeds are supposed to be very 
fast vs. a serial line.  It is supposed to handle BRI 
ISDN (2B+D) as well as interface with POTS.  Using the 
ISDNKit and PhoneKit (in NeXTSTEP 3.0, currently in 
final beta release, main release date 8/15) programmers 
should be able to come up with some really nifty 
applications.  If you know what it's like programming a 
NeXT, the thought of PhoneKit and ISDNKit will really 
make your mouth water.  Rumors (and please remember 
they are only rumors and can't be taken too seriously) 
say that the new NeXT computers, possibily due Dec/Jan, 
are supposed to have ISDN built in, as well as the 
standard built in e-net.  So while the Sparc 10 will 
have ISDN sometime at the end of the year (hardware &
software I mean), the NeXT will have it next month (not
built in though).  OK, that's plenty for this forum.  
See the comp.sys.next.* newsgroups and the Summer '92 
issue of NeXTWORLD for more details.

Please remember that I am not expert in DSPs or ISDN
so don't take the above exactly as written.  I may
be wrong regarding some of the details.  However, I'm
pretty sure the gist of is correct.  Later.
-- 
Steve Hoffman <steveh@rtsg.mot.com>
Motorola Inc. Arlington Heights, IL
All opinions are my own.
Big corporations have none.
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.isdn