You will need to price out each option separately but the options that come
to mind are:
1)Use modems.
You will have a cost for eight modems, eight business lines, eight line
installations.
The only advantage I can see of going this way is cost. But each time you
want to add a system you will need to purchase another modem and phone
line. Also, if your long-range goal is to provide access throughout the
school you have not added anything toward this goal.
2)Use a routed connection. There are actually two subsets to this
depending on whether you want to go with Frame Relay or a Direct Connect
line. Generally, Frame Relay is less expensive but you will need to check
with your provider to see if this is a possibility.
You will need to purchase a Router ($3000), a CSU/DSU ($600), and one 56K
line connection. The Macs will need to be networked (which you also need
to do with the modem option if you plan on printing anything) so you need a
hub (you could probably get by with an eight port dumb hub for about $200
and a transceiver for each Mac (Asante' $39 from MacWarehouse). The big
advantage of this system is that as you add systems you only need to add
hubs and transceivers and the network wire.
Hope this helps. By the way are there state-funded educational service
districts in your state? In Washington these groups are the centers for
our data processing needs and also our connection point for our Internet
access.
Good luck,
Rick
>Our school has received a grant to purchase a small Mac lab to be placed
>in our media center. The intent is to connect the 8 machines (PowerPC's)
>to the net through a local service provider. Would it be better to bring
>eight individual phone lines in to support this access or to investigate
>bringing in a special line a use a internet/network router to provide access.
>Right now ther is mony budgeted to bring in eight lines and pay for
>service plus access for the year. What can we do to best maximize our money?
>The multiple phone lines seem to be a waste of resources...it seems like
>a special line isdn?? or 52k?? might do the jobe better and cheaper.
>Any ideas???
>
>Also, what cables do we need to connect the eight machines together in an
>appleshare network and connect them all to a laser printer?
**********************************************************************
* rwahlstr@esd112.wednet.edu Rick Wahlstrom *
* Voice (206) 260-5350 Battle Ground SD *
* FAX (360) 260-5351 204 West Main St *
* Educational Technology Coordinator Battle Ground, WA 98604 *
* WWW Server: http://152.157.16.3/ *
**********************************************************************