Frame Relay

Frame Relay is the workhorse of the available business connection methods.  Speed ranges from 64K to full T-1 or 1.54mb.  Frame Relay uses a different protocol than other connection types that is more efficient, therefore, is significantly faster even at the same raw data speed.  Most businesses with moderate  Internet use or the need to host a webserver choose Frame Relay as their connection method.  Frame Relay provides a consistent Internet connection and therefore is great for a web server or other high availability need.  The Frame Relay protocol also excels at combining the requests from multiple users into a single efficient packet stream.  IF you are a business with several dozen users or have a web server, Frame Relay is usually the best choice.  

ISDN

Co-Logic provides ISDN service in partnership with USWest and  GTE.  Service areas include all GTE and USWest areas that are within the Seattle free dialing area.  

ISDN is a point-to-point protocol for connecting computers together for long or short term periods.  Each ISDN service has two 64 K data circuits that can be bonded into a single 128K data connection.  Co-Logic offers both 1/2 and full ISDN services.  Most ISP's have a pool of ISDN modems that its customers connect to.  An underestimate on part to the ISP will result in the client not being able to access the network when needed.   Co-Logic differs from this practice as we maintain a dedicated one-to-one ratio of ISDN lines at our Network Center as we have customers using the service.  ISDN service is dedicated bandwidth for your exclusive use.   You will always have the same 128K service at all times.  Therefore you can depend on its availability for Internet business needs.  ISDN is not as an efficient protocol as Frame Relay but it is cheaper and maintains consistency.  Further, the special ISDN router equipment provided by Co-Logic is matched on both ends of the connection with high compression between our network center and your site.  Speeds of up to 600K are possible.

DSL

Co-Logic provides DSL service in partnership with USWest, GTE, Covad and Qwest.  DSL can either share a standard phone line with voice or it can be installed with a dedicated line.  Service areas very with each carrier and each client site is researched and the best service is recommended based on speed and price.  Not all areas have DSL service at this time.  Maximum speed varies from 144K to 1.5mb.

DSL is a shared service.  IE:  As more customers are hooked up in your area, your speed level could drop.  During busy times, you may not have acceptable service or even brief periods without service.  This is because all the customers in one area are connected to a single special router called a DSLAM.  Everyone's data is then combined onto one data line and routed to the various ISP companies.  Co-Logic and other ISP's do not have any control over the DSLAM's and their congestion level.

DSL service is great for home use, telecommuter use and small businesses that do not have a critical need to have a consistent on-line presence.  Even a company with 100 users or more can use DSL service if they do not have a Web server on line.   Email is a batch service and works fine through DSL connected companies. 

Cable Modem

Co-Logic has a few customers that use a cable modem as their data connection.  In a word, it is inconsistent.  Data can at times hit 4mb per second and then drop down to the speed of a standard modem.  Uplink speed is capped at 128K to discourage the installation of web servers.  It is a true shared resource.  Up to 1200 homes and small businesses in the area are on the same leg of the data circuit and it is even possible to share resources between sites over the cable.  This is because there is no true router provided by the cable companies.  Also Cable companies discourage the sharing of the data circuit among several computers at one site.  All these limitations have workarounds and cable is good solution in some situations.

Provide Your Own Internet Service

Some of our customers already have Internet service that meets their needs or they are locked in with a long term relationship with a data carrier.  Some office buildings provide low cost and high bandwidth shared Internet service.    For some the only choice is satellite or microwave service.  We can provide these customers with our Email, monitoring, security and management services in an economical package.  Contact us for details. 

Which connection method is best for you?  It depends on your budget, use, need for consistency and speed desired.  Please contact us for asistance in picking the most appropriate service for you company.