Speed.

Large or multimedia oriented companies often require dedicated connectivity at high speeds. At BerkshireNet, we can offer dedicated bandwidth between 56kbps and 1.54Mbps in a variety of transports. In addition to just supplying the pipe, we offer flexible Intranet Solutions such as remote network monitoring and on-site management,Firewalls, Virtual Private Networks and E-Mail gatewaying solutions. And if you don't have a network to work with, we can throw a small one in.See our Intranet Solutions section for details.
 
 

Judging What's Right for You.

There are two primary factors to consider when sizing out a direct connection:

• The type of circuit (line) to use.
• The speed of connection that is needed.

This introduces two costs for a direct connection: circuit (leased line charges paid to the phone company) and port (what you pay your ISP for the bandwidth). To get a direct connection to the Internet through BerkshireNet, you must get a direct connection to us. This typically involves purchasing some type of circuit from the phone company and terminating one end at your facilities and the other at ours. The advantage we offer is that you don't have to haul a circuit long distance to Boston or New York City for Internet access, just across county. There are different types of circuits, each with its own benefits and disadvantages. When choosing a circuit type,you must weigh its cost and consider whether the circuit will allow for additional growth. For example, a 56k DDS line's phone company charges are much less expensive than a T1. However, a 56k is limited to 56kbps,while a T1 can go from 56k to 1.54 Mbps. If you only plan to use 56k of bandwidth, it may be suitable to use a 56k DDS circuit, however, if you ever have to upgrade the speed of your connection to BerkshireNet, you would have to discard the 56k DDS line and install a T1 line.

 The next consideration is how much bandwidth you actually need. A full T1 can service 200 desktop users in many organizations. In many cases, it's better to start off small and gradually upgrade your bandwidth as you get the opportunity to gauge your actual usage. It's easy to apply the "I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse" logic to shopping for bandwidth, but in reality, you'd be eating leftovers for months. Additionally, the cost of a T1 may shock some people.This is because it costs ISPs in Berkshire County quite a bit to haul the bandwidth in from New York City and Boston (Major NAP locations) in leased line charges. Even in densely populated areas near NAPs, where you can get a T1 by the mile from the local convenience store, a T1's port is still quite expensive (more than $2,000 a month in many cases). 

Flexible Pricing

At BerkshireNet, our end of business is the Port. We can work with you to determine which type of circuit offers the bandwidth you need, but our primary concern is Port. To connect to BerkshireNet, you'll need to purchase the appropriate equipment on your end for the type of port that you are using. Your setup fee will cover the price of any equipment resources you occupy on our end. Aside from a setup fee, you'll be looking at a monthly recurring charge for the port that is proportional to the speed of the port that you request. We can provide Port in 56k or 64k increments called channels. Depending on the type of circuit you use, you can get one or more channels: 56kbps, 128kbps,256kbps and so on. 

We bill you by the channel,and can bill you a flat rate for a certain number of channels, or we can bill you what is called a "burstable" rate. Using a burstable rate, you can can select more channels than you actually pay for, allowing you to"burst" up to the higher bandwidth periodically. An example would be a burstable T1. With a burstable T1, you might only pay for 256kbps, and be allowed to burst at full T1 line speeds. At the end of each month, you only pay for what you average over 256k. Burstable rates are offered on any connection at or over 128kbps.
 
 

Standard Equipment

Most of our Dedicated Solutions come with the following:

• Domain Registration and DNS services(excludes InterNIC charges)
• A Virtual Server to keep incoming web bandwidth off your wire.
• NNRP access to our news server.
• POP E-Mail services locally or mail forwarded via DNS to your mail server
• A single IP Address (additional IPs $5 a month) routed to your network
• Installation and configuration of routers on both ends
• Free packet filtering on our end(we can block certain types of transfers to your network at your request).
• Realtime usage information available via our web server
• Free on-site connectivity support and 24x7 emergency support.

Traditional Leased Lines 56k -T1

We offer 56kbps Ports via 56k DDS2 leased lines and 64kbps - 1.54Mbps connections via T1 lines. The advantages of this type of circuit is that it is not limited by distance and is perhaps the most reliable form of leased line we offer. The disadvantages of this type of circuit is that the phone company charges are often excessive.

To connect with this service,a router and CSU/DSU is required on your end. A router routes IP traffic destined for the external Internet over your leased line (and vice versa).The CSU/DSU is the high speed digital modem that connects to the router.

This option comes with all of our features listed above. For more information about this option and pricing, please call us or E-Mailus. 

ISDN

ISDN is basically a dial-up digital service over a standard dial-up line. ISDN is very reliable. ISDN lines consist of 2 64kbps "B" channels and one "D" channel to control the connection.Using ISDN, you can achieve rates of either 64kbps or 128kbps. ISDN is tariffed differently in different areas.  here in the Berkshires ISDN is tariffed with a per minute connection charge.  BerkshireNet recommends provisioning your ISDN lines as a "voice only" ISDN line.  While this changes your per channel bandwidth to 56K instead of 64K, or 112K instead of 128K, it does; avoid the per minute usage charges that the phone company charges on ISDN calls in some areas. Using this method, it is possible to provision an ISDN line for roughly $40 a month. Another advantage is that the hardware required for the connection is cheaper than the xDSL or 56k/T1 hardware. The drawback to ISDN is that it is limited to 128kbpsand you must be within 18,000 feet of your telephone company switch.

To connect an ISDN line to BerkshireNet,you'll need to acquire what is called an "ISDN Router".

This option comes with all of our features listed above. For more information about this option and pricing, please call us or E-Mailus.