Focus 2 the Max FasCom 128 ISDN Internet Modem BRI 2B+D 128Kbps PCI NT-1

Focus 2 the Max FasCom 128 ISDN Internet Modem BRI 2B+D 128Kbps PCI NT-1

The Focus Information Systems 2 the Max FasCom 128 is an internal PCI ISDN modem card designed to connect a PC to an ISDN Basic Rate Interface (BRI) line for high-speed internet and data communications. It supports both U Interface and S/T Interface connections, with an on-board NT-1 terminator for direct connection to U Interface lines — eliminating the need for an external NT-1 device. Bonding both 64 Kbps B-channels delivers a maximum digital data rate of 128 Kbps.

Specifications & What's Included

• Manufacturer: Focus Information Systems (2 the Max brand)
• Model: FasCom 128
• PCB Part Number: EM000-1112000 REV.A
• Bus Interface: PCI (half-height card)
• ISDN Standard: BRI 2B+D
• Interface: U Interface and S/T Interface (selectable)
• On-Board NT-1 for U Interface — no external NT-1 required
• Maximum Digital Data Rate: 128 Kbps (2 × 64 Kbps B-channels, Multilink PPP)
• Protocol: Synchronous Multilink PPP
• Optional Analog POTS Interface
• Automatic Switch Type Detection
• Automatic Line Speed Configuration
• Rear Bracket Connector: Single RJ-45 ISDN port
• Country of Manufacture: Taiwan
• Includes: User's Manual; ISDN-U Drivers floppy disk (Windows 3.x/95/NT); ISDN-U Diagnostics floppy disk (Windows 95); 2 the Max Multimedia Product Drivers CD; ISDN modem connection cable; original retail box

Applications

ISDN BRI adapters like the FasCom 128 were the high-speed internet solution of the mid-to-late 1990s, before DSL and cable broadband became widely available. By bonding two 64 Kbps B-channels through Multilink PPP, they offered 128 Kbps speeds — roughly twice the throughput of a top-of-the-line 56K analog modem — with significantly lower latency. The on-board NT-1 made the FasCom 128 particularly convenient for North American users, where ISDN lines terminate in a U Interface rather than the S/T Interface common in Europe, removing the need for a separate external NT-1 unit. These cards were used by home offices, small businesses, and power users who needed reliable digital connectivity for internet access, remote LAN dial-up, video conferencing, and SOHO networking during the ISDN era. Today they are primarily of interest to vintage computing enthusiasts, retro networking hobbyists, and anyone maintaining legacy systems that still rely on ISDN connectivity.