dialupworld

@dialupworld@oldbytes.space

Bringing back dialup Internet that nobody asked for. Talking about modems, retro networking, and other bad ideas.

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dialupworld, to random

For let me show you a few Gandalf LDS 120 modems. These short-haul modems were originally designed to connect remote terminals to computers up to a few miles away over four-conductor wire. This was popular in office and university campuses back when computers were gigantic and kept in their own rooms. Essentially you can use two of these and some wire as a really long serial cable!

Gandalf operated from 1971 until 1997.

dialupworld,

@paulrickards Unfortunately no, I should have explained that more. These would handle baud rates up to a certain speed depending on model, and you would have slower speeds with two-wire models as opposed to four-wire. I believe the "LDS 120" can do 1200 baud which is not bad for 1976 when this model was introduced, so the name may actually give a hint regarding the speed. Over the years Gandalf able to deliver much higher speeds over the same lengths with updated hardware so replacing both modems and keeping the same wire in place was probably really attractive to people looking to upgrade.

dialupworld,

@48kRAM The cases are so cool it was part of the appeal for me to pick a few up! I have some delusion that one day I'll actually legitimately use these to connect up with a machine in my nonexistent garage or something, but until then they do look cool.

dialupworld, to random

Let's start something called where I talk about interesting modems or related devices I have hanging around.

First entry is the Protel UPMS12. This modem is specifically used for programming Protel payphones. Strangely it operates at 1200 baud half-duplex with FSK modulation, and I believe it is incompatible with Bell 202. It seems to also support Bell 103 as a fallback.

Two Protel modems stacked vertically, wires can be seen resting on top and spewing out the back.

dialupworld,

@vga256 That's why I bought it! Dual-boots 98 and XP, has a DE9 port, low power draw, and likely won't fail if I keep it on 24/7.

dialupworld, to random

We were lucky enough to get a US Robotics NETServer/8 courtesy of the very generous @jcs! This all-in-one box takes in eight phone lines and handles all the translation to getting clients online.

Of course before even turning it on, one must pop the lid off and make sure there aren't any old leaky batteries on the motherboard. Luckily, there were no batteries at all and the inside is clean!

Power-on test went great as expected and we will soon dive into the configuration on this.

Back of the NETServer.
The NETServer powered up.

dialupworld,

@DeltaWye @jcs Up to 33.6K!

dialupworld, to random

We cobbled together a free-to-use dialup ISP out of trash and spare parts. dialup.world is composed of four modems for simultaneous connections delivering speeds up to 33.6K.

This is currently a bunch of USR Sportsters hooked into Linux, but we are currently working on setups with Cisco gear, as well as some musings in 56K, other weird dialup appliances, and retro networking.

We also supply dialup access to the WebTV Redialed project (http://webtv.zone/) which means if you dig your WebTV out of storage and hook it into a phone line, it just works with no modification needed on your part!

I invite you to watch our bad ideas become reality.

A Cisco 2600 router with an Adtran Total Access and a USR Sportster.
An Ultratec TTY/TDD device next to a red rotary phone.
An ISDN simulator, Courier I-modem, and 3Com ISDN terminal adapter.

dialupworld,

@AGMS00 @mcr314 That's incredible!

dialupworld,

@jcs Definitely could make use of it! I'll send you a private message!

dialupworld,

@AGMS00 @mcr314 That's too bad about Bell Fiber's telephone service :( I should probably start making notes of what experiences people have with different providers.

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