56k diagnostic lights

[ultimatebob]

First modem: 2400bps.

The olden days, when downloading a 5MB file was best done with a program like Getright, which could recover from broken downloads.

You're spoiled... some people started with a 300 baud modem with an acoustic coupler that you had to stick your handset into.

 

[Oyeve]

Zmodem ftw. Resume d/l. My first modem was a 300 baud with acoustic coupler. The coupler was made of solid wood. I still have it. I remember jingling my keys would cause a disconnect.

 

[MotionMan]

My first modem did not have a coupler. I may have owned the first non-coupler modem in my circle of friends.

At the time, modems were either the chicken or the egg. You needed a modem to find BBS's but you did not need a modem without knowing some BBS's.

😉

MotionMan

 

[Jeff7]

You're spoiled... some people started with a 300 baud modem with an acoustic coupler that you had to stick your handset into.

But I was initially on AOL.
:'(

 

[SparkyJJO]

no, it didn't.

That whole setup was around $400 back in 1985.

Adjusted for inflation 😛

 

[zerocool84]

What's a modem???

 

[Shawn]

holy crap. i thought someone bumped a 12 year old thread.

 

[lxskllr]

It wasn't /that/ long ago I had some rough plans to try building an acoustic coupler for a cell phone. I don't know if it would have worked or not. I figured I didn't need something like that much, and it would be easier to drive around and steal wifi when necessary :^D

 

[spidey07]

What's a modem???

holy crarp - reaching back...

modulate/demodulate?

do I win jeopardy?

 

[lxskllr]

holy crarp - reaching back...

modulate/demodulate?

do I win jeopardy?

Pretty close. I think it's modulator/demodulator

 

[MrPickins]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=CS,+RS,+CD,+OH,+RD,+SD,+TR+and+MR

Since 56K modems are new to you, maybe you haven't heard of Google either.

The funny thing is that this thread is the second search result.

 

[Scouzer]

Damn, you are young son. Lot of us come from even before the 56k days. We're talking 28.8, 14.4, 9.6k and earlier.

We still use a 300 baud modem at work........

 

[spidey07]

We still use a 300 baud modem at work........

Not uncommon for ATMs or transactional systems, 2.4k/9.6 is too expensive and not needed, but they are digital X.25 lines. (shudder)

Mainframes still rule that world.

 

[lxskllr]

We still use a 300 baud modem at work........

For what?!

I've had data collectors that transferred at 4800 baud, and it would have been painful if the file sizes weren't tiny.

 

[spidey07]

For what?!

I've had data collectors that transferred at 4800 baud, and it would have been painful if the file sizes weren't tiny.

Transaction systems in remote areas. No need for anything else.

 

[Scouzer]

For what?!

I've had data collectors that transferred at 4800 baud, and it would have been painful if the file sizes weren't tiny.

flight data related stuff...text only... it's still mighty slow.

 

[Fritzo]

Who wants to play me on my new gaming rig?

 

[FelixDeCat]

I look forward to the post about you touching boobs for the first time.

Ive heard of those, but Ive never seen one IRL.

 

[lupi]

think my first one was a 900. still have a usr 56k in the closet downstairs though.

 

[dmcowen674]

CS - Clear to Send
RS - Request to Send
CD - Carrier Detect
OH - Off Hook
RD - Receive(d) Data
SD - Send Data
TR - Transmit/Receive
MR - Modem Ready
HS - High Speed

Anything over 4800 baud was considered High Speed. When I started designing Modems at Hayes Modems the first Modem I worked on was 14.4K so I just put power on the High Speed LED permanently.