5 ms·

So the whining heard with dial-up modems was the sound of an actual data, huh. Never really thought about it, but super cool!

MarkusWandel 6y ago
Technically, all the stuff heard at the beginning was initialization and training stuff. The actual data is the uniform hiss/roar just before the speaker cut off. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/06/the-mechanics-and-meaning-of-that-ol-dial-up-modem-sound/257816/ https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/06/the-m... At least for modems near the end of the period. The very first ones at 300bps really did sound like cassette audio.
npteljes 6y ago
Very similar to the sound of the Commodore data tapes when inserted to a regular cassette player. Tried it as a kid, I was convinced I broke something. Random example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVsY9PVIKsQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVsY9PVIKsQ
- senko 6y ago
  Dual cassete players were great for copying programs/games! Also reminds me of Amiga's Video Backup System which made use of Amiga's video processing capabilities to output data and read from VHS tapes. That was a slow process but could store large amounts of data, and you just needed a VCR.
  - pronoiac 6y ago
    > That was a slow process but could store large amounts of data... I’d note that as then-large amounts of data. “520MB will fit on a 4-hour tape!” Danmere Backer was similar for PCs, with custom hardware; they got up to 4 GB a tape.
    - lstodd 6y ago
      And also this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ArVid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ArVid
layoutIfNeeded 6y ago
modem = MOdulator + DEModulator Dial-up modems used the public switched telephone network to transmit data via audio signals through regular phone calls. The modems had an internal speaker so the operator could “debug” the connection with their ears, e.g. if they called the wrong number and an actual person was talking on the other end.
gus_massa 6y ago
You may like this classic HN post "The sound of the dialup, pictured" http://www.windytan.com/2012/11/the-sound-of-dialup-pictured.html http://www.windytan.com/2012/11/the-sound-of-dialup-pictured... (HN discussions https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15635144 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15635144 (675 points | Nov 6, 2017 | 108 comments) and https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9171514 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9171514 (174 points | on Mar 9, 2015 | 35 comments))
pantulis 6y ago
That was your modem negotiating the protocol and speed with the remote modem, not proper data. Still, if your mother happened to use the phone line while you were connected, she would heard the actual data on the line, just before the connection broke. Oh, the times.
- nmg 6y ago
  Best feature of BBS software (WWIV, Telegard, etc.) - the "fake line noise" button, which feigned data corruption as if someone picked up the phone. It displayed garbage characters to the logged in user, and then you could disconnect them.

MarkusWandel 6y ago

Technically, all the stuff heard at the beginning was initialization and training stuff. The actual data is the uniform hiss/roar just before the speaker cut off. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/06/the-mechanics-and-meaning-of-that-ol-dial-up-modem-sound/257816/ https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/06/the-m... At least for modems near the end of the period. The very first ones at 300bps really did sound like cassette audio.

npteljes 6y ago

Very similar to the sound of the Commodore data tapes when inserted to a regular cassette player. Tried it as a kid, I was convinced I broke something. Random example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVsY9PVIKsQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVsY9PVIKsQ

senko 6y ago
Dual cassete players were great for copying programs/games! Also reminds me of Amiga's Video Backup System which made use of Amiga's video processing capabilities to output data and read from VHS tapes. That was a slow process but could store large amounts of data, and you just needed a VCR.
- pronoiac 6y ago
  > That was a slow process but could store large amounts of data... I’d note that as then-large amounts of data. “520MB will fit on a 4-hour tape!” Danmere Backer was similar for PCs, with custom hardware; they got up to 4 GB a tape.
  - lstodd 6y ago
    And also this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ArVid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ArVid

layoutIfNeeded 6y ago

modem = MOdulator + DEModulator Dial-up modems used the public switched telephone network to transmit data via audio signals through regular phone calls. The modems had an internal speaker so the operator could “debug” the connection with their ears, e.g. if they called the wrong number and an actual person was talking on the other end.

gus_massa 6y ago

You may like this classic HN post "The sound of the dialup, pictured" http://www.windytan.com/2012/11/the-sound-of-dialup-pictured.html http://www.windytan.com/2012/11/the-sound-of-dialup-pictured... (HN discussions https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15635144 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15635144 (675 points | Nov 6, 2017 | 108 comments) and https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9171514 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9171514 (174 points | on Mar 9, 2015 | 35 comments))

pantulis 6y ago

That was your modem negotiating the protocol and speed with the remote modem, not proper data. Still, if your mother happened to use the phone line while you were connected, she would heard the actual data on the line, just before the connection broke. Oh, the times.

nmg 6y ago
Best feature of BBS software (WWIV, Telegard, etc.) - the "fake line noise" button, which feigned data corruption as if someone picked up the phone. It displayed garbage characters to the logged in user, and then you could disconnect them.