i've had to use 56k in the last ten years for a primary connection. I used pfsense to cache and compress as much as possible, but more interestingly to me, i us

i've had to use 56k in the last ten years for a primary connection. I used pfsense to cache and compress as much as possible, but more interestingly to me, i use 3K with PACTOR radio modems way more often. A "you have no new mail" handshake and chatter takes minutes[1]. This all ignores that spoken word over a mediocre connection (anything except actual copper landlines, in my - get off my lawn - opinion) is way lower bandwidth than even early modems in the 300-2400 baud range. Realistically, my favorite method of communication is to actually have a spoken word conversation with people, in person. This is untenable for my friends that have moved away from me, and me from other friends. That in mind, the matrix people have worked on and have published extensions to the matrix ecosystem that allow sub-kilobyte messages to pass on the network, fully encrypted and fully fledged messages. They are targeting sub 4000 baud connections (in general, i think their actual goal is much slower transmission than that). I don't have the time or inclination to try and run a matrix "node" on ham bands, but i do know it is technically possible. And that's almost good enough for me. For your edification though, the last time i used only a 56k connection was back in the very late 90s, and i spent a lot of time on IRC rather than "the world wide web" [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA6JRB560eM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA6JRB560eM A youtube video shot handheld of a radio and a modem checking email wireless-like. The modem, i've heard, is around $800. I got it for free to participate in emergency communications and teach other people how to use it.