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How 90s dial-up Internet worked, and let's make our own ISP.

RetroBytes・37 minutes read

The transition away from dial-up ISPs to broadband, led by BT in the UK, is impacting traditional telephone lines and ISDN technology, prompting a need for maintaining communication during power outages. BT's cost-saving measures to switch off analog services may cause issues during emergencies, requiring action from MPs to address the potential drawbacks and ensure continued communication options.

Insights

  • Modems, such as the Bell 101 and Bell 103, played a crucial role in transmitting binary data through sound waves, establishing standards for connectivity and paving the way for the internet's popularity.
  • The shift from dial-up to broadband services, the rise of technologies like ISDN, and the eventual transition to IP-based communication underscore the evolving landscape of telecommunications, impacting ISPs' financial models and necessitating a reevaluation of emergency communication protocols to ensure uninterrupted services during power outages.

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Recent questions

  • What is the purpose of a modem?

    Modems transmit binary data through sound waves.

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Summary

00:00

Evolution of Modems: From Dial-Up to Broadband

  • In the 1990s, dial-up ISPs were used before broadband, requiring a connection through telephone lines.
  • BT in the UK is transitioning to voice over IP services, making dial-up connections challenging due to compression issues.
  • The video is sponsored by PCB Way, a company specializing in PCBs, 3D printing, and CNC milling.
  • Traditional telephone lines were designed for voice calls using circuit switching, limiting the frequency range for speech.
  • Modems, short for modulator-demodulator, were developed to transmit binary data through sound waves.
  • The first commercial modem, the Bell 101, was released in 1958, followed by the Bell 103, which became the standard.
  • Hayes' smart modem allowed computers to control the modem using the AT command set.
  • Modems began offering different speeds, leading to negotiation between modems to establish a connection.
  • Modems used carrier tones to detect connections and training tones to establish data transmission speeds.
  • The development of modems preceded the popularity of the internet, with dial-up services used for various purposes before ISPs emerged.

12:02

"Unix Terminal Access and PPP Evolution"

  • To connect to a Unix terminal, a username and password are required.
  • ISPs prefer not to have users shell into their Unix box directly.
  • Two popular options for starting another program were SLIP and PPP.
  • PPP is widely used in modern broadband connections.
  • Mgetty detects hang-ups and prepares to answer the call with a login prompt.
  • A wrapper script is created to launch PPP, saved in /usr/local/sbin.
  • The script is added to the /etc/shells file to allow user shell changes.
  • PPP authentication evolved to use PAP or CHAP directly.
  • Windows 95 included built-in dial-up support.
  • ISDN technology was crucial for overcoming limitations in modem speeds.

24:07

Evolution and Impact of ISDN Technology

  • ISDN lines had two types: basic rate for home or small businesses with two 64k channels and a control channel, and primary rate with 30 channels of 64 kilobits and a larger control channel.
  • Primary rate ISDN helped ISPs consolidate equipment due to the increasing popularity of the internet and the need to reduce space usage.
  • The cost of ISDN technology was disruptive to ISPs, leading many smaller ISPs to exit the market due to the expense of new equipment.
  • The introduction of RADIUS technology allowed for authenticating broadband connections and Wi-Fi, simplifying user authentication and accounting for ISPs.
  • FreeRADIUS project emerged as a successful version of RADIUS, still in use today.
  • FreeServe revolutionized the ISP industry by offering free service funded by revenue from inbound calls, leading to a crisis for other ISPs.
  • The shift to local rate national numbers and the introduction of FreeServe changed the financial model for ISPs, causing many smaller ISPs to disappear from the market.
  • Some ISPs diversified into business services, focusing on IT consultancy and support for businesses, which proved more profitable than providing internet services.
  • The transition from dial-up to broadband eventually led to the demise of many ISPs, with some successfully transitioning to broadband while others vanished.
  • ISDN technology is set to be shut down in the UK, with traditional telephone lines being replaced by IP packets for phone calls, highlighting the importance of maintaining communication during power outages.

36:35

BT cutting analog services, MPs unaware of impact.

  • BT is saving costs by turning off analog services, but many politicians are unaware of this issue due to lack of publicity. MPs may not understand telecommunications and assume mobile services will always work, potentially causing problems during power outages. There is a need for either a reprieve for analog services or requirements for mobile operators to operate during emergencies. Viewers are encouraged to contact their local MPs about this issue.
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