old modems & a packet switcher

From: Ethan Dicks <erd_at_infinet.com>
Date: Mon Aug 3 15:15:21 1998

I wrote:
> > I have to say, though, that I'm not surprised at the lack of classic
> > networking gear on the open market. Most of this stuff is big, old and
> > slow.

Then William Donzelli <william_at_ans.net> wrote:
> Hmmmm...big, old, and slow, you say. Sounds like many PDP-11s and VAXen I
> know!

Yes, but a 400lb VAX is much more exciting than a 9600 baud leased-line
modem that weighs 1/30 as much. I only have a little bit of interesting
data comm hardware, the best of which is an ASR33 with built-in 110 baud
dataset. It terminates in a three-wire POTS line - red, green and yellow,
presumably for ring voltage to auto answer and turn on. When you send it
an EOT (CTRL-D), it turns off. The modem is in the pedestal... the whole
pedestal. I cannot concieve of a time in my own lifetime when a 1200
baud Hayes modem will be considered exciting.

-ethan
Received on Mon Aug 03 1998 - 15:15:21 BST