ISP Update
Added 2023-12-11 15:56:21 +0000 UTCQuick Update: You can dial in now to help test the ISP:
Dialin number: +1 252 210 4004
Username: testuser
Password: testpass
Longer Update:
After finishing the terminal server reviews, we thought smooth sailing was ahead for our 1990s dialup ISP using the Livingston Portmaster. We actually hit a few bumps in the road:
VoIP was problematic at our primary office location due to particularly wild jitter on our cable modem internet connection. Due to this, we moved the dial-up ISP parts into a datacenter location..
After all of the terminal server and modem testing we had done, we thought we had the basics of modems pretty well figured out. However, we were battling "garbled character" issues that are common for speed mismatches when testing the USR Sportsters and the Portmasters. After lots of trial and error, we didn't fully perfect the setup but we found a stopgap solution to get the baud rate settled by manually initiating some outbound communication from the PM to each modem.
However, we put a pause on further work on the ISP setup because we just found out that Google Fiber is bringing service to our office. This will be a huge benefit overall, since we'll be able to host all of our ISP stuff and the Cobalt RaQ together in one location. So, the dial-up equipment should get moved in a week or so and we'll then have expanded capabilities ready for testing, including two separate modem banks.
In conjunction with the fiber upgrade, we're also setting up a new workspace for projects and filming! More updates to come later this month-
Comments
What kind of modem were you testing with ? Have you been able to connect to anyone else with a modem from your voip connection, such as dialup.world 484.820.1337 ?
The Serial Port
2023-12-14 17:54:50 +0000 UTCI had no luck connecting over my Asterisk. Never could get past Phase 2. The one POTS line I still have did let me at least get through Phase 4 at 9600 but never actually authenticated. Forced 2400 (AT&N3) but same results. I'll try and dig up some other modems from storage and retry.
John Munoz
2023-12-14 15:53:06 +0000 UTCYikes , I got to get my serial modem up. Then I have VOIP over Fiber. Cross fingers
Chris Rasmussen
2023-12-11 23:36:07 +0000 UTCOk, I'll ask around the Discord to see how that could work 👍
Bruno
2023-12-11 22:43:27 +0000 UTCwe'll be connecting this to Phreaknet (a hobby phone system) later this month. we can also provide you with a SIP connection to our PBX
The Serial Port
2023-12-11 21:36:20 +0000 UTCI so want to dial-in, but an international call would be 💰
Bruno
2023-12-11 21:24:58 +0000 UTCHmm, well, the first tries at least, it seems to get stuck doing ranging, though there's more than a small chance it's because it's on a VoIP line, though it does support T.38. I keep getting "error 678. The remote computer did not respond." I've tried setting it with AT&N4, because so far 4800bps seems to be the maximum after a number of connection attempts, though now it fails with "error 628. The connection was terminated by the remote computer before it could be completed." after a minute or so of "verifying user name and password." I may have to test this on an older version of Windows later.
Zzyzx Wolfe
2023-12-11 17:26:03 +0000 UTC
