My Homemade Dialup Internet Server

(SEE BELOW FOR CLARIFICATIONS AND UPDATES)
In this video, I show how I created a homemade dialup internet server as a means of allowing one of my non-networked vintage computers to connect to the internet...just for fun, of course (although it does also allow limited file sharing access to my vintage computers on the LAN, which admittedly gives it some practical purpose). I detail what I used for my first failed attempts, followed by my homemade solution that ultimately proved successful.
UPDATE: I neglected to give detailed instructions while recording the video on how to set up XP as the dial-up server. Here's a link to an article that gives some good step-by-step details on how this is done (note that this requires XP Pro and will NOT work with XP Home): www.techrepubl...
A clarification: In the video, I state that the two computers are able to directly connect to each other if I manually tell the modems to dial and answer using HyperTerminal. What I neglected to mention is that this alone is not enough to allow the 486 to connect to the internet, as HyperTerminal cannot be used for sharing an internet connection. The absolute most HyperTerminal can do in this particular case is just send files back and forth from one computer to the other; it is otherwise incapable of tying the dial-up connection into the wifi (because terminal programs are not designed to do such). I simply mentioned the HyperTerminal example as a means of demonstrating how the modems in both computers do support direct connections without any line voltage being present.
Since recording this video, I have tested this setup with two additional vintage Win9x computers I own, and it worked on both of them as well, although I have yet to get any connections working faster than 33.6k. This could be a side effect of not having any line voltage present between the client and server.

[@034G63EVO]

This exactly what I love to do. Making things work, that technically aren't supposed to. Of course coming from an IT background in my youth in the 90's I understand how it works. I still love to see workarounds like this in todays age :)

[@karlscheel3500]

Way back on December 31, 2000 is when I first took the Linux plunge with my old AMD K6-2 PC, which was slightly more advanced than the PCs of the day that were running Pentium IIs. Anyway, the only modem I had that wasn't a winmodem (which wouldn't work with Linux at that time) was this old external 14.4-K modem, that I purchased at a used computer parts store. I felt like I was on top of the world when I got it to work that very same evening! :) To get an even older 486 DX4 machine to do dial-up in this day and age with a 14.4-K modem is an even BIGGER accomplishment! Thanks for sharing this!

[@karlscheel3500]

You could easily supply a 48- to 52-V DC voltage to any modem using a simple bridge-rectifier circuit; then, you would couple your 90-V AC ringing circuit to this DC voltage using a capacitor that is large enough to allow the ring-signal to pass through unattenuated to the modem. This will cause the ring-signal to ride on-top of the DC voltage. Don't worry: These superimposed voltages are what your modem actually sees while connected to a real telephone exchange via your RJ-9 wall-socket. You WILL NOT fry your modem! You could even implement a dial-tone using a special IC. Then VOILA: You'll have a fake telephone-exchange, which ANY modern will be able to work with.

[@jagjyot4828]

I love this dude

[@jesussaves9469]

I still have analog phone service. I have an old computer with windows 98 and netscape 4.7. Its so much fun.

[@ImpiantoFacile]

I have analog service too, but I don't have any numbers to call... Are there any BBSes or services still accessible via dialup in 2020?

[@jesussaves9469]

@@ImpiantoFacile Juno

[@gavinmitchell3709]

This guy sounds EXACTLY LIKE🤓and I can't help but respect the hell out of it because I've always wanted to do this kind of stuff. Sub earned!

[@latishafarnsworth7415]

Every Hayes-compatible modem I've tried lets you dial with ATX3D and answer with ATA - X3 is the magic part to turn off the dialtone detection requirement. No special hardware is required, it will work find with a so-called "dry" line. I really encourage you to give it a try. (FWIW 33.6kbps limit is normal and expected, as 56kbps required special ISP hardware and only worked in one direction AFAIK.)

[@bigloudnoise]

As I stated in the video, simply telling the modem to answer using AT commands using a terminal program isn't enough. The receiving modem also needs to be able to direct the data into the network stack to allow it to actually connect to the internet, something a simple terminal program is incapable of doing. This is why I'm using an actual dial-up server inside the Windows XP machine, because it IS able to tie the incoming data into the network. But, since the dial-up server cannot be told to manually answer an incoming call, you need to be able to generate a ring signal for it to detect. Without it, it'll just sit there doing nothing. There are more elegant ways to do this involving certain VoIP adapters, but my hacked-together method works fine for me.

[@starchief93]

Amazing job! For line voltage, you could set up a basic 600 ohm impedance RC circuit with a DC power supply to power the line.

[@graphism6267]

my left ear loved the video

[@zyrnwtf]

same

[@niepowiemkto3898]

Sounds normal to me

[@jagjyot4828]

Sounds normal to me

[@bitchlasagna4720]

your headphones are broken

[@kevinwells4086]

Fix your brokeass headphones then

[@HallsteinI]

Why did I watch this? I came here looking for the dial up noise and stayed to watch the whole thing.

[@rugby1811]

same

[@damian9303]

I came here because I want to get an idea on making an old crappy machine go “beeeeeep beeep do do dooo dooo dooooo” through a telephone line simulator.

[@unterflieger3049]

Wow, thats a lot of work man... Good job!

[@railworksamerica]

this dude is both 🤓 and gigachad at the same time, I love it

[@Sparkette]

I have a Windows 95 PC that's actually on my LAN.

[@minemad.5609]

I have a windows 98 pc on lan.

[@ras666]

I have one running 95 still connected to a lan for basic backups it’s now isolated from the inter web for safety though but it does work if I let it just 😂

[@NicholasDeLisi]

Hi BigLoudNoise, It is the first time I came across one of your videos. That device is used to pickup a phone and automatically ring other phones or can be used in an intercom systems. Ringdown lines are used at PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) when they receive a 911 call and they pick up a phone to call the first stations, rescue, police, etc.; without having to dial anything. I'm sure some of the older phone gentlemen can correct me if I am wrong, but those are the main uses, without having to hook a phone up to a port with 48v.

[@shawnerz98]

With this video being over 6 years old, you probably know this by now. In telephone parlance, a "ringdown circuit", or line, is where one phone goes "off hook" (or the receiver is picked up), the 2nd line automatically starts ringing. No dialing is needed or supported. They're commonly used in an air traffic control tower that's connected to the fire department. If the controller sees something bad happening (like a crash), he/she can pick up the phone and, as soon as they pick up the ringing phone, can be immediately talking to the fire department. The Viking unit may only support one-way rings. In other words, pick up line 1, and ring line 2. Depending on your test set up, the Viking unit may not have worked if the "server" was plugged in to line 1 and the '486 in line 2. I'm sure this all OBE by now. But, I thought I'd put my $.02 in. Good luck.

[@MitchellWilsonII]

There is a dip switch on the bottom of the Viking box that attenuates the audio just for using it with modems and faxes. I use one and get the full 33.6Kbps bandwidth reliably.

[@Sabrinahuskydog]

I'm not sure if you know but you can pick up a used Etherlink-III ISA card off ebay for about $5 in the USA and it will have 100% native built-in driver support in windows 3.11, 95, 98 and XP. Would be a heck of a lot easier than what you're doing, and faster too.

[@timothymcmahon1507]

this dude nerding out

[@gklinger]

What is running on the Radio Shack tablet that is bridging the incoming connection to the Internet? I would also like to know more about the little box you built, if you don't mind. Thanks.

[@MarkBurfeind]

I am working on setting up a Dial In server for my old computers. Can you please help me out with some issues that I’m running into?

[@electricawesome7477]

Could you just use a phone line for the ringing, and then unplug and plug the other computer back in?

[@RETRONuts]

I didn't Know Radio Shack was still around,well it don't exist in the UK,last one like it was Maplin that went bust cos there prices were to much and they couldn't compete with eBay,£24 for a VGA to DVI Cable when on eBay it was like £5. I use Windows 98 on a VM and have a copy of Bleem for it,I wonder if Bleem would work on your computer...?? Nice video,interesting.. ;) ,I used Win95 in 1996,I went from my Amiga 600 to Windows 95.Still have my A600 and it still works. I love RETRO .. :)

[@copykonsmusic1065]

Radio Shack is still in business. There are still authorized dealers and an online store. It's a must for anyone who works at the component level or a radio operator.

[@l3chevalier]

Awesome work dude!

[@meppensued]

could you pls make a tutorial on how to set this up

[@milan8204]

Varpix yes please do it

[@itepk0522]

Yes

[@cameron6262]

look up dreampi. uses a raspberry pi and usb modem as a dial up sim. ultra easy for what u are wanting to do

[@Eugenethemooer1Wolffe]

Thank you so much!

[@damienhartley1652]

Cameron McKown I don't think raspberry pi has source code for such task and there are few Linux software for modems that do not have line voltage. You could create line voltage with solar panel and 300mh resistor but still a raspberry pi has never coexested with a dailup based server.

[@userNULL]

@@damienhartley1652 its literally a thing tho

[@jesussaves9469]

Wish I was smart enough to figure out how to do all that.

You know there's this futuristic thing called the internet where you can find and learn anything.. I wish we have that at home.. :) Jokes aside, I think finding the right working vintage hardware for the job at a decent price is considerably harder nowadays than finding a tutorial for a dial up server software, unfortunately.

[@oussamathedjfreeman]

I need to make the same over 3g voice call, any idea?!

[@gastonhitw720]

this video is actually crazy! wow

[@handlesrtwitterdontbelivethem]

can it work at any numbers and any country with or without phone jacks on thier houses

[@mctv6486]

I MUST HAVE THE HOMEMADE VERSION!!!!!

[@navigatorofnone]

i had a 486 DX4-100 72mb ram and 28k internal modem. i never needed any network card to connect to the web, i dial directly to the server. it was a bank server not an isp.

[@alangiles4616]

Very resourceful! Excellent

[@Masterjaredgaming]

Ignore the line going above the computer. That is normal

[@Gbs128]

This is cool. Very cool

[@RETRONuts]

I am trying to find a way to make a dial up server on my PC so I can connect my Amstrad E3 Emailer and see if I can Activate it,It needs to connect to a dial up server to activate then you will have to do it every 3 months to keep it active or it stops working.I did make a video of it before it deactivated,it even had 2 games on it,it's on my Channel,its a Home phone that had Email,SMS and Internet Access but would dial out everyday for email and would cost you 20p a day to run it,it came out in 2000 and closed in 2011.

[@acxyz1107]

Wow, thats cool.

[@MrPillowStudios]

This is a pretty cool thng to do.

[@chronocide]

Very cool project

[@brianmadonna2873]

Turbo on or off?

[@preppertodd]

that radio shack computer what one is that one? model? thanks

[@jdmii05]

my Top speaker loved this video

[@jagjyot4828]

Ohwhyareyouhere sounds normal to me!

[@BurkenProductions]

No ring voltage is around 110 volts.

[@chronocide]

No serial port?

[@UncleAwesomeRetro]

Nice :) I want to do something like this myself.

[@Atmatan]

If you virtualize old versions of the windows NT era, they're actually quite the powerhouse systems. It was only the old hardware holding them back. Seems nostalgia has you replicating the worst parts with none of the modern benefits.

[@JamesTube]

I need to try this someday but I only have 1 device with a phone connector

[@greypatch8855]

I want a tablet like that, what's its info?

[@LachambredeNico]

14.4kbps, is the 486 modem is that slow ?

[@ytgadfly]

or you could have just manually answered on the server with the hayes code ATA

[@bigloudnoise]

Issuing the ATA command via terminal will not allow data coming across the line to be transmitted beyond the boundaries of the terminal window. This is why a different way had to be found to make the phone line actually ring, as a means of forcing the dial-up server built into the XP machine to answer so it can properly link the incoming connection to the network. This is one of the things I neglected to mention in this unscripted video.

[@SUPERBOBESPONJA1000]

you can amde a video of how to made pass to pass? in the answer pc

[@Mooskers]

Hey can I have the username and password as I don't have a password or phone number I'm only 11 and want to try dial up and I have a laptop that can do that

[@watchesidiots]

You are AWESOME!

[@chronocide]

No mIRC?

[@vorlitra6879]

i would do this but i don't got wifi

[@TR_P]

Computer mishaco?

[@Rakeeshj]

EDIT: Nvm I misunderstood.

[@zenvio]

it looks like an nes controller on the front

[@fernwood]

That is so weird. I was at a ham radio flea market yesterday and saw that same exact Viking phone simulator. I didn't know what it was so I took a pic to go look it up, but completely forgot. Had I known what it was I would've bought it. Then it shows up on my KZbin feed the next day. Weird.

[@watchesidiots]

Can you hit mIRC?

[@tomypower4898]

cool PC

[@NNZ8888]

This is cool

[@filipmac1545]

the original Firefox supported windows 95

[@PardonJulianAssangeNow]

You could improve this by using a Raspberry Pi instead

[@jagjyot4828]

But aol 2.5 still works for me!

[@sayobaid]

Did not get anything but was fun

[@elnadoraemon3484]

8:10 it's a 9k - 16k modem sounds like so that's why I can't run America online

[@tyte7357]

He sounds like heath ledger's joker.

[@pattysmith4331]

AOL Dialup

[@SkatingPopsicle]

You sound like heath ledger's joker

[@brsndonwalker3361]

lol

[@covertpluto]

Before: 16MB ram Now: 16GB ram After: 16TB ram

[@ryanginnelly1725]

i am windows 95

[@rugby1811]

Hi

[@biged8434]

Your my f*ckin hero

[@elrobloxiano600]

i have HyperCam 2 XD

[@pattysmith4331]

fast internet networks AOL

[@pattysmith4331]

LOL

[@pattysmith4331]

LOL

[@0li07]

stop recording with your phone because it only sounds good in left ear

[@tubeDude48]

Where's the schematic to your box? *NO* Thumbs-Up until then!!

[@trashcan4798]

Are you a muppet or something?

[@tyte7357]

He's the joker