Why Does Dial Up Sound The Way It Does? (An Explanation)

Sources:

Aol number searching thing:

I'll find out what I messed up in 6 months

[PutchewInnaspin]

I love how the end of the transmission just seems to be a collective scream of celebration from both computers😂

[jackglenn]

"Dang it, who's using the phone!"

[YujiUedaFan]

So it's a really odd sounding conversation between machines?

Calling modem: Hey, just wanted to call you about the internet.
Receiving modem: Yeah, sure.
Calling modem: Cool.
Receiving modem: Want a modulation method?
Calling modem: I accept. So which standard should I use?
Receiving modem: Here what you've got: *insert standard*.
Calling modem: OK.
Receiving modem: Man do I HATE echo suppressors!
Calling modem: Yeah, me too! A lot! Like so much! I despise them! So very much! THEY SUCK! (This is it playing 6 times) Anyway, these are my standards and PTSN *insert both here*.
Receiving modem: My standards and PTSN are... I say, mine are... I REPEAT, mine are... *insert here*.
Calling modem: You like this frequency?
Receiving modem: You like this one?
Calling modem: How's this one?
Receiving modem: OK, so we've got *insert bit rate here* and *insert modulation rate here*. So in 3... 2...1... we sync our minds!
Calling modem: Yeah, ok... 3...2...1...
Both modems: Max phone line speed achieved! We did it! We are online! We are one mind!

[keheck]

I didn't grow up with this and I am really amazed at how much is behind these sounds. I think, as a computer nerd, I really missed out on something, as this is basically communication between two devices turned into sounds, which these days aren't heard anymore

[table]

the 1st time I ever heard this sound i was super terrified

[gammadelray]

I remember when I was really really little, and my dad would go online every night for his fishing club website. I had no clue what that sound was, but I was fascinated by it. For seeming like such a primitive thing right now, its actually pretty amazing how complicated that sound really is.

[DorfArt]

YO! That was way more interesting than I thought it would be!

[camchild]

I accidentally called a modem today and my phone's volume was all the way up so you could imagine the pain my ears were experiencing

[arthurvin]

This modulation technique in its original state is still being used today by military, police, aircraft, marine to send and receive small bits of important or critical data over analog FM/AM radio sometimes on distances over thousands miles like in the middle of ocean. I am HAM/SDR radio hobbyist and I can hear it on both AM and narrow band FM commonly on police and aircraft frequencies. They also use morse code time to time which is funny, presumably when there's not enough bandwidth or signal is weak.

[rubydreamsuwu]

Ok, that's oddly really cute how they're basically just negotiating and agreeing on how they should internet.

[ProdCashhier]

When I was younger, I used to be terrified of the sound because I thought my computer was about to explode

[ergocomic]

it's not binary it's the depths of hell sound

[TonyRule]

6:56 "This is your data. This is what you came to the internet for whether it be text... or text" I LOL'd.

Excellent explanation. That sound brings back so many memories, especially of anxious moments waiting for the final confirmation that a stable connection had been established and my queued email would now be sent.

It only occurred to me when you explained what a dial-tone is that many of the latest generation would have no idea what that is.

[ChristinaMagma]

You could have bullshitted this whole video and i wouldn't know. Thats how much i know about this stuff lol. Great video!

[Kombivar]

After 23 years FINALLY someone explained the greatest mystery sound of my childhood! Thank you so much!

[ownificationify]

Was born in 1999 and never had dial up so it was always a bit mythical to me, very interesting to learn that these sounds actually mean something

[bryanasifuina]

This is actually v cool. It's pretty cool to see how we struggled before, and how today's technology makes things much easier and accessible

[rebdmer]

I was always curious why it made those specific sounds no matter who's PC you were connecting with. Thanks for explaining it to me!

[ChibiChidorii]

Yall being scared of the modem as a kid made me remember that when there was a blackout our modem would dial up automatically the moment the power came back. That shit was scary because you never expected it

[StevenSantanaR]

I remember when I was younger I usted to get really sacred of the dial up sound. I muted the speakers because I sometimes didn’t want to hear it. This one time I decided to connect on a dark, rainy afternoon and the speakers were on, gosh I was soo scared I almost died lol