Build your own Dial-up ISP with a Raspberry Pi

This post details building a personal dial-up ISP with a Raspberry Pi to resurrect vintage Macs, enabling them to surf the modern web (with help from a proxy) via their original Wi-Fi hardware. It's a captivating blend of retro computing, DIY electronics, and networking, appealing to nostalgic tech enthusiasts and showcasing ingenious solutions to connect past and present. The project serves as a fantastic learning exercise, delving into the intricacies of modems and network protocols.

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Apr 3, 5:00 PM

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Apr 3, 11:00 PM

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The Lowdown

Jeff Geerling documents his journey to construct a local dial-up ISP using a Raspberry Pi, bringing his vintage iBook G3 and other retro Macs back online. Motivated by nostalgia and a desire to understand the underlying technologies, he meticulously details the hardware and software required to bridge the gap between 1999's internet experience and today's digital landscape.

The project's goal was to connect an iBook G3, equipped with an original AirPort card, to a self-made dial-up ISP, eventually routing it over Wi-Fi.
Key hardware components include a Raspberry Pi (3, 4, or 5), a Viking DLE-200B Two-Way Line Simulator, and a StarTech.com 56K USB Dial-up Modem.
Software-wise, the setup utilizes mgetty for call handling and PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) for network configuration, orchestrated via an Ansible playbook.
The connection typically achieves 33.6 kbps, a speed that renders most modern websites unusable due to size and security protocols, highlighting the internet's evolution.
To overcome this, Macproxy Classic is employed as a local proxy, stripping down modern web content into a format old browsers can render.
The ultimate achievement is a "dial-up over WiFi" setup, where the iBook's AirPort card connects to a vintage AirPort Base Station, which then dials into the Pi ISP.
Beyond the technical feat, the project provided valuable insights into modem handshakes, QAM modulation, and Linux networking tools like mgetty and PPP.

This endeavor is a testament to the enduring appeal of retro technology and the satisfaction of understanding complex systems by rebuilding them from the ground up. It brilliantly illustrates how foundational computing principles continue to underpin today's high-speed connections.

The Gossip

Bandwidth Blues

Commenters extensively debated the practicality of dial-up speeds for modern internet use. Many agreed that today's web is far too heavy and latency-sensitive for 33.6 kbps, noting issues like immediate timeouts and background data consumption by modern applications. Some pointed out that the setup, while cool, isn't a true fallback if the main fiber connection fails, and suggested contemporary low-speed alternatives like Starlink's standby mode as more viable backups.

POTS Practicalities & Alternatives

The discussion delved into alternative methods and hardware for simulating telephone lines and managing dial-up connections. Suggestions ranged from repurposing old Cisco Voice Gateways (VG-224) for up to 24 lines, noting their size and connector challenges, to using VoIP ATAs as cheaper (though harder to configure) line simulators. There was also a humorous mention of building a simpler line simulator with a 9-volt battery, though dedicated line simulators were acknowledged for their ease of use.

Retro Tech Reimagined

Many commenters expressed enthusiasm for the project and shared their own nostalgic aspirations for connecting vintage hardware. Ideas included creating compact dial-up-to-Wi-Fi bridges to enable old POP email clients or original AIM software on 30-year-old devices. There was also a nod to early networking protocols like SLIP and PLIP, indicating a shared appreciation for the history and ingenuity involved in vintage computing projects.