dialup
Pre-broadband internet access
Dialup refers to internet or network access established by dialing a phone number through a modem.
Before broadband became widespread, most home internet connections were dialup—slow, tying up the phone line, and accompanied by distinctive screeching connection sounds.
Now largely obsolete, it appears nostalgically or as shorthand for outdated technology: Remember dialup? We'd wait five minutes for one image to load.
Digital-to-analog signal converter
- telephoneVoice communication device
- ISPWeb access company
- handshakeMutual palm-gripping gesture
- initializationPreparing system for operation
login · username · password · authentication · PPP · protocol · busy signal · disconnect
High, harsh cry
- beepingEmitting short tones
- staticWithout motion or change
- hissSharp sibilant sound
- crackleSharp snapping sounds
warble · chirp · negotiation · white noise · squelch · buzz
Early internet provider
- CompuServeEarly commercial online service
- EarthLinkTelecommunications and web provider
- NetZeroBalanced emissions target
- ProdigyExceptionally gifted youth
bulletin board · BBS · Usenet · newsgroups · World Wide Web · cyberspace · email · telnet
Temporary data accumulation
- waitingRemaining in expectation
- loadingAdding weight or cargo
- patienceCalm during delays
- lagPeriod of falling behind
crawling · timeout · hourly rates · limited access · kilobytes · peak hours · off-peak
Legacy modem bandwidth
- chatroomsOnline spaces for conversation
- ICQEarly messaging software
- MSN MessengerMicrosoft's discontinued chat client
- GeoCitiesEarly free webpage service
Napster · Winamp · AIM · buddy list · away message · screen name · free trial · CD-ROM
modem
Digital-to-analog signal converter
initialization · login · username · password · authentication · PPP · protocol · busy signal · disconnect · reconnect
screech
High, harsh cry
crackle · warble · chirp · negotiation · white noise · squelch · buzz
AOL
Early internet provider
- CompuServeEarly commercial online service
- EarthLinkTelecommunications and web provider
- NetZeroBalanced emissions target
Prodigy · bulletin board · BBS · Usenet · newsgroups · World Wide Web · cyberspace · email · telnet · FTP
buffering
Temporary data accumulation
lag · crawling · timeout · hourly rates · limited access · kilobytes · peak hours · off-peak
56k
Legacy modem bandwidth
- chatroomsOnline spaces for conversation
- ICQEarly messaging software
- MSN MessengerMicrosoft's discontinued chat client
GeoCities · Napster · Winamp · AIM · buddy list · away message · screen name · free trial · CD-ROM · You've Got Mail
- telephone termsbusy signal, ring, landline, phone line, off the hook
dialupbroadband
Fast internet access
always-on · cable · fiber · wireless · dedicated line
dialupnext-generation
Newer, improved iteration
cutting-edge · state-of-the-art · modern · fiber optic · 5G
dial, dials, dialed, dialing, redial, redialed, redials, redialing, dialer