The latest episode published by Tech Channel Serial port He began with an intriguing question: can you stream YouTube via the Dial-Up Internet? As the headline suggests, the answer is: yes, and our fearless heroes managed to determine the connection offering the speed of downloading 668.8 kb / s. The feat was finally achieved using the appropriate computer with Windows XP, Cisco VoIP units, several serial PCI packaging cards and Tuzina Modem 56K (MPPP). This is probably a world record.
When the broadband connection was not so wide
The latest FCC regulations define a broadband connection as 100 Mb / s or higher, but in 2000 a much slower connection by 200 Mb / s or higher was considered sufficient to obtain a marking. At that time, the communication was sluggish, but at the turn of the millennium websites and communication were simpler and had a lower bandwidth. For example, downloading multimedia files such as MP3, then it can tie the telephone line for 10 to 20 minutes. Therefore, applications such as the infamous Napster and appearing streaming video and internet multimedia experience begged for broadband.
Multilink PPP technology was one of the possible solutions for faster internet communication before ISDN and ADSL connectivity became common. As the name suggests, the MPPP Tech combines the bandwidth of many modems to create a single logical data pipe.
Commercial solutions, such as “The Diamond Multimedia Strongun, a PCI card with two on -board models that can be combined together using Multilink PPP”, used this technology, indicates YouTubers. However, this did not gain adhesion due to many lines and the required ISP Shenanigans.
Now, with the internet service provider supporting digital models and equipment (including the Cisco VoIP gate), in order for this to happen, the serial port had the opportunity to see how far PPP Multilink can go. An encouraging, official MPPP standard does not emphasize any practical limits …
Cover your ears – preparation for a broadband modem with a modem
Our IntrePid Techtubers again focusing on the superior target of streaming to YouTube, they calculated how much bandwidth would have to be squeezed out of their connected modem board to make streaming. In brief, ~ four 56K modems should be sufficient to stream the minimum quality desktop (240p, ~ 200 kbps) in 2025.
The first selected customer computer was the IBM desktop in 2001 with Windows Me, released just before the wide availability of a broadband connection. This configuration worked with two 56 thousand. Modems related to each other – a promising beginning.
With proof that MPPP worked on this state-of-the-art computer system, Techtubers tried to pack more serial ports in IBM. A card was found containing an additional eight serial ports. However, the driver’s clashes prevented further scaling …
Still sanguine about their project, the team moved to “slightly newer equipment”. In particular, the IBM Think Center from 2004 was chosen as a compromise because we did not want to be too state-of-the-art. Windows XP was initially installed in this system and hoped that it could be better done with MPP.
Two identical serial expansion cards were installed using a newer PC XP. However, they did not work together because they applied to the addresses of COM ports at the device manager. So Techtubers went to another brand of a serial expansion card for the second card. In total, they finished 13 ports (including the one on the motherboard).
DUDS A dozen
Unlike Windows Me, where each modem was chosen in turn, it was observed that XP chose them all at the same time! In addition, the team has successfully transformed from two modems to 12 after a few rounds of DIY with modem DIP switches, telephone connectors and xp serial port control. When more modems were added to the system, Techtubers laughed happily from the sound of many selection and negotiations.
Several -go models connected to Windows XP machine have reached the total connection speed of 668.8 kb / s, offering follicular download speeds. Testing confirmed that this system was able to load and streamly send YouTube videos, and buffering was not observed after a slight delay (probably due to the power of the aged computer processing).
Did the serial port achieve the world record? Techtubers could not find any accounts of people using more than four modems at MPPP at the same time. The film ends with annoying that they have not yet found a limit for MPPP …
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