How to connect multiple (>50) devices?

[Keith_Beddoe]

Yes, they were the first fully integrated unit. Prior to that there was a USB powered device which looked a bit like Stingray.

https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/36102/Alcatel-Stingray-ADSL-Speed-Touch-USB-Modem/

Bear in mind that BT Internet was rather late in the broadband market, but did offer dial-up access using customer`s own supplied modem. If you were lucky, you could connect at 33.6Kbs download .

I have owned most of these devices in the past, including all of the Voyager range. They even had one that gave an extra phone number over the broadband connection, so BT Digital Voice is nothing new.

[c64z86]

Ahh ok thanks for clearing that up! Wow, those early DSL modems sure were unique and funky. 😄

What were typical DSL speeds in those early days? I read that 8mbps only really came in the later 00s, that was my first internet speed in 2009.

Was it something like 512k?

[Keith_Beddoe]

My first broadband connection was 512K, which was really fast compared to dial-up, and enabled me to cancel one of our two phone lines, as you needed two lines for dial-up, if you wanted to be able to make phone calls at the same time.

512K worked well, as the Internet was not full of adverts, so pages loaded very quickly.

Prior to the Internet, there was of course Prestel (1200 baud). Quite a bit of fun at the time. 

[c64z86]

Oh yeah there is a video on youtube of someone sending an email over Prestel in the 80s! It looked a lot like teletext 😄

How to send an 'E mail' | Database | Retro Computers | Early E mail | 1980s Technology | 1984 (youtu...

I often wonder what internet speed those two would have today? 

[SteveH3]

Thanks for all the advice and information - I think this is going to become a growing issue as more IoT devices proliferate around the home.

Anyway, I will try extending my router's IP range first, then do a factory reset if that fails (I've various firewall setting I'd rather not have to re-create unless I have to!).

Steve

[rbz5416]

---

@SteveH3wrote:

I've various firewall setting I'd rather not have to re-create unless I have to!

---

You can backup your settings & restore them.

If you have devices using MAC randomisation, extending the DHCP range will be a short-term fix until those addresses are also used up. Another option to consider (maybe mentioned already) is to set static IP addresses on these devices. Typically PCs, mobiles & tablets. IoT devices are unlikely to use randomisation.

[Keith_Beddoe]

Unfortunately, any backup includes those unwanted IP allocations, so restoring them afterwards does not fix the problem.

[licquorice]

My first modem, a whole 300baud speed (300bps). Mains powered 62 type equipment practice.

[c64z86]

Wow! That looks very confusing and complicated, I've never seen one like that before! What was it used for? Is it a specialised industrial type of modem?

[licquorice]

I used it to connect a BBC B micro to a bulletin board. It was just how the first generation of modems were constructed. It was obsolete and being scrapped by the time I rescued it in the mid eighties.

I just happened to see that one in the computing museum at Bletchley and realised it was the same as the one I had used many years ago.