Did anyone else participate in the USRobotics Sysop Deal? reddit / bbs ---------------------------------------------------------------------- lisabadcat · 2015-01-15 05:36 I got mine late in the program, so mine didn't come with the metal badge that said it was part of the sysop deal. I upgraded this from 14.4k all the way up to 56k, and it was obsoleted only by broadband. By far, the best piece of computer equipment I ever owned. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- oh_nater · 2015-01-15 12:54 Yep! Mine was when the standard hadn't finalized, so my modem said X2 on the front. I think I paid $350. You had to set up a banner on log in that you used USRobotics modem, and give USRobotics a login so they could check. They never checked mine. :/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- lisabadcat · 2015-01-15 15:12 They never checked mine either. Did yours have the sysop deal badge? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MGJon · 2015-01-15 16:40 >You had to set up a banner on log in that you used USRobotics modem That explains a lot. I logged into a bunch of BBS' back in the day, and many of them had banners mentioning their USRobotics modems. Not being a sysop, I figured they were just proud of their sweet USRobotics hardware. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- LocalH · 2015-01-15 19:58 I never ran a board back in the day (was too young), but spent a lot of time on local boards and I miss the subtle little nuances that web forums just don't have. Still got my 56k standard USR modem (it's a Sportster, such an iconic modem housing to me). Started out on my C128 with a 1200 baud modem, then on the PC my first modem was an internal 14.4k one (before Winmodems became popular). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ebookit · 2015-01-15 22:40 I never got one. I had to use a Microcom modem it was external and 28.8K BPS and then a Xoom 56K internal modem to replace that. I still had a Hayes 1200 baud ISA modem that was extra long and fit inside of a PC/XT. I still have the Microcom modem minus the power adapter which I lost somehow. But US Robotics never gave me the Modem and I had my BBS up 24 hours, etc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- oh_nater · 2015-01-16 03:24 I don't remember any kind of special sysop sticker or badge... it was a black external Courier like the one you pictured, and I think one side had an X2 sticker. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- oh_nater · 2015-01-16 03:28 I think I was probably too young to run one too (15?) -- luckily my parents spoiled me with a phone line. Or they just got sick of me tying up their phone line all the time. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- nolageek · 2015-01-16 19:52 I kind of remember this, but I wouldn't have participated since I was a broke kid back then. :/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- samalex01 · 2015-01-22 15:10 I had this exact modem at my work back in the late 90's, but I don't know for sure where they got it. I used it as a fax modem IIRC. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- sharphead_cgy · 2015-01-29 18:01 Props if anyone can still remember what each light on the modem stood for. My guess: HS = High Speed AA = Auto Answer CD = Carrier Detect OH = Off Hook RD = Receive Data SD = Sent Data TR = Transmit MR = ? RS = ? CS = ? SYN = ? ARQ/FAX = Fax obviously... ARQ? Oh the memories... loved watching those lights blink. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- chromenomad · 2015-01-30 05:29 TR=Terminal Ready. MR=Modem Ready. RS=Ready to send. CS=Clear to send. Can't remember arq or syn.. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- chromenomad · 2015-01-30 05:32 I did the 14.4 dual standard in.. 91? $499. And then the 28.8 probably two? years later for 249. They verified me both times. The second time I was very post-drive-crash (no backups of course) and had to quickly formulate what looked like a real board.. I was there when they called both times and watched them poke around. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- lisabadcat · 2015-01-30 11:46 Yeah, I helped a friend do that by setting up echomail to make his board look active. The didn't call him either I don't think. Did either of your modems have the sysop deal badge? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- chromenomad · 2015-01-31 10:29 I think it had a badge like "not for resale" or something but I don't think it said anything about the sysop deal in particular. I still have it somewhere, will have to dig it out and look. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- lisabadcat · 2015-01-31 12:56 That's it! I couldn't remember exactly. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- erazmus · 2015-05-05 16:11 Good times. I ran an early ISP from 1993 until 2000 when I sold out. At our peak we had over 200 US Robotics Courier modems in the back room (before we upgraded to PRIs), and we managed to acquire about 20 or so through US Robotics' Sysop program. They came with a plastic badge riveted into the top of the modem saying something about the sysop program and not for resale. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- erazmus · 2015-05-05 16:16 A recent rummage around in my basement turned up a Courier. What a wave of memories that brought back. I completely agree - this was the most incredible piece of technology and rock solid. I remember being amazed at the ability for the firmware to be upgraded.