Ah, the memories. I remember getting Jetstream setup in 1999. Took two technicians 2-3 hours to set everything up, one to replace all the sockets in the home and install the dedicated DSL port, the other basically to install the PCI modem. I remember them being amazed at the 2Mbps sync considering the distance from the exchange.
Started on Jetstream, however after racking up some high bills, moved to the unlimited Jetstart plan.
My first modem was actually an ex business Nokia M10, not the usual M11 or M1122 that was around at the time. Had to get a special null-modem serial cable to connect into it to initially set it up. Hooked that into an old pc running, I think, Clark Connect, which was setup by someone else. Eventually that was replaced by Smoothwall setup by me and then IPCop before getting an actual router. My first forays into Linux.
That M10 lasted for ~3 years I think until we moved to cable. It was big and ugly but rock solid, once configured properly. I remember setting it to G.Lite mode to improve pings in Unreal Tournament and RTCW when on JetStart. Also switching the login details to connect to the Jetstream Games realm for full speed, free, gaming and games downloads. Requesting games patches etc to be downloaded to the realm FTP server and then switching logins to download them, how times have changed.
I got given an M1122, was my first experience with a router of any sort....so was a good learning curve :) They were reliable as hell tho.... mine fell off the wall a few times too and survived. Got a pic of it somewhere with my ancient laptop setup...
Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand
I was one of the first in Nelson to get adsl in early 2000, somehow we got into a pilot program to test it out. For three months we tested it without any cap or speed restrictions, that was great! Then the pilot ended and they wanted to cap us to 1gb at 128k for some extraordinary fee (well to a bunch of 18yr olds living in a flat it was), so we farewelled jetstream. We were also one to get a $10,000 overage bill :)
Fast forward a couple of years and i had telstra cable at 256k, with a fairly low cap in a uni flat of 8.. Beatings were served regularly.
Another couple of years after that i was back in Nelson on Jetstart at 256k, i had a dlink usb modem at the time that kept the connection live until you restarted the modem or pc, it didn't take me long to realise that Telecom couldn't restrict you to 64kbps (once you have breached your cap) until you had reset your connection. So that led to me restarting the pc/modem once a month and technically getting unlimited 256k.
Also fond memories of someone installing a DC++ server on the jetstream games realm, uncapped data & speed for a few weeks before to many people found out and eventually it got shut down.
Had something like a Dynalink RTA210 connected up to a 5 port 100Mbit mini switch.
Used to often use the user@jetstreamgames.co.nz address or whatever it was, to sign in and get some sweet downloads. Amazing how much you could abuse that 8Mbit Jetstream speed if you knew how ;)
I can't remember our first plan, but I definitely remember getting the 10GB 'Jetstream Plus' with a Dynalink RTA300W back in '05. One day I purchased a PCI ethernet card for my computer (rather than USB to the modem) and wow that made a difference!
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