512K Day: The Day The Internet (almost) Broke

The Serial Port • May 27, 2025

The Serial Port

About

The Serial Port is a virtual museum that highlights technology and people we find interesting from years gone by. We strive to preserve history of all types, both physical and digital as well as through the innumerable stories of the people that lived it. Got some retro gear to donate? Get in touch with us over email (see below "For business inquiries") or https://www.serialport.org

512K Day: The Day The Internet (almost) Broke

The Serial Port

About

Latest Posts

Dial-up Internet with 12 MODEMS

The hidden story behind the Virtual LAN

Pushing Dial-up Modems Further Than We EVER Thought Possible

Using Windows 95 on Dial-Up in 2025 (30 Years Later!)

You May Also Like

Upgrade Your Internet Setup

TP-Link AC1300 USB WiFi Adapter (Archer T3U) - 2.4G/5G Dual Band Wireless Network Adapter for PC Desktop, MU-MIMO WiFi Dongle, USB 3.0, Supports Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP, Mac OS 10.9-10.14

TP-Link WiFi 6 AX3000 PCIe WiFi Card Archer TX55E - Bluetooth 5.2, 802.11AX Dual Band Wireless Adapter with MU-MIMO, OFDMA, Ultra-Low Latency, Supports Windows 11, 10 (64bit) only

TP-Link AC1300 High Gain WiFi USB Adapter (Archer T4U)- Dual Band Wireless Network Adapter for Desktop with 2.4GHz/5GHz High Gain Antennas, MU-MIMO, Support Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP, Mac OS

TP-Link Mini - AC600 USB 2.0 Wifi Adapter (Archer T2U Nano) - 2.4G/5G Dual Band Wireless Network Adapter for PC Desktop, Mini Travel Size, Supports Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP, Mac OS 10.9-10.15

Kasa Smart Outdoor Smart Plug by TP-Link (KP400) - Smart WiFi Outlet with 2 Sockets, IP64 Waterproof, Works with Alexa and Google Home, 2.4GHz WiFi Required, No Hub Required, Sunset &amp; Sunrise Offset

TP-Link Tapo 3K 5MP Pan/Tilt Security WiFi Camera, Baby &amp; Pet Camera, 360° Motion Tracking, 2-Way Audio, 40Ft. Night Vision, Cloud &amp; Local Storage (Up to 512 GB), Works w/Alexa &amp; Google (Tapo C230)

WYZE Cam v4, 2.5K HD WiFi Smart Home Security Camera, Indoor/Outdoor, Pet/Baby Monitor, Motion Activated Spotlight/Siren, Color Night Vision, 2-Way Audio, Works with Alexa &amp; Google, Wired, Grey

TP-Link Tapo 2K Pan/Tilt Indoor Security WiFi Camera, Baby & Pet Camera w/ 360° Motion Tracking, 2-Way Audio, Night Vision, Cloud & Local Storage (Up to 256 GB), Works w/ Alexa & Google (Tapo C210)

TP-Link AC750 WiFi Extender (RE220) - Covers Up to 1,200 Sq.ft and 20 Devices, Up to 750Mbps, Dual Band WiFi Range Extender, WiFi Booster to Extend Range of WiFi Internet Connection

TP-Link AC1750 WiFi Extender (RE450) - Up to 1750Mbps, Dual Band WiFi Repeater, Internet Booster, Extend WiFi Range Further

TP-Link AC1200 WiFi Extender (RE300) - Covers Up to 1500 Sq.ft and 25 Devices, Up to 1200Mbps, Supports OneMesh, Dual Band Internet Repeater, Range Booster

TP-Link AC1900 WiFi Extender (RE550), Covers Up to 2800 Sq.ft and 35 Devices, 1900Mbps Dual Band Wireless Repeater, Internet Booster, Gigabit Ethernet Port

TP-Link AC1300 USB WiFi Adapter (Archer T3U) - 2.4G/5G Dual Band Wireless Network Adapter for PC Desktop, MU-MIMO WiFi Dongle, USB 3.0, Supports Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP, Mac OS 10.9-10.14

TP-Link WiFi 6 AX3000 PCIe WiFi Card Archer TX55E - Bluetooth 5.2, 802.11AX Dual Band Wireless Adapter with MU-MIMO, OFDMA, Ultra-Low Latency, Supports Windows 11, 10 (64bit) only

TP-Link AC1300 High Gain WiFi USB Adapter (Archer T4U)- Dual Band Wireless Network Adapter for Desktop with 2.4GHz/5GHz High Gain Antennas, MU-MIMO, Support Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP, Mac OS

TP-Link Mini - AC600 USB 2.0 Wifi Adapter (Archer T2U Nano) - 2.4G/5G Dual Band Wireless Network Adapter for PC Desktop, Mini Travel Size, Supports Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP, Mac OS 10.9-10.15

TP-Link AV1000 Powerline Ethernet Adapter(TL-PA7017P KIT) - Gigabit Port, Plug and Play, Extra Power Socket for Additional Devices, Ideal for Smart TV

TP-Link USB Bluetooth Adapter for PC, 4.0 Bluetooth Dongle Receiver (UB400) - Support Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP for Desktop, Laptop, Mouse, Keyboard, Printers, Headsets, Speakers, PS4/ Xbox Controllers

TP-Link USB WiFi Adapter for PC(TL-WN725N), N150 Wireless Network Adapter for Desktop - Nano Size WiFi Dongle for Windows 11/10/7/8/8.1/XP/ Mac OS 10.9-10.15 Linux Kernel 2.6.18-4.4.3, 2.4GHz Only

TP-Link USB WiFi Adapter for Desktop PC (Archer T3U Plus) - AC1300Mbps USB 3.0 WiFi Dual Band Network Adapter with 2.4GHz/5GHz High Gain Antenna, MU-MIMO, Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP, Mac OS 10.9-10.15

Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1) with 4K HDMI Display, 5Gbps - and 2 5Gbps USB-A Data Ports and for MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Dell XPS, Lenovo Thinkpad, HP Laptops and More

Anker USB C Cable, [2-Pack, 6 ft] Type C Charger Premium Nylon USB Cable, USB A to Type C Charging Cable Fast Charge for Samsung Galaxy S10 S10+ / Note 8, LG V20 and Other USB C Charger (Black)

Anker USB C Charger Cable (6ft 100W, 2Pack), USB 2.0 Type C Fast Charging Cable for iPhone 15 / 15Pro / 15Plus / 15ProMax MacBook Pro 2020, iPad Pro 2020, iPad Air 4, Samsung Galaxy S23+/S23 Ultra ClimatePartner certified

TP-Link 5 Port Gigabit Ethernet Network Switch (TL-SG1005D) - Plug and Play, Desktop or Wall Mount, Plastic Case, Ethernet Splitter, Fanless, Traffic Optimization, Unmanaged (TL-SG1005D)

TP-Link USB to Ethernet Adapter (UE306) - Foldable USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet LAN Laptop Network Adapter, Supports Nintendo Switch, Windows, Linux, Apple MacBook OS 10.11- OS 12, Surface

TP-Link AV1000 Powerline Ethernet Adapter(TL-PA7017P KIT) - Gigabit Port, Plug and Play, Extra Power Socket for Additional Devices, Ideal for Smart TV

TP-Link USB C To Ethernet Adapter (UE300C) - J45 To USB C [Thunderbolt 3/4 Compatible] Type-C Gigabit Ethernet LAN Network Adapter, Compatible With Apple MacBook Pro 2017-2023, MacBook Air, And More

INIU 45W Power Bank, Ultra Small 10000mAh Portable Charger, USB C in&amp;Out Fast Charging Battery Pack, Travel External Phone Powerbank Compatible with iPhone 16 15 Samsung S25 S24 Google Pixel iPad etc

SAMSUNG EVO Select Micro SD-Memory-Card + Adapter, 128GB microSDXC 160MB/s Full HD &amp; 4K UHD, UHS-I, U3, A2, V30, for Android Smartphones, Tablets, Nintendo-Switch (MB-ME128SA/AM) [Canada Version]

Samsung EVO Select Micro SD Memory Card + Adapter, 256GB microSDXC 160MB/s Full HD &amp; 4K UHD, UHS-I, U3, A2, V30, for Android Smartphones, Tablets, Nintendo-Switch (MB-ME256SA/AM) [Canada Version]

Loading...

Kasa Smart Outdoor Smart Plug by TP-Link (KP400) - Smart WiFi Outlet with 2 Sockets, IP64 Waterproof, Works with Alexa and Google Home, 2.4GHz WiFi Required, No Hub Required, Sunset & Sunrise Offset

TP-Link Tapo 3K 5MP Pan/Tilt Security WiFi Camera, Baby & Pet Camera, 360° Motion Tracking, 2-Way Audio, 40Ft. Night Vision, Cloud & Local Storage (Up to 512 GB), Works w/Alexa & Google (Tapo C230)

WYZE Cam v4, 2.5K HD WiFi Smart Home Security Camera, Indoor/Outdoor, Pet/Baby Monitor, Motion Activated Spotlight/Siren, Color Night Vision, 2-Way Audio, Works with Alexa & Google, Wired, Grey

INIU 45W Power Bank, Ultra Small 10000mAh Portable Charger, USB C in&Out Fast Charging Battery Pack, Travel External Phone Powerbank Compatible with iPhone 16 15 Samsung S25 S24 Google Pixel iPad etc

SAMSUNG EVO Select Micro SD-Memory-Card + Adapter, 128GB microSDXC 160MB/s Full HD & 4K UHD, UHS-I, U3, A2, V30, for Android Smartphones, Tablets, Nintendo-Switch (MB-ME128SA/AM) [Canada Version]

Samsung EVO Select Micro SD Memory Card + Adapter, 256GB microSDXC 160MB/s Full HD & 4K UHD, UHS-I, U3, A2, V30, for Android Smartphones, Tablets, Nintendo-Switch (MB-ME256SA/AM) [Canada Version]