Voice modems (from Computers Are Bad)

[lproven@social.vivaldi.net]

Voice modems (from Computers Are Bad)

https://computer.rip/2026-04-26-voice-modems.html

<- a great deep-dive into a forgotten tech

I used to use one on my 486 laptop with OS/2 2.0. It was my answering machine. I found that the CPU load of my screensaver distorted messages. It was another time…

[arcaneoverflow@techhub.social]

@lproven I remember being told that my phone* at the time made a good voice modem. I never got a round twit!

*might have been a Nookie 2140 with data cable, or a 6310i maybe?

[tychotithonus@infosec.exchange]

I'm a big fan of this project, which uses "hard" USB modems with voice features as Caller-ID-aware call filtering. It's the only way my parents could keep their landline.

GitHub - thess/callattendant: A python-based automated call attendant, call blocker, and voice messaging system running on a Raspberry Pi or equivalent. Screens callers and block robocalls and scams with a low-cost system and modem.

A python-based automated call attendant, call blocker, and voice messaging system running on a Raspberry Pi or equivalent. Screens callers and block robocalls and scams with a low-cost system and modem. - thess/callattendant

GitHub (github.com)

Passively listens on another extension in the house, so the first ring will come through, but if you have a modern cordless phone, you can often program it to suppress the first ring.

I have my own resources for the project here, including how to adopt a "default mostly deny" policy by using publicly available telecom exchange data.

GitHub - roycewilliams/callattendant-resources: grab-bag of callattendant-related materials

grab-bag of callattendant-related materials. Contribute to roycewilliams/callattendant-resources development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub (github.com)