Retsy Series 1 · Card 0547 · 90-TEC

Dial-Up Howler 56K

The fastest way to scream online.

An external modem that howled, chirped and hissed a full song every time you connected to the internet.

Card no.: 0547 of 1,280
Set: 90s Tech & Gadgets · 90-TEC
Year: 1997
Type: Dial-up modem
Found at: Computer superstore aisle
Cost back then: $129.99

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Nostalgia10/10

Hype7/10

Weirdness7/10

Trade value5/10

The story · 1997

The story of Dial-Up Howler 56K

The Howler's connection song was famous on every block: a dial tone, beeps, a long screech, then a crunchy hiss that meant you were in. Tiny red lights blinked to show data was moving, slowly. A single picture loaded one stripe at a time, and if Mom picked up the phone to call Aunt Doris, you got kicked offline instantly.

Fun fact

Kids could imitate the entire connection song from memory, and some could perform it in harmony with a sibling.

Six finishes

187 copies of Dial-Up Howler 56K exist

Dial-Up Howler 56K comes in six finishes: 100 Base, 50 Holo, 25 Laser and 10 Gold copies, plus one Super Laser and one Misprint that exist exactly once. Every copy is minted to the wallet that rips it, with its own serial number.

Dial-Up Howler 56K, Retsy card 0547 in the Base finish — **Base**100 copies · Common

Dial-Up Howler 56K, Retsy card 0547 in the Holo finish — **Holo**50 copies · Uncommon

Dial-Up Howler 56K, Retsy card 0547 in the Laser finish — **Laser**25 copies · Rare

Dial-Up Howler 56K, Retsy card 0547 in the Gold finish — **Gold**10 copies · Very rare

Dial-Up Howler 56K, Retsy card 0547 in the Super Laser finish — **Super Laser**1 copy · 1 of 1

Dial-Up Howler 56K, Retsy card 0547 in the Misprint finish — **Misprint**1 copy · 1 of 1

90-TEC

More from 90s Tech & Gadgets

Dial-Up Howler 56K is one of 32 cards in the 90s Tech & Gadgets set. Here are the other 31.