HF Modem?
 

Read this on CNN.COM tonight:

The official said bin Laden likely has access to news by listening to BBC radio and possibly via an Internet connection using an HF modem, an inexpensive device that connects users to the Web using radio waves.

What exactly is an HF modem (I mean in addition to it being an inexpensive device that connects users to the Web using radio waves :D )? How inexpensive and is this the kind of thing I could use in the middle of nowhere and get something akin to dial up speed? Special modem/hardware needed? Any thoughts/insights are greatly appreciated.

(Entire article here )

A Google search shows a number of HF modems available, mainly for marine applications. Looks like you have to be a General Class (or foreign equivalent) amateur radio operator to legally use one.

HF works best at night. I suspect the baud rates are fairly limited. "ASCII and BAUDOT asynchronous serial data" is a trip down memory lane :D