@sabi first I used was a 300 baud VICMODEM that I borrowed from a friend for a couple months and I was immediately hooked on BBSes. The first modem I owned was a 1200 baud Commodore 1670 that I bought used at a computer swap meet, which I used with a C64 for a couple years and then with a 128D for another couple years, until I got an Amiga, when I finally upgraded to 9600.
@swelljoe once you dialed in to a BBS once it was over, no going back!