Calling all past BBS sysops

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paul151

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#193852 26-Mar-2016 21:05

fsxNet is a fun, simple and experimental network established in late 2015

fsxNet is not a perscriptive network. e[X]perimentation is at heart
of its name and members are actively encouraged to be creative in their
use of the network. Only a handfull of message areas and file bases are
used - setup is quick and [S]imple.

Technologies covered by the network include (but are not limited to)
BBSing, ANSI art, Vintage Computers & Gaming, FTN communications,
network protocols & topologies, encryption methods and more...

Do you find it [F]un to learn about and use retro computing technologies?
Would you like to be part of a group that enjoy experimenting and developing
those technologies further? If the answer is yes, then we invite you to
join us :)

I recommend Mystic BBS as a great choice to use for BBS software. It's under
active development in 2016 and there are versions for windows 32/64, Linux 32/64, Raspberry Pi/ OOROID etc, and OSX

Infopack at bbs.geek.nz/fsxnet.zip and a windows 32 bit turn-key version
of Mystic BBS also ready for download at bbs.geek.nz/fsxbbs.zip
You may like to use the windows version as an example for getting set up with
your OS version of choice.

The NET is small but growing, we have approx 20 nodes spanning New Zealand,
Australia, USA, Germany, Vienna and more..

Feel free to email me avon [at] bbs [dot] geek [dot] nz for more info, setup
help or if you have any questions.

Best, Paul.

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#1520199 26-Mar-2016 21:21

@andyb

Dairyxox

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#1520210 26-Mar-2016 22:03

Interesting. Will I get an angry phone call if I disconnect the wrong way?

paul151

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#1520220 26-Mar-2016 22:24

Dairyxox:

Interesting. Will I get an angry phone call if I disconnect the wrong way?

Not sure I follow you? The network uses Binkp protocol over TCP/IP to send/receive echomail and netmail.

You can set up a Mystic system to connect to the NET and opt to just poll the fsxNet HUB to send/receive packets waiting for your node.

frankv

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#1520290 27-Mar-2016 09:39

Does it support ZModem? FidoNet?

paul151

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#1520316 27-Mar-2016 11:27

frankv:

Does it support ZModem? FidoNet?

Not sure if I'm going to answer the questions you pose..?

The BBS software I'm using (Mystic BBS) supports Zmodem for file transfers, I recommend you try Netrunner as terminal software if you're looking for something nice to view Mystic BBS with.

The blurb for this software says:

NetRunner is a telnet client originally developed in the late 90s in sync with the release of Windows XP. It was intended to be a console telnet client which stayed true to ANSI-BBS emulation and the old school feel of DOS terminals. Some features include batch upload/download Zmodem and Zmodem 8K, multiple phone book, mTelnet and SyncTerm phone book importers, original MSDOS and Amiga fonts with font switching, full screen mode, basic scripting language, mouse support, and font UPSCALING that (when enabled) provides the highest quality BBS terminal, even at 2K full screen resolutions!

I use NetRunner as a tool for logging in to to agency.bbs.geek.nz - the ANSI graphics looks much better :)

As for Fidonet or fsxNet etc. those NETs use binkp protocol to transfer files and messages between systems. In the case of Mystic BBS I like it as Mystic has all of this stuff built into it so it's like a message reader, packet tosser, binkp server all in one. You can run a telnet server for connections using a client like Netrunner (mentioned above) it also offers NNTP, FTP etc. servers.

Hope that helps / kind of answers your questions :)

Best, Paul

Dairyxox

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#1520322 27-Mar-2016 11:45

paul151:

Dairyxox:

Interesting. Will I get an angry phone call if I disconnect the wrong way?

Not sure I follow you? The network uses Binkp protocol over TCP/IP to send/receive echomail and netmail.

You can set up a Mystic system to connect to the NET and opt to just poll the fsxNet HUB to send/receive packets waiting for your node.

Sorry this was a throw back to the real old BBS days using true modems, when sysops would get grumpy if you disconnected the wrong way.

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shanes

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#1520341 27-Mar-2016 13:09

Dairyxox:

Sorry this was a throw back to the real old BBS days using true modems, when sysops would get grumpy if you disconnected the wrong way.

Or grumpy phone companies if you redialed to often :) especially on toll calls where the redial tied up a line without being chargeable...

shanes

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#1520342 27-Mar-2016 13:10

Are there any old sysops here ?

"The Wizards Lair" used to run out of my spare room.

Virgil

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#1520378 27-Mar-2016 14:43

shanes:

Are there any old sysops here ?

Perhaps, but we object to the description "old" :-)

Lurking ...

Glassboy

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#1520379 27-Mar-2016 14:43

I used to sysop Hamboard in Palmerston North years ago. I was paid in kebabs.

roobarb

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#1520380 27-Mar-2016 14:47

frankv:

Does it support ZModem? FidoNet?

I preferred Kermit.

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paul151

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#1520462 27-Mar-2016 16:50

Dairyxox:

Sorry this was a throw back to the real old BBS days using true modems, when sysops would get grumpy if you disconnected the wrong way.

Aha ok ;-)

Well there is still some dial-up action about but I'd say 97%+ is over TCP/IP these days but it's still an active scene and far more global now because the barriers to interconnetc have been removed.

There is still a dial up BBS in NZ based in Christchurch, I have also toyed with the idea of setting one up but it's the cost of tying up a phone line vs. number of calls it would get.

I find Telnet over the internet works just fine :)

paul151

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#1520463 27-Mar-2016 16:52

shanes:

Are there any old sysops here ?

"The Wizards Lair" used to run out of my spare room.

Old, and still active :)

I think uou would LOVE running a Mystic system for your own entertainment.

You sound like a fsxNet starter for sure!

Best, Paul

BarTender

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#1520527 27-Mar-2016 19:17

There is a Facebook group.... I'll post the link. :)

sleemanj

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#1520612 27-Mar-2016 23:39

shanes:

Are there any old sysops here ?

"The Wizards Lair" used to run out of my spare room.

Project Amiga BBS from mine (and before it "City Limits"), in it's final incarnation using software from Equinox, and hardware from Abacab. May they all rest in pieces... in my garage, I can't bear to part with them, even after... too many years to count now.

3:770/380.0

(have to admit I cheated and googled what it was my memory fails me)

---
James Sleeman
I sell lots of stuff for electronic enthusiasts...

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