My board and fido node in the late 1990s got up to 3 lines running USR V.Everything modems. In early 2000 I sold two of them on ebay but still kept
the last one to this day. Not sure if it still works but I plan to keep it as
an antique collectable from the era.
I wrote several tools which I employed on my system. I haven't written
anything significant since so one of my primary motivation for showing up is t
begin doing that again and possibly extend that to adding a feature or two to software packages already in circulation.
Understand and I hope things are going ok for you "wherever you are" in
the world. Are you in the States now? And I also understand if you
can't say.
If you start digging in about North Texas or Oklahoma to the other side of the
world that is roughly where I am located! :-) Buy, I should be back in the
states close to thanksgiving. But, that won't stop me from spinning up a node
One goal is to start up a file repository (library) of old utilities. I
realize that is somewhat overdone. But I was surprised how much stuff I could >not find in one place when I started looking for them. I do believe one of th
faults fido has is the lack of resources for new users not familiar with the technology.
Run Linux like I do.. there are a bunch of doors that are available...
you just have to look.. or look for the keygen stuff, it might be there
as well, I wouldn't know since I run Linux here..
The host I would do this from runs CentOS 7. I might do a quick look at FreeBSD (my old favorite) but I do need to learn CentOS 7 as much has changed between 6 and 7 and it would provide the perfect motivation to learn the details of operation.
And yet we were freed from the clutches of the PHONE COMPANY (evil
creeps in NY at least (laugh)) so that
As much as I value IP there is something I miss about the idea of the modem.
It is almost as if the more scarce something is (bandwidth) that the more you appreciate it. Nonetheless I miss the late night echomail runs. You always
knew that the largest of bundles would come in around 1-2 am. It took a while
for the traffic to trickle down if you were 2 or 3 levels deep in local distribution.
It is weird to say but the volume of traffic grew disproportionately to our ability to move it. We see far less traffic in relation to the availability
of bandwidth. Just imagine what Fido would have been in the era of Cable, DSL
and BinkP!
Like I said, really glad to see you here :)
Thank you for the kind words.
I have seen parts of it before and recently watch it all the way through. Although there are many topics I wish it covered in detail I believe it did an excellent job of depicting the online world which remains so strongly in our memories. I'll never forget the sound of modem negotiation even until the day I die.
It is satisfying to see that fido technology and bulletin boards as a technology have survived to the 21st century and suffered fools. The visionaries who created the earliest technology invented something that outlasted their contributions long after they were driven away. They are technological pioneers of a type the world will never fully appreciate.
I am also impressed to see that software is still being actively developed. The authors of binkd, husky, synchronet, ezycom, mystic and more have done an immeasurable service. At the time circumstances pulled me away I was sure things would implode in a few years but occasionally I peek in and see people still participating.
I was shocked to see someone releasing BBS software in 2015. It got me wondering how active are bulletin boards today? How many visitors do you see and what type of things do they come for? Seeing the energy got me inching to set one up if only to play my old games. My only fear is not being able to find cracks for all the doors I once registered as I suspect most people who maintained them fell off the planet or would not care to hassle with someone over something they were paid $15 for 15 years ago.
I was shocked to see someone releasing BBS software in 2015. It got me wondering how active are bulletin boards today? How many visitors do you see and what type of things do they come for? Seeing the energy got me
Quoting Matt Bedynek to All on 06-26-15 17:26 <=-
I have seen parts of it before and recently watch it all the way
through. Although there are many topics I wish it covered in detail
I believe it did an excellent job of depicting the online world which remains so strongly in our memories. I'll never forget the sound of
modem negotiation even until the day I die.
It is satisfying to see that fido technology and bulletin boards as a technology have survived to the 21st century and suffered fools. The visionaries who created the earliest technology invented something
that outlasted their contributions long after they were driven away.
They are technological pioneers of a type the world will never fully appreciate.
I am also impressed to see that software is still being actively developed. The authors of binkd, husky, synchronet, ezycom, mystic and more have done an immeasurable service. At the time circumstances
pulled me away I was sure things would implode in a few years but occasionally I peek in and see people still participating.
I was shocked to see someone releasing BBS software in 2015. It got
me wondering how active are bulletin boards today? How many visitors
do you see and what type of things do they come for?
Seeing the energy got me inching to set one up if only to play my old games.
My only fear is not being able to find cracks for all the doors
I once registered as I suspect most people who maintained them fell off the planet or would not care to hassle with someone over something they were paid $15 for 15 years ago.
Something was lost when we moved to the internet and it has become
more evident in recent time. Increasingly the internet is becoming
more a sewer where you cannot trust what you download or access.
There were viruses on bulletin boards but most sysops made an effort to police that. Many took personally the quality of what they offered.
Your thoughts?
I have seen parts of it before and recently watch it all the way through.
It was also great for me seeing people there I never had the opportunity to JK>in person, and hearing them talk. So many great oldtimers and
otherwise <g> and I thought "I" was old.. :)
Yes.. an unforgettable sound. I remember how I could tell what speed modem JK>connecting to my system by the negotiation/sounds. Ron thought I was a litt JK>addicted I think (laugh) We used to laugh over going on vacation and my JK>"checklist" before we took off (Ok, telnet nodes are running, Modem is JK>running... bbs is set..Oh, and kids are with Mom <vbg>)
I get a LOT of connect/disconnect hacker attempts via telnet that Shorewall JK><grin> You know same old new format Lol
And yet we were freed from the clutches of the PHONE COMPANY (evil creeps in JK>at least (laugh)) so that
Yes McAfee (or anti-vir/hack software of your choice is your friend <g>) or JK>can get files from fidonet and hopefully nothing slips past us.. :)
Yes, the filegate still does the same. Ask Ben Ritchey.. I send him tons of JK>email attaches for software from software authors that email me for Windows JK>utils etc., but FEW of them get past McAfee or whatever <g>
Depends on the board and the day. I've only had the board back online a little
over 3 months and usually get between 5-15 callers in a day, depending
on the
day. Weekends it tends to drop off to 2-3. One of the other boards in
town has
the largest active majormud game and still gets 300 calls a day. Unfortunately
I don't see a lot of engagement from my users in the message forums
I agree, it was good to see what was covered by the documentary, and I enjoyedstarted
watching it and remembering my time using BBSes in the 90s (I first
using BBSes in 1992 when I got my own PC and modem).
My BBS usually gets anywhere between 3 and 10 calls a day (sometimes a little
more or less). There are a few doors that are popular, and sometimes my BBS
gets around an hour and a half or 2 hours of use each day (sometimes
more or
less).
I'm active in, with a few games like Scrabble and KOTB attracting a
little of my time and attention... :) I know of at least a few other users like myself... :) One of the boards I go to seems to be part of some sort of games co-operative, with people logging onto other bbses showing up in the "sidetalk" of the bbs ("so-and-so logging on to x
board" sort of thing showing up at the prompt)... there seem to be quite
a few active users there in the conglomerate....
I agree with you, it's great to see software continuing to be developed in
Messaging and online games mostly, from all across the globe they connect. USA, Russia, Italy, New Zealand (where I am), Australia and other locales.
Its a bigger digital space but it's only being used at one tenth its capability when concentration of mass has led to so many congragating inso
few online areas. I think those early digital users were more 'social'than
our contemporary online users of social media and HTML.
As per the others comments, welcome and nice to see you here / active.
I have seen parts of it before and recently watch it all the way through.
I have the BBS Documentary DVD myself, but haven't watched it all the
way through. I do have two bulletins on the BBS...one a review of it,
and the other a reply. Rob Swindell (aka digital man, who does
Synchronet), did the original review of it.
It was also great for me seeing people there I never had the opportunity to >> in person, and hearing them talk. So many great oldtimers and
otherwise <g> and I thought "I" was old.. :)
The only thing that's old is the dates on some of the files. Some of
the ones I have are over 20 years old. But, my BBS is now the oldest,
and only one left in Arkansas.
Yes.. an unforgettable sound. I remember how I could tell what speed modem >> connecting to my system by the negotiation/sounds. Ron thought I was a litt >> addicted I think (laugh) We used to laugh over going on vacation and my
"checklist" before we took off (Ok, telnet nodes are running, Modem is
running... bbs is set..Oh, and kids are with Mom <vbg>)
Or the tagline "Not tonight, dear...I have a BBS". <G>
I get a LOT of connect/disconnect hacker attempts via telnet that Shorewall >> <grin> You know same old new format Lol
A lot of port sniffers have tried to get into the BBS, but in most
cases, VADV32 (Virtual Advanced) has been able to handle it...especially
with the cached IP addresses (the connection is refused). However, for whatever reason of late, some days, the VADV32 Telnet server crashes,
and until I notice it, the BBS is offline (never mind the threat of summertime thunderstorms or power outages from the intense heat and
rolling blackouts).
I am working on going back to Synchronet (still a
lot of work to do), but am looking at "the best of both worlds"...using VADV32's website, then Synchronet for the rest of it. The main thing I
liked about Synchronet was that one could install both fossil and
non-fossil doors.
Several years ago, construction crews working at the apartment complex
where I live, sliced through several underground cables like a knife
through butter...even though they were clearly marked. They left the
holes open, and it poured rain that night, flooding the cables. The
resulting phone line noise made voice or data calls impossible. I can't
see spending $50 for a vanilla line that's so noisy, especially since
I'm fully disabled, and on a fixed income already.
Yes McAfee (or anti-vir/hack software of your choice is your friend <g>) or >> can get files from fidonet and hopefully nothing slips past us.. :)
I use the IObit program suite myself...as does Marc Lewis (1:396/45).
I also had gotten several of the filegate echoes.
Yes, the filegate still does the same. Ask Ben Ritchey.. I send him tons of >> email attaches for software from software authors that email me for Windows >> utils etc., but FEW of them get past McAfee or whatever <g>
Once I get the software switch done, I'll start grabbing some more of
those.
I have seen parts of it before and recently watch it all the way
through.
I have the BBS Documentary DVD myself, but haven't watched it all the
way through. I do have two bulletins on the BBS...one a review of it,
and the other a reply. Rob Swindell (aka digital man, who does
Synchronet), did the original review of it.
It was online a while back, I haven't checked recently. I enjoyed it
a great deal.
A man who has a job, food and place to live has no reason to complain! :-)
when I first started programming.
Or the tagline "Not tonight, dear...I have a BBS". <G>
LOL!
Understand.. and one can't always help what kind of weather hits you where y JK>live.
That's too bad, I suppose if no one complains they'll just leave it as is. I JK>hear not that many people use "phone companies" much anymore, since companie JK>like magicjack came out.....
Sounds good. I can always use more FileGate HUBs so let me know if you'd li JK>to do that when you are all set.
HUBs are expected to have the files "online" where people can get them via t JK>web, ftp, or binkp (some or all of those methods<g>). Some HUBs can only ma JK>them available via tick technology, some can run web servers, etc. I have JK>several HUBs listed in the filegate.zxx file (in the HUBs section). It just JK>helps take the load off my system when someone wants to start distributing f JK>archives :)
I have seen parts of it before and recently watch it all the way
through. Although there are many topics I wish it covered in detail I believe it did an excellent job of depicting the online world which remains so strongly in our memories. I'll never forget the sound of
modem negotiation even until the day I die.
It was also great for me seeing people there I never had the opportun
meet in person, and hearing them talk. So many great oldtimers and otherwise <g> and I thought "I" was old.. :)
It was also great for me seeing people there I never had the opportun
meet in person, and hearing them talk. So many great oldtimers and otherwise <g> and I thought "I" was old.. :)
Who you calling old?!?! :)
Who you calling old?!?! :)
Me Lol <grin>.
We're all just a bunch of decrepit old f@rts. :P
I will not go that far hahahaha :)
Sysop: | digital man |
---|---|
Location: | Riverside County, California |
Users: | 1,042 |
Nodes: | 15 (0 / 15) |
Uptime: | 05:24:19 |
Calls: | 500,304 |
Calls today: | 5 |
Files: | 95,203 |
D/L today: |
276 files (32,131K bytes) |
Messages: | 465,491 |