Hey Everyone,

This is my very first message ever in a BBS! Thanks to an LGR video on
"Wifi232 Wireless Modem: BBS Fun on Retro PCs", I went on a journey of
learning more about what these platforms are! Yesterday, I watched the "Al's Geek Lab" documentary and am now here I am, giving it a try!

I love to watch videos about retro tech even though I don't really own any :) LGR and 8BitGuy are 2 of my favorites!

I still have lots of BBS's to discover, but already I love the simplistic, primitive aesthetic that you just don't get with modern platforms.

I hope this message finds its way to someone and look forward to checking
back!

Cheers!

- D

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
* Origin: bbs.alsgeeklab.com:2323 (1337:2/104)

Hey Everyone,

This is my very first message ever in a BBS!

Awesome, foobar - This is what I love most about the BBS Community... new friends that find us and come experience BBSing. 2o21 is truly a good time to be involved with them!

I remember a time when I thought BBSes were going to BE the future... where computing was being advanced and developed into 'tomorrow'. Funny that its ended up being the retro tech that I could never get away from. I hope the bug bites you, too, foobar. Theres tons of friends and community here to be found... I hope you decide to sniff around a lot more.

You're welcome to come by 2o - and will share my favorites with you:

aBSINTHE @ absinthebbs.net:1940
TELEH4CK @ telehack.com:23
The Quantum Wormhole @ bbs.erb.pw:23
The Underground @ www.theunderground.us:10023
Bottomless Abyss @ bbs.bottomlessabyss.net:2023
HyperNODE @ hypernode.ddns.net:23
X-Bit (SpitFire) @ x-bit.org:2323
Wizards Rainbow @ wizardsrainbow.com:23
Capitol Shrill @ capitolshrill.com:23
Dura-Europa (Apple IIe) @ dura-bbs.net:6359

Theres many more, but I wanted to share some of my friends boards and what I think are some of the best ones around. Theres MANY more to find... which boards have you liked the best so far, and why?

Super stoked you came to tqwNet and BBSing in general, foo. Stick around a bit, the bug might grab ya.



|07p|15AULIE|1142|07o
|08.........

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/05/03 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbs>>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (1337:3/129)

Hey Paulie!

Having only spent 1 day so far exploring around on BBS's, I can already say that I haven't felt this level of excitement of discovery in quite a while!
It makes me feel like I'm a kid again! My first ever experience with a computer, was an old Toshiba laptop running Windows 95. I remember learning
how to change the desktop wallpaper, and was so amazed when I was young :). There is a true beauty in the simplicity of how old software and
tech works and the limitations it has. Even though BBS's have been around
well before I was born, to me so far this feels like a brand new platform
that stands out much more than any modern social media that exists today! (Added bonus of not being tracked all over the place :D)

I'm glad there is still a community to discover here. I like that it's not so mainstream, so it feels more 'exclusive'... Like a secret hangout spot..

BTW, Thank you for your suggestions of other BBS's to try! I'll be sure to let you know what I like!

Take care!

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
* Origin: bbs.alsgeeklab.com:2323 (1337:2/104)

On 24 May 2021, foobar said the following...

Hey Everyone,

Hey foobar, nice to see you.

This is my very first message ever in a BBS! Thanks to an LGR video on "Wifi232 Wireless Modem: BBS Fun on Retro PCs", I went on a journey of learning more about what these platforms are! Yesterday, I watched the "Al'sGeek Lab" documentary and am now here I am, giving it a try!

Wow awesome! Welcome to the scene. It's nice to know that you have been intrigued with the BBS scene and have taken the first step down the rabbit hole =)

I love to watch videos about retro tech even though I don't really own
any :)LGR and 8BitGuy are 2 of my favorites!

Good choices, I also like watching those two channels.

I still have lots of BBS's to discover, but already I love the simplistic,primitive aesthetic that you just don't get with modern platforms.

Yessir, there are a LOT of BBSes around, not nearly as many as back in the day I should imagine, but it's a thriving community, and glad you're taking your part in it.

I could give you a list of my favourites, but I see Paulie420 has already given a few links and I think our faves are pretty similar. I would suggest taking a look at https://telnetbbsguide.com to get a really well put together list of BBSes.

I hope this message finds its way to someone and look forward to checking back!

I am certain it will find it's way to many people. Thanks for being interested, and look forward to seeing you around here often.

Cheers!

- D

---
|14Best regards,
|11Ch|03rist|11ia|15n |11a|03ka |11Me|03aTLoT|11io|15N

|07── |08[|10eml|08] |15ml@erb.pw |07── |08[|10web|08] |15www.erb.pw |07───┐ |07── |08[|09fsx|08] |1521:1/158 |07── |08[|11tqw|08] |151337:1/101 |07┬──┘ |07── |08[|12rtn|08] |1580:774/81 |07─┬ |08[|14fdn|08] |152:250/5 |07───┘
|07── |08[|10ark|08] |1510:104/2 |07─┘

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2020/12/04 (Linux/64)
* Origin: thE qUAntUm wOrmhOlE, rAmsgAtE, uK. bbs.erb.pw (1337:1/101)

Yessir, there are a LOT of BBSes around, not nearly as many as back in
the day I should imagine, but it's a thriving community, and glad you're taking your part in it.

Christian aka MeaTLoTioN

But one of the great things about BBSes in the time of telnet connections, as opposed to back in the day, is that we can 'dial' anywhere in the world without ANY phone bills. Could you imagine that back in the day? [Without having to do any nefarious phone company shenanigans anyway.]

Its a good time to being involved with Bulletin Boards - and I think as the 'Facebook's of the world continue to disrespect their users [or products] BBSing will continue to slow-grow. Glad foobar found us.



|07p|15AULIE|1142|07o
|08.........

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/05/03 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbs>>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (1337:3/129)

But one of the great things about BBSes in the time of telnet
connections, as opposed to back in the day, is that we can 'dial'
anywhere in the world without ANY phone bills. Could you imagine that

Haha, ya I can appreciate the modern internet allowing for that. I am using SyncTERM to browse here. I tried running an emulated slow speed, like 9600 BAUD, but decided it's okay to have full speed :).. Perhaps, if I was running on genuine retro hardware, the slowness of lines loading would add more to
the charm. Nowadays sites are so bloated, it's nice to have something truly lightweight.

I'm loving the ways ANSI is used though! Amazing to see the UI's created from basic characters.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
* Origin: bbs.alsgeeklab.com:2323 (1337:2/104)

I could give you a list of my favourites, but I see Paulie420 has
already given a few links and I think our faves are pretty similar. I would suggest taking a look at https://telnetbbsguide.com to get a
really well put together list of BBSes.

Ya, I also checked out that guide! Indeed it is useful.. I've started to explore a few others. One that immediately stood out was Acid Underworld..
The large collection of ANSI art was pleasing to look at. Definitely lives up to the name!


I will say so far that this BBS has been easiest to navigate IMO.. But I'm
sure as I use more and more, I'll get used to the different nuances between
all of them :)

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
* Origin: bbs.alsgeeklab.com:2323 (1337:2/104)

But one of the great things about BBSes in the time of telnet connections, as opposed to back in the day, is that we can 'dial' anywhere in the world without ANY phone bills. Could you imagine that

Haha, ya I can appreciate the modern internet allowing for that. I am using SyncTERM to browse here. I tried running an emulated slow speed, like 9600 BAUD, but decided it's okay to have full speed :).. Perhaps,
if I was running on genuine retro hardware, the slowness of lines
loading would add more to the charm. Nowadays sites are so bloated, it's nice to have something truly lightweight.

I'm loving the ways ANSI is used though! Amazing to see the UI's created from basic characters.

What I do, on my BBS, is program in slower ANSI speeds for screens that would benefit from being seen at a more 'retro' pace. You know, super long ANSI screens that look great at 57.6 or 28.8k... but for most things, like menus are message listings - file listings, etc... I let those fly by so the user experience is as good as possible.

Some things in life feel better slowed down.. errr.



|07p|15AULIE|1142|07o
|08.........

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/05/03 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbs>>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (1337:3/129)

Hey foobar!

Super stoked to see you coming along to our little world of BBSes! I loved reading your mails, and I'm very glad that my documentary (and LGR) have brought you to try it out!

I will say so far that this BBS has been easiest to navigate IMO.. But
I'm sure as I use more and more, I'll get used to the different nuances between all of them :)
--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
* Origin: bbs.alsgeeklab.com:2323 (1337:2/104)

When you say 'this BBS' are you referring to my one? (al's geek lab?). If so, yay! It's just a new venture for me. I literally opened the BBS officialy today, so I'm glad it is 'user friendly' for new users. That is my exact intention!

Hope to have you along for the long haul, foobar. Welcome!

Al // hyjinx


hyjinx // Alistair Ross
Author of 'Back to the BBS' Documentary: https://bit.ly/3tRINeL (YouTube) alsgeeklab.com

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
* Origin: bbs.alsgeeklab.com:2323 (1337:2/104)

Seem like the same YouTube channels I like to see.

I'm enjoying Al's BBS here with a Minitel running VT100 emulation. So all
the ANSI graphics is missing, but plain text BBSing is woring fine.

I remember back in the day only calling BBSes a few times, as I had no
modem. Too expensive for the phone bill. By the time I got my own modem, the Internet had arrived. I remember borrowing another's PC, and dialing from Denmark to Finland to a BBS to download a MusicTracker only avilable there.
So there was not much time to look around in the BBS world. Just download,
and get offline, and pay the expensive call to the friend.

--- Martin, Denmark

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
* Origin: bbs.alsgeeklab.com:2323 (1337:2/104)

On 01 Aug 2022, mrtinb said the following...

Seem like the same YouTube channels I like to see.

I'm enjoying Al's BBS here with a Minitel running VT100 emulation. So all the ANSI graphics is missing, but plain text BBSing is woring fine.

I remember back in the day only calling BBSes a few times, as I had no modem. Too expensive for the phone bill. By the time I got my own modem, the Internet had arrived. I remember borrowing another's PC, and dialing from Denmark to Finland to a BBS to download a MusicTracker only
avilable there. So there was not much time to look around in the BBS world. Just download, and get offline, and pay the expensive call to the friend.

--- Martin, Denmark

Welcome, Martin! Good to have you here.

... DE JA FU: A feeling that things have been this FU'ed before.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/12/24 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: oNyX bBs - onyxbbs.mywire.org:2300/2200 (1337:3/167)

Welcome!

... Hellllooooooo Nurse....I don't get it! What does that mean?

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 2022/07/15 (Linux/64)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbs>>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (1337:3/129)

On 2022-08-01 18:14 mrtinb said...

I remember back in the day only calling BBSes a few times, as I had no modem. Too expensive for the phone bill. By the time I got my own modem, the Internet had arrived. I remember borrowing another's PC, and dialing from Denmark to Finland to a BBS to download a MusicTracker only avilable there. So there was not much time to look around in the BBS world. Just

Hi and welcome Martin, waving from Sweden here.

(noticed an interesting thing, since you used three dashes in your signature, it got cut from the message here, I only saw it in the other reply to you..)

--- So what if I do it myself? Will ENiGMA1/2 cut it?

--
Best regards
//beardy
[IRC] beardy [WEB] beardy.se [GPH] gopher://bbs.beardy.se:8070/1
[FSX] 21:3/158 [TQW] 1337:1/115
[BBS] bbs.beardy.se (ssh/wss/telnet)
--- ENiGMA 1/2 v0.0.13-beta (linux; x64; 14.19.1)
* Origin: BodaX BBS ~ bbs.beardy.se:23 / SSH port 22 (1337:1/115)

*** Quoting beardy from a message to mrtinb ***

Hi and welcome Martin, waving from Sweden here.

(noticed an interesting thing, since you used three dashes in your signature, it got cut from the message here, I only saw it in the other reply to you..)
--- So what if I do it myself? Will ENiGMA1/2 cut it?

--
Best regards
//beardy
[IRC] beardy [WEB] beardy.se [GPH] gopher://bbs.beardy.se:8070/1 [FSX] 21:3/158 [TQW] 1337:1/115
[BBS] bbs.beardy.se (ssh/wss/telnet)
--- ENiGMA 1/2 v0.0.13-beta (linux; x64; 14.19.1)
* Origin: BodaX BBS ~ bbs.beardy.se:23 / SSH port 22 (1337:1/115)

This is what I see here.


Jay

... Anything can be made to work if you fiddle with it long enough!

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Northern Realms | tg.nrbbs.net | 289-424-5180 (1337:3/126.1)

On 2021-05-24 15:50 foobar said...

This is my very first message ever in a BBS! Thanks to an LGR video on "Wifi232 Wireless Modem: BBS Fun on Retro PCs", I went on a journey of

Hello foobar!
LGR is great, one of my favourite channels too.

--
Best regards
//beardy
[IRC] beardy [WEB] beardy.se [GPH] gopher://bbs.beardy.se:8070/1
[FSX] 21:3/158 [TQW] 1337:1/115
[BBS] bbs.beardy.se (ssh/wss/telnet) https://beardy.se/bodax-bbs
--- ENiGMA 1/2 v0.0.14-beta (linux; x64; 14.19.1)
* Origin: BodaX BBS ~ bbs.beardy.se:23 / SSH port 22 (1337:1/115)

Hello foobar!

any :) LGR and 8BitGuy are 2 of my favorites!

They're my favourite channels. Look up 'Technomoan' (I'm not sure about the spelling).

... Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious. (Oscar Wilde)

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbs>>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (1337:3/129)

On 2023-05-05 10:23 unixl0rd said...

any :) LGR and 8BitGuy are 2 of my favorites!

They're my favourite channels. Look up 'Technomoan' (I'm not sure about the spelling).

Yep, I subscribe to Techmoan and The 8-Bit Guy too. :)
Another nice one I stumbled over just the other day is TimberwolfK, a small channel, but I like the content, his style and humour.

--
Best regards
//beardy
[IRC] beardy [WEB] beardy.se [GPH] gopher://bbs.beardy.se:8070/1
[FSX] 21:3/158 [TQW] 1337:1/115
[BBS] bbs.beardy.se (ssh/wss/telnet) https://beardy.se/bodax-bbs
--- ENiGMA 1/2 v0.0.14-beta (linux; x64; 14.19.1)
* Origin: BodaX BBS ~ bbs.beardy.se:23 / SSH port 22 (1337:1/115)

Another nice one I stumbled over just the other day is TimberwolfK, a

Nice, I will check it out, thanks!

... My wife says I never listen, (or something like that...)

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbs>>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (1337:3/129)

For anyone interested in old games consoles, My Life in Gaming is a good channel, their RGB 101 series goes through the best cables to use, versions of consoles, and take account of different regions.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 2022/07/15 (Linux/64)
* Origin: thE qUAntUm wOrmhOlE, rAmsgAtE, uK. bbs.erb.pw (1337:1/101)