• Looking for BBS Client suggestions

    From kirkspragg@21:2/150 to All on Friday, April 26, 2024 20:42:21
    Hey everyone,

    Asking all the nice folks here if they could suggest telnet/BBS client software to try out on my 286 based retro pc.

    Am currently using the telnet client from MTCP, would like to know i there are any other good DOS based clients... maybe even something that supported
    RIP graphics or maybe lets you store you fav bbs's in a nice menu like SyncTERM.

    Would also be willing to try any win 3/3.1 based telnet clients if any of you know of any??

    Most of what I have found thus far are communication programs that are
    limited to using a modem/serial port - Is there perhaps a way to get these working as telnet clients via some COM port to TCP redirection software??

    ... The trick to flying is missing the ground.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)
  • From niter3@21:1/199 to kirkspragg on Saturday, April 27, 2024 03:30:49
    Asking all the nice folks here if they could suggest telnet/BBS client software to try out on my 286 based retro pc.

    Back in those days I used Telix. Term was another one...

    These are serial/dial-up clients however.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2023/04/30 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Clutch BBS * telnet://clutchbbs.com (21:1/199)
  • From Spectre@21:3/101 to niter3 on Saturday, April 27, 2024 20:52:00
    Back in those days I used Telix. Term was another one...

    I do believe every man and his dog used Telix at some point. I don't recall Term, there was also TeleMate... there was something else I can't remember
    that was out in the early Telix era too, think it was another Tele something.

    Spec


    *** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
    --- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
    * Origin: A camel is a horse designed by a committee. (21:3/101)
  • From Alan Ianson@21:4/106 to Spectre on Saturday, April 27, 2024 05:05:24
    Back in those days I used Telix. Term was another one...
    I do believe every man and his dog used Telix at some point. I don't recall Term, there was also TeleMate... there was something else I can't remember that was out in the early Telix era too, think it was another Tele something.

    Terminate was another popular terminal in the dial up days. It had a point mailer/tosser/reader built in that was pretty good also.

    --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (21:4/106)
  • From niter3@21:1/199 to Spectre on Saturday, April 27, 2024 07:53:17
    I do believe every man and his dog used Telix at some point. I don't recall Term, there was also TeleMate... there was something else I can't

    Sorry mixed that up with Term for Amiga.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2023/04/30 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Clutch BBS * telnet://clutchbbs.com (21:1/199)
  • From Exodus@21:1/144 to Kirkspragg on Saturday, April 27, 2024 11:46:33

    Asking all the nice folks here if they could suggest telnet/BBS client software to try out on my 286 based retro pc.

    Telnet over, I probably have tons in my 178 shareware cds, or my file bases.

    ... Who beta tested Preparations A through G?

    --- Renegade v1.35à/DOS
    * Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (21:1/144)
  • From Bf2K+@21:3/171 to Spectre on Saturday, April 27, 2024 08:25:52
    On 27 Apr 24 20:52:00 Spectre wrote...

    Back in those days I used Telix. Term was another one...

    I do believe every man and his dog used Telix at some point. I don't recall Term, there was also TeleMate... there was something else I
    can't remember that was out in the early Telix era too, think it was another Tele something.

    Spec

    *** THE READER V4.50 [freeware] --- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval) *
    Origin: A camel is a horse designed by a committee. (21:3/101)

    To which Bf2K+ replies...

    Yep Telix and ProComm Plus for me.

    --- RATSoft/FIDO v09.14.95 [JetMail 1.01]
    * Origin: STar Fleet HQ - Real Atari! bbs.sfhqbbs.org:5983 (21:3/171.0)
  • From Roon@21:4/148 to kirkspragg on Saturday, April 27, 2024 22:45:47
    Hello kirkspragg,

    26 Apr 24 20:42, you wrote to All:

    Asking all the nice folks here if they could suggest telnet/BBS client software to try out on my 286 based retro pc.

    Am currently using the telnet client from MTCP, would like to know i
    there are any other good DOS based clients... maybe even something
    that supported RIP graphics or maybe lets you store you fav bbs's in a
    nice menu like SyncTERM.

    Would also be willing to try any win 3/3.1 based telnet clients if any
    of you know of any??

    i've used dos navigators internal terminal or norton commander's TERM90/TERM95.EXE ;)


    Regards,
    --
    dp

    telnet://bbs.roonsbbs.hu:1212 <<=-

    ... Uptime: 0d 2h 31m 50s
    --- GoldED/2 1.1.4.7+EMX
    * Origin: Roon's BBS - Budapest, HUNGARY (21:4/148)
  • From kirkspragg@21:2/150 to Exodus on Saturday, April 27, 2024 21:22:42
    Telnet over, I probably have tons in my 178 shareware cds, or my file bases.

    I will be sure to visit and take a look thanks for the invite.

    ... Music hackers want to do it in realtime.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)
  • From kirkspragg@21:2/150 to Bf2K+ on Saturday, April 27, 2024 21:39:16
    Yep Telix and ProComm Plus for me.

    Am currently using procom plus for windows v2.1 - this version actually supports telnet on win3.1 & works on my 286 so I am pretty stoked, thanks for the suggestion. Will give telix a go & will also try out procomm plus for dos.

    Having a working windows telnet client is hany, makes it more convenient to take down notes in notepad & being able to copy pasta stuff from the terminal to notes is handy for say jotting down the helpful suggestions you have all been giving me!

    ... Eat the rich - the poor are tough and stringy.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)
  • From Spectre@21:3/101 to Bf2K+ on Monday, April 29, 2024 10:38:00


    Yep Telix and ProComm Plus for me.

    ProComm was a late arrival here, I'd forgotten that one, and Terminate. I
    think Terminate was the extra Tele? I was trying to recall.

    Spec


    *** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
    --- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
    * Origin: A camel is a horse designed by a committee. (21:3/101)
  • From Zip@21:1/202 to Spectre on Monday, April 29, 2024 13:30:52
    Hello Spec!

    On 29 Apr 2024, Spectre said the following...

    ProComm was a late arrival here, I'd forgotten that one, and Terminate. I think Terminate was the extra Tele? I was trying to recall.

    Maybe Telemate? I liked that one!

    I went from Telix to Telemate to Terminate, and, if I recall correctly, Telemate had some kind of scripting language that could be used for creating a very simple BBS (more or less).

    Best regards
    Zip

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2023/04/30 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Star Collision BBS, Uppsala, Sweden (21:1/202)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to Zip on Monday, April 29, 2024 06:21:00
    Zip wrote to Spectre <=-

    I went from Telix to Telemate to Terminate, and, if I recall correctly, Telemate had some kind of scripting language that could be used for creating a very simple BBS (more or less).

    Some of the higher-end comms programs had some form of scripting; Telis
    had a half-decent host mode.

    What I liked the most about Telemate was being able to use its internal
    apps while the app was tied up downloading or uploading. I did something similar with Sidekick, but it took up too much RAM.



    ... Germany's official language is Portugese.
    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)
  • From Zip@21:1/202 to poindexter FORTRAN on Monday, April 29, 2024 19:21:17
    Hello poindexter FORTRAN!

    On 29 Apr 2024, poindexter FORTRAN said the following...

    What I liked the most about Telemate was being able to use its internal apps while the app was tied up downloading or uploading. I did something similar with Sidekick, but it took up too much RAM.

    Yep, I remember Sidekick, too! :)

    Best regards
    Zip

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2023/04/30 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Star Collision BBS, Uppsala, Sweden (21:1/202)
  • From Nightfox@21:1/137 to Zip on Monday, April 29, 2024 10:50:58
    Re: Re: Looking for BBS Client suggestions
    By: Zip to Spectre on Mon Apr 29 2024 01:30 pm

    I went from Telix to Telemate to Terminate, and, if I recall correctly, Telemate had some kind of scripting language that could be used for creating a very simple BBS (more or less).

    I remember Telix having a scripting language that could be used for a simple BBS, and there was an example of it that I had downloaded somewhere. Telemate had a scripting langauge too, but I don't remember seeing a BBS-like thing implemented with it.

    Nightfox
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
    * Origin: Digital Distortion: digdist.synchro.net (21:1/137)
  • From Nightfox@21:1/137 to poindexter FORTRAN on Monday, April 29, 2024 10:52:17
    Re: Re: Looking for BBS Client suggestions
    By: poindexter FORTRAN to Zip on Mon Apr 29 2024 06:21 am

    What I liked the most about Telemate was being able to use its internal apps while the app was tied up downloading or uploading. I did something similar with Sidekick, but it took up too much RAM.

    Yeah, Telemate had a built-in CD player that let you play audio CDs with your CD-ROM drive while you were online on a BBS. I used that feature occasionally. But then, most people (myself included) had a stand-alone CD player which I'd often use for playing music CDs..

    Nightfox
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
    * Origin: Digital Distortion: digdist.synchro.net (21:1/137)
  • From AKAcastor@21:1/162 to Kirkspragg on Monday, April 29, 2024 17:29:58
    Am currently using the telnet client from MTCP, would
    like to know i there are any other good DOS based
    clients... maybe even something that supported
    RIP graphics or maybe lets you store you fav bbs's in a
    nice menu like SyncTERM.

    Are you using the telnet program included with the other mTCP applications on the brutmanlabs.org page? I see there is a note: Looking for an enhanced version of Telnet with sixel graphics, mouse, and printer support? See
    https://github.com/jhpyle/mTCP

    That doesn't list any of the specific features you mentioned, so it may not be helpful but I thought I'd mention it if you hadn't seen it.


    Chris/akacastor


    --- Maximus 3.01
    * Origin: Another Millennium - Canada - another.tel (21:1/162)
  • From Spectre@21:3/101 to Zip on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 10:53:00
    similar with Sidekick, but it took up too much RAM.

    Yep, I remember Sidekick, too! :)

    Blast from the distant past.. new someone using it on an XT.. not sure if it had its own "mini" terminal in it, or they used Telix now off hand...

    Spec


    *** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
    --- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
    * Origin: A camel is a horse designed by a committee. (21:3/101)
  • From kirkspragg@21:2/150 to AKAcastor on Monday, April 29, 2024 21:41:59
    Are you using the telnet program included with the other mTCP
    applications on the brutmanlabs.org page? I see there is a note:
    Looking for an enhanced version of Telnet with sixel graphics, mouse,
    and printer support? See https://github.com/jhpyle/mTCP

    Yes I got started on this journey with mTCP & I have tried the enhanced telnet client you speak of. Its good and like the rest of mTCP is an amazing technical achievement but doesn't have a convenient dialer menu.

    RIPScript graphics support would also be awesome however I am coming to realize that might be a bit of a long shot with my current setup. One can
    always look around & hope you find something - and discovering what you can get working & how far you can push your rig is part of the fun and enjoyment of retro computing after all.

    ... Help! I'm parked diagonally in a parallel universe.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)
  • From AKAcastor@21:1/162 to Kirkspragg on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 16:58:18
    Yes I got started on this journey with mTCP & I have
    tried the enhanced telnet client you speak of. Its good
    and like the rest of mTCP is an amazing technical
    achievement but doesn't have a convenient dialer menu.

    I expected as much, really I mentioned it as a sneaky way to hear your opinion on it. :)

    RIPScript graphics support would also be awesome however
    I am coming to realize that might be a bit of a long
    shot with my current setup. One can
    always look around & hope you find something - and
    discovering what you can get working & how far you can
    push your rig is part of the fun and enjoyment of retro
    computing after all.

    Absolutely I agree that discovering what you can get working is part of the fun! I'm not familiar with RIPscrip clients other than using RIPterm a little bit 30 years ago, so not much help here.

    On the telnet side, as someone else mentioned, using an RS232 WiFi modem (there are a few versions that do basically the same thing) may be a useful solution? For anyone not familiar: it plugs into the computer's serial port and from the computer's perspective it emulates a dialup modem, while making a telnet connection via wifi. Then any software expecting a dialup modem can be used to connect via telnet to servers/BBSes online.

    In any case, do keep us updated with your retro terminal experiments!


    Chris/akacastor


    --- Maximus 3.01
    * Origin: Another Millennium - Canada - another.tel (21:1/162)
  • From kirkspragg@21:2/150 to AKAcastor on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 22:22:44
    On the telnet side, as someone else mentioned, using an RS232 WiFi modem (there are a few versions that do basically the same thing) may be a useful solution? For anyone not familiar: it plugs into the computer's serial port and from the computer's perspective it emulates a dialup modem, while making a telnet connection via wifi. Then any software expecting a dialup modem can be used to connect via telnet to servers/BBSes online.

    I will look into this, though I'd be looking for something that can use ethernet instead of wifi. This 'ol house's lathe and plaster walls are
    anathema to wifi, I supposed I could setup an extra wifi access point if required but I'd really prefer not to if possible.

    Also wonder what speed I'll be able to get reliably from the UART in the
    multi I/O card I'm using. From what I can vaguely remember from various attempts at gaming with a friend over a via null modem cable in the 90's this was quite important.

    ... A feature is a bug with seniority.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)
  • From AKAcastor@21:1/162 to Kirkspragg on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 22:49:18
    On the telnet side, as someone else mentioned, using an RS232 WiFi modem

    I will look into this, though I'd be looking for
    something that can use ethernet instead of wifi. This
    'ol house's lathe and plaster walls are
    anathema to wifi, I supposed I could setup an extra wifi
    access point if required but I'd really prefer not to if
    possible.

    Ethernet versions of this type of device exists, I am not really familiar with them myself because the wifi versions have become more common and that's what I've been using, so I don't know specific names to suggest for ethernet versions.

    You could also use tcpser running on a second PC (or a Raspbery Pi etc), with the tcpser system connecting to your serial port the same as the wifi modems.
    https://github.com/FozzTexx/tcpser

    Also wonder what speed I'll be able to get reliably from the UART in the multi I/O card I'm using. From what I can vaguely
    remember from various attempts at gaming with a friend
    over a via null modem cable in the 90's this was quite important.

    Good question about the com port speed - you'll want a 16550 UART for sure. If you have an older I/O card with 8250 UART it would be better to upgrade to a 16550 UART.

    I think these serial<>telnet devices would work with acceptable speed on your system, the device acting as telnet modem will do some buffering.


    Chris/akacastor

    --- Maximus 3.01
    * Origin: Another Millennium - Canada - another.tel (21:1/162)
  • From Spectre@21:3/101 to kirkspragg on Wednesday, May 01, 2024 17:44:00
    I will look into this, though I'd be looking for something that can use ethernet instead of wifi. This 'ol house's lathe and plaster walls are

    Haven't seen what you're looking for, only the Wifi version.

    Also wonder what speed I'll be able to get reliably from the UART in the multi I/O card I'm using. From what I can vaguely remember from various

    It'll depend on CPU speed and UART on the card. Slow CPU with 8250/16450 probably 9600 with no character loss, fast cpu with the same possibly 19.2k
    and a decent CPU with a 16550 anything up to 115k.

    Spec


    *** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
    --- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
    * Origin: A camel is a horse designed by a committee. (21:3/101)
  • From Spectre@21:3/101 to AKAcastor on Wednesday, May 01, 2024 17:49:00
    You could also use tcpser running on a second PC (or a Raspbery Pi etc), with the tcpser system connecting to your serial port the same as the wifi modems. https://github.com/FozzTexx/tcpser

    If you can manage slip/ppp you could also run that over a serial link to a
    Pi. In most cases you've have enough power available on the 5v line to mount the thing internally.

    Good question about the com port speed - you'll want a 16550 UART for sure. If you have an older I/O card with 8250 UART it would be better to upgrade to a 16550 UART.

    SNAP! The only thing we both left out there, was the UARTS are all pin compatible, so anything socketed is a simple swap, while de-soldering them is time consuming being a 40pin package, but doable.

    Spec


    *** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
    --- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
    * Origin: A camel is a horse designed by a committee. (21:3/101)
  • From AKAcastor@21:1/162 to Kirkspragg on Wednesday, May 01, 2024 01:38:08
    something that can use ethernet instead of wifi. This
    'ol house's lathe and plaster walls are
    anathema to wifi, I supposed I could setup an extra wifi
    access point if required but I'd really prefer not to if
    possible.

    Ethernet versions of this type of device exists, I am
    not really familiar with them myself because the wifi
    versions have become more common and that's what I've
    been using, so I don't know specific names to suggest
    for ethernet versions.

    I remembered that "Wiznet" manufactures serial-to-ethernet dongles. I am not sure which might be ready-to-use for telnet modem emulation though. I've only dealt with them in embedded systems use and didn't use telnet protocol.


    Chris/akacastor


    --- Maximus 3.01
    * Origin: Another Millennium - Canada - another.tel (21:1/162)
  • From AKAcastor@21:1/162 to Spectre on Wednesday, May 01, 2024 01:41:30
    Good question about the com port speed - you'll want a 16550 UART for sure. If you have an older I/O card with 8250 UART it would be better to upgrade to a 16550 UART.

    SNAP! The only thing we both left out there, was the UARTS are all pin compatible, so anything socketed is a simple swap, while
    de-soldering them is
    time consuming being a 40pin package, but doable.

    UART talk! It doesn't get much closer to the heart of BBSing! :)

    Wild to think how swapping the UART chip used to be (sometimes) so easy, and here I am on a laptop that I can't even add RAM to! Progress, I guess. ;)


    Chris/akacastor


    --- Maximus 3.01
    * Origin: Another Millennium - Canada - another.tel (21:1/162)
  • From Spectre@21:3/101 to AKAcastor on Wednesday, May 01, 2024 20:55:00
    UART talk! It doesn't get much closer to the heart of BBSing! :)

    There's always the 6551 but its even older, and usually only used in 6502
    based systems. :) Some of the line driver support is the same though.
    1488 and 1489...


    *** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
    --- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
    * Origin: A camel is a horse designed by a committee. (21:3/101)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to kirkspragg on Wednesday, May 01, 2024 06:49:00
    kirkspragg wrote to AKAcastor <=-

    Also wonder what speed I'll be able to get reliably from the UART in
    the multi I/O card I'm using. From what I can vaguely remember from various attempts at gaming with a friend over a via null modem cable in the 90's this was quite important.

    8250 UART - bad
    16450 UART - OK for some speeds and single-tasking
    16550 and higher - good.



    ... Adding on
    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to AKAcastor on Wednesday, May 01, 2024 06:52:00
    AKAcastor wrote to Spectre <=-

    Wild to think how swapping the UART chip used to be (sometimes) so
    easy, and here I am on a laptop that I can't even add RAM to!
    Progress, I guess. ;)

    Those little cheap vinyl zipper tool cases always came with a chip
    extractor and a chip inserter tool, wonder if they finally got rid of
    those. My first computer had DIP RAM and I replaced the UART, after that
    it was all DIP/DIMM/SIMM and so on...



    ... Fax is the most popular method of communication.
    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)
  • From AKAcastor@21:1/162 to Spectre on Wednesday, May 01, 2024 11:45:56
    UART talk! It doesn't get much closer to the heart of BBSing! :)

    There's always the 6551 but its even older, and usually only used in 6502 based systems. :) Some of the line driver support is the same though.
    1488 and 1489...

    Now there's a reply that could be from 40 years ago as easily as today! I may have even read the same message in some old Fido archives at some point. ;)


    Chris/akacastor


    --- Maximus 3.01
    * Origin: Another Millennium - Canada - another.tel (21:1/162)
  • From AKAcastor@21:1/162 to Poindexter Fortran on Wednesday, May 01, 2024 11:59:56
    Wild to think how swapping the UART chip used to be (sometimes) so
    easy, and here I am on a laptop that I can't even add RAM to!
    Progress, I guess. ;)

    Those little cheap vinyl zipper tool cases always came with a chip extractor and a chip inserter tool, wonder if they finally got rid of those. My first computer had DIP RAM and I replaced the UART, after that it was all DIP/DIMM/SIMM and so on...

    Hahaha yes those little toolkits always included those tools, I wonder how many got used in the past 30 years.


    Chris/akacastor


    --- Maximus 3.01
    * Origin: Another Millennium - Canada - another.tel (21:1/162)
  • From Roon@21:4/148 to kirkspragg on Wednesday, May 01, 2024 22:16:43
    Hello kirkspragg,

    30 Apr 24 22:22, you wrote to AKAcastor:

    On the telnet side, as someone else mentioned, using an RS232
    WiFi modem (there are a few versions that do basically the same
    thing) may be a useful solution? For anyone not familiar: it
    plugs into the computer's serial port and from the computer's
    perspective it emulates a dialup modem, while making a telnet
    connection via wifi. Then any software expecting a dialup modem
    can be used to connect via telnet to servers/BBSes online.

    I will look into this, though I'd be looking for something that can
    use ethernet instead of wifi. This 'ol house's lathe and plaster
    walls are anathema to wifi, I supposed I could setup an extra wifi
    access point if required but I'd really prefer not to if possible.

    somewhere Darklord wrote that he uses a Lantronix UDS100 for his atari, so i've bought one and it works well also on my atari st, and it should work on a PC/whatever with a serial port as well. check it out and you can buy a used one on ebay really quick.

    https://cdn.lantronix.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/UDS10-UDS100_UG.pdf

    Regards,
    --
    dp

    telnet://bbs.roonsbbs.hu:1212 <<=-

    ... Uptime: 4d 1h 13m 31s
    --- GoldED/2 1.1.4.7+EMX
    * Origin: Roon's BBS - Budapest, HUNGARY (21:4/148)
  • From Roon@21:4/148 to AKAcastor on Wednesday, May 01, 2024 22:19:30
    Hello AKAcastor,

    30 Apr 24 22:49, you wrote to Kirkspragg:

    Also wonder what speed I'll be able to get reliably from the UART
    in the multi I/O card I'm using. From what I can vaguely remember
    from various attempts at gaming with a friend over a via null
    modem cable in the 90's this was quite important.

    Good question about the com port speed - you'll want a 16550 UART for
    sure. If you have an older I/O card with 8250 UART it would be better
    to upgrade to a 16550 UART.

    I think these serial<>telnet devices would work with acceptable speed
    on your system, the device acting as telnet modem will do some
    buffering.

    yeah i have a couple of 386s with 16450 UART and it sucks! hard! even with a real (high speed) modem. if you use this you have to set your baud to 9600 or less and even in this case its really hard to make your connection reliable.

    Regards,
    --
    dp

    telnet://bbs.roonsbbs.hu:1212 <<=-

    ... Uptime: 4d 1h 13m 31s
    --- GoldED/2 1.1.4.7+EMX
    * Origin: Roon's BBS - Budapest, HUNGARY (21:4/148)
  • From kirkspragg@21:2/150 to AKAcastor on Wednesday, May 01, 2024 23:45:03
    Ethernet versions of this type of device exists, I am
    not really familiar with them myself because the wifi
    I remembered that "Wiznet" manufactures serial-to-ethernet dongles. I
    am not sure which might be ready-to-use for telnet modem emulation
    though. I've only dealt with them in embedded systems use and didn't
    use telnet protocol.

    Following a recommendation I found over on the vintage compute federation forums in an old discussion about serial modem emulators, I've ordered a couple of Lantronx UDS10 ethernet to serial devices 2nd hand from ebay. Looks like they'll do what I need, I'll let you all know that works out!

    Looking at the docs for this device, it can do a number of protocols including telnet. Will be interesting to see how it functions in practice when pared with a traditional modem based terminal app. I think there will be much fun and frustration in my near future!

    ... Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)
  • From kirkspragg@21:2/150 to poindexter FORTRAN on Wednesday, May 01, 2024 23:52:09
    Those little cheap vinyl zipper tool cases always came with a chip extractor and a chip inserter tool, wonder if they finally got rid of those. My first computer had DIP RAM and I replaced the UART, after that

    I've got that exact toolkit. Most of it's pretty average but the chip inserter tool is very usefull. I've used it a bit to carefully insert and
    remove 287 copros, 8088 & Nec v20 chips ect, works rather well given how cheap the whole tool set was.

    ... Retreat? No, we're just fighting in another direction.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)
  • From kirkspragg@21:2/150 to Roon on Wednesday, May 01, 2024 23:56:04
    somewhere Darklord wrote that he uses a Lantronix UDS100 for his atari,
    so i've bought one and it works well also on my atari st, and it should work on a PC/whatever with a serial port as well. check it out and you
    can buy a used one on ebay really quick.

    Bought a couple of the cheaper UDS10's today. I don't think the extra speed (full duplex ethernet vs half) of the UDS100 will make much difference on my current 286 based rig. I'll let you know how it works out.

    ... DPN: Double Precision No-op

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)
  • From Roon@21:4/148 to kirkspragg on Thursday, May 02, 2024 11:34:31
    Hello kirkspragg,

    01 May 24 23:45, you wrote to AKAcastor:

    Ethernet versions of this type of device exists, I am
    not really familiar with them myself because the wifi
    I remembered that "Wiznet" manufactures serial-to-ethernet
    dongles. I am not sure which might be ready-to-use for telnet
    modem emulation though. I've only dealt with them in embedded
    systems use and didn't use telnet protocol.

    Following a recommendation I found over on the vintage compute
    federation forums in an old discussion about serial modem emulators,
    I've ordered a couple of Lantronx UDS10 ethernet to serial devices 2nd
    hand from ebay. Looks like they'll do what I need, I'll let you all
    know that works out!

    Looking at the docs for this device, it can do a number of protocols including telnet. Will be interesting to see how it functions in
    practice when pared with a traditional modem based terminal app. I
    think there will be much fun and frustration in my near future!

    i can help you if you are stuck, i've been playing with the different options 'till i've found a decent one. which i don't remember, but its saved in the nvram :)

    Regards,
    --
    dp

    telnet://bbs.roonsbbs.hu:1212 <<=-

    ... Uptime: 4d 15h 21m 22s
    --- GoldED/2 1.1.4.7+EMX
    * Origin: Roon's BBS - Budapest, HUNGARY (21:4/148)
  • From Bf2K+@21:3/171 to Spectre on Wednesday, May 01, 2024 21:53:48
    On 29 Apr 24 10:38:00 Spectre wrote...



    Yep Telix and ProComm Plus for me.

    ProComm was a late arrival here, I'd forgotten that one, and Terminate. think Terminate was the extra Tele? I was trying to recall.

    Spec


    *** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]

    To which Bf2K+ replies...

    What was the programming language in Procomm... aspect? or something? I
    think I ahev all my scripts in a ZIP file here somewhere. I think I wrote
    a simple BBS using the script language...

    I know I wrote a program to monitor the Rolm phone switch at my company
    using Aspect. The program caught an employess who was making LD calls
    thru the switch at nightime and staying online for hours.

    eheheheh...

    --- RATSoft/FIDO v09.14.95 [JetMail 1.01]
    * Origin: STar Fleet HQ - Real Atari! bbs.sfhqbbs.org:5983 (21:3/171.0)
  • From kirkspragg@21:2/150 to Roon on Thursday, May 02, 2024 21:37:42
    i can help you if you are stuck, i've been playing with the different options 'till i've found a decent one. which i don't remember, but its saved in the nvram :)

    Sure will do! Thanks for the offer! One thing I could use help with is identifying the UART my multi-IO card has. It's one of the later UMC cards I think & all the functions appear to be combined into one a couple of ICs i.e. I can't find an obvious UART chip.

    Know of any DOS software I could run to check what UART this thing actually has??

    ... Everybody know there is a no Sanity Clause! –Chico Marx

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)
  • From Roon@21:4/148 to kirkspragg on Friday, May 03, 2024 07:28:45
    Hello kirkspragg,

    02 May 24 21:37, you wrote to me:

    i can help you if you are stuck, i've been playing with the
    different options 'till i've found a decent one. which i don't
    remember, but its saved in the nvram :)

    Sure will do! Thanks for the offer! One thing I could use help with is identifying the UART my multi-IO card has. It's one of the later UMC
    cards I think & all the functions appear to be combined into one a
    couple of ICs i.e. I can't find an obvious UART chip.

    Know of any DOS software I could run to check what UART this thing
    actually has??

    x00's xu can do it for you.

    IIRC the command should be: xu s
    (aka status?)
    of course you need to load x00 before.

    Regards,
    --
    dp

    telnet://bbs.roonsbbs.hu:1212 <<=-

    ... Uptime: 5d 11h 6m 53s
    --- GoldED/2 1.1.4.7+EMX
    * Origin: Roon's BBS - Budapest, HUNGARY (21:4/148)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to Bf2K+ on Friday, May 03, 2024 00:33:23
    Re: Looking for BBS Client suggestions
    By: Bf2K+ to Spectre on Wed May 01 2024 09:53 pm

    What was the programming language in Procomm... aspect? or something? I think I ahev all my scripts in a ZIP file here somewhere. I think I wrote a simple BBS using the script language...

    ASPECT, that's right. Procomm Plus was common in my circles, I managed Northern Telecom PBXes in another life. People had shared Procomm scripts to automate some of the more manual aspects of managing the switch, and it seemed like everyone had a copy of the scripts.

    Procomm Plus was the app of choice, Northern Telecom PBXes and their voicemail systems needed solid VT220 emulation and Procomm Plus was the only app the made the cut.
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)
  • From Bob Worm@21:1/205 to poindexter FORTRAN on Friday, May 03, 2024 11:12:41
    Re: Re: Looking for BBS Client suggestions
    By: poindexter FORTRAN to kirkspragg on Wed May 01 2024 06:49:00

    Hi, pF.

    8250 UART - bad
    16450 UART - OK for some speeds and single-tasking
    16550 and higher - good.

    Ah, yes - this brings back memories of playing serial based LAN matches with my brother. I had a 486-SX 25 with 16550 UART (on board) whereas he had a whizzbang 486-DX2 66 with 16450 UART on an expansion board - my computer would struggle to render the game but it was always his end that pulled the match down because its serial just could not keep up!

    BobW
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
    * Origin: >>> Magnum BBS <<< - bbs.magnum.uk.net (21:1/205)
  • From kirkspragg@21:2/150 to Roon on Friday, May 03, 2024 13:45:14
    x00's xu can do it for you.

    Thanks, I'll look around for x00, I assume you've got a copy in your BBS's
    file area so I'll look there later on today when I've got a bit more time.

    ... Wisdom is knowing thyself--and not telling anyone.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)
  • From Roon@21:4/148 to kirkspragg on Saturday, May 04, 2024 00:30:53
    Hello kirkspragg,

    03 May 24 13:45, you wrote to me:

    x00's xu can do it for you.

    Thanks, I'll look around for x00, I assume you've got a copy in your
    BBS's file area so I'll look there later on today when I've got a bit
    more time.

    you'll find it in the DOS.COMM area.
    X00153A.ZIP
    or
    X00V124.ZIP

    Regards,
    --
    dp

    telnet://bbs.roonsbbs.hu:1212 <<=-

    ... Uptime: 6d 4h 16m 48s
    --- GoldED/2 1.1.4.7+EMX
    * Origin: Roon's BBS - Budapest, HUNGARY (21:4/148)
  • From mary4@21:1/166 to kirkspragg on Sunday, May 05, 2024 00:11:51
    Hey everyone,
    hey

    Asking all the nice folks here if they could suggest telnet/BBS client software to try out on my 286 based retro pc.
    i am using MTCP's telnet....


    Am currently using the telnet client from MTCP, would like to know i
    there are any other good DOS based clients... maybe even something that supported RIP graphics or maybe lets you store you fav bbs's in a nice menu like SyncTERM.

    oh that is fancy. i just personally use batch files to hold my BBS urls i go to like TNDN.bat is a bat file that allows me to connect datanet and they all
    have the prefix tn for telnet so i know what they are! :D
    ki> Would also be willing to try any win 3/3.1 based telnet clients if
    any ki> of you know of any??

    i know of none..
    Most of what I have found thus far are communication programs that are limited to using a modem/serial port - Is there perhaps a way to get
    these working as telnet clients via some COM port to TCP redirection software??

    hmmmmmmmm i dont know..

    i personally use batch files to keep track of the BBSes i go to! :D

    --mary4 (Victoria Crenshaw) the 286 enthusiast

    ... A SQL query walks into a bar and sees two tables. Asks: 'Can I join you?'

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/12/24 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Datanet BBS | telnet://datanetbbs.net:23 (21:1/166)
  • From kirkspragg@21:2/150 to mary4 on Saturday, May 04, 2024 14:09:57
    software to try out on my 286 based retro pc.
    i am using MTCP's telnet....

    Yup am using that too, but am preferring Procomm 2.1 for windows as it works on my 286 in win 3.1 & thus I can have a text editor open at the same time &
    copy-paste interesting message/info ect from procomm's terminal to a text
    file notepad to investigate at a later date.

    these working as telnet clients via some COM port to TCP redirection software??

    hmmmmmmmm i dont know..

    I've ordered a couple of Ethernet-Serial port modem emulator devices from ebay, they can apparently do telnet emulation so should fit the bill here. I'll let you all know how that works out once I've got the devices and have had a chance to play with them.

    ... I DO have a clue; wait while I remember where I put it...

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)
  • From Spectre@21:3/101 to Roon on Sunday, May 05, 2024 11:42:00
    yeah i have a couple of 386s with 16450 UART and it sucks! hard! even with a real (high speed) modem. if you use this you have to set your baud to 9600 or less and even in this case its really hard to make your connection reliable.

    I find this surprising.. but I guess it depends on what you're running on
    your 386... DX33 and DX40 were perfectly happy with 16450s at 19.2, but the bottleneck on these direct serial lines were the clients, mostly some flavour of Apple II.

    Certainly single task DOS, or even DesqView could manage it. Mebbe if you're trying to Windoze it, it'll struggle.

    Spec


    *** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
    --- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
    * Origin: A camel is a horse designed by a committee. (21:3/101)
  • From Spectre@21:3/101 to kirkspragg on Sunday, May 05, 2024 11:59:00
    Know of any DOS software I could run to check what UART this thing actually has??

    Stretching the memory, PCTools has HWInfo? Used to be some other standalone thing I used, I think was sysinfo... but really struggling to remember what now... 8250/16450s will usually identify the same, and are classed together, 16550s identify seperately.

    The only other addendum I'd add, they're pretty rare but the original 16550s are no better than 16450s. There's some kind of bug on the chip stopping the use of the FIFOs. 16550a an and afn I think they are, are the go to chips.

    Spec


    *** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
    --- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
    * Origin: A camel is a horse designed by a committee. (21:3/101)
  • From kirkspragg@21:2/150 to Spectre on Sunday, May 05, 2024 21:35:40
    Stretching the memory, PCTools has HWInfo? Used to be some other standalone thing I used, I think was sysinfo... but really struggling to remember what now... 8250/16450s will usually identify the same, and are classed together, 16550s identify seperately.

    Found a utility called IS16650 over on The Titanic Telnet BBS (ttb.rgbbs.info) that did the trick. Apparently I have 16650AN UARTs on both serial ports.

    ... DR-DOS Windows Compressor: XDEL \WINDOWS\*.* /R /S /N /D

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)