ALLEN PRUNTY wrote to DARYL STOUT <=-
Usenet is very much alive and I'm willing to make ultra filtered newsgroups available by QWKnet or FidoNet
Allen
---
ž Derby City LiveWire - Louisville, KY - livewirebbs.ddns.net
The fact that you filter Usenet means you're now added to my dialing dir
and I'm paying you a visit as I write this offline.
Not many hosts for Usenet bother filtering and with so many groups, I have no idea what's good anymore. So - thank you :)
Mro wrote to Kenneth Udut <=-
usenet is alive with binaries and spam.
anything else is less than 1%
usenet is alive with binaries and spam.
anything else is less than 1%
I started to take a feed for a very popular Usenet area
here in Brazil from this BBS, and I got really surprised
how messy it is these days.
Mro wrote to Flavio Bessa <=-
I started to take a feed for a very popular Usenet area
here in Brazil from this BBS, and I got really surprised
how messy it is these days.
you should correct your text formatting
you should correct your text formatting
I try my best to, but the only editor I could
make work at the Macbook was the vi, so I have to
edit the columns manually.
Sorry about that, but I am open to any suggestions
you might have. I've tried nano but the outcome was
even worse...
Mro wrote to Flavio Bessa <=-
looks like you are doing a carriage return every 45 or so characters.
it's still looking weird.
why dont you install a javascript editor for your bbs if it's
synchronet. you'll probably like it better.
I am using an offline reader, MultiMail. The issue is that I have a Mac and I
simply can't find a good text editor with the proper alignment, so I prefer to
do it manually.
As I am using vi to write, if I keep on writing at the same line all the time
the text will spill into the other column for some readers, making it even worse. :)
JIMMY ANDERSON wrote to FLAVIO BESSA <=-
Are you running something on the Mac? I run MM via Parallels but would prefer something Apple Native.
worse. :)
Same here even using textedit in Windows...
FLAVIO BESSA wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-
Yes, sometimes it's better just to reply online. :)
JIMMY ANDERSON wrote to FLAVIO BESSA <=-
Yes, sometimes it's better just to reply online. :)
I've tried it - too much stuff to filter through that I
don't want to read - plus the charm of taglines is missing
online. :-)
FLAVIO BESSA wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-I am just tempted just to put all my message bases into my bbs news server and just read my messages
MultiMail does have a MacOS port (which I am using), but the problem
is that I can't find a decent text editor for the Mac. I am using vi
now, have also tried nano.
worse. :)
Same here even using textedit in Windows...
Yes, sometimes it's better just to reply online. :)
Yes, sometimes it's better just to reply online. :)I am just tempted just to put all my message bases into my bbs news server and just read my messages
via nntp instead.
why dont you install a javascript editor for your bbs if it's
synchronet. you'll probably like it better.
I am using an offline reader, MultiMail. The issue is that I have a Mac and I simply can't find a good text editor with the proper alignment, so I prefer to do it manually.
Quoting Nightfox to Flavio Bessa at 09-04-16 19:54 <=-
Re: Message Editors
By: Flavio Bessa to Mro on Fri Aug 12 2016 08:51:00
why dont you install a javascript editor for your bbs if it's
synchronet. you'll probably like it better.
I am using an offline reader, MultiMail. The issue is that I have a Mac and I simply can't find a good text editor with the proper alignment, so I prefer to do it manually.
I'm curious, what do you think is the benefit of using an offline mail reader these days rather than replying on your BBS?
I'm curious, what do you think is the benefit of using an offline mail reader these days rather than replying on your BBS?
A lot of more resources, more flexibility to copy and
paste texts, formatting, taglines and signatures configs.
for myself it to be able to read on my commute. with newstap on my iPad I can read the groups from anywhere.
Quoting Poindexter Fortran to Mauro Veiga <=-
If I could find a good 32-bit console editor for Windows that I liked,
I could run MultiMail on my desktop and run it in full screen.
I've missed BBSing on my commute. I've been driving for the past several years, but I used to take a ferry across bay to San Francisco. I'd load up
a QWK packet and a QWK reader and spend a good 40 minutes with a cup of coffee and no internet distractions (back then) on my way to work.
why dont you install a javascript editor for your bbs if it's
synchronet. you'll probably like it better.
I am using an offline reader, MultiMail. The issue is that I have a
Mac and I simply can't find a good text editor with the proper
I'm curious, what do you think is the benefit of using an offline mail reader these days rather than replying on your BBS?
A lot of more resources, more flexibility to copy and
paste texts, formatting, taglines and signatures configs.
Mauro Veiga wrote to NIGHTFOX <=-
I'm curious, what do you think is the benefit of using an offline mail reader these days rather than replying on your BBS?
A lot of more resources, more flexibility to copy and
paste texts, formatting, taglines and signatures configs.
Quoting Vk3jed to Mauro Veiga <=-
I find all of those, plus better management of the message reading process. I also use offline mail, even though the BBSs are on the same LAN as me.
What I do (right now with this reply) on a 64 bit windows laptop. I run something called "Dosbox" and installed my favorite dos based tools in that. ie: Bluewave, Qedit, etc. Currently running everything in a full screen mode.
Quoting Poindexter Fortran to Tiny <=-
I tried that, but unarchiving the packets in DOSBOX is slow - like 1-2 minutes slow. I should try it again, I have Telix in my DOSBOX
environment for the perfect 1990s experience!
Quoting Poindexter Fortran to Mauro Veiga at 09-05-16 08:23 <=-
Re: Re: Message Editors
By: Mauro Veiga to NIGHTFOX on Mon Sep 05 2016 09:07 am
A lot of more resources, more flexibility to copy and
paste texts, formatting, taglines and signatures configs.
I miss being able to scan all of the messages, to make sure I'm not duplicating a reply. My editor, QEDIT, is second nature to me, as I've used it for years.
Qedit doesn't run in 64 bit Windows and Multimail won't run in a full screen when I remote into my BBS, so I'm stuck reading through a local terminal program in full screen or in an offline editor in a window.
If I could find a good 32-bit console editor for Windows that I liked,
I could run MultiMail on my desktop and run it in full screen.
Quoting Vk3jed to Mauro Veiga at 09-05-16 22:59 <=-
Mauro Veiga wrote to NIGHTFOX <=-
I'm curious, what do you think is the benefit of using an offline mail reader these days rather than replying on your BBS?
A lot of more resources, more flexibility to copy and
paste texts, formatting, taglines and signatures configs.
I find all of those, plus better management of the message reading process. I also use offline mail, even though the BBSs are on the same LAN as me.
In your config file for dosbox in the [cpu] section change the
cycles= line to cycles=fixed 6412 That un zip's packets nice and fast.
What I do (right now with this reply) on a 64 bit windows laptop. I run something called "Dosbox" and installed my favorite dos based tools in
that. ie: Bluewave, Qedit, etc. Currently running everything in a full screen mode.
Shawn
Tiny wrote to Vk3jed <=-
I use it when I'm in the woods, to help save bandwith. The rest of
the time I either read it online the BBS or using a sysop reader such
as Golded.
Mauro Veiga wrote to VK3JED <=-
I find all of those, plus better management of the message reading process. I also use offline mail, even though the BBSs are on the same LAN as me.
I do the same, and use Bluewave on the same machine of the BBS.
:-)
... All right who's been cooking hot dogs in the Warp Drive?
Quoting Poindexter Fortran to Tiny <=-
In your config file for dosbox in the [cpu] section change the
cycles= line to cycles=fixed 6412 That un zip's packets nice and fast.
Will do. Thanks!
Quoting Ennev to Tiny <=-
People don't ask question when they see dos and text interface on your computer ? Like 'are you an hacker?' :-)
I've had looks, but if they make eye contact I will tell them all about
the BBS and offline mail, and how we use it to make bombs to sell to the Great Leader, and that a guy named Ennev pays me with cocaine for every credit card number and social insurance number I can steal for him.
Quoting Poindexter Fortran to Tiny at 09-06-16 08:05 <=-
Re: Re: Message Editors
By: Tiny to Poindexter Fortran on Mon Sep 05 2016 05:36 pm
What I do (right now with this reply) on a 64 bit windows laptop. I run something called "Dosbox" and installed my favorite dos based tools in that. ie: Bluewave, Qedit, etc. Currently running everything in a full screen mode.
I tried that, but unarchiving the packets in DOSBOX is slow - like 1-2 minutes slow. I should try it again, I have Telix in my DOSBOX
environment for the perfect 1990s experience!
Very welcome, let me know?
I've had looks, but if they make eye contact I will tell them all about the BBS and offline mail, and how we use it to make bombs to sell to the Great Leader, and that a guy named Ennev pays me with cocaine for every credit card number and social insurance number I can steal for him.
I was out at a coffee shop yesterday, working on my old 4x3 Thinkpad, covered with stickers and telnetted into my BBS. The ANSI's caught one woman's eye. I should have worn huge can headphones for the ultimate uneasy effect.
Quoting Poindexter Fortran to Tiny <=-
That cut the time in about half - thanks!
It's easy to forget that packets were smaller back then, I wouldn't
have dared try to unzip a 2 megabyte packet on my old hardware!
Quoting Poindexter Fortran to Tiny <=-
I was out at a coffee shop yesterday, working on my old 4x3 Thinkpad, covered with stickers and telnetted into my BBS. The ANSI's caught one woman's eye. I should have worn huge can headphones for the ultimate uneasy effect.
Quoting Poindexter Fortran to Tiny <=-
I was out at a coffee shop yesterday, working on my old 4x3 Thinkpad, covered with stickers and telnetted into my BBS. The ANSI's caught on woman's eye. I should have worn huge can headphones for the ultimate uneasy effect.
It's 1995 again damnit!!!!!
It's 1995 again damnit!!!!!
1995 is the dividing line between when the Internet took off, and when BBSing died.
Quoting Mauro Veiga to Poindexter Fortran at 09-07-16 13:16 <=-
Quoting Poindexter Fortran to Tiny at 09-06-16 08:05 <=-
Re: Re: Message Editors
By: Tiny to Poindexter Fortran on Mon Sep 05 2016 05:36 pm
What I do (right now with this reply) on a 64 bit windows laptop. I run something called "Dosbox" and installed my favorite dos based tools in that. ie: Bluewave, Qedit, etc. Currently running everything in a full screen mode.
I tried that, but unarchiving the packets in DOSBOX is slow - like 1-2 minutes slow. I should try it again, I have Telix in my DOSBOX
environment for the perfect 1990s experience!
Bluewave /DOS is very slow on DosBox.
2.23/386 version is more fast.
Gryphon wrote to Tiny <=-
1995 is the dividing line between when the Internet took off, and when BBSing died.
Poindexter Fortran wrote to Tiny <=-
Where's my neon-painted 2-way Motorola pager and Doc Martens?
Poindexter Fortran wrote to Gryphon <=-
From the sysop's perspective, I'd call the time at 1999. From 1995 on,
the number of boards dropped, but I was able to get packets via the internet instead of paying toll charges. I added the whole Fido
backbone as it stood, because I could afford to for the first time.
That seemed to inject a shot into the network for a short time - but
the end was near.
Mauro Veiga wrote to POINDEXTER FORTRAN <=-
Bluewave /DOS is very slow on DosBox.
2.23/386 version is more fast.
Sorry, is 2.30/386.
... DEVICEHIGH: Your device driver on drugs.
1995 is the dividing line between when the Internet took off, and when BBSingI remember the old days of multi line wildcat and worldgroup boards.
died.
While we adopted SIO/Vmodem in the mid-late 90s, we had no feeds who were usingEven when I tried to get my users to come back in 1997 or 1998 they
Internet based technology yet. I recall looking into Internet Rex, but again
didn't have anyone to talk to. The users were moving away to the shiny new WWW
in droves.
Matthew Munson wrote to VK3JED <=-
Even when I tried to get my users to come back in 1997 or 1998 they basically gave up bbses even though they were my users back in 1995 and 1996.
1995 is the dividing line between when the Internet took off, and when
died.I remember the old days of multi line wildcat and worldgroup boards.
Those were the days.
I was out at a coffee shop yesterday, working on my old 4x3 Thinkpad, covered with stickers and telnetted into my BBS. The ANSI's caught one woman's eye. I should have worn huge can headphones for the ultimateuneasy
effect.
Wasn't WG called MajorBBS back in the day? I remember calling some multiline MBBS boards while I ran a snotty little one-line WWIV board.
It's 1995 again damnit!!!!!
1995 is the dividing line between when the Internet took off, and when BBSing died.
It's 1995 again damnit!!!!!
1995 is the dividing line between when the Internet took off, and when BBSing died.
i would say the WEB which is a layer of the internet was taking off.
1995 was actually pretty damn active in my area. "the third wave", i've hea it called.
Flavio Bessa wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-
Are you running something on the Mac? I run MM via Parallels but would prefer something Apple Native.
MultiMail does have a MacOS port (which I am using), but the
problem
is that I can't find a decent text editor for the Mac. I am
using vi
now, have also tried nano.
Vk3jed wrote to Matthew Munson <=-
Even when I tried to get my users to come back in 1997 or 1998 they basically gave up bbses even though they were my users back in 1995 and 1996.
Yep, everyone simply migrated to the Internet. Same thing here. Some
of our users did switch to our own Internet service. As we offered
telnet access to the BBS, they could still log in on the same call. Unfortunately, terminal programs hadn't kept up One had to use
SIO/Vmodem on the user's end as well, when we had that capability. I don't know when Syncterm, Netrunner and others came along.
Sampsa wrote to Vk3jed <=-
I actually remember having an ISDN line back in like 1997-98 and I'd
use one of the channels for internet access and use the second one to
call a couple of HUGE BBSes in Helsinki (one had like 200+ nodes)..
But by 2001 it was all DSL and any BBSes I'd use I'd telnet to..
It was still faster to use zmodem over ISDN to a local BBS than say FTP for large file transfers and I was still a big fan of BBSes so whilst
we had ISDN, that was how I'd usually use it - one B channel connected
to the internet, another for dialling BBSes.
Even when I tried to get my users to come back in 1997 or 1998 they basically gave up bbses even though they were my users back in 1995
and 1996.
ISDN never took off here for domestic use. It was overpriced and calls were timed charges, which made it unattractive for BBSing.
Poindexter Fortran wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Unattractive for calling BBSes, but great for *running* one.
I had an ISDN line paid for my by company in 1997-2000, so I didn't
have to pay the bill (but still needed to be mindful of charges as they were reviewed by my boss, the CFO!)
Inbound calls were free, if memory serves, so calls to the BBS were
free. I toyed with the idea of using both b-channels to take calls for
the BBS, but the traffic didn't merit it.
Outbound calls were a toll charge, but might have been free off-peak -
I forget.
I started getting my echomail via the internet, so I'd nail up the secondary B channel to my company's PPP server while I was working from home, download my mail while I worked and left the primary B channel
free for inbound calls.
ISDN is a digital connection to the phone company, which means less
line noise. If you had an ISDN line you'd get a guaranteed 56K connect. Even if you didn't, since there was half the noise on the line you'd
get fast connection speeds - I often saw 48K or 52K connects. Remember
how when 56K came out, your mileage would vary? Line quality could
prevent you from ever seeing a >48K connect on your 56K modem.
So, I could connect to the internet at 56K, have a call connect to the
BBS at 56K while I dialed out on the other B channel, or take the BBS
down and connect at 112K. Not bad for the time.
Talking about old hardware made me wonder if the pocketchip ( http://q.ennev.com/u ) would be a viable way to interface with a bbs. This tiny thing run linux so if there is telnet on this your in business, might not have ansi-pc fonts but it would be a start.
Anybody experimented with these c.h.i.p product? i'm only familiar with Raspberry Pi. Would be fun to have an enclosure like this for rpi.
connects. Remember how when 56K came out, your mileage would vary?
Line quality could prevent you from ever seeing a >48K connect on
your 56K modem.
Why only 56k on ISDN? I thought a B channel was 64k.
Poindexter Fortran wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Why only 56k on ISDN? I thought a B channel was 64k.
56K analog v.92 connection into the POTS network via one B channel.
ISDN is a 128K circuit broken down into 2 56K bearer channels, and a
16K data channel used for call setup/takedown/progress.
Vk3jed wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-
I've tried it - too much stuff to filter through that I
don't want to read - plus the charm of taglines is missing
online. :-)
Yeah I find it easier to flip through messages offline, even though the original reason for offline mail isn't there any more. And yes, I like
my taglines. Just a bit short of them ATM, because I'm away from home
for a couple days. :)
Nighthawk wrote to Vk3jed <=-
There's still a plenty of reasons for offline mail reading.
Not only taglines, but also there are times in which you
simply
can't have access to the Internet - this reply is being
written
in an airplane, for instance ;)
Vk3jed wrote to Poindexter Fortran <=-
@VIA: VERT/FREEWAY
@MSGID: <57DE3F37.2886.dove-general@freeway.apana.org.au>
@REPLY: <57DD1614.15222.dove.dove-gen@realitycheckbbs.org>
@TZ: 1258
Poindexter Fortran wrote to Vk3jed <=-
ISDN is a 128K circuit broken down into 2 56K bearer channels, and a
16K data channel used for call setup/takedown/progress.
That;s what I recall as well.
Sampsa wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Oh that's probably a US thing - in Europe it was 2x64 Kbps B channels
and a 16 Kbps D-channel which back in the day one could use as an always-on X.25 link as well.
Vk3jed wrote to Nighthawk <=-
There's still a plenty of reasons for offline mail reading.
I agree too. Often I just want to be isolated from the network and
have a better interface than the terminal.
in an airplane, for instance ;)
That's a good reason too. I've used offline NNTP when on a bus with intermittent 3G coverage. :) I'd use QWK if there was an iOS app that supported it.
Poindexter Fortran wrote to Sampsa <=-
Here in the US ISDN rode in on digital circuits that used robbed-bit signaling for framing and timing, which accounted for the extra 8K per B-channel.
I'd forgotten about X.25 over the D channel, thought here it was
needed for call setup/teardown on the B channels.
https://bbs.electronicchicken.com/temp/pocketchip/photos.xjs
Always thought it was a few step behind product like
the raspberry, but the enclosure with the keyboard/screen is so geeky cool.
Still very tempting :-D
Sampsa wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Oh yeah, if there was an iOS QWK/SOUP reader I would load up my iPad/iPhone with packets from my favurite BBSes before flying..
One way to go would be an QWK -> PDF converter: Message areas get a section, each message gets a subsection, load the PDF into an ebook reader..
But how do you reply? That sounds like a _really_ ugly method.
Ennev wrote to Vk3jed <=-
But how do you reply? That sounds like a _really_ ugly method.
NewsTap for ios might not be perfect being NNTP instead of QWK, but it does enable the user to reply even offline. You just have to update
when your connected to a network to send all your posts and replies.
Matthew Munson wrote to FLAVIO BESSA <=-
Yes, sometimes it's better just to reply online. :)
I am just tempted just to put all my message bases into my bbs news
server and just read my messages
via nntp instead.
Nightfox wrote to Flavio Bessa <=-
I am using an offline reader, MultiMail. The issue is that I have a Mac and I simply can't find a good text editor with the proper alignment, so I prefer to do it manually.
I'm curious, what do you think is the benefit of using an offline mail reader these days rather than replying on your BBS?
Sampsa wrote to Flavio Bessa <=-
Flavio Bessa wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-
now, have also tried nano.
You tried Smultron? It's basically a full on COCOA app, but has a
command line tool you can use with MultiMail.
Used to be free, now it's like a few euros on the app store.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smultron
Mauro Veiga wrote to NIGHTFOX <=-
I'm curious, what do you think is the benefit of using an offline mail reader these days rather than replying on your BBS?
A lot of more resources, more flexibility to copy and
paste texts, formatting, taglines and signatures configs.
Ennev wrote to Nightfox <=-
I'm curious, what do you think is the benefit of using an offline mail reader these days rather than replying on your BBS?
for myself it to be able to read on my commute. with newstap on my iPad
I can read the groups from anywhere.
Poindexter Fortran wrote to Ennev <=-
I've missed BBSing on my commute. I've been driving for the past
several years, but I used to take a ferry across bay to San Francisco.
I'd load up a QWK packet and a QWK reader and spend a good 40 minutes
with a cup of coffee and no internet distractions (back then) on my way
to work.
Poindexter Fortran wrote to Tiny <=-
I've had looks, but if they make eye contact I will tell them all about the BBS and offline mail, and how we use it to make bombs to sell to the Great Leader, and that a guy named Ennev pays me with cocaine for every credit card number and social insurance number I can steal for him.
I was out at a coffee shop yesterday, working on my old 4x3 Thinkpad, covered with stickers and telnetted into my BBS. The ANSI's caught one woman's eye. I should have worn huge can headphones for the ultimate uneasy effect.
I'm curious, what do you think is the benefit of using an offline
mail reader these days rather than replying on your BBS?
I like to go all the way through all the messages that there
are in a specific echo, and also I usually read mail when I am
at the airplane... ;)
Well, there are some pretty decent apps for Android that could
do the trick, if you take the burden of installing a point
system in your phone.
I replied: "Yes, I am compiling a new software now". He
looked at me as if I was the master of all databases. :)
Quoting Nighthawk to Poindexter Fortran at 09-25-16 06:12 <=-
I've had looks, but if they make eye contact I will tell them all about the BBS and offline mail, and how we use it to make bombs to sell to the Great Leader, and that a guy named Ennev pays me with cocaine for every credit card number and social insurance number I can steal for him.
I was out at a coffee shop yesterday, working on my old 4x3 Thinkpad, covered with stickers and telnetted into my BBS. The ANSI's caught one woman's eye. I should have worn huge can headphones for the ultimate uneasy effect.
I travel quite often, so I usually fire up MultiMail when
I am at the airplane.
Yesterday I was coming back home and this guy looked at my
laptop running MultiMail and asked: Are you a coder?
I replied: "Yes, I am compiling a new software now". He
looked at me as if I was the master of all databases. :)
Nighthawk wrote to Nightfox <=-
I'm curious, what do you think is the benefit of using an offline mail reader these days rather than replying on your BBS?
I like to go all the way through all the messages that there
are in a specific echo, and also I usually read mail when I am
Nighthawk wrote to Mauro Veiga <=-
I'm curious, what do you think is the benefit of using an offline mail reader these days rather than replying on your BBS?
A lot of more resources, more flexibility to copy and
paste texts, formatting, taglines and signatures configs.
Yup! You nailed it. :)
Nighthawk wrote to Ennev <=-
for myself it to be able to read on my commute. with newstap on my iPad
I can read the groups from anywhere.
I use newstap for that as well, the big issue is with the
replies - I can only post messages to All. :(
Nighthawk wrote to Poindexter Fortran <=-
I've missed BBSing on my commute. I've been driving for the past
several years, but I used to take a ferry across bay to San Francisco.
I'd load up a QWK packet and a QWK reader and spend a good 40 minutes
with a cup of coffee and no internet distractions (back then) on my way
to work.
Well, there are some pretty decent apps for Android that could
do the trick, if you take the burden of installing a point
system in your phone.
There's Aftershock and HotdogED.
Nighthawk wrote to Poindexter Fortran <=-
I was out at a coffee shop yesterday, working on my old 4x3 Thinkpad, covered with stickers and telnetted into my BBS. The ANSI's caught one woman's eye. I should have worn huge can headphones for the ultimate uneasy effect.
I travel quite often, so I usually fire up MultiMail when
I am at the airplane.
Yesterday I was coming back home and this guy looked at my
laptop running MultiMail and asked: Are you a coder?
I replied: "Yes, I am compiling a new software now". He
looked at me as if I was the master of all databases. :)
Poindexter Fortran wrote to Nighthawk <=-
The only problem with reading messages on my commute now - I'm driving!
Vk3jed wrote to Sampsa <=-
Sampsa wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Oh yeah, if there was an iOS QWK/SOUP reader I would load up my iPad/iPhone with packets from my favurite BBSes before flying..
Yep, that's the sort of thing I was thinking. And while on bus trips
to small towns in summer, I could opportunistically send and receive QWK/REP packets when I did have coverage, and read offline. :)
One way to go would be an QWK -> PDF converter: Message areas get a section, each message gets a subsection, load the PDF into an ebook reader..
But how do you reply? That sounds like a _really_ ugly method.
Sampsa wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Well yes, that would be ideal - but somebody would have to write it and I'm not an iOS/Android developer
One way to go would be an QWK -> PDF converter: Message areas get a section, each message gets a subsection, load the PDF into an ebook reader..
But how do you reply? That sounds like a _really_ ugly method.
You couldn't reply directly but you could at least read your
mail/echoes to kill the time.
I think I could develop a QWK -> PDF/epub converter pretty quickly
using Python, then you just load the eBook onto your favourite portable reader.
Not ideal, but easier than writing a full QWK reader for iOS/Android
(at least for me).
ISDN never took off here for domestic use. It was overpriced and calls were timed charges, which made it unattractive for BBSing.ISDN never took off here because no telco had the expertise to properly install or troubleshoot their lines. I used to work in a Data Center and all the carriers that had ISDN service at the time always required about 3 tech visits to get them working properly. I had a Kraftek ISDN line tester which most of the installers had never seen.
Reverb wrote to Vk3jed <=-
ISDN never took off here because no telco had the expertise to properly install or troubleshoot their lines. I used to work in a Data Center
and all the carriers that had ISDN service at the time always required about 3 tech visits to get them working properly.
internal ISDN helpdesk we and spoke to Scott Adams. THAT Scott Adams.
they gave us "Wally XXX"'s number. We called it, explained our
Reverb wrote to Vk3jed <=-
ISDN never took off here because no telco had the expertise to properly install or troubleshoot their lines. I used to work in a Data Center
and all the carriers that had ISDN service at the time always required about 3 tech visits to get them working properly. I had a Kraftek ISDN line tester which most of the installers had never seen.
The running joke was ISDN stands for It Still Doesn't work. Good riddance. I had far easier time with Frame Relay, T1/T3 etc.
I don't do this kind of work anymore, thankfully.
Mro wrote to Poindexter Fortran <=-
they gave us "Wally XXX"'s number. We called it, explained our
THAT wally XXX?
Vk3jed wrote to Reverb <=-
I'm not sure how much ISDN is left here, it's been over 10 years since
I last worked with it. By 10 years ago, we were operating on DSL.
Poindexter Fortran wrote to Vk3jed <=-
I've mentioned before, I had a bit of a soft spot for ISDN. It was
the pinnacle of the dial-up experience from my perspective. The
per-minute costs were prohibitive; if it were charged by toll areas
like home POTS service it would have taken off.
ISDN never took off here because no telco had the expertise to properly install or troubleshoot their lines. I used to work in a Data Center and all the carriers that had ISDN service at the time always required about 3 tech visits to get them working properly. I had a Kraftek ISDN line tester which most of the installers had never seen.
The running joke was ISDN stands for It Still Doesn't work. Good riddance. I had far easier time with Frame Relay, T1/T3 etc.
I don't do this kind of work anymore, thankfully.
I'm not sure how much ISDN is left here, it's been over 10 years since I last worked with it. By 10 years ago, we were operating on DSL.
I canceled that, and got a T1/Frame realy with a 768kb PVC for less than one month's ISDN price.
Last I hear, it was mostly for radio people who wanted that 'dedicated ditigal line' for remote studios... when you don't want jitter, there is no substitute for a fixed line.
Neozeed wrote to Vk3jed <=-
I'm not sure how much ISDN is left here, it's been over 10 years since I last worked with it. By 10 years ago, we were operating on DSL.
Last I hear, it was mostly for radio people who wanted that 'dedicated ditigal line' for remote studios... when you don't want jitter, there
is no substitute for a fixed line.
Thanks for that comprehensive email. It literally answer all my question I had
about the pocket chip. Always thought it was a few step behind product like the raspberry, but the enclosure with the keyboard/screen is so geeky cool.
Still very tempting :-D
To follow up on that, I threw a larger LCD on my PocketCHIP and it's now a great handheld BBS terminal:
https://bbs.electronicchicken.com/temp/pocketchip/DSC_0013.jpg
(Also some Sugru on the keypad to dampen the clickiness a bit and make it more comfortable.)
With the resolution now doubled, this device is a lot more usable for general purpose / day to day stuff.
We had a problem crossing LATA boundaries to one engineer, could neverThat's awesome! I knew Scott Adams worked for a Bell, never knew he did helldesk. Big Dilbert fan here fyi.
get the systems to connect consistently after multiple calls to their
tech support number. Finally, they gave us the number to Pacific Bell's internal ISDN helpdesk we and spoke to Scott Adams. THAT Scott Adams.
When we realized he worked for a Bell, all of the Dilbert stories made sense.
That's awesome! I knew Scott Adams worked for a Bell, never knew he did helldesk. Big Dilbert fan here fyi.
ENNEV wrote to POINDEXTER FORTRAN <=-
Anybody experimented with these c.h.i.p product? i'm only familiar with Raspberry Pi. Would be fun to have an enclosure like this for rpi.
Was at the Fry's in Indy yesterday and got a look at the PI and the "stuff" for it. Was intrigued...
ENNEV wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-
Jimmy it's cheap, don't hesitate, just a pi 2 rev B is fine for a
start.
Just don't cheapen on the memory card, transfer rate does make a difference. Get a class 10 if you can. you don't really need 120 gb so
go for the speed :-D
My thing is I have nothing in mind to MAKE right now. :-)
Back in the day, I used to read QWK packets on the train and in all
sorts of places. I used a borrowed 286 laptop with a copy of Telix
for logging into BBSs and Bluewave for reading/writing mail. Back
then, I almost always used the Bluewave format.
Nothing for us iOS users. :( And a point system has its downsides.
If you always use the one device to access mail, a point is awesome,
but if you switch devices (PC one day, phone the next), offline mail
is a better mmedium, because it's easier to keep your lastread
messages in sync. I did toy with the idea of creating a point, but
with 2 BBSs already, it kinda got a bit silly, and then there's the question of what system to run it on. If I run it on this PC, then I
can only use it when at home (I put this to sleep when I go out).
Offline mail is a better fit to my usage scenario.
Allen Prunty wrote to Vk3jed <=-
I had an old Compaq suitcase computer... it was HUGE. I carreied it
from class to class and used it to take notes. The profs thought it
was neat. I did not want to rely on the computers in the labs, they
were so poorly maintained.
There are a couple of NNTP solutions for iOs... there's one I use
called NetNews I believe.
ENNEV wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-
My thing is I have nothing in mind to MAKE right now. :-)
There is many image ready to install like game emulation like http://www.lakka.tv/ the interface is so sleek like a PS3. you also
have emulation station that look great. emulate arcade console, nes,
sega, amigas etc.
you cam make multimedia center, sky the limit. I embedded one in a old stereo player so i can airplay and Bluetooth music to it.
you plug an old webcam to it and can use it as a surveillance camera (
my next project)
actually one of my other project would be to make this http://rpitc.blogspot.ca/ so that i have it hooked to an monitor and keyboard and mouse and be able to remote desktop to my vm and stuff.
I've seen someone remote desktop to a vm playing world of warcraft and
the response time is impresive.
Maybe in the future for my son and girlfriend update i won't but them a computer but just set them on a RP hooked to a vm on my vmbox. instead
of having under used power hungry machine let's make one work a bit
more and centralize backup.
Vk3jed wrote to Nighthawk <=-
Not only taglines, but also there are times in which you
simply
can't have access to the Internet - this reply is being
written
in an airplane, for instance ;)
That's a good reason too. I've used offline NNTP when on a bus with intermittent 3G coverage. :) I'd use QWK if there was an iOS app that supported it.
Poindexter Fortran wrote to Nighthawk <=-
I like to go all the way through all the messages that there
are in a specific echo, and also I usually read mail when I am
at the airplane... ;)
I like being able to see if someone has already answered a question
before I post a similar answer. And, taglines.
Posting online is nice, since there are some nice editors nowadays, and
I like to use environment my users use. I used to use TIMED to read messages directly from the message bases in my BBS' former incarnation
and it felt like cheating.
Poindexter Fortran wrote to Nighthawk <=-
The only problem with reading messages on my commute now - I'm driving!
:)
Vk3jed wrote to Nighthawk <=-
I use newstap for that as well, the big issue is with the
replies - I can only post messages to All. :(
NewsTap is quite good (I use it occasionally). However, it's not as smooth as using a QWK style offline reader. In addition to the
addressing issue for replies, there's also the matter of
synchronisation between NNTP (and NewsTap's offline database) and telnet/QWK/WWW access. NewsTap maintains its own last read pointers
and subscription list, so to switch from "normal BBS/QWKE operation to NewsTap requires the following:
1. Fire up NewsTap while praparing to leave (allow a lot of time if you're on a busy board). Download the latest NNTP posts.
2. Check your newsgroup subscriptions, and if necessary, subscribe to
any additional groups then re-synchronise.
3. Download a "final" QWK packet. Read this before leaving or if time
is short, put it aside for when you return.
4. Immediately mark all posts in NewsTap as "read".
On day trips, where a laptop is a bit clumsy, I will use NewsTap. For longer trips involving overnight stays, I find it more convenient to
take the laptop and use hotel wifi or tether a phone, then use QWK,
when I get time.
Nighthawk wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Yes... Unfortunately Android does have a better suite of apps
for that, although there's no QWK reader for it, either.
Nighthawk wrote to Vk3jed <=-
I use newstap for that as well, the big issue is with the
replies - I can only post messages to All. :(
That's nice, but Newstap lacks the ability to reply to someone
- All messages end up going to "All" instead. ;(
On day trips, where a laptop is a bit clumsy, I will use NewsTap. For longer trips involving overnight stays, I find it more convenient to
take the laptop and use hotel wifi or tether a phone, then use QWK,
when I get time.
That's right, I have been using it to check if there's new
messages into my system that will be read later via an offline mail. :)
Nighthawk wrote to Vk3jed <=-
That's a good reason too. I've used offline NNTP when on a bus with intermittent 3G coverage. :) I'd use QWK if there was an iOS app that supported it.
Yes... Unfortunately Android does have a better suite of apps
for that, although there's no QWK reader for it, either.
Sampsa wrote to Nighthawk <=-
Hmm, a basic QWK client would be a nice project to learn Swift and iOS development with.
Vk3jed wrote to Sampsa <=-
Sampsa wrote to Nighthawk <=-
Hmm, a basic QWK client would be a nice project to learn Swift and iOS development with.
Yep, the mobile world needs a good QWK reader. I'd be interested in
both iOS and Android now.
Sampsa wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Well, the UI for a message reader is fair obvious:
[List of areas]
[List of Messages]
[Message]
- Header
- Text
- Actions
I _WISH_ I could do this in Python (prob can on Android, if so, I'm
going the Android route - even have a spare Android tablet lying around the house to test this on.)
Also Android will make it easier to distribute software, no need to buy the Apple signing license etc.
PS: There's a fairly rarely known format for offline reader called SOUP
- I've literally implemented an import / export facility for it in less than a day.
It has several advantages over QWK/BlueWave etc, and handles USENET and email very well (as well as "traditional" BBS messsage).
If I were to write the Android offline reader with SOUP support only
and some tools (multiplatform of course, they already exist for DOS) to convert packets from QWK(E) <-> SOUP to run on your desktop, would you still consider this a valuable project?
Vk3jed wrote to Sampsa <=-
With me, the devil is in the detail - layout, and especially
navigation. Navigation can make or break a UI for me. An area most web forums suck at. :)
Not as described, the implication is I'd still be somewhat tethered to
the desktop/laptop. My mobile usage case is for when a desktop/laptop
is not practical. The effect would change turnaround time from minutes (on device while sitting on a bus, for example) to hours or even days (having to wait to the PC can be setup).
The ideal options would be:
1. Native QWK(E) reader for Android/iOS
2. SOUP reader plus SOUP support (most likely a door) on BBSs. I'd
need Mystic and Synchronet support on the BBS end.
3. SOUP reader with conversion done on device (a bit of extra code though).
Options that require additional devices to process mail are not that useful. If I had ready access to a PC, I'd simply use Multimail.
One option that would be nice though is the ability to synchronise
taglines with a PC and between PCs/devices. :)
Sampsa wrote to Vk3jed <=-
With me, the devil is in the detail - layout, and especially
navigation. Navigation can make or break a UI for me. An area most web forums suck at. :)
Well with a QWK (etc) packet, you literally have a bunch of objects (messages) organised by category. So I was going to basically mimic the MultiMail UI:
- Pick a packet
- List of forums, click to Select forum
- List of Messages, click to read (at this point you can
just
keep reading the messages or go back and start at another
one)
Obviously there will be things like "Show only unread/all etc" and
"Sort by date/sender/subject" etc options. But it'll be an Android GUI clone of MultiMail, pretty much.
With a screen or two for editing parameters (like say multiple
taglines, your signature, etc etc).
The ideal options would be:
1. Native QWK(E) reader for Android/iOS
2. SOUP reader plus SOUP support (most likely a door) on BBSs. I'd
need Mystic and Synchronet support on the BBS end.
3. SOUP reader with conversion done on device (a bit of extra code though).
1. Dealing with 1990s PC-focused binary data in Python sucks ass.
QWK is basically a freaking memory dump of a PCBoard message base.
It SUCKS. But ok, I'll be able to deal with it, it's just I have the
code to process SOUP in Python right in front of me lol..And there
are
tools to convert SOUP <-> QWK already out there. But ok, QWKE it is.
<swears quietly under his breath at people who thought dumping
fucking
C structs straight to a file is a good way to store god damn data...grrrr>
2. Is not going to happen unless I write it, which I would if I didn't
have to do it in JavaScript for Syncro.
Mystic DOES have an embedded Python 2.7 engine, but I have NEVER
used
Mystic. So I'm gonna go with just decoding QWK package on the
device.
3. Might as well just do QWKE if I have to write conversion routines.
Options that require additional devices to process mail are not that useful. If I had ready access to a PC, I'd simply use Multimail.
Seriously, I figured this was for times like "OK, I've got a 6 hour flight, let me download all my mail and dump it on my Android device".
The uploading/downloading would be done on a PC once at one.
One option that would be nice though is the ability to synchronise taglines with a PC and between PCs/devices. :):P
Yeah, let's put that in the "nice to have once v1.1 is stable and
nothing critical is broken anymore" pile.
Seriously - let's try to get a QWK message package decoded and a REP packet encode and then move onto "Hey I'd lke a unicorn with that too"
Now I'm off to look at the exact structure of a QWKE packet...Urgh.
Vk3jed wrote to Sampsa <=-
With me, the devil is in the detail - layout, and especially
navigation. Navigation can make or break a UI for me. An area most web forums suck at. :)
Well with a QWK (etc) packet, you literally have a bunch of objects (messages) organised by category. So I was going to basically mimic the MultiMail UI:
Cool. Multimail's approach (same for Bluewave, SLMR, etc) works pretty well.
Obviously there will be things like "Show only unread/all etc" and
"Sort by date/sender/subject" etc options. But it'll be an Android GUI clone of MultiMail, pretty much.
Nice, just what the doctor ordered. :)
1. Dealing with 1990s PC-focused binary data in Python sucks ass.
I bet! :D
QWK is basically a freaking memory dump of a PCBoard message base.
It SUCKS. But ok, I'll be able to deal with it, it's just I have the
code to process SOUP in Python right in front of me lol..And there
are
tools to convert SOUP <-> QWK already out there. But ok, QWKE it is.
<swears quietly under his breath at people who thought dumping
fucking
C structs straight to a file is a good way to store god damn data...grrrr>
Haha, I get the picture. :-D
Note that in neither scenario is a PC practical. :)
Sampsa wrote to Vk3jed <=-
OK, an Android GUI clone of MultiMail it is.
1. Dealing with 1990s PC-focused binary data in Python sucks ass.
I bet! :D
You have no idea.
You really how much this is going to hurt lol..Unless someone has
already written a QWK-parsing module for Python, which might actually
very well be the case :)
Note that in neither scenario is a PC practical. :)
Yup - but some other terminal program will have to do the transfer and
we then point the MM clone at the transfer dirs. I hope that's possible
- I've never coded for Android in my life.
So this might take a while.
Vk3jed wrote to Sampsa <=-a
Yup - but some other terminal program will have to do the transfer and
we then point the MM clone at the transfer dirs. I hope that's possible
- I've never coded for Android in my life.
Sampsa wrote to Vk3jed <=-
OK so this will NOT happen for Android - the Python optons are SHIT frankly, I'm not coding a GUI app without an IDE, been there, done
that, hated it.
If I do write a MultiMail clone it'll be for iOS in Swift, because I am NOT WRITING JAVA. I'd rather become a Russian Orthodox stylite monk
than ever write Java again in my life.
Vk3jed wrote to Nighthawk <=-
Yes... Unfortunately Android does have a better suite of apps
for that, although there's no QWK reader for it, either.
I've now got an Android phone. A QWK reader would be nice. I had a
look at HotDogEd, and the concept is interesting, but a point isn't
quite what I had in mind, and I couldn't see how to make it handle
nodes with multiple AKAS without configuring each AKA as a separate
node.
Vk3jed wrote to Nighthawk <=-
That's a limitation of NNTP, though some BBS server implementations (JAMNNTPd?) can work out what to populate the To: field with.
Vk3jed wrote to Sampsa <=-
OK so this will NOT happen for Android - the Python optons are SHIT frankly, I'm not coding a GUI app without an IDE, been there, done
that, hated it.
Fair enough. :)
If I do write a MultiMail clone it'll be for iOS in Swift, because I am NOT WRITING JAVA. I'd rather become a Russian Orthodox stylite monk
than ever write Java again in my life.
Would be easiest if it was an integrated terminal/QWK reader, though I think newer versions of iOS make it a bit easier for apps to pass files
to each other. :)
Nighthawk wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Indeed. HotdogED and Aftershock were meant to be single
points.
Nevertheless, besides a QWK-reader for Android, we should have
a terminal program that would support ANSI and Zmodem.
Nighthawk wrote to Vk3jed <=-
That's right. JAMNNTPD does that trick - I am planning to play
around with it when I have the time.
Sampsa wrote to Vk3jed <=-
- Paying the $100 or whatnot to get it up on the app store
is probably enough to ask from one person.
I'm not writing a freaking terminal emulator as well lol.
Vk3jed wrote to Sampsa <=-
Sampsa wrote to Vk3jed <=-
- Paying the $100 or whatnot to get it up on the app store
Happy to throw something in for that, or alternatively, purchase the
app if you decide to charge.
LOL, how will we ge the packets to/from the reader (using a PC is not
an option, once you involve a PC, it's almost useless to me). I do
think recent iOS versions to offer some ways to share data between
apps, but I don't know how that would work for QWK packets. :)
Sampsa wrote to Vk3jed <=-
I think there is a mechanism for sharing data between apps, I need
to figure out what the exact API is and if there's a terminal app
that actually works for this.
Also I'll put out some feelers if there's anyone interested in a QWK reader for their iOS device - if it's just you (and me, to a degree)
then this isn't going to happen: I don't mind doing the work if the
app has at least ten users or so, but less than that, it's just not
worth the effort..
Vk3jed wrote to Nighthawk <=-
I've now got an Android phone. A QWK reader would be nice. I had a
look at HotDogEd, and the concept is interesting, but a point isn't
quite what I had in mind, and I couldn't see how to make it handle
nodes with multiple AKAS without configuring each AKA as a separate
node.
Poindexter Fortran wrote to Vk3jed <=-
My big problem with points is trying to keep new scan pointers for my logged in user in sync with a point program. If I *only* read email
with my point program it'd be OK, but as a sysop I like to feel my
user's pain and read mail the same way they do. :)
Sampsa wrote to Nighthawk <=-
Yes... Unfortunately Android does have a better suite of apps
for that, although there's no QWK reader for it, either.
Hmm, a basic QWK client would be a nice project to learn Swift and iOS development with.
And a nice line on my CV.
Not promising anything though. :)
Vk3jed wrote to Nighthawk <=-
Which I find a little weird, when for all of my time as a sysop, except for a brief time in the establishment of the various BBSs I ran, I've
had multiple AKAs. When I ran my point, it had at least half a dozen
AKAS from the one BBS.
So for someone like me in a multi net environment, the Android apps
are of limited use, because they don't have the facility to fully
handle even a single (physical) boss node.
Vk3jed wrote to Nighthawk <=-
That's right. JAMNNTPD does that trick - I am planning to play
around with it when I have the time.
Looks interesting, though looks like a second configuration to maintain for the same message store.
Sampsa wrote to Vk3jed <=-
PS: There's a fairly rarely known format for offline reader called SOUP
- I've literally implemented an import / export facility for it in less than a day.
It has several advantages over QWK/BlueWave etc, and handles USENET and email very well (as well as "traditional" BBS messsage).
If I were to write the Android offline reader with SOUP support only
and some tools (multiplatform of course, they already exist for DOS) to convert packets from QWK(E) <-> SOUP to run on your desktop, would you still consider this a valuable project?
Poindexter Fortran wrote to Vk3jed <=-
My big problem with points is trying to keep new scan pointers for my logged in user in sync with a point program. If I *only* read email
with my point program it'd be OK, but as a sysop I like to feel my
user's pain and read mail the same way they do. :)
Nighthawk wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Well, it seems that Aftershock will finally receive an upgrade
where a few of these issues will be addressed. Let's see.
Nighthawk wrote to Vk3jed <=-
Indeed, although my plans are to create a separated message
base, like a mail-only node, to play with it.
Nighthawk wrote to Sampsa <=-
If I were to write the Android offline reader with SOUP support only
and some tools (multiplatform of course, they already exist for DOS) to convert packets from QWK(E) <-> SOUP to run on your desktop, would you still consider this a valuable project?
I would definetely support it. It would be VERY valuable!
I didn't know how to use any editors on Synchronet but then I figured out how D>to. The current one on KK4QBN's BBS gave me a learning curve but I later D>figured it out by reading the help screen.
I didn't know how to use any editors on Synchronet but then I figured
out how to. The current one on KK4QBN's BBS gave me a learning curve
but I later figured it out by reading the help screen.
I think I'm using the one by SlyEdit...I really like it.
| Sysop: | Ragnarok |
|---|---|
| Location: | Dock Sud, Bs As, Argentina |
| Users: | 136 |
| Nodes: | 10 (0 / 10) |
| Uptime: | 24:55:31 |
| Calls: | 15,171 |
| Files: | 19,858 |
| D/L today: |
1 files (1K bytes) |
| Messages: | 1,692,352 |
