Jimmy,

My first computer was a TRS-80 CoCo II. :-)

My first one was a Radio Shack TRS-80 MC-10 Micro Color Computer. It
had 4K of memory, with a 32K expansion pack. All programs were loaded
and saved via cassette tape, and I used a 300 baud modem to connect to CompuServe, my first internet experience, although it was all text back
then. See the bulletin on The Thunderbolt BBS for a history of my
computer experience, and all that has happened with the BBS since 1990.

Daryl

---
þ OLX 1.53 þ I used to have an open mind; my brains kept falling out.
þ Synchronet þ The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org

DARYL STOUT wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-

My first computer was a TRS-80 CoCo II. :-)

My first one was a Radio Shack TRS-80 MC-10 Micro Color Computer. It
had 4K of memory, with a 32K expansion pack. All programs were loaded
and saved via cassette tape, and I used a 300 baud modem to connect to CompuServe, my first internet experience, although it was all text back then. See the bulletin on The Thunderbolt BBS for a history of my
computer experience, and all that has happened with the BBS since 1990.

Yeah - I did the cassette thing too. :-) Those were the days, huh?

Didn't have a modem on it, but I *DID* upgrade to a 5-1/4 FDD!



... Let me know if you didn't receive this message.
--- MultiMail/Darwin v0.49
þ wcQWK 6.4 ÷ Neptune's Lair - Olive Branch MS - winserver.org:2323

Jimmy,

Yeah - I did the cassette thing too. :-) Those were the days, huh?

I'll say.

Didn't have a modem on it, but I *DID* upgrade to a 5-1/4 FDD!

When I got a 14.4k modem, I thought I was "smokin'". <G>

Daryl

---
þ OLX 1.53 þ Illiterate? Read below where you can write for free help.
þ Synchronet þ The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org

DARYL STOUT wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-

Didn't have a modem on it, but I *DID* upgrade to a 5-1/4 FDD!

When I got a 14.4k modem, I thought I was "smokin'". <G>

I had a hand me down 8088 dual floppy once. Bought a 14.4
internal modem for it. Worked like a charm for BBS's
and such, EXCEPT I would have to 'slow it down' to 9600
for uploads. Downloads were fine. :-)

I had people say, "you can't get on the Internet with that
computer." That just made me try harder. LOL




... This message uses 100% recycled electrons
--- MultiMail/Darwin v0.49
þ wcQWK 6.4 ÷ Neptune's Lair - Olive Branch MS - winserver.org:2323

JIMMY ANDERSON wrote to DARYL STOUT <=-

I had people say, "you can't get on the Internet with that
computer." That just made me try harder. LOL

Would have worked fine with a shell account. PPP based access would have been possible with a number of packages too.


... I *CAN* type...my computer keyboard is illiterate.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Re: Computer History
By: Daryl Stout to JIMMY ANDERSON on Fri Jul 07 2017 09:21 am

When I got a 14.4k modem, I thought I was "smokin'". <G>

:) I started out with a hand-me-down PC and hand-me-down equipment for a few years.. My first modem (in 1992) was a 2400 baud modem, which I got along with my first PC, and I thought it was pretty exciting to dial into BBSes. I started running my own BBS in 1994.

I eventually got a 14.4k modem (another hand-me-down), and I seem to remember having to get a new I/O card for my PC with a 16550A UART to handle the faster modem (my old card had a 16450 UART). I thought 14.4k was pretty speedy.. And then later, I got a 33.6k (I think I skipped 28.8k), and then a 56k after I started using the internet..

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

I had a hand me down 8088 dual floppy once. Bought a 14.4
internal modem for it. Worked like a charm for BBS's
and such, EXCEPT I would have to 'slow it down' to 9600
for uploads. Downloads were fine. :-)

My first modem was an internal 14.4. However not knowing anything about modems, I assumed it was a 2400, and would dial into Prodigy on their phone lines that were 2400s.

Then one day, somebody on a BBS pointed out that I was being clocked at 14.4 when I logged in (they had just gotten a 28.8 and told me I needed to get
with the times...maaaaaan). We had an argument for awhile because I was sure they were wrong.

Then I dialed into the Prodigy 9600 lines (i don't think they had 14.4
yet...if ever) and was like "holy...I was wasting so much time dialing into
the wrong number and waaaaaaaiting!"

SquigY0 wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-

My first modem was an internal 14.4. However not knowing anything
about modems, I assumed it was a 2400, and would dial into Prodigy on their phone lines that were 2400s.

Oh dear, you do like torturing yourself! :D My first modem was a 1200 bps modem that I picked up from a local business as "beerware". :) Had that for a little while, until I obtained a 2400 bps modem from a friend, which was my workhorse for the next couple of years.

Then one day, somebody on a BBS pointed out that I was being clocked at 14.4 when I logged in (they had just gotten a 28.8 and told me I needed
to get with the times...maaaaaan). We had an argument for awhile
because I was sure they were wrong.

You didn't notice the difference? :)

Then I dialed into the Prodigy 9600 lines (i don't think they had 14.4 yet...if ever) and was like "holy...I was wasting so much time dialing into the wrong number and waaaaaaaiting!"

Yeah, going 4 times as fast is helpful! :D


... Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

:) I started out with a hand-me-down PC and hand-me-down equipment for a few N>years.. My first modem (in 1992) was a 2400 baud modem, which I got along wi N>my first PC, and I thought it was pretty exciting to dial into BBSes. I N>started running my own BBS in 1994.

I eventually got a 14.4k modem (another hand-me-down), and I seem to remember N>having to get a new I/O card for my PC with a 16550A UART to handle the faste N>modem (my old card had a 16450 UART). I thought 14.4k was pretty speedy.. A N>then later, I got a 33.6k (I think I skipped 28.8k), and then a 56k after I N>started using the internet..

One of the bulletins on my BBS details its history...30 years running...starting with my experience with BBS's, then running one on
the TRS-80 Model 100 laptop (the programs for it are still in my files
area), and then with PC's...from DOS 3.2 to 5, to 6, to 6.22; with
DESQView and QEMM...to Windows 3.11 to 95, 98, XP, and now Windows 7...
then with GT Power, Virtual Advanced, and Synchronet...as well as
hardware, software, and other issues. It sure brings back
memories...both good and bad...all part of being a Sysop.

Daryl

---
þ OLX 1.53 þ Toe: A device for finding furniture in the dark.
þ Synchronet þ The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org

Re: Re: Computer History
By: Daryl Stout to NIGHTFOX on Fri Jul 14 2017 08:42 am

One of the bulletins on my BBS details its history...30 years running...starting with my experience with BBS's, then running one on
the TRS-80 Model 100 laptop (the programs for it are still in my files area), and then with PC's...from DOS 3.2 to 5, to 6, to 6.22; with DESQView and QEMM...to Windows 3.11 to 95, 98, XP, and now Windows 7... then with GT Power, Virtual Advanced, and Synchronet...as well as hardware, software, and other issues. It sure brings back
memories...both good and bad...all part of being a Sysop.

Yeah, it does.. For a little while in the 90s, I was using QEMM to run a 2-node setup with RemoteAccess in MS-DOS. I only had one phone line for my BBS, but I wanted to set up a second node so I could log in locally while a user was logged into my BBS. I was also curious how a multi-node BBS setup worked in a DOS environment anyway.. I thought QEMM actually worked fairly well. Years before, I remember seeing a product called DoubleDOS that was supposed to provide multi-tasking, but I remember it not working very well.

I later ran my RemoteAccess BBS in Windows 98.. It seemed to work okay. I don't remember exactly why I updated my BBS machine to Windows 98 - It could have been my main desktop PC which I replaced and repurposed for my BBS.

I also experimented with running a BBS in OS/2.. I remember checking out AdeptXBBS for OS/2 and thought it was pretty cool to see a BBS package with a GUI. I also once tried running a copy of my RemoteAccess BBS in OS/2 with a telnet serial driver (Ray Gwynn's SIO perhaps?) and being able to telnet into my RemoteAccess BBS.. I thought that was pretty cool at the time. Also, at the time, I didn't know why someone would want to telnet into a BBS when they now have the internet at their fingertips, but years later I came around and started running a telnet BBS. ;)

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Nightfox wrote to Daryl Stout <=-

Yeah, it does.. For a little while in the 90s, I was using QEMM to run
a 2-node setup with RemoteAccess in MS-DOS. I only had one phone line
for my BBS, but I wanted to set up a second node so I could log in
locally while a user was logged into my BBS. I was also curious how a multi-node BBS setup worked in a DOS environment anyway.. I thought
QEMM actually worked fairly well. Years before, I remember seeing a product called DoubleDOS that was supposed to provide multi-tasking,
but I remember it not working very well.

QEMM/DesqView was the bees knees for DOS multitasking, until OS/2 came along. OS/2 was the nest DOS multitasker of the lot. :)


... It is broke. It will not work. It does not go.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Re: Computer History
By: Vk3jed to Nightfox on Sat Jul 15 2017 16:59:00

QEMM/DesqView was the bees knees for DOS multitasking, until OS/2 came along

.

OS/2 was the nest DOS multitasker of the lot. :)

... It is broke. It will not work. It does not go.

Dude, ypur tagline was picked at the wrong time. :)

-jag
Code it, Script it, Automate it!

---
þ Synchronet þ MtlGeek - Geeks in Montreal - http://mtlgeek.com/ -

Jagossel wrote to Vk3jed <=-

QEMM/DesqView was the bees knees for DOS multitasking, until OS/2 came along

.

OS/2 was the nest DOS multitasker of the lot. :)

... It is broke. It will not work. It does not go.

Dude, ypur tagline was picked at the wrong time. :)

Hahaha, maybe it's because everyone's using Windows. :P


... There are always alternatives. Spock, The Galileo Seven, stardate 2822.3. --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Then one day, somebody on a BBS pointed out that I was being clocked 14.4 when I logged in (they had just gotten a 28.8 and told me I need to get with the times...maaaaaan). We had an argument for awhile because I was sure they were wrong.

You didn't notice the difference? :)

I was green as green could be at the time. I just figured it was faster
cause it was all text-based, not graphics like Prodigy. Not to mention that
I wasn't even versed in the different ways the handshakes sounded.

Later, I couldn't wait to dial in to the boingdy boingdy BBSs and would laugh when I dailed into the EEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEE SSSSSSSH ones.

SquigY0 wrote to Vk3jed <=-

You didn't notice the difference? :)

I was green as green could be at the time. I just figured it was
faster cause it was all text-based, not graphics like Prodigy. Not to

Ahh, OK, too many differences too (though text should have been quicker ;) ). BBSs were the main game in town here. There was a service called Viatel, but it was hideously expensive, and I only ever met one or two people who had it.

mention that I wasn't even versed in the different ways the handshakes sounded.

Later, I couldn't wait to dial in to the boingdy boingdy BBSs and would laugh when I dailed into the EEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEE SSSSSSSH ones.

LOL yep. Well I started without even the SSSHHHH, just the EEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeee (300 and 1200/75). I learned the other handshake sounds as I upgraded over the years. :)


... An aquarium is just interactive television for cats.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

LOL yep. Well I started without even the SSSHHHH, just the EEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeee (300 and 1200/75). I learned the other handshake sounds as I upgraded over the years. :)

This is such an amazing exclusive language now that we are speaking :D

SquigY0 wrote to Vk3jed <=-

@VIA: VERT/SHADOW9

LOL yep. Well I started without even the SSSHHHH, just the EEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeee (300 and 1200/75). I learned the other handshake sounds as I upgraded over the years. :)

This is such an amazing exclusive language now that we are speaking :D

Haha, everyone else would think we're on some mind altering substance! :D


... Gotta run! HAL just shut off the life support system again...
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

This is such an amazing exclusive language now that we are speaking :

Haha, everyone else would think we're on some mind altering substance! :D

BRB. Gotta get with my dealer to score some bauds.

Tony,

LOL yep. Well I started without even the SSSHHHH, just the EEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeee (300 and 1200/75). I learned the other handshake sounds as I upgraded over the years. :)

This is such an amazing exclusive language now that we are speaking :D

Haha, everyone else would think we're on some mind altering substance! :D

Being a Sysop didn't affect me at all...at all...at all...at all. <G>

Daryl

---
þ OLX 1.53 þ A gossip is someone with a great sense of rumor.
þ Synchronet þ The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org

SquigY0 wrote to Vk3jed <=-

@VIA: VERT/SHADOW9

This is such an amazing exclusive language now that we are speaking :

Haha, everyone else would think we're on some mind altering substance! :D

BRB. Gotta get with my dealer to score some bauds.

LOL.

BTW, do you know your posts have no origin tagline? They look like they come from my system when they arrive here, I can only see that they're not from here by the VIA line at the top. If you're the sysop, looks like you need to tweak things a little. :)


... If I were dead, I wouldn't be alive!
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Daryl Stout wrote to VK3JED <=-

Haha, everyone else would think we're on some mind altering substance! :D

Being a Sysop didn't affect me at all...at all...at all...at all. <G>

*KICK*

A reboot should work wonders. :P


... I don't do drugs. I get the same effect just standing up fast.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

BTW, do you know your posts have no origin tagline? They look like they

Sounds vaguely familiar ;)

A reboot should work wonders. :P

Man, I just remembered recently that back when I was running my WWIV board
it would randomly go to the normal black screen with the blinking cursor waiting for a call after somebody logged off or network packets were received but wouldn't pick up the next call....until I changed the config to always exit the board after somebody logged off and after packets processed.

And the batch file referenced in the autoexec.bat would just loop around and call itself everytime it exited, exponentially increasing the board's uptime.

SCORE!

Tony,

Haha, everyone else would think we're on some mind altering substance! :D

Being a Sysop didn't affect me at all...at all...at all...at all. <G>

*KICK*

A reboot should work wonders. :P

So would *SLAP*!! <sprints away> :D

Daryl

---
þ OLX 1.53 þ A male dog is truly an S.O.B. -- and acts like one, too!
þ Synchronet þ The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org

Daryl Stout wrote to VK3JED <=-

A reboot should work wonders. :P

So would *SLAP*!! <sprints away> :D

Haha, I don't like your chances against me! (what's your 100m time? ;) ).


... Landru! Guide us!
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

On 07/20/17, Vk3jed said the following...

BTW, do you know your posts have no origin tagline? They look like they come from my system when they arrive here, I can only see that they're
not from here by the VIA line at the top. If you're the sysop, looks
like you need to tweak things a little. :)

It's my system. Weirdest damn thing. I have an origin line in my base config but nothing shows up in the messages. I've even gone in and changed it to something else just to make sure.

Hasn't been that big of a deal to me but I will get around to troubleshooting it eventually.

Maybe there's something in my QWK download settings on Vertrauen. I'll log in later and take a look.

-=>Richard Miles<=-
-=>Captain Obvious<=-
-=>bbs.shadowscope.com<=-

Captain Obvious wrote to Vk3jed <=-

It's my system. Weirdest damn thing. I have an origin line in my base config but nothing shows up in the messages. I've even gone in and
changed it to something else just to make sure.

Hmm, what BBS software you running?


... Landru! Guide us!
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

A reboot should work wonders. :P

So would *SLAP*!! <sprints away> :D

Haha, I don't like your chances against me! (what's your 100m time? ;) ).

0 -- because it's not a ham radio band, and I don't have RF gear. <G>

Daryl

---
þ OLX 1.53 þ According to the Weather Channel, Hell just froze over.
þ Synchronet þ The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org

A reboot should work wonders. :P

Man, I just remembered recently that back when I was running my WWIV board S>it would randomly go to the normal black screen with the blinking cursor S>waiting for a call after somebody logged off or network packets were received S>but wouldn't pick up the next call....until I changed the config to always ex S>the board after somebody logged off and after packets processed.

And the batch file referenced in the autoexec.bat would just loop around and S>call itself everytime it exited, exponentially increasing the board's uptime.

Years ago, when I ran GT Power under dial-up, a former Sysop rigged up
a relay switch on the answering machine. Sometimes, the system would
lock, so while the BBS was set to answer on ring #2, the answering
machine was set to pick up on ring #4, and when it did, it would reboot
the computer, and reload the BBS.

Daryl

---
þ OLX 1.53 þ After Tuesday, even the calender says WTF.
þ Synchronet þ The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org

lock, so while the BBS was set to answer on ring #2, the answering
machine was set to pick up on ring #4, and when it did, it would reboot the computer, and reload the BBS.

oh shit!!!! i just remembered i did that too!!!

We had one of those answering machines that would pick up on the second ring
if there were messages waiting to be picked up...i guess so you could save payphone money if you were calling and there was nothing to hear.

Went and disabled that shit and set it to always 4 :P

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A34 (Windows/32)
* Origin: * Shadowscope * Temple, GA * bbs.shadowscope.com *

Daryl Stout wrote to VK3JED <=-

Haha, I don't like your chances against me! (what's your 100m time? ;) ).

0 -- because it's not a ham radio band, and I don't have RF gear. <G>

Hahaha, but how long does it take you to run 100m (you know, on your feet, nothing to do with radio)? :P


... Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Daryl Stout wrote to SQUIGY0 <=-

Years ago, when I ran GT Power under dial-up, a former Sysop rigged
up a relay switch on the answering machine. Sometimes, the system would lock, so while the BBS was set to answer on ring #2, the answering
machine was set to pick up on ring #4, and when it did, it would reboot the computer, and reload the BBS.

Clever watchdog timer. :) I never had many issues, it probably helped that all of the software "recycled" after each call. The mailer would exit and load the BBS, the BBS (RemoteAccess) exited after every caller. If it was a mail call, the mailer would exit and the tosser would load, and so on. The real magic happened in the batch file that ran the BBS. :)


... What is the Latin for office automation?
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Computer History
By: Daryl Stout to SQUIGY0 on Fri Jul 21 2017 04:32 pm

And the batch file referenced in the autoexec.bat would just loop around S>>and call itself everytime it exited, exponentially increasing the
board's uptime.

I originally ran FrontDoor with telegard in the dial-up days. FrontDoor would play a little morse code SOS over the PC speaker when it exited on an error.

I went to Santa Cruz for a training class for a week, and the modem hung almost as soon as my bags left the house. The batch file took about 90 seconds to error out trying to initialize the modem, then do it's SOS, loop to the beginning, 90 seconds, SOS, loop to the beginning... for a week. My neighbors must have loved it.

---
þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

Re: Computer History
By: SquigY0 to Daryl Stout on Fri Jul 21 2017 08:50 pm

We had one of those answering machines that would pick up on the second ring if there were messages waiting to be picked up...i guess so you could save payphone money if you were calling and there was nothing to hear.

I found a microcassette tape from an answering machine from many years back. It was entertaining listening to old friends drunk dialing and leaving messages. :)

---
þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

Re: Re: Computer History
By: Vk3jed to Daryl Stout on Sat Jul 22 2017 11:55 am

Hahaha, but how long does it take you to run 100m (you know, on your feet, nothing to do with radio)?

Depends on how heavy the radio you're carrying is.

---
þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

Re: Re: Computer History
By: Vk3jed to Daryl Stout on Sat Jul 22 2017 11:59 am

Clever watchdog timer. :) I never had many issues, it probably helped that all of the software "recycled" after each call. The mailer would exit and load the BBS, the BBS (RemoteAccess) exited after every caller. If it was a mail call, the mailer would exit and the tosser would load, and so on. The real magic happened in the batch file that ran the BBS. :)

Is it sad that I miss those days? Getting a DOS PC to be able to accept mail calls, human callers, run maintenance and back itself up, using batch files and a box that converts sound into a serial data stream seems pretty amazing.

---
þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

Quoting Poindexter Fortran to Daryl Stout <=-

@VIA: VERT/REALITY
@MSGID: <59736B9E.18969.dove.dove-gen@realitycheckbbs.org>
@REPLY: <5972752A.1071.dove-general@wx1der.dyndns.org>
@TZ: c1e0
Re: Computer History
By: Daryl Stout to SQUIGY0 on Fri Jul 21 2017 04:32 pm

And the batch file referenced in the autoexec.bat would just loop around
and call itself everytime it exited, exponentially increasing the
board's uptime.

I originally ran FrontDoor with telegard in the dial-up days.
FrontDoor would play a little morse code SOS over the PC speaker when
it exited on an error.
I went to Santa Cruz for a training class for a week, and the modem
hung almost as soon as my bags left the house. The batch file took
about 90 seconds to error out trying to initialize the modem, then do
it's SOS, loop to the beginning, 90 seconds, SOS, loop to the
beginning... for a week. My neighbors must have loved it.

-!-
þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

lol sounds like fun
___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30

---
þ Synchronet þ Richard's Fun House - telnet://richardf.ddns.net

Poindexter Fortran wrote to Vk3jed <=-

Depends on how heavy the radio you're carrying is.

lol


... Canadian DOS Prompt -- EH?:\>
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Poindexter Fortran wrote to Vk3jed <=-

mail call, the mailer would exit and the tosser would load, and so on. The real magic happened in the batch file that ran the BBS. :)

Is it sad that I miss those days? Getting a DOS PC to be able to accept mail calls, human callers, run maintenance and back itself up, using
batch files and a box that converts sound into a serial data stream
seems pretty amazing.

Yes, there was something about those days. In some ways, I miss then, probably because being a sysop required a lot of skill in putting it all together. Sure, today's software is just awesome - Synchronet, Mystic, they have it all. I think it's the way you could make all those different pieces work together in a mix and match kind of way . And I have an affinity for systems that are held together by batch files or shell scripts. Even wrote a ham radio remote base controller in BASH shell scripts that makes use of HamLib and a couple of other open source programs to do its magic. :)


... Me no wanna goto work. Me wanna bang on keyboard!
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

I originally ran FrontDoor with telegard in the dial-up days. FrontDoor woul PF>play a little morse code SOS over the PC speaker when it exited on an error.

I ran both FrontDoor and InterMail as the front-ends, with BGFAX at
the rear-end, and GT Power for dial-up in the middle of both.

I went to Santa Cruz for a training class for a week, and the modem hung alm PF>as soon as my bags left the house. The batch file took about 90 seconds to PF>error out trying to initialize the modem, then do it's SOS, loop to the PF>beginning, 90 seconds, SOS, loop to the beginning... for a week. My neighbor PF>must have loved it.

Who says the BBS computers don't suffer separation anxiety??!! <G>
They know when you're "in town", but know when you're going on
vacation!!

Daryl

---
þ OLX 1.53 þ An Electrician gets into people's shorts!
þ Synchronet þ The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org

Hahaha, but how long does it take you to run 100m (you know, on your fee PF>Vk> nothing to do with radio)?

Depends on how heavy the radio you're carrying is.

And, some of the rigs nowadays are rather small.

Daryl

---
þ OLX 1.53 þ Apathy Error: Strike any key...or none, for that matter.
þ Synchronet þ The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org

Is it sad that I miss those days? Getting a DOS PC to be able to accept mail PF>calls, human callers, run maintenance and back itself up, using batch files PF>a box that converts sound into a serial data stream seems pretty amazing.

It sure was...and every time I read or modify the bulletin on the
history of the BBS, it sure brings back memories.

Daryl

---
þ OLX 1.53 þ Archaeologist: A person whose career lies in ruins.
þ Synchronet þ The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org

Daryl Stout wrote to POINDEXTER FORTRAN <=-

Depends on how heavy the radio you're carrying is.

And, some of the rigs nowadays are rather small.

True, like the UHF CB I ran out to give to a school student for liaison in a foxhunt that I was running. I had forgotten to give it to him when he set off to hide, so I thought I'd better make haste. As I got up to speed, I could hear a "wow" from one of the kids behind me, and after passing on the radio, one of the teachers pointed out I was "speeding" through a walking zone LOL. :D
So, you could say I got done for exceeding the "speed limit" by a factor of around 6 times! :D


... Bachelors don't have Mother-in-laws.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Re: Computer History
By: Vk3jed to Poindexter Fortran on Sun Jul 23 2017 08:01 am

Yes, there was something about those days. In some ways, I miss then, probably because being a sysop required a lot of skill in putting it all together. Sure, today's software is just awesome - Synchronet, Mystic, they have it all. I think it's the way you could make all those different pieces work together in a mix and match kind of way .

I still have to get Allfix and Radius FTN mailer to play nice -- Synchronet has a new mailer and TIC processor, but don't think they're up to supporting a hub yet. I run most of my events through Radius' cron facility, though, which is a lot easier than exiting out with an errorlevel.

---
þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

Re: Computer History
By: SquigY0 to Vk3jed on Tue Jul 18 2017 01:20 pm

LOL yep. Well I started without even the SSSHHHH, just the EEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeee (300 and 1200/75). I learned the other handshake sounds as I upgraded over the years. :)

This is such an amazing exclusive language now that we are speaking :D

I can connect 300 with my voice, 1200 is tough to keep it from disconnecting hehe... Now if you could control what characters are demodulated from that stream, you win.

...darkwing!
---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Re: Computer History
By: Daryl Stout to SQUIGY0 on Fri Jul 21 2017 04:32 pm

a relay switch on the answering machine. Sometimes, the system would
lock, so while the BBS was set to answer on ring #2, the answering
machine was set to pick up on ring #4, and when it did, it would reboot
the computer, and reload the BBS.

Better hope your BBS never gets that popular with one of those, otherwise it could keep rebootin' for a long time... Oh wait it's not 1990 anymore =)

...darkwing!
---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ telnet://vert.synchro.net

Poindexter Fortran wrote to Vk3jed <=-

I still have to get Allfix and Radius FTN mailer to play nice --

I use binkd for my mailer, has been pretty well behaved. :)

Synchronet has a new mailer and TIC processor, but don't think they're
up to supporting a hub yet. I run most of my events through Radius'

Yeah, I have read the TIC processor is more for a leaf node. I'm still running 3.16c, so no TIC processor, and haven't decided what to use. AllFix is not really an option, I'm on a Pi.


... The one way sure to conciliate a tiger to allow oneself to be devoured
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Darkwing wrote to SquigY0 <=-

I can connect 300 with my voice, 1200 is tough to keep it from disconnecting hehe... Now if you could control what characters are demodulated from that stream, you win.

Real programmers type "copy com1 filename" and whistle into the phone. :D


... It doesn't work, but it looks pretty.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Computer History
By: Darkwing to SquigY0 on Sun Jul 23 2017 12:51 pm

I can connect 300 with my voice, 1200 is tough to keep it from

Thousands wouldn't be, but I'm genuinely impressed by that.

---
þ Synchronet þ War Ensemble BBS - The sport is war, total war - warensemble.com

a relay switch on the answering machine. Sometimes, the system would
lock, so while the BBS was set to answer on ring #2, the answering
machine was set to pick up on ring #4, and when it did, it would reboot the computer, and reload the BBS.

Better hope your BBS never gets that popular with one of those, otherwis
it could keep rebootin' for a long time... Oh wait it's not 1990 anymore =)

The way Windows 7 is, I have to enter a password to get into it at
logon (I prefer it that way). Then, I have run several items as Administrator...Synchronet gets loaded last.

Daryl

---
þ OLX 1.53 þ As a computer, I find your faith in technology amusing.
þ Synchronet þ The Thunderbolt BBS - wx1der.dyndns.org

Daryl Stout wrote to DARKWING <=-

The way Windows 7 is, I have to enter a password to get into it at
logon (I prefer it that way). Then, I have run several items as Administrator...Synchronet gets loaded last.

Arrrgh, brings back memories of when I ran a WiRES-II node - Windows and its antics were the biggest bugbear. I love being able to run my systems on headless Pi boards - everything as daemons, nothing requiring user interactive logins (except for administration over SSH, of course). :)


... Windows 3.1 - From the people who brought you EDLIN.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Computer History
By: Daryl Stout to DARKWING on Mon Jul 24 2017 08:06 am

The way Windows 7 is, I have to enter a password to get into it at
logon (I prefer it that way). Then, I have run several items as Administrator...Synchronet gets loaded last.

I set mine up so if power goes out windows reboots when power comes back, and Synchronet auto loads.

"... Never play leap frog with a unicorn."

---
þ Synchronet þ the Outwest BBS - outwestbbs.com Telnet - outwestbbs.com:23

VK3JED wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-

I had people say, "you can't get on the Internet with that
computer." That just made me try harder. LOL

Would have worked fine with a shell account. PPP based access would
have been possible with a number of packages too.

Yeah - it served me well for a long time! Then I went to a
Windows 3.1 system and started using Trumphet software - then
AOL. :-)




... Grace Period: The time it takes to ask the meal blessing.
--- MultiMail/Darwin v0.49
þ wcQWK 7.0 ÷ Neptune's Lair - Olive Branch MS - winserver.org:2323

SQUIGY0 wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-

My first modem was an internal 14.4. However not knowing anything
about modems, I assumed it was a 2400, and would dial into Prodigy on their phone lines that were 2400s.

Then one day, somebody on a BBS pointed out that I was being clocked at 14.4 when I logged in (they had just gotten a 28.8 and told me I needed
to get with the times...maaaaaan). We had an argument for awhile
because I was sure they were wrong.

Then I dialed into the Prodigy 9600 lines (i don't think they had 14.4 yet...if ever) and was like "holy...I was wasting so much time dialing into the wrong number and waaaaaaaiting!"

LOL - nice



... Aside from that Mrs. Kennedy, how was the parade?
--- MultiMail/Darwin v0.49
þ wcQWK 7.0 ÷ Neptune's Lair - Olive Branch MS - winserver.org:2323

JIMMY ANDERSON wrote to VK3JED <=-

Yeah - it served me well for a long time! Then I went to a
Windows 3.1 system and started using Trumphet software - then
AOL. :-)

I used a shell account for the first year or so, then went PPP, accessing the net using a mixture of WFWG (the DOS/Windows machine was on a LAN), OS/2 Warp 3 and Windows NT 4. :) The actual Internet connection was made using a Linux box, and I had a /29 of public IPs routed to the LAN. :)


... Casserole is just another word for leftovers.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Re: Computer History
By: Vk3jed to JIMMY ANDERSON on Sun Jul 30 2017 03:45 pm

I used a shell account for the first year or so, then went PPP, accessing the net using a mixture of WFWG (the DOS/Windows machine was on a LAN), OS/2 Warp 3 and Windows NT 4. :) The actual Internet connection was made using a Linux box, and I had a /29 of public IPs routed to the LAN. :)

Those early days were fun. I worked at a software company from 1992 to 1995, and we had a 56K leased line to UC Berkeley and to the internet. We used a Cisco router, Kalpana 5-port Ethernet switch, and hubs - each department had their own switched collision domain. Big stuff back then.

I moved us from a LAN-based email system called QuickMail to a BSD box running a POP/NNTP server and SMTP, and we set up a small WfW workgroup for our tech support guys along with a couple of IP apps.

The amount of change we implemented in a short time was pretty amazing.

---
þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

poindexter FORTRAN wrote to Vk3jed <=-

Those early days were fun. I worked at a software company from 1992 to 1995, and we had a 56K leased line to UC Berkeley and to the internet.
We used a Cisco router, Kalpana 5-port Ethernet switch, and hubs - each department had their own switched collision domain. Big stuff back

Yes, the IT industry was fun back then. I put a company online, initially using a proxy, then switch to a Linux based NAT over a 56k PPP line. The cheap NAT routers were still years off, and anything else was well out of budget. Linux was relatively unknown, but I demonstrated that it would work well in a corporate setting.

then.

I moved us from a LAN-based email system called QuickMail to a BSD box running a POP/NNTP server and SMTP, and we set up a small WfW workgroup for our tech support guys along with a couple of IP apps.

I did similar, though they wanted a more "corporate" system. Initially Lotus Notes, but eventually went to MS Exchange (urk), until many years later, migrating to cloud based email.

The amount of change we implemented in a short time was pretty amazing.

Same here, they were heady days, I have fond memories of them. Over the years, IT became more "corporate". Low end issues were handled by cheap Chinese boxes, the rest was the big end of town - the former did me out of work, the latter isn't me. I eventually moved out of IT altogether as a career, though it does remain a hobby. :)


... It's funny because *I* said it!
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Re: Computer History
By: Vk3jed to poindexter FORTRAN on Mon Jul 31 2017 09:08 am

Same here, they were heady days, I have fond memories of them.

It's always fun doing things for the first time. We did all of our DNS through a Sun 3/60 system on loan from UC Berkeley. When they "wanted it back" (read: the team that borrowed it and set up services on it wanted it for their application) we had a short period of time to move all the services off of it.

I started on a Saturday morning with a CD copy of BSD/OS, a copy of Cricket Liu's DNS and BIND book, the Sendmail book and a pot of coffee. Read the book from start to finish and had DNS working for an external domain, internal domain and email forwarding by 3:00pm. It was amazing seeing it all working, considering I had no idea how it all worked at 8:00am that day.

That sold me on O'Reilly books, too.

---
þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

poindexter FORTRAN wrote to Vk3jed <=-

It's always fun doing things for the first time. We did all of our DNS through a Sun 3/60 system on loan from UC Berkeley. When they "wanted
it back" (read: the team that borrowed it and set up services on it
wanted it for their application) we had a short period of time to move
all the services off of it.

LOL yep, like the time a friend rocked up with a 486DX2/66 and a Linux CD, and asked if I could turn that into a dialin server, after his attempts had been unsuccessful. :)

I started on a Saturday morning with a CD copy of BSD/OS, a copy of Cricket Liu's DNS and BIND book, the Sendmail book and a pot of coffee. Read the book from start to finish and had DNS working for an external domain, internal domain and email forwarding by 3:00pm. It was amazing seeing it all working, considering I had no idea how it all worked at 8:00am that day.

Ahh, got both of those books kicking around here. Must haves for any network administrator of the day. Mine are well worn too. :) Yes, this thread brings back a lot of good memories. :)


... The large print giveth and the small print taketh away.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Re: Computer History
By: Vk3jed to poindexter FORTRAN on Tue Aug 01 2017 08:22 am

LOL yep, like the time a friend rocked up with a 486DX2/66 and a Linux CD, and asked if I could turn that into a dialin server, after his attempts had been unsuccessful. :)

Amazing what worked back then. I worked for a company that did video games, and we had one 486 running Linux that handled DNS, and a Sun Ultra 2 that ran a Netscape web server and FTP server. That combination handled something like 500 concurrent web and FTP users when we released a well-anticipated game.

---
þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

poindexter FORTRAN wrote to Vk3jed <=-

Amazing what worked back then. I worked for a company that did video games, and we had one 486 running Linux that handled DNS, and a Sun
Ultra 2 that ran a Netscape web server and FTP server. That combination handled something like 500 concurrent web and FTP users when we
released a well-anticipated game.

Yes, a well tuned Linux box back then could handle quite a load. :) But web pages back then were often static and not served up from a SQL database, as is often the case today (think modern CMS).


... Die, my dear doctor? That's the last thing I shall do.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.

Re: Re: Computer History
By: Vk3jed to poindexter FORTRAN on Tue Aug 01 2017 06:37 pm

Yes, a well tuned Linux box back then could handle quite a load. :) But web pages back then were often static and not served up from a SQL database, as is often the case today (think modern CMS).

Yeah, we handled a tiny bit of JSP back then, but most of the pages were created by a web company that I don't want to think of how much they charged per page...

---
þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

poindexter FORTRAN wrote to Vk3jed <=-

Yeah, we handled a tiny bit of JSP back then, but most of the pages
were created by a web company that I don't want to think of how much
they charged per page...

And today, a lot of sites use something like a LAMP stack or something else with similar functionality, so you're hitting a SQL database pretty hard. :)


... Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
--- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
þ Synchronet þ Freeway BBS in Bendigo, Australia.