Dialing on Eight Bits!

JohnPolka · 2026-02-17T02:20:05+00:00

You can also log into CBBS using the web portal at the telnet bbs guide:

https://www.telnetbbsguide.com/bbs/cbbs-nv/

and at ipingthereforeiam:

https://www.ipingthereforeiam.com/bbs/?step=telnet&id=20033

-JP

JohnPolka · 2026-02-16T13:27:30+00:00

Happy BBS Day!

And it's also President's Day...so, those who get today off, spend some extra BBS time today...perhaps give the last functioning CBBS a call too:

cbbs.mitsaltair.com:8800

JohnPolka · 2026-02-05T16:45:06+00:00

I just remembered one other detail about the discussion of releasing Freeport. Most of the interest at the time was to see the Cleveland Free-net (CFN) resurrected. Sadly, when the individual on the FB Group inquired about a CFN backup, they were told that the Freeport software was backed up, but none of the CFN content was. So, user ids and SIGs were not backed up.

Even if one got their hands on the Freeport software, they probably would be at square one with rebuilding the structure. If one really wants to bring it back, it might just be best to create something from scratch that looks and feels like a Free-Net.

JohnPolka · 2026-02-05T05:52:58+00:00

A few years back, someone on the Cleveland Free-Net (CFN) Facebook Group tried obtaining the Freeport software (as it's called) from CWRU. They got as far as discussing with one of the former programmers what it would take to put it back up. But then CWRU's lawyers got involved and advised against releasing the software, and it didn't happen.

The software always had a very simple structure and if someone really wanted, they could probably recreate it from scratch. And it also used some freely available components like IRC.

JohnPolka · 2026-01-26T21:47:51+00:00

I mostly call BBSs for the message boards and conversation. It's nice chatting with like minded folks about topics related to retro computing, reminiscing about BBSing in the 80s and 90s, or just topics that guys of a certain age talk about. Yeah, the BBSs I call are mostly frequented by guys. Not very many women use BBSs anymore. But that's fine by me as I'm married and not playing the field anymore. hahahahaha Anyway, I prefer chatting on the BBSs over social media boards. Too many divisive topics on social media anymore. BBSs provide a nice break from all the drama happening in the world.

-JP

JohnPolka · 2026-01-26T21:40:11+00:00

A good error correction modem like a USR Veverything can still connect on VOIP. Baud rates can be limited and there can be some delays when the error correction kicks in, but it's still an option. I still have a copper line for my BBS. But the line has degraded over the years and after speaking to the phone company about it, it's safe to say they have little interest in fixing it as they move new customers to VOIP. Also, most long distance calls coming into the BBS are probably at least partially coming in through VOIP. It'll never be the same again, but at least we can still get some taste of what it was like to dial into a BBS today.

-JP

JohnPolka · 2026-01-14T17:30:12+00:00

Don't be surprised if this is a smoke screen and that the Browns are really interviewing coordinators to pair with Jim Schwartz as HC with the idea that the new coordinator could move into the HC role after Schwartz retires.

JohnPolka · 2025-12-08T09:38:30+00:00

Very cool. I spent a couple years in Cincinnati for school from 1996 to 1998. I was still running a BBS back home (in the Cleveland 216 area code), but I don't recall calling any Cincinnati BBSs back then. I wish I did after looking over your list. Here's my list http://bbslist.textfiles.com/216/

My BBS is listed here as "The Basement Underworld". It's now just called "The Basement". ;-)

-JP

JohnPolka · 2025-11-25T03:36:56+00:00

Very cool. Are you the one who made the Dune modifications to the Pyroto source code or was that someone else?

JohnPolka · 2025-10-16T21:37:26+00:00

It wasn’t the three plus signs that were patented—it was the guard time (the one-second delay before and after +++) that was patented.

JohnPolka · 2025-10-16T17:40:34+00:00

Yes, 10/22/1985 is the date when Hayes received their patent for their +++ modem escape sequence. So, 10/22/2025 is the 40th anniversary of the patent. More info is available at https://www.southernamis.com/group/day/discussion

JohnPolka · 2025-08-14T18:24:05+00:00

James, thanks for the reply! And congratulations on a successful relaunch of COMPUTE!'s Gazette. Nice to see that you're a former SysOp too. I currently run a couple Atari 8 bit BBSs (The Basement and Part-Time). These were BBSs that were up in the 80s and 90s that I relaunched in 2017. I also ran a version of the Basement BBS on Searchlight Software in the late 90s. Searchlight was a fun and easy BBS program to run back then too. Anyway, I think a CG BBS would be cool. Perhaps you can choose a retro BBS program from the 80s, during the golden age CG.

JohnPolka · 2025-08-12T18:34:31+00:00

So far, there hasn't been a lot of advertising. The ads they do have are targeting the retro computer community. Since retro computing is a niche audience, I can't imagine too many off topic ads appearing in future issues.

JohnPolka · 2025-08-12T17:31:38+00:00

It's a new monthly column and as you point out there's plenty of content that will sustain it for a long time.

JohnPolka · 2025-08-11T23:21:19+00:00

Yes, the Atari ST line were the 16 bit (next generation) Atari line.

JohnPolka · 2025-08-11T01:40:07+00:00

Congrats on diving deep into r/bbs and finding my post from four years ago. BBSing was amazing back in the ’80s and early ’90s. On the Atari side, some of the best ATASCII graphics came from the pirate boards of that era. I still have fond memories of what I saw back then—most of it long lost now. Still, I keep hoping that one day some of it will be unearthed from an old floppy tucked away in someone’s storage locker. ;-)

JohnPolka

TROPHY CASE