BBS Scene - Alive & Well?
by DaZZaBoY


I bet you didn't expect to see an article on the current BBS scene 
did ya? Well, I didn't expect to be writing one until recently, when 
a sysop from the US posted an ad on one of the forums I moderate. 

It's hard to believe, but it turns out that the worldwide BBS scene 
is very much alive and thriving! 

The UK based BBS scene is basically non-exsistent compared to what it
once was, but after I did a little research I was amazed at how many
boards are still running. 

Current BBSes are accessed via a Telnet proggy and not a direct dial-up 
connection, as they were in the 'old dayz'. The boards that I've tried 
lately look exactly the same as they always did with colourful ANSI 
screens, guest user log-ins, multiple doors & even Z-modem transfer. 
Ooohh! 

A fully maintained and regularly updated Telnet BBS list can be found
at: CLiCK! and the current count of available BBSes is 400!! 

Most boards are US/Canadian but there are a handful of UK boards (good 
to see) and a fair selection available worldwide. 

If you want to have a nostalgic fix and visit a Telnet board, you can 
do a lot worse than trying mTelnet. You can also use Hyper Terminal 
which comes with most Windows installations, but so far I've found 
this to be pants! 

Just to clarify, BBS access via Telnet will work through your usual 
internet connection and costs you nothing, although some boards ask 
for a small donation if you are a regular user. FREE BBSing is great 
and it would have saved us a hell of a lot of hefty phone bills in 
the early-mid 90's, eh! :o] 


To get ya started, here are a couple of boards worth a visit. They
worked fine when I tested 'em last so don't whinge at me if they're 
offline when you call. 

To get connected: simply type the Telnet addy into your prog and 
click connect (or bang ENTER via mTelnet). Easy you see! 



 ------------
 Telnet BBS's
 ------------

 CYBERIA
 Last Updated: 8/4/2003
 
  Telnet: cyberia.darktech.org / dynamic
     WEB: http://cyberia.darktech.org
   Email: dperry.geo@yahoo.com
Location: Kingwood, TX USA
 Dial-Up: Telnet Only
Software: Mystic       Total Nodes: -    Pay?: No    Login: NEW
 
Full Free Access on your First Call.  No personal questons
asked.  No call-back or email verification. Local message
conversations that can be found only on Cyberia BBS.  Running
Mystic on Linux.  LORD, Planets:TEOS.  Home of Virtual Sysop
III and Space Dynasty Elete. 

----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 CARSO INFORMATION SERVER
 Last Updated: 1/13/2003
 
  Telnet: carso.dyndns.org / dynamic
     WEB: http://www.carso.dyndns.org
   Email: merlin@carso.dyndns.org
Location: Beverley,  United Kingdom
 Dial-Up: Telnet Only
Software: Synchronet   Total Nodes: 9    Pay?: No    Login: NEW
 
Many message networks and plenty of files to download. Online
games include BRE, FE and LORD. Local games and Inter-BBS
league games available. Large collection of Blackpool (UK)
Tramway photographs. Usenet Newsgroups and Mailing lists
available. 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------

 FLUX BBS
 Last Updated: 10/1/1999
 
  Telnet: flux.termisoc.org / 141.163.200.2
     WEB: http://flux.termisoc.org
   Email: bbsadm@flux.termisoc.org
Location: Plymouth,  England
 Dial-Up: Telnet Only
Software: EBBS         Total Nodes: -    Pay?: No    Login: BBS

----------------------------------------------------------------




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