Bbs terminal reddit / bbs ---------------------------------------------------------------------- atomicchewbacca · 2019-07-01 03:11 I’m looking for an old terminal so that I could connect to a BBs using mostly original hardware. I have searched eBay before but the prices are quite high. (At least they seem that way) I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on other places to look for old mid 80s through early 90’s terminals. Thanks! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- socmunky · 2019-07-01 03:46 Ah yes....all "vintage" now. You might be better off using an emulator such as dosbox instead. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- atomicchewbacca · 2019-07-01 04:37 I have been playing around those , even as far as trying to connect a DOD 6.22 VM , probably more trouble than an emulator XD ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Android8675 · 2019-07-01 14:58 Would be nice to know what "original hardware" you have in mind. Do you want to use an old terminal just to use a terminal? I typed out all this stuff about how I get my Atari's online, then thought maybe I misunderstood the question. Either way, here's how I get my Atari systems online. Most of these methods work without modifying the hardware. My Atari 8-bits I use an SIO2PC adapter (Connects Atari to a Serial port or USB-Serial Adapter on a PC) then use either RespeQT or the APE (Parallel Interface) to emulate a modem on my 8-bit, you can use the 8-bit terminal software to simply ATD{IP/telnet address} to connect over the Internet. My Atari ST has a [WiModem232](https://www.cbmstuff.com/proddetail.php ?prod=WiModem232OLED), or I use a CosmosEx which lets me connect via a basic PC Wifi Dongle. I find this to be a bit harder to setup (Drivers are weird), but I've had it running here and there. The serial to wifi thing is cool, I'd think you could easily use it on any old hardware that has an RS-232 port. Again, if you meant something else, I apologize. :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MockNessMonster · 2019-07-01 16:25 I got my old Hazeltine terminal at a Ham-Fest show. All kinds of weird old stuff. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- atomicchewbacca · 2019-07-01 17:04 That is really similar to what I am looking for. One example would be something like a DEC vt320. Though I would like to find something with color. I would prefer to use a WiFi sr-323 adapter of some sorts just to play around with from time to time . An Atari wild work for this though ^^ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- atomicchewbacca · 2019-07-01 17:08 I found a 1950’s prospecting Geiger counter at the last one I went too. You really can find some neat stuff. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SqualorTrawler · 2019-07-01 17:29 I don't think many people connected to BBSes using terminals in the 80s. You could - I remember very clearly doing this at a friend's house. His father worked for Bell Labs and had a terminal at home connected to a modem. Sometime in the late 80s we sat in his basement and just dialed out. I liked the crisp text display. However as you probably know, most terminals of the time didn't support color (or non-standard glyphs.) A lot of mainly ASCII boards were run on Apple 2 systems which were in 40 columns, while terminals were 80. I remember we focused on those since they tried to look good in pure ASCII. Nothing wrong with doing this but it is far more "authentic" to use tcpser + DOSBox + Telemate/Telix/Terminate (or WinVice with a Commodore term program), or otherwise. Two recipes here might be of interest -- an Apple //e connecting (via emulation) to a BBS, and an Atari 800 doing the same: http://blizzardofzeros.com/emulationrecipes.html Now if you just dig terminals - I do - the only thing I can suggest is finding a local computer group in your town and putting out feelers. Sometimes people have these lying around in basements and would be willing to part with them for a fair price for a hobbyist. Some years back a guy gave me two for free. I have a VT320 and a VT420 I got off of ebay years ago but yeah as time goes by they keep going up in value owing to obscurity. Those terminals connect via serial connection to a Linux PC and serve standard terminal functions that way (telnet being principally of interest). I am not sure if your interest was to get a modem connected to do dialup; I haven't tried that as I don't have a landline in here anymore. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- atomicchewbacca · 2019-07-01 19:47 I do have an old modem I snagged from goodwill a while back. Though it would be neat to have the old tech to play around with. I may look into the link you posted as well. Thanks :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- istarian · 2019-07-02 02:52 Couldn't you just use a linux box running a full screen terminal emulator with a CRT monitor? I mean it would be neat to have a historic terminal, but if it's just for the effect of connecting to a BBS. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- atomicchewbacca · 2019-07-02 03:09 Yeah that could also work , and be friendlier to the bank account ---------------------------------------------------------------------- denzuko · 2019-07-02 17:32 If one is really going that Level of retro then obviously an c128, or DOS PCs of the time is going to be the closest to a "BBS terminal". There's been a very few cases of someone using a TTY teletype device for messages and connecting up to shell accounts. But really one is better off running a raspberry pi without x11 and using minimodem, ckermit, or syncterm to connect these days to get the full experience. And yes there are ways to get your older modems to talk over usb with serial port adapters. Thing to remember is off there's a will, there's a way. And have fun. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- atomicchewbacca · 2019-07-02 18:37 I had a fun run getting my old external fax modem working but eventually it did. I’ll probably just stick to emulation. I tried out syncterm and it’s pretty great. I think if I had a crt monitor and use my model m, then full screen syncterm I can get a nice nostalgic experience without breaking the bank. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- denzuko · 2019-07-02 18:42 lol. love the setup. try it with desqview as well that way one gets "multitasking": [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DESQview#/media/File%3ADESQview\_2.8\ _screenshot.png](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DESQview#/media/File% 3ADESQview_2.8_screenshot.png) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2019-07-02 18:42 [removed] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- atomicchewbacca · 2019-07-02 18:58 I love windows that are styled like that . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- denzuko · 2019-07-02 19:01 yep, desqview was the best multiplexer for dos while unix/linux has screen and now i3. Check out /r/unixporn some time. I bet you'll love a few things they have there. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- atomicchewbacca · 2019-07-02 20:32 That is some very awesome stuff :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- JohnPolka · 2019-07-05 21:32 Interesting post. I bought a 300 baud modem for my Atari 8 bit in November 1986 (a Supra 300 AT). Before getting the modem, my dad had a DEC VT100 dumb terminal connected to a 1200 baud modem. He used it for his work and I used it to call BBSs before I had my own modem. Anyway, your post brought back memories! :) -JP ---------------------------------------------------------------------- atomicchewbacca · 2019-07-06 03:38 Always great :)