Does anyone know any 80s/ early 90s telnet BBSes that are still
reasonably active?
reddit / bbs

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[deleted] · 2020-05-04 08:26

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CharlieBrown197 · 2020-05-04 11:19

Most modem-only BBSes from that era have upgraded to Telnet, so if you
find any from that era, they are probably now using Telnet.
Unfortunately, I don't have any suggestions for you.

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Iron_Slug · 2020-05-04 15:53

Check out my BBS list site:

[https://www.ipingthereforeiam.com/bbs](https://www.ipingthereforeiam.
com/bbs)

or The Telnet BBS Guide:

[https://www.telnetbbsguide.com/](https://www.telnetbbsguide.com/)

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gigawright · 2020-05-04 18:45

Onix BBS has been reportedly running since 1993. Can't say it's
particularly active these days, but it's still my go-to to play LORD
and TradeWars.

`telnet onixbbs.servebbs.com`

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JohnPolka · 2020-05-04 18:56

It depends on your definition of active. There are several still up.
You can find them on the lists that Iron_Slug mentions below.

Most BBSs are not as active as they were in the 80s and 90s. Particles
BBS (A Commodore 64 BBS) comes close.You can connect to it at the
following telnet address:

particlesbbs.dyndns.org:6400

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[deleted] · 2020-05-04 19:31

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[deleted] · 2020-05-04 19:31

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[deleted] · 2020-05-04 19:33

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[deleted] · 2020-05-04 19:47

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JohnPolka · 2020-05-04 20:48

The Keep is one of the few BBSs that still supports dial-up (as well
as telnet connections). I occasionally call it when I am in the mood
to use an old school modem. :)

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[deleted] · 2020-05-04 21:01

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JohnPolka · 2020-05-04 22:41

It depends on the BBS. The top baud rate on many BBS programs from the
late 80s to early 90s is between 9600 and 19.2Kbps.  If the BBS
program is from the early to mid 80s, then the top baud rate may only
be 2400 bps. There were also plenty of BBS programs in the early to
mid 80s that could only handle 300 baud at best.

So, in some cases the telnet connection is effectively the same speed
as the fastest modem connection. In other cases, the modem connection
is slower. I also know some modern day SysOps who purposely dial down
the BBS' effective telnet baud rate to allow a more genuine BBS
experience by the user.

-JP

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psiglin1556 · 2020-05-04 22:52

Mine had been running since 1987 in some form or another. The last
version is synchronet at bbs.memphistw.org

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cwstephenson71 · 2020-05-05 02:36

I run The New Frontier  2 BBS, frontierbbs.net:23 and The Amiga
Frontier BBS frontierbbs.net:8888

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vga256 · 2020-05-05 03:32

Seconding Particles! Great board, friendly sysop :)

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[deleted] · 2020-05-05 07:22

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cwstephenson71 · 2020-05-05 18:32

Great! :) Thanks!