Anyone using Ooma for dialup BBS? reddit / bbs ---------------------------------------------------------------------- samalex01 · 2020-06-29 15:25 So we're ordering Ooma for the house, should be in tomorrow, and I'm wondering if anyone has used it to either host a BBS or to dial into other BBSes. I'll try it out when it's setup and report back either way. Later. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Scoth42 · 2020-06-29 17:00 I didn't use Ooma, but I did do some BBS calling over an analog adapter via SIP to Asterisk over Google Voice back in the day. I struggled to get more than 19.2 on anything, occasionally pulled off 38.4, and it was highly variable on individual modem how much line noise there was (likely different quality error correction). I also had to adjust jitter and buffer settings for best functionality, but I don't know how much configuration Ooma has for those if any. It'll probably be functional for something though. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CharlieBrown197 · 2020-06-29 21:03 If you are ok with sacrificing file downloads, 2400 baud is snappy and will always connect. Anything up to 14400 will usually connect, and is good enough even for file downloads. I have not used Ooma, but have used Google Voice through and Obi202, and I suspect the performance would be relatively similar, if not better, on Ooma. If possible, dig around and see if anyone has figured out how to disable any noise reduction or echo cancellation features, as these may slow down or halt your connection. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ilikeme1 · 2020-06-30 01:24 I have Ooma and have used it to dial-in to a few BBS boards and had success. Which boards are you wanting to try? I can dial-in to them and see. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- samalex01 · 2020-06-30 14:05 Nothing specific, just would love to hear the old modem going again and use some of the numbers on the Telnet BBS Guild, it lists about 25 dial-up BBSes with phone numbers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- samalex01 · 2020-07-02 01:33 Well I'm not having very good luck on Ooma for BBS dialup. I'm using a US Robotics 56K modem but I've tried 300, 1200, and 2400bps with little success. My laptop doesn't have a serial port, but I'm using a USB to Serial cable I've used for other things without issue. I even used \*99 before dialing which I've read may be needed to use codecs for faxing. [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MTuQZ\_xCk0ZPYoxVjoh\_7b0wHr3LelQl/v iew?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MTuQZ_xCk0ZPYoxVjoh_ 7b0wHr3LelQl/view?usp=sharing) I'm about to call support, but I'm betting they say dialing out like this isn't supported though I hoped if I could tell them I was using a fax that might work. Any thoughts? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- samalex01 · 2020-07-02 13:05 Did you have to setup anything special with ooma? I'm not able to connect to any BBS. I ordered an Ooma Linx which says they have a data mode, so maybe that'll work. Tried calling tech support, and they're useless... sent me three times to some overseas call center with folks who just know scripts. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ilikeme1 · 2020-07-02 13:31 Plug directly into the Ooma ATA. I tried dialing in with a Lynx and had no luck with that, but was fine direct connected. No other special setup needed. You can also try dialing *99 before the number and see if that helps at all. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- samalex01 · 2020-07-03 13:36 Tried that .. connected modem directly to Ooma Telo device, and i can get a handshake but all I get is gibberish with a few words here and there. The Ooma Linx says it's got some extra something for data and fax, so I hoped that might help -- it'll be here this weekend or Monday. I also did try *99, but no luck there either. I didn't get Ooma for dialup specifically, we needed a home service since the kids will be staying home alone more if schools close again, but being the BBS fan i am I really hoped I could dial into some BBSes again through it. Plus I hear many it works for, so just meh if it won't work for me. And ooma support is horrid, contacting them I just get marketing fluff and copy/paste of their installation instructions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ilikeme1 · 2020-07-03 13:56 What kind of internet are you running it on? Download/upload speed? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- samalex01 · 2020-07-03 15:11 It's a wired broadband connection through Grande, just did a speed test 90mbps down and 21ms latency. That's over wifi, but the Ooma Telo is connected between the cable modem and router so it's wired in which should be much faster. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- samalex01 · 2020-07-07 02:26 I've given up on it, too bad I really wanted to have that thrill of dialing into a BBS one more time. I bought an Ooma Linx which supposedly has some extra stuff for faxes, they even say Data/Fax on the spec sheet. But nothing worked. Used \*99, and changed the settings to Fax/Data and even to Alarm System. Lowered the bit rate all the way down to 300 bps, but nothing worked. I even tried connecting the modem to a Windows system with Fax and tried dialing the HP test fax number, but that didn't even work. Once it actually started sending Page 1, but that failed. Just sucks, invested about $40 in the USB to Serial cable and the Linx, though I can still use the Linx I guess elsewhere in the house. Just meh as it would've been great to be able to dial into BBSes once more.