Best way to run a multi-line BBS without using multiple modems? reddit / bbs ---------------------------------------------------------------------- YeezysMum · 2021-11-06 12:09 Hi, I'd like to run a BBS at an event with several lines. Ideally I want to avoid a stack of multiple modems and use something that can combine several modems in one. Additionally it would be ideal if these were converted to Telnet (or some other IP encapsualtion) so the BBS can be seperate to the modems and telco side. I already have some Cisco routers and an NM-30DM digital modem card which I've succesfully used as a 56K Network Access Server. Is it possible to use similar hardware to run a BBS? Any suggestions? Note, I'm in the UK which might mean some hardware isn't available or is too expensive. Thanks **Edit:** I should have mentioned I can emulate an T1 /E1 / PRI circuit ---------------------------------------------------------------------- vga256 · 2021-11-06 13:10 I apologize as this does not answer your question but - would you be able to describe how your 56K network access server and T1/PRI emulation works? I’ve been planning on attempting the very same kind of project! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- recourse7 · 2021-11-06 13:16 Are you going to in fact hook up multiple pots lines to the bbs? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- YeezysMum · 2021-11-06 14:01 Hey, sure no problem. I'm planning on writing a detailed post so I'll share it here. If you've not heard from me in a week feel free to remind me. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- YeezysMum · 2021-11-06 14:01 I can emulate an E1 which is 30 lines in one. Failing that I could hook up multiple lines but it'll get messy ---------------------------------------------------------------------- recourse7 · 2021-11-06 14:14 How do you envision people accessing your bbs? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- YeezysMum · 2021-11-06 14:31 Modems over phone lines and telnet probably ---------------------------------------------------------------------- vga256 · 2021-11-06 14:36 Fantastic. Looking forward to it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- recourse7 · 2021-11-06 14:53 OK you mention that you want to run the bbs at an event? I'm sorry but you are not providing enough info to really give a good answer to you. OK so are people really going to be dialing up with a modem? You can put a dialogic card into your bbs computer and then bang you got a t1/e1. But that doesn't sound like what will really be the case. So what is it you want to do? How do you think this would all work? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- YeezysMum · 2021-11-06 15:17 It's an event in a field full of geeks (Think Defcon or Toorcamp). There will be people with retro computers and modems there especially if they're told in advance there's going to be Dial Up internet and a BBS. Probably not hundreds of people but certainly 10s. Anyone that wants one will have a phone line to their tent or campervan. The core will be a combination of Cisco Routers with FXS cards and E1 links. Some will be over IP but let's ignore that for now The dialogic cards are expensive / unobtainable in the UK it seems. Also do they do the necessary modem modulation? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- recourse7 · 2021-11-06 15:19 That sounds pretty cool. Whats the event? I think I have some cisco config here with turning a router into a terminal server but in reverse. Need to find it or refresh my memory. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- YeezysMum · 2021-11-06 15:55 It's [Electromagnetic Field](https://www.emfcamp.org/) - You get power and Gigabit ethernet over your tent so I figured I'd do phone lines too... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- recourse7 · 2021-11-06 17:42 I'm a VoIP guy by trade. So now you really have my interest. You mind me asking a bunch of questions? How are you going to provide dial tone? What ya going to use for a routing of extensions? Need a hand? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- YeezysMum · 2021-11-06 21:53 Yeah sure. The plan is subject to change but has mostly been labbed and tested now. Edge devices providing POTS access and dial tone will be a mixture of Cisco VG224s and 2811s with FXS modules. The VG224s are more cost effective per line (24 lines, PVDM DSPs are built in etc) but are IP only. The 2811s are more flexible and can do T1/E1 etc but more expensive per line ( 4x FXS cards is more than a VG224, and you need PVDMs on top, for a total of 16 lines). Modems work best over straight analog without any IP involved so if someone specifically wants to use Dial Up or a BBS I'll stick them on a 2811 with E1 trunked back to the NAS / BBS. Like I said I don't think there will be a huge uptake for Dial Up / BBS and they'll likely be grouped together ( The event is generally split into "villages" of people with similar interests or from a similar region, so there will probably be clusters of people into retro computing that'll want a couple of lines). I suspect uptake for a straight phone line will be greater ( Previous events have had GSM and DECT networks which were very popular ). I also have a feeling uptake the first year will be low but will increase at the next event once more people have seen it in action. Anyway, anyone wanting just a normal line without wanting to use it for a modem will get stuck on a VG224. I will be doing some experiments with running the modems via the VG224s and over IP. Some people will tell you it won't work at all, ( Compression and Jitter cause issues, thats a fact ) but there's plenty of videos on youtube and people hosting BBSs on VoIP lines so it should work to a degree. I'm not expecting a 100% stable connection, just enough to play with it. The core will be SIP based (Well, the bits that aren't PRI) so I'll probably be using Kamailio, but there will probably be another Yate PBX on-site for the DECT network if it happens so I'll be relying on that for routing between users as they have a nice front end for choosing a personalised extension number and setting up ring groups. As for assistance, I'll probably need some help setting up the physical hardware but I'm guessing you're in the US in which case it's a bit of a long journey :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ramsaso · 2021-11-08 08:09 Patton 2960 (I’ll typed detailed soon, im very busy) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- YeezysMum · 2021-11-08 13:42 Thanks! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- YeezysMum · 2021-11-16 22:45 Hey, I've not quite forgotten this yet but I'm having some teething problems. I've opened a [thread](https://old.reddit.com/r/bbs/comments /qvkbg5/the_illusive_v90/?) in case anyone can help. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- vga256 · 2021-11-16 23:43 Thanks for the update. The problems you’re running into are just as helpful as your setup!