BBS as a prepping/survival tool reddit / bbs ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jose_De_Munck · 2022-10-14 15:16 I write for a prepping website. Living in Venezuela, I have made significant additions with information about how keep things working with creative alternatives. For example, if an extended Internet blackout happens, we need some means to keep us informed with local and regional news. This could be feasible, even if the power grid shuts down as landlines have their own power. We still have tons of landlines. I´m not exactly IT technician but I can understand some basic language, and right now I´m involved with a project that needs some coding. I´ve configured some of my equipment back in the day, and worked with industrial inspection equipment like Eddy Currents, Ultrasonics equipment, and so on. My profession is metallurgical engineering, with 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. This could be a good informative tool, to keep running businesses, or medical assistance, or whatever other application. If someone could point me out in the proper direction, I would appreciate it a lot. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- KookyWait · 2022-10-14 15:33 How are you going to power the computers if the grid shuts down? I am generally interested in disaster (and censorship) resistant communication but I think in 2022 you'd want to build something around WiFi and mesh networks rather than POTS landlines. WiFi modems are just far, far more common than dialup modems in this day and age. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ihavenokarmawastaken · 2022-10-14 15:48 Can also use NNCP to build an encrypted sneakernet message network ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jose_De_Munck · 2022-10-14 16:07 A 12v car battery and a 110V inverter. We have sun enough the whole year to power whatever we need. You´re right, but in my area everyone has a landline; many people have older PCs with a built-in modem...but not everyone has a wifi modem. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jose_De_Munck · 2022-10-14 16:08 That would be useful for small transactions between the merchants, customers and providers. Good thing is, the formerly called "long distance" calls fees no longer exist. I can call a city 900 km away and it´s a local price phone call, included in the basic fee. Thanks! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- KookyWait · 2022-10-14 16:24 You know your area better than me but I'm pretty sure the smartphone penetration rate (and every smartphone has a wifi modem) exceeds the PC ownership rate in most countries at this point, global south or otherwise. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- redmax_ · 2022-10-14 16:25 Fyi, computers run on 12v dc (and some other voltages),, so while using an inverter might be easy, it is not efficient. You would want to directly wire with fuses to the battery, then step down the appropriate voltages then have a solar charger to run your server. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jose_De_Munck · 2022-10-14 16:40 Yep, you´re totally right. However it´s easier for common people to plug a 110v than directly wiring their PCs to a 700 amp battery. I mean I could do it, but I don´t dare to do it with my 27" monitor nor my PC. I can´t afford to replace none of these right now. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jose_De_Munck · 2022-10-14 16:41 Sure, smartphones are a different topic. Hadn´t thought about that, TBH. Worth to take a look... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- masturkiller · 2022-10-14 16:52 Do you use ham radio/amateur radio there? If you dont that would be highly advisable! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- grenadeselfie · 2022-10-14 17:11 this is how i lived for months when i couldnt pay my power bill! =) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Taclink · 2022-10-14 17:39 Smartphones are a mini-computer more powerful than 10 of the computers we used to host/access bulletin board systems back in the day. Given a good wifi signal from an outdoor access point with a good antenna, everyone that could connect to that would be able to access the BBS. With modern mesh capabilities, you could expand the access area pretty significantly. Nevermind that on the user end, a wifi dongle hung up in a colander can do magical things for making a directional antenna for access. Extending the range of things, looking at Terminal Node Controllers and packet radio (data over radio) with amateur radio equipment is the next best thing. That can cover a large area just point to point, nevermind if people have their equipment set up to digipeat therefore expanding the data's transmission range beyond that of your own station's capability ---------------------------------------------------------------------- redmax_ · 2022-10-14 17:43 Oh of course, My comment was more in the mindset of your disaster recovery and emergency communication. In that instance you would just be running your CPU. and not bother with the monitors and other power hungry accessories. While that has always been a concern of mine (internet lock out, no power etc..) the chance of it happening in different parts of the world can vary considerably. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ILikeBumblebees · 2022-10-14 19:29 Do you mean NNTP or UUCP? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ihavenokarmawastaken · 2022-10-14 19:46 [Node to Node Copy Protocol](https://nncp.mirrors.quux.org/) it's like UUCP but more modern ---------------------------------------------------------------------- acetaminophenpt · 2022-10-14 21:11 Back in 98 I remember a project that used radio equipment to connect to a bbs ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dmine45 · 2022-10-14 21:15 You can still do packet radio (as in packet BBSes), but it's rarely used in 2022. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dmine45 · 2022-10-14 21:15 I would recommend this. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- erosian42 · 2022-10-14 23:53 APRS is packet radio. I wouldn't say it's rarely used, just used differently. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Aplos9 · 2022-10-15 00:00 This is a fun thought experiment, but as soon as a bbs can come up an html server can come up easier these days. It's not like anyone has a modem and will want to connect direct. Many years in the woods until you walk out with a modem in hand. And then you have to have terminal programs ready to go. Browsers are ubiquitous. I wish bbs was a survival skill lol. Make me feel like I enjoy something useful. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jose_De_Munck · 2022-10-15 00:56 Cool! thanks. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- PaulLee420 · 2022-10-15 01:10 So while there are all the naysayers, or ppl pointing out how this is NOT feasible will have plenty to say - I'm glad you brought this up. Not only are bbSes reachable via landline/copper telelphone lines, but TELNET, SSH, HAM Radios... I wonder about new tech, like bbSes over LORA networks - this might be a way that groups in semi-local areas could network together bbS software in a catastrophe. I'd be interested in poking around this a bit more... Secondly, I've recently been thinking about attempting to host a bbS on a lokinet site. Lokinet uses TOR encryption to host decentralized sites, called... SPAmm's or... I'm murdering the name; but their 'websites' have a specific name. I'm just digging into Lokinet and wonder if its another way to host a bbS that can't be taken down. At any rate, interesting post... I \*do\* think bbSes would be a viable way of communication in a catastrophe event. Easier than getting the internet up; sure, I think ppl could make it happen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jose_De_Munck · 2022-10-15 01:14 Yes we do. However most of these users are old school guys these days...there is a new generation, but, you know...smartphones are killing the interest of new generations in anything but stoopid, dumb-a$$ tiktok videos. HAM equipment is a little bit expensive and to get the license you need to pass the exam, and stuff...Most of the Venezuelan people who can need this is not willing the effort. I´m putting it together because I know that at the end of the day maybe we can need it, and we will have everything ready to work. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jose_De_Munck · 2022-10-15 01:16 **I´m open to suggestions!** most of the PCs (you can call them vintage if you like) still have the modem cards or built-in back from the days the dialup was a thing down here. Not too long ago, maybe 20 years?... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jose_De_Munck · 2022-10-15 01:27 That´s exactly the sort of comments I opened this thread for :D I´ve done a lot of research in radio packet, and I even have a freeware made by some Dutch guys that will show the extension of your signal based in your radio parameters (mode, antenna height, UTM coordinates, wattage...) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jose_De_Munck · 2022-10-15 01:56 Thanks buddy. I know that landlines are too expensive to operate in modern times; but cellphone towers are too vulnerable for disasters. Internet is a very useful tool (I work and my kid eats thanks to this) that will generate a huge mess once the switch is pulled down (I´m sure it will happen sooner or later and I´m prepping for that). Let´s keep in touch so we can learn about this, and provide tech support to our groups. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Joeclu · 2022-10-15 09:14 It sounds like you should open a museum. Business opportunity $ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dmine45 · 2022-10-15 12:39 APRS and packet BBSes are not the same thing. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- erosian42 · 2022-10-15 13:41 Yes, I know, but they utilize the same Technology and aren't that different. Anyone running a digipeater is capable of utilizing that equipment to access packet radio. There are plenty of people who have the capability (or could quickly convert equipment they have) to utilize a packet BBS. Being limited to 300/1200/9600bps is probably the major limiting factor. If I had a BBS I would look into offering it via AREDN or other mesh networks in my area before I started looking at Packet. But don't underestimate the number of packet stations out there. It's still the primary mode of text based communication in some communications plans and whole radio networks of PCs and Pis are out there running BPQ, UROnode, nos/jnos, and others. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- PaulLee420 · 2022-10-15 18:18 Have you heard of LoRA yet? So, while I don't know of any work with using it for bbSes, its also a great tool that preppers could incorporate. Say you have a property with two locations a 1/2 mile apart... LoRA allows you a network connection simply with two LoRA units... worth checking into, but again I haven't dug in yet. :P ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jose_De_Munck · 2022-10-16 15:29 Hehe thanks for the suggestion. People in Venezuela is so broke that can hardly pay attention. I live in a very small town though. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jose_De_Munck · 2022-10-16 15:40 Yes, I did. However the initial request from my blog was to use already existing infrastructure, like the land lines. It would be quite interesting to make a comparative study between options though. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- HerpieMcDerpie · 2022-10-18 19:13 Run it on AX.25 on an agreed upon frequency. Check out "packet radio".