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The way many people are first introduced to electronic communications is through a local bulletin board system (BBS.) You might have gotten a list of BBSs to try from the place you bought your computer or modem, or you might find a BBS list in a magazine and decide to try it out, or you might decide to try some of the BBSs listed in Appendix A. However you find it, a BBS is an excellent place to learn the basics of telecommunications. Part II has detailed articles on getting your modem working with your computer, and connecting to a remote computer. If you are having trouble making a connection, please refer there.
Choose a BBS in your local calling area, and tell your modem to dial that number. Most communications programs have the option of saving frequently-dialled numbers to a directory. Usually, the directory will include other things besides the BBS name and number, such as speed, parity, and so forth. Generally, you can set the speed to the fastest rate your modem will support. If a BBS has a slower modem than yours, your modem should "step down" to the maximum speed of the other modem. (In the same way, if you have a "slow" modem and call a BBS with a faster modem, it will "step down" to match the speed of your modem.) The parity settings you should use are 8 data bits, No parity, 1 stop bit. Some BBSs advertise that they use these settings by listing themselves as "8N1", but virtually every BBS uses these settings anyway. Some mainframe systems use 7 data bits, Even parity, and 1 stop bit. If you connect to a system and get strange symbols on your screen, it is possible that it's using these settings. Sometimes these settings are referred to as "7E1." If you see these "garbage" characters, and you believe the system you were trying to call might be a mainframe, try hanging up, setting your software to use 7E1, and calling back. Sometimes, even if both computers are using 8N1, you might get "garbage" characters because one of the modems failed to "step down" to the right speed properly. This is most common in "slow" connections below 9600 bps, because V.32 and follow-on standards have speed handshaking built into them. So it's also a good idea to try calling back with the same settings, to see if it was just a temporary problem.
In any case, once you get connected to another computer, you should see something like this on your screen:
/---------------------------------------------------------------\ | | | Please enter your full name: | | | \---------------------------------------------------------------/
At this point, you can enter your name. However, if you are calling a BBS in a FidoNet Technology Network, you might see something like this:
---------------------------------------------------------------\ | | | **EMSI_REQA77E | | | | Address 1:153/309@fidonet.org Using BinkleyTermOS/2 Ver. 2.59 | | | | =[Welcome to Morning Star (Os/2) OIS]= =[Os/2 2.10]= | | | | Please press your Escape key to enter the BBS, or wait a few | | moments. | | | \---------------------------------------------------------------/
Now, this may look scary, because of all the strange terms on the screen, but fear not. The only thing which counts is the line, "Please press your Escape key to enter the BBS, or wait a few moments." This may cause you some worry if your communications software uses your <Esc> key to perform a specific function within the software. (For example, Crosstalk uses the <Esc> key to tell Crosstalk you are going to issue it a command.) However, in most communications software, you can assign some other key to that function. If not, just wait 10 seconds or so, and the BBS will load. The reason that it puts up that screen is because FidoNet BBSs exchange mail and files with what are sometimes called "front end mailers." These are programs which answer the phone and determine if it is another BBS calling, or a human being. If it's another BBS, they will exchange mail and files as quickly as they can, and then hang up, without ever starting the BBS itself. If it's a human being, as in your case, the front end mailer will load the BBS program either if you press <Esc> or if there is no response within 10 seconds or so. (If you were a BBS, rather than a person, then you would send a coded reply in response to the "**EMSI_REQA77E" prompt.)
Now, if you press <Esc> or wait the 10 seconds, the BBS should load and ask you the usual question:
/---------------------------------------------------------------\ | | | Please enter your full name: | | | \---------------------------------------------------------------/
After you enter your name, the BBS will say something like:
/---------------------------------------------------------------\ | | | Scanning userfile ... | | | \---------------------------------------------------------------/
Since this is your first call, the system will not have a record of you, and will require you to complete a new user's questionnaire, asking your name, address, phone number, blood type, rank, serial number.... (Oops. Got carried away there.) It may seem to you that some of the questions on these questionnaires are too nosey. Basically, what the system operator (sysop) is trying to determine is whether you are a serious caller, or just a prankster.
Eventually, you will be rewarded by a welcome screen something like this:
/------------------------------------------------------------\ | | | Welcome to ... -\ -\ | | | | | | ---\ ---\ \ | | \ | ---\ | | | \-/ | | | | | |\ | | |\ | | __ | | | | | | |---/ | \ | | | \ | | | | | | | \---/ | \ | \| | | \| \---/ | | | | ----\ | | | --.--\ ----\ ---\ | | \-----\ | | | | | | | ibmNET | | |----| |---/ FidoNet | | 40:6491/1005 \-----/ | | | | \ 1:153/309 | | | | -----\ ----\ / ----\ | | | | | / | | | | | \----\ / ----/ FmlyNet | | AngliNet | | | / | 8:7501/110 | | 33:555/102 \-----/ \----/ / \----- | | | | O N L I N E I N F O R M A T I O N S E R V I C E | | | | 24 Hours, 7 days a week | | 12/24/96/14.4 kbps V.32bis | | | | More [Y,n,=]? | | | \------------------------------------------------------------/
Now, for a "techie", this screen says all kinds of cool things. For instance, there are four network addresses (like "FidoNet 1:153/309"), the hours at which the BBS is available (some BBSs only run part time) and the modem speeds. (That is the line that says, "12/24/96/14.4 kbps V.32bis." All it means is that it can talk to any modem faster than 300 bps.) The key part to this screen, aside from saying "We're glad you called," is the last line, where it says, "More [Y,n,=]?" This is called a "prompt." It means the BBS is waiting for you to make a choice based on what you see. In this case, it has given you a full screen of information, and has more to tell you, so it's waiting for you to say, essentially, "I've read that, and I'm ready for the next bit." You will notice that it gives you three choices: "Y", "n", and "=". "Y" means "Yes." In this case, it specifically means, "Yes, show me the next screen." Notice that it's capitalised. When you have multiple choices, the capitalised choice is the "default" choice. If you hit <CR>, the BBS will assume you want the default choice. Most of the time, hitting <CR> is the best thing to do, as the default choice is the most logical next step to take. However, you don't have to take it. If, for example, you call this BBS every day, and you know the next screen will be a bulletin you have read every time you've called in, you can press <n> for "no" and skip the rest of the bulletins.
Every BBS is a little different, but most will display some form of menu showing the options available to you. Among these options are:
Read all of these you can. Usually, they will include BBS rules, instructions on how to find your way around, and so on. If your communications software has a "log" or "capture" function, save these to disk so you can refer to them again later.
This will let you set different aspects of the way the BBS interacts with you. For example, you can set how complete menus are: Do you want full listings of every possible command and what they do (often called the "Novice" setting), or just a brief reminder of the options (the "Regular" setting), or very brief menus? (the "Expert" setting.) Novice menus are easier to understand, but take longer to show up on your screen. Expert menus may be no more than "Command?", so they don't take much time or space, but they don't offer any help if you don't already know what you're doing.
You also might want to change your password. You should change your password at least every six months. You should avoid obvious passwords like "password", "love", and "secret." You should use as long a password as the system allows, and use numbers and punctuation to make your password as hard to guess as possible. ("kEep0uT+y0u=5No0p!" is much harder to guess than "keepout".)
Another thing you might want to set is your default transfer protocol. If your communications software and the BBS can both handle it, Zmodem is best. It's fast, it takes little or no effort on your part to initiate a transfer, you can send or receive several files in one transfer, and you can pick up where you left off if something interrupts a long transfer.
A "Door" is an add-on program that sysops may choose to add to their BBSs in order to provide services which BBSs don't normally have. Possible "Door" programs include games (including Bible Games), news-of-the-day programs, BBS databases, and all kinds of other things. (Some BBSs even have "computer dating" doors!)
Here's what this toolkit is all about: putting you in a position to get some of the thousands of programs which are available through shareware and public domain software. You can download everything from Bible games to Greek lessons on disk to scheduling programs for church service participants. If the BBS you are using has a special graphical interface program, you will be able to download that so you can use it, too.
Most BBSs have the files divided into several sections according to what they're about. Typical options might include text files on different topics, Bible games, Bible-on-disk software, church management software, communications software, anti-virus software, and dozens of others. The files might also be divided up according to which computer they work on. There are usually brief explanations of what each file is or does. Take the time to browse these in order to decide which files you want. One warning: you should test every program you download with anti-virus software before you run it on your computer. Check out the articles on viruses and computer security in Part II for more information.
By all means leave your sysop a note of appreciation and encouragement from time to time. Also, tell them where you heard about their BBS, and why you're calling. If you are looking for a particular kind of program, or you would like your BBS to carry some of the conferences listed in Appendix B (if it doesn't already), your sysop is the person to ask.
This is the fun part! You can talk about anything on a BBS. But it's best to spend a few days just reading the messages to get a "feel" for the group which is already taking part. Message section descriptions only tell you so much. Each conference or echo or relay or whatever the BBS calls a message base develops its own group of regular participants, and becomes a kind of electronic community, with its own "inside jokes", means of expression, and written and unwritten rules of conduct. If the Internet is the "Information Superhighway", then a BBS message section is an "information neighbourhood." Each has its own "village characters" and resident gurus. In many cases, people partake in a given message area, not because of the topic, but just because that's where their electronic friends "hang out."
This is a specialised door program which allows you to download all the messages in the discussion areas you normally read in a "mail packet." Then, using an offline mail reader, you can read your mail and compose new messages or replies offline and then upload them the next time you call that BBS. Some BBS programs allow you to jump straight to the mail reader door from the login prompt. (For example, on a WildCat! BBS, if you put an exclamation point in front of your name and your password after it at the login prompt, like this:
What is your first name? !Greg Slade; password
then the BBS will take you right to the mail reader door.) Most communications programs have scripting languages which will allow you to automate the process of logging onto the BBS, uploading your new messages to the system, downloading new messages to you, and logging off again. A well-written script and a fast modem can exchange dozens of messages in a couple of minutes, without you needing to do a thing except get the script started. This can save a lot of money if the closest Christian BBS to you is a long-distance call, or even if you have "measured" local telephone service in your area.
How frequently you use this feature depends greatly upon the sysop. Some sysops love to chat. In fact, they may be running the BBS largely as a means of socialisation. Others are very busy, and expect you to page them only in case of an emergency. They consider being paged a nuisance, especially when a user pages to ask them a question which they have already put an answer to in the system bulletins. Of course, even with the same person, situations vary. A normally chatty sysop may be having a particularly busy or frustrating day, or a normally "get to the point" kind of sysop may be feeling chatty.
Many sysops have additional questionnaires aside from the "new user" questionnaire when you first connect. Answering these questionnaires can help the sysop in deciding to upgrade your status so you can gain full access to the system quickly.
It may seem more complicated to use a BBS than to deal with normal mail at first, but pretty soon, you'll get the hang of things, and you'll find using your favourite BBS a real joy. Any electronic communications system is like having a newspaper that never gets wet, a post office that works at the speed of light, and a worldwide community of friends and experts all rolled into one. In fact, your biggest problem may well be disciplining yourself to keep your BBS time to a reasonable amount. It can become an addiction, and many users go through a phase in which BBSing crowds out other important things in their lives. Some people, once they get through that stage, quit BBSing altogether, because they can't discipline themselves. However, the ideal is that you learn to keep your BBSing in perspective with the rest of your life. (It's also a good idea to go through this obsession phase on a local BBS, which is free, rather than a commercial system, which can ruin your credit card balance.)
[CTT Home Page] [Part 1]
[Part 2] [Part 4]
[Part 5] [Part 6]
[Part 7]
[Appendix A] [Appendix B]
[Appendix C] [Appendix D]
[Appendix E] [Appendix F]