========== README.DOC ========== GUIDE TO INTERNET BBSs 01/97 ------------------------------------ Thank you for downloading the 01/97 edition of the SBI (Select BBS's on the Internet) BBS listing. This listing will be updated MONTHLY, unless there are no changes or additions to the list from the prior month. This list will always be called SBI.ZIP Files in this archive should include: ------------------------------------- SBI0197.LST Select BBS's via Internet list (full detail) SBIQ0197.LST Select BBS's via Internet "Quick" list (just names and addresses) SBIN0197.LST NEW BBS Systems for this month. README.DOC The file you are reading now README.1ST Important revision information SYSOP.DOC How to become a part of the SBI list HISTORY.DOC How this list came about HOW DO I ACCESS THESE BBS'S VIA THE INTERNET? --------------------------------------------- This "guide" is not designed to be a tutorial of "how to use the Internet", nor is it a guide to "how to get access to the Internet". There are hundreds of "help" files available on the network, or on your favorite BBS to help you out. Most of the systems listed in this list offer Internet access, and can be called using a modem and phone line. Once you get setup on one of these systems (or gain access to the Internet through some other means), you can access most of the systems listed by using a "TELNET" client. This works differently for different systems, but one common example would be: telnet (ex: telnet boardwatch.com) or telnet (ex: 199.84.216.1) Some systems integrate "telnet" into a menu prompt, which after execution will simply ask you to enter the host name or IP address. Some systems also offer the ability to use RLOGIN for the same purpose as TELNET. I'd suggest you try TELNET first... Another method is to telnet via a WWW page. If you have access to the Web, you can use this URL - http://dkeep.com/sbi.htm You will also need a "telnet" client. Some browsers have them built-in, but most don't. Off of the SBI Home Page is a link to various sites with some decent clients. For Web-based BBSs, you can access them using any graphical WEB browser. I'd recommend Netscape for the highest level of compatibility. Some BBSs require "special" proprietary clients to access them via the net. See the BBS description for details on these systems. SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT FILE TRANSFERS: --------------------------------- Even though most of the BBS's listed support "outgoing" FTP, many of the "PC" based systems listed here do not support FTP (File Transfer Protocol) TO their PC-Based file systems (which is where most of the files are). One solution for those that use dial-up accounts for their internet access (where the user dials into the service with a PC using a communications package such as Procomm or Qmodem), is to use ordinary "Z-modem" once telnetted into the BBS. However, in order for this to work, you MUST USE 8-BIT BINARY MODE for your telnet session, or rlogin using the -8 command line parameter. Different "telnet" and "rlogin" clients handle mode settings in their own way, so check with your service, documentation, or look thru your help files to see how this is done. Many telnet clients use "toggle binary" to set 8-bit mode. I've accomplished transfer rates of 1800 cps via telnet on a 14.4 connection - so it IS possible. Granted, the Internet is a fickle place when it comes to throughput, so your actual rates will vary. If you are on a "dumb" terminal that is logged into a Host computer (like a mini or mainframe), then you have no file transfer protocols (other than FTP) available to you while in a telnet session, so regular BBS file transfers will not be possible. FILE TRANSFERS WITH SLIP/PPP ---------------------------- For those users with a SLIP/PPP connection, a great program called "ComT" allows you to redirect a comm port to be a telnet socket! This allows you to use ANY standard Windows-based communications software to telnet to a an SBI BBS and then use a regular download protocol (such as Zmodem) for file transfers! The ComT program is available at the dkunix.dkeep.com FTP site as COMT.ZIP. Shareware. Another package called "CommNet" has just become available. Unlike ComT, it is a complete communications package in itself, specializing in SLIP/PPP telnet connections. It features a phone book for dial-up AND telnet connections, and supports high speed Zmodem and Ymodem-G file transfers. You can get a "demo" copy via FTP at ftp.radient.com Registration costs $34.95. For OS/2 users, there are communications drivers called "SIO", and a communications interface program called VMODEM. VMODEM, along with the SIO drivers, create a "virtual comm port" (similar to COMT for WIN), that allows any OS/2 communications program to "dial" a telnet address (ie, ATDT129.45.10.2). The drivers and programs can be found at most any OS/2 FTP site, including "hobbes.nmsu.edu" and "ftp-os2.cdrom.com". There are also several new SLIP (Winsock compatible) TELNET clients with built-in Z-modem! The best of these is Neterm, and is avialable from the SBI Home page on the WEB. Neterm also has some of the best ANSI-BBS terminal emulation out there. HIGHLY recommended! NEW for 1996: Netterm now includes ALL SBI BBSs in a telnet-phone directory for easy telnetting! Netterm and the telnet-phone book are all available at the SBI home page. LEGAL MUMBO-JUMBO ----------------- THIS LIST IS COPYRIGHT BY RICHARD S. MARK. THIS LIST MAY BE ELECTRONICALLY DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE AS LONG AS IT IS UNALTERED OR UNMODIFIED IN ANY WAY. THIS INCLUDES BBS-ADS WITHIN THE MAIN ZIP FILE! (IF YOU HAVE THE COMPULSION TO ADD AN ADVERTISEMENT, PUT IT IN A ZIP COMMENT.) WE ENCOURAGE USERS AND SYSOPS TO DISTRIBUTE THIS LIST AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THIS LIST, OR ANY PORTION THEREOF, MAY NOT BE SOLD OR BECOME PART OF A SALE OF SERVICES, EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE, OR DATA WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF RICHARD S. MARK. I PROVIDE THE LIST FOR FREE, AND EXPECT EVERYONE ELSE TO AS WELL. THIS LIST, OR ANY PORTION THEREOF, MAY NOT BE RE-PUBLISHED IN NON- ELECTRONIC FORM, OR BE JOINED AS PART OF ANY OTHER PUBLICATION (ELECTRONIC OR OTHERWISE) WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF RICHARD S. MARK. BBS SYSTEMS INCLUDED IN THIS LIST ARE INCLUDED AT THE SOLE DESCRETION OF THE AUTHOR, RICHARD S. MARK. THE AUTHOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO LIST ANY SYSTEM SOLEY AT HIS DESCRETION. ANY SYSTEM APPEARING IN THIS LIST THAT DOES NOT WISH TO BE LISTED NEED MERELY CONTACT THE AUTHOR BY INTERNET EMAIL (cerebus@dkeep.com) AND REQUEST THAT THEIR ENTRY BE DELETED. THIS LIST IS PROVIDED AS A *FREE* PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE BBS AND INTERNET ELECTRONIC COMMUNITIES. INDIVIDUALS ACCESS AND USE THE SYSTEMS ON THIS LIST COMPLETELY AT THEIR OWN RISK. THE AUTHOR AND DISTRIBUTORS OF THIS LIST BEAR NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTENT OF THE THE SYSTEMS ON THIS LIST, NOR DO THEY BEAR ANY RESPONSIBLITY FOR FILES DOWNLOADED FROM ANY OF THE SYSTEMS ON THIS LIST. THERE IS NO WARRANTY, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE, FOR ANY OF THE SYSTEMS ON THIS LIST OR ANY OF THEIR SERVICES. LOOK, IF YOU WANT TO CALL A BBS, IT'S UP TO YOU. YOU'LL PROBABLY HAVE A GREAT AND WONDERFUL TIME. BBS'S ARE FANTASTIC RESOURCES. BUT YOU ARE 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS - SO DON'T BE A WEENIE.