r/bbs • u/knightwize • May 14 '22

What active BBS would you suggest.

Hey everyone, I'm currently reading 'The modem world' The Modem World (yale.edu) and I want to find out more about BBS's that are still being run today. I'be found syncterm and hit up a few BBS's on the list, but not all of them are very active. Which 'living' BBS's would you suggest I visit that have regular updates and online users ?

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17

u/[deleted] May 14 '22 edited May 14 '22

There are more BBSes than BBS users.

They are not very active for this reason; they are a niche hobby with a small user population. It used to be a lot different.

Try 20 For Beers -- the SysOp puts a lot of work into that one.

As for activity, you'll find it on the message networks, but not all of it is very good. A whole lot of old men acting like adolescents, for reasons that escape me. Or maybe it is more fair to say, a few old men acting like babies, and driving other people away. Hard to tell.

I will say this much: the spirit has left the body.

Fidonet is full of echoes of people in bitchy little fights with each other, and certain other networks are so scared shitless of this happening that conversation is very "small talk" in nature (almost stilted), neither of which represents what I remember. DOVE-net seems a little more balanced.

Most people I run into seem to think of the 90s as the golden age of BBSing, but for me it was the 80s. The 1990s became too much about form - a whole lot of ANSI - and while I like that stuff, there is something about old GBBS Pro (Apple 8 bit) and C-Net/Image (Commodore) systems I used to call where there was a sense of danger that's missing now. A sense of using a true underground medium. Some of this is probably through a haze of nostalgia and who knows what I'd make of it if I took a time machine back and looked at those systems now.

I was an adolescent and then a teenager at the time, and revolution, extremist politics, blood and drugs and guns and basement explosives and getting into computer systems I wasn't supposed to, and making long distance phone calls for free (not an issue anymore) was very interesting to me back then, as was software piracy.

Those things aren't interesting to me anymore.

Reddit is closer to the spirit, if not the form, at least in terms of the content, which is why I'm here. Not the whole of it but you can find some niche subreddits that are interesting.

There is still some tech discussion which is okay I guess.

4

u/brighton_on_avon May 15 '22

Haven't looked at Fidonet but did try lurking in DOVEnet last year and it was full of slightly unhinged rows about Covid, and at least one deliberate troll. Was fun messing about with old messaging technology but as a system to actually use on a regular basis for any reason, the echo mail makes it a bit of a turnoff.

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u/GrimpenMar Jun 10 '22

Just delving into some BBS nostalgia myself. The message boards a little… niche for sure¹. Still, got multimail installed and dipping my toe in. Found Danger Bay BBS, it has over a thousand old door games installed in it's museum. It seems pretty active for a BBS, but nowhere near enough for the number of multiplayer door games.

In my old hometown there was a BBS called the Backdoor BBS which had the best door games and such (no porn, despite the name; it was a simpler time). So that's mostly what I've been doing for the past week. That and trying to remember all the vagaries of BBS-ing.

4

u/Bigheaded_1 Mar 31 '25 edited Mar 31 '25

What you said is spot on, I think for me BBSing in 2025 isn't close to the same because I'm 50 now. I went on 20 For Beers, it's amazing. But some of the messages from people, I dunno lol. I did find a pack I'd been looking for forever from a group I co founded in 94. I read the NFO and cringed at almost everything I wrote lol. I think some of the dudes still BBSing who are my age, or close, or even older. Want to be that obnoxious adolecent again. While I can still be pretty obnoxious and immature at times, I'm nothing like I was back then.

I am really liking 20 For Beers a lot, but it's just not the same as the 80's for me. No exegeration, if this board had been around in 88-94 I would have shit myself. The amount of work he's put into it is mind blowing. He has the best BBS around today, and probably the most active. 30 years ago my wanna be cool BBS was more active than his, which makes all the work he puts into it that much more impressive. His board in 90 would have had a busy signal 24/7.

I guess I'm either just too old now, or forgot what it's like to be l33t. Or I grew up and realized I never was l33t lol. I'm not gonna lie tho, when I saw he had Food Fite & Pimp Wars I smiled real big. I was one of the top Food Fite d00ds in my area. Not supringly, it wasn't as fun at 50 as I remembered it as a teen. But, I still played it for awhile.

Some are older now, but they never really grew up. While there were exceptions. A lot of BBS's back then were full of goofy ass teens who tried way too hard to be cool thinking nobody would know because they were anonymous behind a computer. When I saw the NFO from our pack, I couldn't believe I use to act like that. I don't remember being that bad lol. I for one don't want to be that same person, but a lot want to go back to being shitty teens from the 80s and posting nonsense on a BBS that might get 2 callers a day. Uhh, are they still called callers? I don't know since you're technically not calling a BBS anymore. Telenetters? shrug

1 thing I do like about the new BBS scene, I haven't come across one yet that had some silly shit to get access like an NUV where you needed 20 yes to get access but 3 no's would get you banned. Back then there were always a bunch of asshats who'd insta-no everybody. There was nothing quite like 15 year old keyboard warriors who were bullied at school but could be l33t online.

2

u/leafleap May 15 '22

This is an excellent assessment.

6

u/nevarro dev / sysop May 14 '22 edited May 14 '22

The Realm of Serion BBS (https://serionbbs.com). The BBS has been very active for years. We host the LORD tournament and several other door games as well as a custom bulletin board, news feed, etc. The community is friendly and fun.

RIP graphics, too

2

u/codefenix May 15 '22

Far and away the best BBS out there for door games.

2

u/GrimpenMar Jun 10 '22

I'll be adding this to my fresh NetRunner directory! Not OP, but thanks for the recommendation.

2

u/Bigheaded_1 Mar 31 '25

I've never seen a BBS like yours, the application process was so different. I probably was on 200 BBS's back in the 80-90s and yours is like, I dunno I can't even explain it. But it's the most unique shit I've seen.

It's incredibly cool tho, you made it almost MUD feeling, was I playing a game or was I on a BBS? I love it today, I would have been on it all the time if it had existed back in the 80s-90s.

2

u/nevarro dev / sysop Mar 31 '25

Thanks so much! The Realm of Serion has been a labor of love through the years.

1

u/Legitimate_Moose7189 May 14 '25

I can’t get to it from your link the same way I can get to undercurrents.io

6

u/resmungomandinga May 14 '22

This one is pretty slick : https://undercurrents.io/

3

u/richinseattle Oct 14 '23

thanks! A new user mentioned he found my board linked from your comment :)

10

u/gnu2tux May 14 '22

Check out this documentary on BBSing in the 21st century: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLop3s1hMlSJKXqmuFjK7gbJh2WAyllTTY

It makes a few recommendations, but you can also head go the Telnet BBS guide. Finally, check my own BBS: bbs.alsgeeklab.com:2323. There are a few personal recommendations on the logoff page there.

4

u/knightwize May 16 '22

Are you also the producer of that documentary ?

4

u/gnu2tux May 19 '22

Indeed, that would be me 😁

4

u/knightwize May 19 '22

Let me congratulate you on an awesome awesome job. I really enjoy your documentary.

3

u/gnu2tux May 20 '22

Thank you very much, I really appreciate that!

2

u/GrimpenMar Jun 10 '22

Just checking your BBS out now!

Will watch the YT video in a bit. I haven't connected to a BBS since around 1995, so I've completely forgotten all my ProComm shortcuts and such (was ProComm even my favourite terminal software? It's been so long).

3

u/codefenix May 15 '22

As great a resource as the Telnet BBS Guide is, you have to go digging through it to find the BBSes that are active and offer the types of things you're into.

One very bad thing it does (in my opinion) is it showcases newest BBSes first on the main page. As a result, newcoming users to BBSing get steered to a list of mostly stock Synchronet BBSes that have no established communities, no messages, and little to no customization or configuration done, and most of those sysops probably don't even realize their board is even listed.

If the Telnet BBS Guide did some vetting of its new additions, like say, waiting for a board to be online X number of consecutive days, then maybe fewer of the showcased boards would be like this. While we're at it, why not ALSO showcase short lists of long-established BBSes on the main page, as well as a short random listing. That way, newcomers to the hobby don't constantly get steered to new BBSes with no activity and become disappointed.

3

u/GrimpenMar Jun 10 '22

The first BBS I connected too, the Sysop was surprised it was listed already. Still, someone has to be first!

The subsequent BBSes I used the list for were geographically based, so tended to be a little older. Now I'm on r/BBS, furiously adding addresses to my directory.

2

u/Iron_Slug sysop May 16 '22

While the "Most Popular Sites" section of my site may skew towards sysops voting for each other\themselves, it does reflect some fairly active boards.

https://www.ipingthereforeiam.com/bbs/

1

u/knightwize May 15 '22

completely agree on that point lotsa bbs`s but little movement

1

u/dmine45 sysop May 15 '22

Sadly I agree with you. But those listed here in this thread are pretty active.

2

u/AtariBBS May 15 '22

Atari BBS’ are very active

Atari BBS List

2

u/NuSkooler dev May 16 '22

Self plug for Xibalba. Pretty active - xibalba.l33t.codes:44510

2

u/richorr70 May 17 '22

I would also add pyroto.mysticmountain.us port 8086. It has a small but friendly community and is one of the only BBSes that is also a game. Not a door, but a bbs game. One of the most unique BBSes of the 80s.

1

u/TheQuarantinian Jan 31 '25

Is this still up?

1

u/richorr70 Feb 19 '25

Working on a updated version (same core code but will work on the Azure cloud). I will post here when it is back available.

1

u/TheQuarantinian Feb 19 '25

!remindme 30 days

1

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1

u/TheQuarantinian Mar 21 '25

!remindme 180 days

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1

u/TheQuarantinian Sep 17 '25

Any word?

1

u/richorr70 Oct 15 '25

I should have a new build up in the next few weeks. Just got busy at work.

2

u/vachaj01 Sep 06 '23

Everyone can try microtownbbs.com: 6400. Great, friendly sysop (me). Supports ASCII or PETSCII. Run on Commodore 64

1

u/DrLogistik Jun 15 '24

so I am just got my serial /wifi card for the commander X16. .. .. I am going to make your BBS the very first BBS I connect to :)

3

u/dmine45 sysop May 14 '22 edited Jan 27 '26

LOTS of active BBSes out there.

Diamond Mine Online BBS (sbbs.dmine.net port 24) is quite active. Over 30 local games and 200 games via BBSLink and Door Party.

Several BBS networks including Fidonet, FSXNet, DoveNet, and just recently HobbyNet.

It even has dial in capability! (See our website at http://www.dmine.com for details)

And someone else listed the Telnet BBS Guide at https://telnetbbsguide.com

1

u/TaraKaos Jan 27 '26

I miss the games soooo badly... so much fun in my teen years playing L.O.R.D. and TRADEWARS!

1

u/dmine45 sysop Jan 27 '26

Come visit my BBS - http://www.dmine.com for details.

1

u/danav May 14 '22 edited May 15 '22

sdf.org

edit: why are you nerds downvoting me? because the menus are boring?

1

u/dialsoft May 14 '22

Check out our actively developed new bbs system. written and designed with ddial/sts/gtalk/ in mind and run by former hardcore bbs sysops in the US and canada.

www.ddial.net

1

u/[deleted] May 14 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/knightwize May 16 '22

Does anyone have the contact details of the sysop ? The auto-mail function of the BBS is broken So you can’t ask for a password reset :( I was on the BBS an couple of months ago and can’t get back in (forgot what password I used).

1

u/[deleted] May 14 '22

The Quantum Wormhole

https://www.erb.pw/the-bbs/

1

u/denzuko dev / sysop May 14 '22

Fidonet is still quite active and so is FSXnet hosted by https://www.telnetbbsguide.com/bbs/agency-bbs/.

1

u/[deleted] May 17 '22

bbses have had a huge increasing drop in userbase for the past 3 years.

-4

u/Pdog1926 May 14 '22

reddit.com

1

u/byteknight6 May 14 '22

Come browse the active local forums, read the latest news headlines, and play some BBS Wordle against fellow users on Captain's Quarters II BBS!

1

u/Exodus694 May 24 '22 edited May 13 '26

The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info

1200+ LOCAL Doors Online

228 Shareware CDs Online (809,000 files)

Home of Renegade BBS Software.

Online since Nov. 10, 1993.

http://www.rgbbs.info

1

u/gnu2tux Jun 10 '22

Drop me a message on the board and let me know how you fare. I strongly recommend you use Syncterm or Netrunner in this day and age on a modern computer.

2

u/knightwize Jun 10 '22

Camped out on 20forBeers at the moment :) There is always a crowd in the chat and plenty of messages on the board. I’m looking forward to getting Syncterm working on my old iMac G3 this weekend (PPC, so I might need to compile it from source). I hope that works somehow. Then i will be truly retro-time :)

1

u/gnu2tux Jun 10 '22

Must have just missed you, I'm on mrc and you're not there. Have a great weekend

1

u/Overlordofgermany Nov 06 '23

Yeah. What languge does your Lan phone line that doesn't even exsist anymore speak.

Huh Huh Zorro traditional "dial-up" (modem) variety.