| Bulletin Boards Boomingby Lloyd Borrett,Today's Computers, March 1985.
 You may have noticed that computer bulletin boards are 
                    popping up all over the place. What are they? How do they 
                    work? What benefits do they offer? Bulletin boards have been around for the past five or six 
                    years. The first boards were done "supermarket style": a 
                    short list of electronically posted notices and one-liners 
                    that provided vital statistics and no more. Now, with more 
                    than 1000 systems in the US and a growing number in 
                    Australia, that has all changed. Indeed, the term "bulletin 
                    board system" has become a limiting definition. The electronic bulletin board is no longer the souped-up, 
                    computerised version of the local supermarket listings, nor 
                    is it just electronic mail. In essence, it is a message 
                    system that allows the user, through a modem and terminal 
                    .program on his own computer, to log on to a "host" 
                    computer, get data, messages, and information, leave 
                    messages and data, and upload and download programs. The 
                    user, in effect, controls the host computer, although the 
                    flexibility and power of the system lies in the database of 
                    the "host". These boards, as a convenient way to spread information, 
                    trade messages, and meet people with similar interests, have 
                    a secure niche in personal computing. Mostly, these systems 
                    answer a desire to talk with other computer enthusiasts. 
                    This is especially important in Australia, given the 
                    distance that separates most clusters of computer users. To the person stuck in a country town with no computer 
                    store for a hundred miles, it means the difference between 
                    isolation and understanding. For the price of a 
                    long-distance telephone call, he can dial into a bulletin 
                    board and contact dozens of people who know about his 
                    equipment, give him hints on programming, and simply talk 
                    about computers. Most of the bulletin board systems are run by private 
                    users. They are run for fun, there is no connect charge or 
                    set-up fee, and anyone is welcome to sign on. Some of the 
                    boards are set up by computer clubs so that members can keep 
                    in touch between meetings. Others are sponsored by 
                    businesses, which turn on the communications equipment after 
                    business hours. To access a bulletin board you need a modem, which is a 
                    device that connects a computer to the telephone line. It 
                    translates the digital data you send to another computer 
                    into signals that can be transmitted over a telephone line. 
                    The computer on the other end also has a modem to return the 
                    data to its original digital format. Most direct-connect modems and acoustic couplers cost 
                    between $200 and $700. The dearer models offer faster 
                    transmission speeds, and the ability to switch from the 
                    Australian CCITT standards to the US Bell standards. All of 
                    the Australian bulletin boards allow for data transmission 
                    at the speed of 300 baud (about 30 characters per second). 
                    The other communications parameters they all use are: eight 
                    data bits, one stop bit, and no parity. Your computer needs to have what is variously called a 
                    communications, serial, asynchronous, or RS-232 interface. 
                    (The jargon we have to describe computers is hard enough to 
                    handle without having so many different terms used to 
                    describe the same thing!) Some computers come with this 
                    interface built-in, with others it is an "optional extra". You also need software to control the computer and the 
                    modem. This can vary from a simple set of BASIC statements 
                    that allow your computer to act like a dumb terminal (a 
                    terminal with no independent processing capabilities) to 
                    sophisticated programs that automatically dial and re-dial a 
                    phone number until a connection is made. One important thing 
                    the program should do is allow you to save on disk the data 
                    you receive from the bulletin board. Most of the user-run bulletin boards will let you in the 
                    first time you call. All you have to do is connect your 
                    computer to the telephone through the modem, dial the board 
                    number, then answer some simple questions. Once you have 
                    gained access to the bulletin board you usually see a menu. 
                    This is a display of things you can do, and the code letters 
                    or numbers you have to enter to do them. If you have a printer hooked up to your system, and you 
                    can print what is on the screen, it is a good idea to get a 
                    copy of the menu. The information on how to do things, how 
                    to ask for help, and most important — how to make a graceful 
                    exit, are usually on this first menu. It will save you many 
                    headaches if you have the information written down. The same thing is true of the bulletin board 
                    sub-sections. There is usually a separate menu display to 
                    tell you how to download files, another one to explain about 
                    writing messages, and so on. Many systems will let you enter 
                    a question mark, or type HELP to get instructions, but do 
                    not rely on it. Most bulletin boards are single-user systems, allowing 
                    only one caller at a time. The big commercial systems such 
                    as the Source and CompuServe in the US, and the 
                    Australian Beginning, have multiple telephone lines. These systems 
                    allow users to type messages directly to one another, but 
                    there is an hourly fee for using the system. Within the next few months several Australian bulletin 
                    boards should have multiple lines. Of course this will 
                    increase the costs of establishing and running such systems, 
                    and a combination of commercial sponsorship and moderate 
                    annual subscription fees will probably become more common. Practically all bulletin board systems have "public" and 
                    "private" messages. Public messages can be read by anyone, 
                    while "private" messages are flagged to be seen by just one 
                    other person. Of course, there is really no such thing as a 
                    private message; any message you leave can be read by the 
                    system operator, usually referred to as the SYSOP. Unfortunately bulletin boards are in danger of becoming a 
                    self-limiting phenomenon, the victim of frivolous usage. 
                    There are users who, with a mood of selfishness, toying, 
                    even abuse, literally "break" bulletin boards. They crack 
                    special codes, damage the computer and wipe out disks. There 
                    are others who write irate and obscene messages. Three similar bulletin board systems running on IBM PCs 
                    and compatibles were established in Melbourne during the 
                    second half of 1984. All three started out as entirely open 
                    systems with anyone being able to gain complete access. The 
                    persistent abuse by some less than social people has 
                    resulted in all three systems now asking users to go through 
                    a registration process. Those who aren't registered have 
                    limited access. If you want a taste of bulletin boarding, phone my "PC 
                    Connection Australia" board on (03) 528 3750. This board runs on an 
                    IBM PC at 300 baud. Dial the number, wait for the connect 
                    tone, and then send some carriage returns (Enter) to 
                    establish connection. You can read messages, bulletins, and 
                    the list of more than 400 public-domain software files 
                    available for downloading. Check the following directory for 
                    details about other Australian bulletin boards. VictoriaPC Connection Australia IBBS, (03) 528 3750. Sysop: Lloyd Borrett. 
                    Service: 24 hours. Messages, bulletins, IBM PC and 
                    compatibles public-domain software. HiSoft Australia IBBS, (03) 799 2001. Sysop: Richard 
                    Tolhurst. Service: 24 hours. Messages, bulletins, IBM PC and 
                    compatibles, Apple, Microbee and C-64 public-domain 
                    software. Computers Galore IBBS, (03) 561 8497. Sysops: Bob Cooban 
                    & Martin Scerri. Service: 24 hours. Messages, bulletins, 
                    Apple, CP/ M, IBM PC and compatibles public-domain software. Melbourne Micro Computer Club CBBS, (03) 762 5088. Sysop: 
                    Peter Jetson. Service: 24 hours. Message system only. Sorcerer CBBS, (03) 434 3529. Sysop: Ian Branch & David 
                    Woodberry. Service: 24 hours. Program downloading and 
                    messaging for Sorcerer Computer Users Association members. Tardis RCPM, (03) 67 7760. Sysop: Malcolm Miles. Service: 
                    6pm to 9am weekdays, 24 hours weekends. Program downloading 
                    and messaging for CP/ M users. Omen IV RTRS, (03) 846 4034. Sysop: Phillip Westh. 
                    Service: 24 hours. East Ringwood RCPM, (03) 870 4623. Sysop: 
                    Mick Stock. Service: 4pm to midnight. Gippsland RCPM, (051) 34 1563. Sysop: Bob Sherlock. 
                    Service: 24 hours. Program downloading and messaging for CP/ 
                    M users. Gippsland MAIL BUS, (051) 27 7245. Sysop: Max Moore. 
                    Service: 24 hours. Special mail only system. New South WalesMi Computer Club BBS, (02) 662 1686. Sysop: Evan McHugh. 
                    Ser¬vice: 24 hours. Micro Design Lab RCPM, (02), 663 0151. Sysop: Stephen 
                    Jolly. Service: 24 hours. Sydney Public Access RCPM, (02) 808 3536. Sysops: Barrie 
                    Hall & David Simpson. Service: 24 hours. Omen RTRS, (02) 498 2495. Sysop: Ted Romer. Service: 
                    Monday to Thursday 4.30pm to Sam; Friday to Monday 3pm to 
                    8am. Sydney TRS-80 User Group RTRS, (02) 332 2494. Sysop: 
                    Michael Cooper. Service: 24 hours. Dick Smith Electronics BBS, (02) 887 2276. Sysop: Ian 
                    Linquist. Service: 24 hours. Challenger-based system with 
                    messages, bulletins and software downloading. Prophet Remote TRS-80, (02) 628 7030. Sysop: Larry Lewis. 
                    Service: 24 hours. Sydney Apple User Group, (02) 451 6575. Sysop: Mathew 
                    Barnes & Andrew Riley. Service: 24 hours. Sydney Osborne User Group, (02) 95 5377. Sysop: Daniel 
                    Moran. Service: 24 hours. Oracle TRS-80 System, (02) 960 3641. Sysop: Rowan Evans. 
                    Service: midnight to 6am weekdays; midnight to Sam weekends. Sydney Sorcerer User Group, (02) 387 4439. Sysop: John 
                    Woolner. Service: 6pm to Sam weekdays; 24 hours weekends. Texas Instruments User Group, (02) 560 0926. Sysop: Shane 
                    Anderson. Service: Monday and Tuesday 7pm to lam; Saturday 
                    7pm to midnight; Sunday 9am to midnight. Sydney Tomorrowland RBBS, (02) 411 2053. Sysop: Mike 
                    Kidson. Service: 24 hours. Messages, bulletins, and buyer's 
                    guide for MS DOS and PC DOS users. Info-Centre, BBS, (02) 344 9511. Sysop: Paris Radio. 
                    Service: 24 hours. Newcastle Microcomputer Club RCPM, (049) 68 5385. Sysop: 
                    Tony Nicholson. Service: 5pm to 8.30am weekdays, 24 hours 
                    weekends. QueenslandSoftware Tools RCPM, (07) 378 9530. Sysop: Bill Bolton. 
                    Service: 24 hours. Messages, CP/ M, CP/ M-86, Concurrent 
                    DOS, PC DOS and UNIX public-domain software. Brisbane Tomorrowland, (07) 286 2438. Sysop: Ian Bennetts. 
                    Service: 24 hours. Messages, bulletins, and buyer's guide 
                    for MS DOS and PC DOS users. South AustraliaAdelaide Micro User Group BBS, (08) 271 2043. Sysop: 
                    Richard Newcombe. Service: 24 hours. Computer Ventures BBS, (08) 255 9146. Sysop: Daniel 
                    Schumacher. Service: 24 hours. Northern TerritoryOutback RCPM, (089) 27 7111. Sysop: Phil Sampson. 
                    Service: 24 hours. Omen II RTRS, (089) 27 4454. Sysop: Terry O'Brien. 
                    Service: 24 hours.  Western AustraliaOmen III RTRS, (09) 279 8555. Sysop: Greg Watkins. 
                    Service: 8am to 12pm weekdays, 24 hours weekends.  TasmaniaLaunceston RBBS, (003) 34 0911. Sysop: Mike Scott. 
                    Service: 24 hours. Local time: 7:55 am Saturday 1 November 2025 |