Demand for a BBS?

[ollygd]

I have been thinking about setting up a BBS again myself. I had so much fun back in the 90's with those things. I attempted to set one up on my A500+ , but, as i was younger, i didn't have access to the funds to set up a really good system. Plus, the internet was just around the corner.

There still seems to be a great deal of support for them - especially telnet boards. Google the "BBS Corner".

My personal feelings are that you would have lots of success offering a dialup connection. If I were to launch one, I may foot the bill for a few 0800 lines (you can get them with upto 1000 free minutes these days) The only reason I say this is because I feel the psychology of the "community experience" within BBS's lies in their exclusivity. Distancing yourself from the hoards (i. the internet) is a sure fire way to rebuild a loyal community. 0800 lines deal with the free unlimited access side of things.

The key is offering a good service and a welcoming, local feel. Once problem with todays's BBS's is is that they feel "interneted". People set them up, realise there are not many users, then forget about them. I think this is due to the lack of personal/local feel with telnet. Nobody can bond emotionally to a single board. The internet provides all these days. Lots of activity (mainly from you - the sysop) is necessary - and not necessarily just in the file areas. That said, I wonder if it is possible to set up a board that emails you files selected for download, whilst retaining the old time "dial-up" feel?

Please comment!

P.S I guess this is my first post! I'v have been visiting this site virtually every day since 2003 believe it or not. I have very much enjoyed it so far! I hope it will continue this way.

[ollygd]

@dandelion

Thats darned good thinking. I've seen a 1000 minute 0800 line for 9.95 per month. However, I have yet to establish as to whether there is a charge to forward that call to your local land line. (It was from one of these bulk virtual phone line companies) I'll have to check into it.

I forgot to consider the idea that people have calling plans now. With a single 0800 line, people could get a feel for the board. The sysop could then sell different schemes for using the board at local rates (i.e free local call schemes etc etc) Hell, even mobile plans offer huge minute options now - although i think at around 9600bps mind. That may still be fast enough for ansi. I really like the idea of the board emailing files to the user for them to download. That would do away with the bandwidth issue. I think modern phone plans are more attractive to the user than a BBS subscription to pay for a freephone number. That way they get all their calls free!

I feel it is important to *not* offer telnet as an option. What does everyone think? You just don't feel "welcome" over telnet in my opinion. It would ruin the atmosphere.

I've done some research into modem over VOIP lines (i.e Vonage) Apparently its rather problematic - and not exactly cheap either. Perhaps a few "incoming call only" local lines could compliment the 0845 and 0800 lines. Cuts costs.

I have a feeling this could be a rather exciting subject we have struck on. Perhaps no one realised in the past that the success of these boards was largely to do with the user feeling "physically" connected to the community and not virtually.

Thoughts gentlemen!

[ollygd]

@itix


heheheh! Well, thats a fair point! I wonder if we could instigate a turnaround?

[ollygd]

Some very valid points here guys.

I just wondered, if money were no object, do you think dial-up would be an advantage in any way? (Nostalgia etc....?)

I totally agree that a "KILLER" bbs could be created with telnet. As with any board, I think its success is directly proportional to the effort put in my the sysop.

The demographics point is also a good one and absolutely true. There must, however, be a way to gather those communities back together again.

I suppose mentally re-living the experience had me thinking about the whole ritual - modems/comms/huge phone bills etc... Im trying to pin down exactly what made it so exciting and why the internet so abruptly ended it all.

Keeps the ideas coming guys, I've been wanting to get this off my chest and into action for some years now!

@James

Make it happen man! I think I'll follow suit. I have also downloaded synchronet. A great piece of software.

[ollygd]

Dandelion has nailed it. You need the "pioneering" experience to make it work. Now, no-one is a communications pioneer anymore, but resurrecting a old past-time with a modern twist is pioneering in itself. Hell, my wife marches me down to Oxford St most weekends, and I dare say I have more than a little knowledge of fashion. Bell bottoms are in. Bell bottoms are out. This has been going on for decades!

I know I keep banging on aboout this but being involved in the revival of that fantastic bedroom endevour that was the BBS would work for me "emotionally". I think I could "feel it" again. I think a lot of other people could aswell. Like anything that is successful, we need to create it, package it, and sell it hard. Im up for the challenge.

Could I ask everyone: If I launched a BBS with free dialup - would you call - or would you rather have telnet? Or both? If both, would telnet detract you from dialling up? It would be great to know. I do think a great board could be made using just telnet, but I want to see as to whether a dial-up offering could enrich the experience further.

[ollygd]

@Illwrath

Cheers for the input. Very interesting. I must admit I know nothing about "Web 2" although I am aware of the buzzword (as you say!) From the sound of it, it's certainly not lighting my fire, although I'll google it tonight and see what its all about.

I totally hear you with regards to bandwidth and equipment. I would have murdered for an external CDROM from my A500, then I could have had a good file area! Right now, I'm sitting on an ADSL 2+ connection with 24mb down and 2mb up. Huge - and it costs me peanuts!

I guess we don't have a lot of options then. We either have web browsers or ANSI.

Its funny, technically I should be feeling the same about this website, and in many ways, i am! Its not quite there though. No hissing modems. No real-time typing. You know what - just 10 minutes ago I was checking out the remenants of the exec-pc bbs. (telnet://bbs.execpc.com) They were the largest board in the world at one time. Now the whole thing is on a stock pc in the CEO's basement with free access! Its nice to look around becuase there is some interesting content left. I feel that if someone was manning it a little more actively I would visit regularly. I do enjoy the clunky old ANSI. You are right, current audiences would require seamless trouble free technology, but maybe that is not our audience. I wonder how many like minded people there are out there. We could just as easily be having this conversation on a Wildcat 4.0 BBS!

[ollygd]

Well, I'll have a good think. I just have to nip to the shops right now, but ill be back on later!  :-)