 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Internet Newsgroups on the BBS Michael Marquart micm@melbpc.org.au |
As George Skarbek mentioned n his president's column, the local Melb PC
Internet newsgroups are now available on the BBS. For those members who don't have Internet access, here is
some information regarding connecting with your modem to the Melb PC BBS (Bulletin Board System)
What Program Do I Use?
The Windows 3.xx "Terminal" or Windows 95/98 "HyperTerminal" can be used to dial into the BBS as can any
other communications program, such as the MS DOS or Windows version of "Telix". (Note that you cannot use the
normal Internet Dial-Up Networking setup to connect to the BBS.) I strongly recommend that you select a
program that has a ZMODEM file transfer protocol, which allows reliable and simple file downloads and
uploads; and an ANSI compatible screen standard, which allows you to see colour on the BBS. All modern
communication programs should have both.
To see the BBS screens in colour ensure that you select (or enable) ANSI or ANSI-BBS when entering the phone
number for the BBS in the "phone book" for your terminal program. The main BBS rotary number is 9699
6611.
Windows HyperTerminal may not display the graphic boxes around the BBS menus correctly but this can easily be
rectified by changing to a font that has all the graphic characters built in. A pull down menu in
HyperTerminal allows you to change the font while watching the menu screens. Try the font MS LineDraw if you
cannot easily find a suitable font. Varying the font size from this menu option and maximising the
HyperTerminal window will also help you to fit the BBS screen onto your Windows desktop at a size that best
suits your screen resolution.
Navigating Around the BBS
After your modem has connected to the BBS there is the login process which is followed by a bulletin menu, a
personal mail scan, and then you arrive at the main menu.
From the main menu, selections will take you to several other menus such as the Files area, the Message area,
the Online Games area and Information sub-menu.
To navigate around the text-only menus you need to select the highlighted character of the menu or the
feature that you wish to use with your keyboard, and not your mouse. Later when you learn to navigate the
various menus you can alter your personal settings to enable or disable hot key navigation. The Q key returns
you to the Main Menu from most other menus on the BBS.
Logging in to the BBS
The login process will ask for your name and your password. If you are asked only for a password but you have
never used the BBS before, then there is already a user with your name. You must dial in again and perhaps
add your middle initial, or some other variation that will distinguish you from the other person - or try a
contraction of your first name e.g. Andy instead of Andrew.
During your initial login you will be asked to supply some personal details, including your membership number
and then to enter a password. Upon completion of this login procedure you will be able to browse the BBS and
download some files, with some limitations of file size and time online until your member details have been
verified by the Office personnel. This may take a few working days after which you will be given full access
to the BBS with unrestricted download privileges and write access to the message areas, as well as access to
the Online Games.
New User Help
There are help screens on the BBS that will assist you in exploiting what the BBS has to offer. Some of these
selections are a bit dated now (BBS usage has declined somewhat since the Internet came into vogue), and all
offers of assistance to rewrite the help screens will be gladly received.
What is Fidonet?
The BBS has a parallel to Usenet Newsgroups which is called Fidonet. This is also world wide in scope,
messages are sent all around the world, but the message areas are moderated and not subject to the same
levels of spam you will find in Usenet. The message turnover times are not as instantaneous as they are on
the Internet; messages are sent out once daily.
Reprinted from the September 2000 issue of PC Update, the
magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
