Cottonwood BBS -- Now on TELNET!

[Andrew Wiskow]

Well... I've gone and done it...

Cottonwood BBS is now accessable via Telnet!  Operating on All American BBS 128 v12.1b!

The telnet address is cottonwood.servebbs.com (port 23).

A few tips:
When calling for the first time as a new user, call with an ASCII terminal (Hyperterminal or equivalent from a Windows computer, or ASCII mode from a terminal program on a Commodore computer).  This is because AA BBS switches to ASCII mode during the application process.  If you call in with CGTERM, all the charachters will be reversed at that point.  Once you've set up your account, you can call with a Commodore graphics terminal program on all subsequent calls.  Also, during the application, you're asked for your phone number, which is in U.S./Canada phone number format (###-###-####).  This is used as a sort of backup ID# in AA BBS.  I don't care what number you use, but it needs to be a number that you'll be able to remember in the event that you forget your assigned ID#.  And finally, if you'd like to be informed when your account has been validated, send me a feedback message on the BBS with your e-mail address and I'll notify you that way.  Otherwise, all accounts are normally validated within 24 hours (everyone gets the same full access upon validation), so you can just call back and enjoy your access.

Any questions?  Feel free to e-mail me at wiskow@verizon.net!

-Andrew (aka Balzabaar)

[Andrew Wiskow]

One more thing I forgot to mention...  It seems that it's also
necessary to tap return (or enter) upon connection, otherwise the BBS
will sometimes detect the incorrect baud rate and begin transmitting
at 1200 baud when it should be transmitting at 2400.  This causes a
bunch of garbage to come across instead of the initial welcome
message.  If this does happen, however, don't worry.  Just disconnect,
wait a minute or so, and call back.  Then, when you connect, just tap
return (or enter) once or twice, and you should see the "2400 baud
user detected" message.

-Andrew (aka Balzabaar)

[hydrophilic]

I am using Windows Telnet and I got a lot of garbage using ANSI settings (the closest thing to ASCII?).  I tried with several settings and finally got connected with using VT-52 settings (murphy's law, its the LAST setting).

Even then, I wouldn't stay connected very long.  I got to sign-up and see a menu.  I even selected a few options... never could stay connected.  Any ideas?

[nikoniko]

Don't know if it would help your connection issues, but from a purely aesthetic perspective I'd recommend giving CGTerm a try when telnetting to Commodore 8-bit BBSes. Let's you see PETSCII in all its glory, 40 or 80 columns, and supports upload/download via Xmodem and Punter with read/write to .D64.

[Andrew Wiskow]

Hydrophilic,
I'm not sure why you were unable to stay connected.  That's the first time I've heard of anyone losing their connection...  But Nikoniko is right, the best terminal program to use is CGTERM, which you can download here: http://www.paradroid.net/cgterm/.

Just so you know...  When I've called using Hyperterminal to test out ASCII mode, I use the default settings.

-Andrew

[Andrew Wiskow]

Yesterday, I had Cottonwood BBS down for a few hours while I upgraded the configuration.  I swapped out the C128 for a C128DCR, and I added a second CMD hard drive.  This way, I was able to add a new HUGE directory for downloads, which I'm using for C64/128 Utilities/Applications/Telecommunications.  I've also added directories for VIC-20 and PET software.  In addition, I also swapped out the HP Laptop that BBS Server was running on for a mini-Gateway desktop PC.  This frees up my laptop for other uses, and it also seems to have improved the reliability of the Telnet connection.  There's a new, updated photo of the entire setup at the Cottonwood BBS website.

-Andrew
___________________________________
Cottonwood BBS
cottonwood.servebbs.com
Open 24/7 - Now on Telnet!
http://hometown.aol.com/cottonwoodbbs