The focus of this category is on specific BBSes, particularly those that are still available today.
I am well aware of the redundancy in saying BBS Systems. Since the "S" in "BBS" stands for "System," I am referring to them as Bulletin Board System Systems, which sounds a bit strange, but when I was a SysOp pretty much everyone referred to the BBSes as BBS Systems, and as long as I don't use the acronym, it doesn't sound so weird. While I am on the topic of grammar, let me say that I think that the grammatically correct plural of BBS is BBSs, and I do see it written that way sometimes, but more often I see BBSes, so I'll go with that.
There is a tendency among many people to refer to computer bulletin board systems in the past tense. I find myself doing that sometimes because, of course, the heyday of the BBS was in the 1980s and 1990s. That is when I ran my own BBS and ran up telephone bills that ranged as high as $500 a month connecting to long-distance hubs and to BBSes all over the country.
However, there are hundreds of BBSes still in operation today, and new BBS software is still being developed, so the BBS is not dead.
I loved BBSing, and probably wouldn't have shut my Newberry BBS down when I did, in the mid-1990s, except that I had accepted a job in an area where DSL was not yet available and the quality of the telephone lines didn't even support dialup. Most of my regular callers had abandoned the BBS for the Internet, so I let it go, but I have missed it ever since.
The primary purpose of this category is to list BBS systems that you can still connect to today. Some of these BBSes are still dialup BBSes, and I do not mean to imply any negativity in this, but others may offer Telnet connections or Telnet via your web browser, and some of these still offer dialup options.
However, in this directory we can list only those BBSes that have a web address. In other words, we cannot list those with only a Telnet address. As there are a lot of great BBS systems that do not have a web presence, we will also be listing sites that include directories that list dialup and Telnet BBSes even though they do not have a website. You will find these in the parent category to this one.
In 2017, PC Magazine published an article on seven BBSes that they considered worth joining. They chose to include Particles BBS, Heatwave BBS, A 80s Apple II BBS, Piranha: Under the Black Flag, Level 29, Dura-Europas, and The Cave BBS. I have been able to find web addresses for only two of these, Particles BBS and Level 29, although I have found web references to some of the others. There is a website for The Cave BBS, but it is for a BBS by that name that closed in 1998.
If your BBS has a website, you are invited to submit your site for inclusion in this category.
Recommended Resources
AG6QO is a packet radio BBS running on a Raspberry Pi computer, and currently using PPQ BBS software. The site discusses the history of the BBS, which originally used FBB for RPi software, including a tutorial on the effective use of of the BBS, an online user guide, and other tips on using the BBS, as well as notes and tips on setting up a packet radio BBS in Raspbian, including configuring basic serial connections and other difficulties. Photos are also available.
http://ag6qo.com/PiPBBS.html
Centronian is a Magnetar computer bulletin board system running on a Commodore 64. Accessible by Telnet 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year, the BBS is located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It can also be accessed in C64 mode or VIC20 mode through a web browser. Its site also features a video displaying a presentation about Centronian BBS that was given at the World of Commodore 2017. Membership is free and immediate.
http://bbs.centronian.ca/
Located in Mayflower, Arkansas, the CIA Amiga BBS is powered by and AMIGA 1200 with DKB 1240 and is available by Telnet. The computer bulletin board system carries FidoNet, AmigaNet, RetroNet, and PiNet, and supports Amiga, MorphOS, AROS, and Commodore 8-bit computers, although it can also be accessed through a web browser. Although subscribers may create an account using a handle, a real name must be supplied in order to access echomail.
http://www.ciaamiga.org/
Convolution Bulletin Board System
Convolution BBS is an ANSI style system reminiscent of the original dialup BBSes of the 1980s and 1990s, and is accessible through Telnet and SSH, via terminal programs which are recommended. BBS features include several door games, message networks, member chat, and other resources, such as daily trivia, a neverending story, oneliners, and others. Its message networks and leagues are posted, along with BBS statistics and contacts.
http://24.229.196.141:81/
Cottonwood BBS / Borderline BBS
The site represents the web presence of two computer bulletin board systems in Hemet, California. Both systems are operated on Commodore 64c computers, feature message bases, text files, file transfers, and online games, and are accessible by dialup or through Telnet. Both are best viewed on a Commodore computer but can be accessed through a PC using CGTerm or 64 BlazerTerm, which emulate a Commodore graphic terminal program. Instructions are offered.
http://borderlinebbs.dyndns.org/
Situated in Wayne, Oklahoma, the DarkAges BBS is accessible via browser-based Telnet, although registration is required. The BBS features forums, including a local forum, DOVD-Net, FIDONET, FSXNet, and Spooknet, as well as the main file area, FIDONETFILE, FSX Files Area, and SpookNet Files. BBS scores for the BBS door games included on the BBS are available in text format, and recent visitors are highlighted, along with system information and other statistics.
http://www.darkagesbbs.com/
Online since 1991, Doc’s Place is powered by Wildcat! Net Server. Originally set up as a community bulletin board system providing auto repair advice to consumers, the BBS dropped its last dial-up line in 2000, upgrading to allow access from the Internet, offering an Internet BBS to those who had lost their local BBS to the Internet. Accessible through the web browser or through Telnet. The BBS sends and receives Fidonet echo-mail almost instantly from around the globe.
http://bbs.docsplace.org/
Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, Fire Escape’s BBS is both a dialup and an Internet-based online community, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on WINServer BBS software. Offering discussion forums, chat rooms, real-time multiplayer games, and shareware files. Login options include a web browser login, JAVA Telnet login, ANSI Telnet login, Wildcat Navigator login, and FTP Login. A description of computer bulletin boards is given, along with access instructions.
https://www.fehq.org/
Representing the BBS named Kuchlbox, first established in 1993, shut down in 1996, and brought back in 2015, although on modern software, operating in a modern operating system environment, the BBS uses Mystic BBS software, and is running on Debian GNU/Linux. The site also features another retro BBS, designed to look more like what the BBS looked like in the 1990s, known as CyberDawg. Telnet address is given, along with project information and other information.
https://www.kuehlbox.wtf/
By appearance and, for most purposes, the Level 29 BBS is a traditional BBS running on an Apple II with an IWill KK266Plus KT133A motherboard with AMD Duron. It is available by dialup at 300, 1200, and 2400 bps, but it can also be accessed via Telnet or through a web browser, and multiple users can be logged into the system simultaneously. Level 29 is the official BBS of RetroBattlestations.com. There is no cost for membership, and visitors can view the BBS without registering.
https://bbs.fozztexx.com/
Powered by Synchronet BBS software, Local Yokal originally served as a community bulletin board system in Delta, Pennsylvania. After a twelve-year absence, it is back up, although located in Clearwater, Florida. The BBS features local message groups, DOVE-Net, and USENET Newsgroups, file libraries, and a large selection of BBS door games. In order to access bulletins and games, users must login through Telnet, with SyncTERM recommended as a Telnet client.
http://www.localyocalbbs.com/
Offering online games, Fidonet, Francom newsgroups, and other features, the Manic Modem BBS can be accessed by ANSI/TELNET or by web browser. Registered members may login with their name and password, while others may sign up for a free membership. Powered by Wildcat Winserver, users may message other users, access the BBS’s file libraries, chat with other members, play casino games, or participate in forums. A terminal mode is available for a traditional BBS experience.
http://www.manic-modem.com/
Running on Synchronet software, the BBS is operated by a Sysop who put his first bulletin board system online in 1989 and has been running Paranor for many years. The BBs features DOVE-NET message areas, as well as some game doors. Instructions on connecting to the BBS via Syncterm or ZOC are given. A membership list if presented, along with links to BBS software, a Tradewars game FAQ, and a Synchronet BBS list. An online forum is also available.
https://paranorbbs.webs.com/
Two or three decades ago, computer bulletin board systems played the role that is taken up by the Internet today. When more and more people gained access to the Web, many of the BBS systems dropped out, but some remained. Particles was founded in 1992 on a Commodore 64 computer and went through a few iterations over the years. In 2005, the BBS went back to using original Commodore equipment. Accessible via Telnet, the BBS is open 24 hours a day.
http://www.particles.org/particlesbbs/
Sanctuary was an Amiga Elite BBS from 1991 to 1996, located in Gothenburg, Sweden. In 2017, the SysOp decided to put the BBS back online again, although it is currently running in an Amiga emulator since the Amiga hardware is gone. A brief history of the site is presented, along with instructions for connecting to it, including utilities that will be helpful in connecting via a PC. The BBS includes several BBS games, a collection of ASCII graphics, and other traditional BBS features.
http://sanctuary.brysk.se/
A personal history of the Vortex BBS is featured, which includes other BBSes that the SysOps were involved in over the years. Its site includes development notes, presented in blog format, as well as a list of recent callers, callers currently online, one line notes from members, and auto-messages. Statistics of the number of calls today, message posts, files downloaded or uploaded, and new users are presented, along with users, scores, and a chat window. Browser access is included.
https://vortexbbs.com/
The BBS may be accessed through Telnet from a browser, or by using a terminal client, a program called Syncterm, which is compatible with Windows or Linux, and available for download from the site. New users are asked four easy questions, after which immediate access is granted. Full instructions are presented in a PDF file. The BBS features several BBS door games, a file section, and carries AgoraNet, fsxNet, SurvNet, and RetroNet, as well as other features.
http://www.tinysbbs.com/
