Introduction to Using Bulletin Boards Systems (with special emphasis on the IBM PC and PCBoard) by Jerry Shifrin, SYSOP: East Coast Forth Board, 703-442-8695 Observing how people use the East Coast Forth Board has led me to conclude that many of you spend a fair amount of time floundering around before you get comfortable with its use. Therefore, I'd like to offer some suggestions on how to optimize your time and minimize your phone bill. THE BBS COMMAND LANGUAGE Learn the basic command set. Most BBS's have similar commands (R for Read, B for Bulletins, etc.). Usually you'll find either on-line help (for PCBoard systems, type H and the letter of the command on which you need help - "H R" for help on the Read command), or a user's guide. If you print this the first time you use an unfamiliar system, and keep it handy for reference, you'll save yourself considerable time. If you're dialing long-distance (and presumably paying for the connect time), I'd suggest you "capture" the help/user guide (i.e. don't try to read it on the fly - save it to a disk file), then print it out and read it before dialing back in). BBS's for the IBM PC If you're using an IBM PC, you should probably take the time to get comfortable with the three major BBS systems - RBBS, FIDO, and PCBoard. There are others, but these three make up the majority of IBM PC based boards. You'll find them quite similar. You will find it much more economical to familiarize yourself with these different systems using local boards, than trying to learn them while on a long distance connection. You should not have much difficulty finding these in most cities. BBS Style Develop a style for maneuvering about a new board. Most experienced callers will do the following when dialing into a new board: 1. Note any particular requirements in the initial logon message - this is not usually repeated. Some boards require that you leave a comment to the SYSOP (SYStem OPerator) with particular information. Most PCBoard systems require that you answer a questionnaire. 2. Review the bulletins - particularly if you are having problems. There's usually a fair amount of information there that your SYSOP thinks you ought to know. Usually he or she spent a good deal of time putting these bulletins together. (this is not always true - many RBBS based systems come with a canned set of bulletins that are the same from one BBS to the next - you'll come to recognize and ignore these). At the very least, you'll impress the SYSOP with your interest in his/her creative outpourings. 3. Read or scan the primary message file - I'll generally read the first few and last few messages (if it's a large message base), and do a Quickscan of the entire message base, noting any message numbers of particular interest. Doing this will give you a sense of the board's "style" and users. If you're on a PCBoard system, try the "Thread" command if you find a particularly interesting topic - this allows you to go through an entire mini-conference, staying on a single topic, hopefully. 4. Capture or print the download directories. On your first visit, you may not be able to download files, but you will usually be allowed to review what's available. Refer to this listing before dialing back in, noting any files of particular interest. You may wish to download these first on your next visit, using any remaining time to peruse the message base. 5. If you decide that a board will be of use to you and plan to dial back in, make sure you've supplied all of the requested information, and leave a comment or message to the SYSOP noting your interest/appreciation. SAVING TIME To optimize your time (and minimize your long-distance charges) switch to expert mode (type X on PCBoard and RBBS systems). If you get stuck later, simply type X again, and you'll be switched back to novice mode. Note that many systems (e.g. PCBoard, RBBS) permit you to "stack" commands. For example, at logon, when you are asked to enter your first name, you can often enter your first name, last name, and password, all separated by semicolons: ENTER YOUR FIRST NAME: JOHN;DOE;NHOJ Also, you can often stack requests for downloads, bulletins, etc. Once you've gotten comfortable with the systems you use, you'll discover a number of time-saving tricks. If you're using a 300 bps (bits per second) modem, unless you're only calling local boards, a 1200 bps modem (about $150 these days) will quickly pay for itself in reduced long distance charges. Also, a number of boards no longer permit 300 bps access. LINE NOISE If you're suffering through lots of line noise - garbled text, numerous errors during uploads and downloads - it'll probably be better to hang up, and dial back in, hoping for a cleaner telephone line. Some of the alternate long distance services (non-AT&T) have difficulty handling 2400 bps transmission. It may be worthwhile to dial back in at 1200 bps. Also, check with your long distance service - some of them (e.g. SBS Skyline) have special dialing sequences to indicate data calls. DOWNLOADING FILES When you first logon to most systems you will be asked to specify a download "protocol" (some systems will make you specify this each time you do a download). Your choices are generally one of the following: 1. ASCII - files will be sent as normal text files. Note that this will not allow retransmission in case of errors, or allow you to receive any "binary" files (executable modules or compressed files). 2. XMODEM - files are sent as blocks of 128 bytes, with a block sequence number and a checksum. If there is an error in either the block number or checksum, the block will be retransmitted. 3. CRC-XMODEM - this is the same as XMODEM, except that a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) character is used instead of the checksum. This provides greater reliability. 4. YMODEM - this is like CRC-XMODEM, but with longer blocks (up to 1024 bytes) being transmitted. If you have a good telephone connection this will greatly speed up your file transfer. On the other hand, if you have lots of line noise, this will be slower than XMODEM. 5. KERMIT - this is a machine independent protocol, sometimes used for accessing mainframe computers. It typically allows you to "batch" file request (e.g. download all computer.* files). 6. NONE - this will cause you to be prompted for the transmission protocol each time you request a download. You should check the documentation for your communications package to see which of these are supported. A large number of files are readily available at BBS's all over the country. You really shouldn't waste your time downloading these from long-distance boards. Library programs (ARC, LU, etc.), file squeezers and unsqueezers (SQPC, NUSQ, etc.), most games, communications programs (QMODEM, PC-TALK), are readily available on most boards. Try to find a needed package locally before looking elsewhere. Save your long-distance budget for accessing those unique boards, not available locally (such as the East Coast Forth Board). It's considered bad manners to do nothing but download - try to download only a couple of files at a time. Use your remaining time to upload something in return or else to participate in the messages. Remember, you can always dial in the next day and download additional files. Many SYSOPs recommend that you try to maintain a ratio of at least one upload for every ten downloads. UPLOADING FILES Avoid uploading files currently on the board or ones that are not of interest to a particular board. The East Coast Forth Board has little interest in printer pictures of Mr. Spock (long may he wave), programs which play Strangers in the Night in 4 part harmony, or the nth variation on Spacewars or Asteroids. If you've just installed a new printer, why not write up a review of it. If you've had good or bad dealings with a particular mail-order house, a lot of people are interested in reading about it. TALKING TO THE SYSOP Most BBSs allow you to page the SYSOP (on PCBoard, type O - Operator page). If the SYSOP has authorized page alarms and is around, he or she will generally be happy to help you with problems, answer questions, give advice, etc. Occasionally, the SYSOP may notice that you're having difficulty and enter "chat" mode to offer help (the SYSOP's monitor displays your session, just like your own). On chat mode - in the first place, remember that there's a real human behind the computer you've dialed in to. One time, I noted a visitor leaving a somewhat hostile comment, and broke into chat mode to discuss it with him. He was immediately apologetic and somewhat flustered at dealing with a person instead of a disembodied keyboard/monitor. Secondly, spelling and grammar don't really count in chat mode (unless a typo changes the meaning of a sentence). I think it's rather a waste of time to backspace a few words to insert a comma in the right place or fix up a mispelling (2 s's?). I've never understood why you can't simply pick up the phone and talk when appropriate (well I can't - I only have a modem connected on the BBS phone line). Messages to the SYSOP (even private ones) are generally preferable to comments. The SYSOP has to go through a number of extra steps to read and reply to comments (and many won't). ON CONFERENCING Many SYSOP's have established separate conferences as sub-boards of their main board. These may be either public or private. These conferences are intended to provide a special area for messages and files of a particular nature. For example, you may run across conferences dedicated to a particular software package (Turbo Pascal, Framework, Lotus, etc.), or to a topic dear to the SYSOP's heart (religion, running a BBS, AI, and so on). Usually, the SYSOP will allow you to join these conferences simply by leaving a request. Sometimes a SYSOP will set up a special conference for his or her customers - these may require that you purchase their product in order to be included. If you do join a special conference, try to stay on the primary topic, and restrict your uploads there to relevant files. SHOULD I PAY FOR USING A BBS? Sometimes a SYSOP will request (or require) you to donate money to help fund or expand a particular board. If you are a regular user of the BBS, it may be worthwhile for you to help keep it operational. Most boards are funded out of the SYSOP's pocket, and while the original equipment may already be paid for, there are a number of ongoing expenses (telephone service, supplies, repairs, etc.). Additionally, it may be to your advantage to support a board's expansion for higher speed modems, additional disk storage, and the like. SYSOPs will often try a number of incentives to obtain funding (additional time allotments, access to special files, etc.) - you'll need to evaluate its services against your needs and pocketbook. Well, that's all I have to suggest. If you have any other tips, feel free to add them to this via a message or upload to the East Coast Forth Board. Good luck and happy BBSing.