Feb. 16, 1978 -- forty eight years ago today -- the first public dial-up bulletin board system or BBS went online.

Wired: "1978: Ward Christensen and Randy Suess launch the first public dialup bulletin board system. The two unleash the kernel of what would eventually spawn the world wide web, countless online messaging systems..."

https://www.wired.com/2010/02/0216cbbs-first-bbs-bulletin-board/

I got my first modem in the summer of 1986, a Prometheus ProModem 1200A (modem on a card) for the Apple II. The first BBS I logged in to was OxGate, an RBBS/RCPM system the phone number of which I still can remember (my earliest BBS software -- firmware-based on that modem card -- had no phone book). I used BBSs avidly until sometime in 1994, when I subscribed to a local ISP's (Widomaker of Williamsburg, VA) dial-up modem-based PPP service that brought TCP/IP to my 486 PC with Windows 3.1. I could then browse the web from home, and that was basically the end of BBSing for me -- for the moment, anyway.

For those interested in experiencing this early form of online community, there are many BBSs online right now, accessible via telnet on systems old and new. I've enjoyed getting back into BBSing this way, especially when using vintage systems to login.

Most any computer can do it, today. Tips on how: https://bytecellar.com/bbsing

#BulletinboardSystem #BBS #BBSing #telnet #dialup #modem #online #terminals #terminalprograms #computinghistory #history #computers #vintagecomputing #retrocomputing #retrocomputers #nostalgia #ATDT #onlineforums #preinternet #internet #communication #RBBS #AppleII #CRT #memories #Wired #tech #technews #technology

Did you know I run a BBS (bulletin board system)? In the year 2026? On a Commodore VIC-20?! It's a great little board - give it a call!

bbs.deepskies.com:6400

It runs at 1200 baud and is open 24/7! Tell them Rick sent you!

#BBS #BulletinBoardSystem #VICBBS #VIC20 #Commodore #C64 #Atari #RetroComputing #RetroProgramming #Modem #Telnet #Terminal #OldSchool

Happy New Year!!!!!
What better way to start off 2026 than with the yearly update for Image BBS v3.0!
Here is the link to the latest yearly update just realease by X-Tec:
https://8bitboyz.com/download/2025-fixes-for-image-3-0-version-1/

#Commodore #BBS #BulletinBoardSystem #Telenet #C64

Just updated the VIC-BBS to include Xmodem uploads and downloads. There's a complementary VIC-20 terminal program called "Saturn3" that also includes Xmodem upload and download.

So now, VIC-20 users can finally do file transfers without having to rely on a friend with a C64! Keep in mind I didn't test this much, but give it a shot if you're interested.

bbs.deepskies.com:6400

https://github.com/VA3DSO/VIC-BBS

#Commodore #VIC20 #RetroComputing #BBS #BulletinBoardSystem #Xmodem #FileTransfers #Modem #DialUp #80sTech #RetroComputing

ATDT because BBS still rocks!

#BBS
#BBSing
#BulletinBoardSystem
#Modem
#Dialup
#Hayes
#ATDT

Ah! This takes me back! Surfing the BBSes on my Commodore VIC-20. I use a custom terminal program, but one of the screen colour choices emulates the original VICTERM from Commodore back in 1981. This is how visiting the boards looked to me in the early 80s!

#Commodore #VIC20 #RetroComputing #BBS #BBSing #BulletinBoardSystem #C64 #Commodore64 #8Bit

Did I ever mention RC-BOX BBS - the world's first and (currently) only RC2014 based bulletin board system?!

Running on a real RC2014, powered by a Z80, CP/M 2.2 and a highly customized fork of RBBS4 this single-user system offers you the 1985 online experience.

Text games available on the CP/M command shell !!

P.S.: connection info is in the ALT-text or in my profile info.

#rc2014bbs
#rcbox
#rc2014
#bbs
#rcbbs
#bulletinboardsystem
#z80