!====================================================================! ! ! ! ! ! CCCCC TTTTTTT SSSSS AA ! ! C T S A A ! ! C T SSSSS A A ! ! C T S AAAAAA ! ! CCCCC T SSSSS A A ! ! ! ! ! ! N N EEEE W W SSSSS L EEEEE TTTTTTT TTTTTTT EEEEE RRRR ! ! NN N E W W S L E T T E R R ! ! N N N EEE W W W SSSSS L EEE T T EEE RRRR ! ! N NN E W W W W S L E T T E R R ! ! N N EEEE W W SSSSS LLLLL EEEEE T T EEEEE R R ! ! ------------------------------------------------------------------ ! ! ------------------------------------------------------------------ ! ! ! ! Volume 2 October 13, 1986 PO Box 49474 ! ! Number 2 Austin, Tx 78765 ! ! ------------------------------------------------------------------ ! ! Disclaimer: ! ! ------------------------------------------------------------------ ! ! The CENTRAL TEXAS SYSOP ASSOCIATION takes no responsibilty ! ! for the contents of the articles contained here, Nor do we ! ! necessarily agree with them; everything here is subject to ! ! debate. We publish everything of interest submitted. ! ! ------------------------------------------------------------------ ! ! Information : ! ! ------------------------------------------------------------------ ! ! For further information on The CENTRAL TEXAS SYSOP ASSOCIATION ! ! or this newsletter: ! ! CALL : - OR - WRITE TO : ! ! CTSA HOME BBS Central Texas Sysop Assoication ! ! CTSA UNLIMITED P.O. Box 49474 ! ! (512) 339-7199 Austin, Texas 78765 ! ! ! !====================================================================! -=+[*]+=- MEET THE NEW EDITOR! Colby Jordan Just what I needed, a new job! As if I didn't have enough to do already! Oh well, its a dirty job but someone has to do it! During the CTSA meeting on October 11th at the Villa Capri Gene Chesser announced that Lee Nelson would not be able to continue as newsletter editor. Gene asked for volunteers, when nobody jumped at the opportunity Gene volunteered Teri! Taking pity on Teri, who wasn't there to defend herself, I threw my hat into the ring...and there you have it! I have no experience at editing a newsletter, which is probably just as well. What I don't know can't hurt me, I hope. My only qualification is that I enjoy writing and, as just about everybody, seeing my name "in lights". This October newsletter is my first attempt so be kind with your comments and remember - this could be your job! Please upload your newsletter contributions to the CTSA UNLIMITED BBS at 339-7199. The October meeting at the Villa Capri was not as well attended as the two previous CTSA meetings I attended (I am new to both the CTSA and to being a Sysop) but the facilities were great, a nice room, good service, and good food. If they will put up with us I feel we have found ourselves a very good, central location for CTSA meetings. Since my first CTSA meeting in August I have been impressed and pleased with the help, cooperation, and free exchange of information between CTSA members. The $10 I paid in dues to join in September has been repaid to me many times already. Editing the CTSA Newsletter, I suppose, is my way of contributing in return for the help I have received. -=+[*]+=- /////////// CTSA ON THE GO /////////// by Gene Chesser President CTSA The seasons are changing & so is CTSA. We have moved our General Meeting to the VILLA CAPRI RESTAURANT. Our next meeting is November 13, 1986 at 7:30 pm. We have adopted a new format for our meetings. We will attempt to start our meetings on time and limit the business session to 30 minutes. We will hold out introduction of guests until the end of the meeting and then adjourn to chat for an hour or so. The idea is to allow our younger sysops a chance to make a meeting during the school year. A directors meeting is held the Saturday before the General Meeting and anyone interested is welcome to attend. Our membership drive is on and we are trying to spread the word about CTSA to all bulletin board systems we can find. CTSA will have a booth at the Texas-Wide Computer Festival at the Marriot Hotel Ballroom. There will be a huge flea market as well as meetings of user groups and displays by hardware and software dealers. Admission is FREE.. ==> It is SATURDAY - OCT 18 - from 8 to 5 <== Our "FREE FOR All" programming contest has been extended until October 31 st. You can write any program you wish sutable for the PUBLIC DOMAIN and submit it to a CTSA member board. Your source code must be available for judging but we will not distribute it without your permission. MICROCITY has donated a 1200 baud modem as the PRIZE !!! The prize is great and a little of your time could produce the winning entry. Our "GAMES" programming contest is also underway with a deadline of December 1. Our comittee chairmen are busy with there new comittees and are setting up new activities and plans of actions. We hope to bring you good information and lots of opportunities to meet and chat with the area SysOps. Please call CTSA Unlimited BBS <339-7199> and leave a message is we can help you in any way. -=+[*]+=- THE BBS WORLD FROM BOTH SIDES An Editorial Colby Jordan I purchased my first computer only about 18 months ago and was lucky enough to buy one that included an internal modem and a communications program. With those and a membership in the Kaypro Club of Austin I soon had my introduction to the BBS world through the KCA RCP/M. Dale Cockle as Sysop of that BBS was patient with me while I was a beginner and only called to complain when an upload using Mite managed to "kill" the system. But, I persevered as did Dale and he introduced me to MDM740. I moved up from my internal 300 baud modem to a 1200 baud external modem and continued my computer explorations around Austin, then Texas, and finally around the entire country. I have called from Tampa Bay, to New York City, to Seattle. I found information and programs to help me learn and use my computer effectively as well as games to use for pure pleasure! As I gained experience and confidence in use of my modem and communications program I uploaded a few files that I had found especially useful and entered messages asking for and giving help and advice. I learned that Sysops respond to a "thank you" here and there just as most normal people do. I realized that the efforts of a Sysop are not understood or appreciated by many callers and even abused by some. I discovered early on that the use of a BBS was a privilege that was not to be abused. Now I am a Sysop. Started up my own BBS, CP/M Lives!, and have also given Dale relief from his burdens of running the KCA BBS - his patience with me paid off with a successor! The BBS world from the Sysop point of view is quite different and even more interesting than the users end. I take pleasure in the help that I am able to provide as a Sysop. But, as I have observed users calling into CP/M Lives! and the KCA ROS a point has been driven home - most users don't understand the give and take of BBSs, that their input of files and messages is what makes the whole idea work. Nor do a large number of them understand the efforts that go into setting up and maintaining a BBS - the time, the money, the care. Many users fail to realize that but for the Sysops around the country and the contributions of users of the systems, the free exchange of computer help, ideas, public domain software, and fellowship would be nonexistent! As Sysops it is our responsibility to educate the users of our systems of the etiquette of BBS use to those users who have not realized it intuitively. We all need the patience of Dale Cockle to help users gain the confidence, skills, and the sharing attitude that should pervade the BBS community. The CTSA has done much for the Austin BBS community already, let's continue in our efforts and expand on them with an education of users through our BBSs. -=+[*]+=- WHAT IS A BBS? (I do not know the source or writer of this so I can't provide any credits - I'll admit to a little editing....CJ) If you are a little unfamiliar with computers, this is an understandable question. What IS a BBS? The letters stand for Bulletin Board System and the name means exactly what it implies. It's an electronic version of the bulletin board you may find hanging in local barber shops and grocery stores across the country. The difference is that a BBS is ELECTRONIC, accessed and operated with computers. Consequently, computer bulletin boards can offer a LOT more than the simple bulletin boards of yore. A BBS consists of a computer, a modem and BBS software. A modem (which stands for modulator/demodulator) is a device that connects a computer to a telephone line and allows it to send and receive information to and from other computers. BBS software allows a computer to be set up as an electronic Bulletin Board System, and put "online" for others to access with their computers. To access a BBS, callers also must have a computer, modem and appropriate software. BBSs can offer a number of things that the bulletin board at the grocery store cannot. Most of them offer a multitude of message bases, where callers can leave messages back and forth to one another on any topic imaginable, public or private. BBS callers regularly get involved in political debates, exchange tips and information, help each other with problems or just chitchat. Users of a BBS can get free software, too. Most systems have sections of their boards devoted to public domain programs that can be downloaded (sent from the BBS computer to the caller's computer, to be run later). Games, business software, programming aids and other programs may be offered. BBSs can also offer a variety of text files to their users, and there is good reading to be found there. Many boards offer everything from online fiction (including "round-robin" stories that callers can add to after they read them, sometimes with hilarious results), to AP wire service news to original articles about any topic of interest. BBSs have gained in popularity and grown in numbers over the past five years. At first, only a few BBSs were available. Many large cities had only three or four systems in operation at any one time while most medium-to-small-sized cities had none. As the cost of computers, modems and BBS software have dropped, and the popularity of "BBS-ing" has risen, the number of interesting active systems has also grown. Now there are more than 100 BBSs online and available in Kansas City. Chicago and Dallas boast over 200. And the number is growing. With more BBSs online than ever before, many systems have become quite specialized. Some focus their attention on a single type of computer, while others take on a specific hobby or profession. Of course, general BBSs, offering a solid mix of everything mentioned so far, also flourish. Meanwhile, with more and more systems available, the number of BBS callers is on the increase as well. Five years ago, those one or two systems in a large city had 200-300 registered callers each. Today, the 100+ boards in a large city STILL average 300 or more regular callers each. New multi-user microcomputers are allowing sysops to put up huge BBSs with as many as ten or more incoming phone lines so more than one caller can be on the system at a time. BBSs are growing in maturity too. While most systems are still operated wide open and free, many have instituted small registration fees to help underwrite the cost of operating the system, or at least require that you first register for a password for access to the system. Some have even grown into small home businesses. In the future, a growing number of BBSs will operate professionally, earning their operators a regular income for their investment in time and equipment. Clearly, BBSs are growing in popularity, and will continue to do so. The medium has not yet reached adulthood. BBS callers are a dedicated and growing group of individuals who own computers and modems, and who also show a marked interest in everything else electronic, from calculators to home video equipment to satellite TV and ham radio. They also enjoy movies, books and other entertainment. If you haven't been on a BBS yet, you should get the phone numbers of a few local BBSs and give them a try. If you don't have a computer terminal to use, find someone who does -- but watch out! You might get hooked on BBSing. -=+[*]+=- CTSA T-SHIRTS BY MAIL The CTSA T-Shirts are now available by mail. CTSA even pays the postage. To order yours, send $ 9.00 to CTSA, P.O. Box 180054, Aus- tin, Texas 78718. The T-Shirts are available in adult sizes X-Large, Large, Medium, and Small. *** ORDER YOURS TODAY *** -=+[*]+=- CENTRAL TEXAS BULLETIN BOARDS A Service of the Central Texas SysOp Association Official CTSA List Ver. CTSA1086.BBS CTSA MEMBER BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEMS The SYSOP's of the following boards are in agreement with the C.T.S.A.'s philosophies in support of your basic freedoms, encouraging public-domain programing efforts and the FreeWare(tm) concept, and intolerance of "piracy". System Phone System WkDay Maximum BBS ______ Name __________ Number __ Type _ Hrs _____ Baud _Program _ Notes ACB....................345-DATA C-64 24 hrs 1200 C-Net %-*-! Arcane Dimensions......832-1680 Mac 24 hrs 1200 Red Ryder %-! Austin Matchmaker......255-0803 PC-Jr 1200 custom A.S.E.U................339-8311 8pm-10am m-f Collie * Bats in the Belfry..... Bermuda Triangle.......835-9416 PC-Jr 24 hrs 1200 COLLIE %-* Commisary..............345-4327 IBMXT 24 hrs 1200 RBBS-PC * Commercial Energy......255-1618 IBMAT Rg Bck 2400 Wintermute %-* Confusion Node #1..452-9477 Novell 24 hrs 2400 RBBS-PC $-%-* Research Node #2..452-9478 Novell 24 hrs 2400 RBBS-PC $-%-* Center Node #3..452-9479 Novell 24 hrs 2400 RBBS-PC $-%-* Node #4..452-9470 Novell 24 hrs 2400 RBBS-PC $-%-* CP/M Lives!............258-8468 Std Turb24 hrs 2400 RBBS-PC %-* Crystal Cavern.........263-5805 IBMPC 24 hrs 2400 Fido %-*-! CTSA Unlimited.........339-7199 PCsLtdAT24 hrs 2400 RBBS-PC %-* Daniel's Den-Iniquity..462-0207 Dead End.........1-817-757-1466 IBMPC 24 hrs 1200 Wintermute %-* Deep Thought...........244-1598 IBMPC 24 hrs 1200 RBBS-PC %-* Diabetes Discussion....454-9821 Columb 24 hrs 1200 RBBS-PC %-* Dr. Chandra's Lab..... IBMAT Colossus Dog's Breath...........836-8588 24 hrs 2400 Fido %-* Dragon's Court.........255-3288 AT&T 7pm-7am 1200 Fido %-* Emmaus.................836-1072 Tandy 24 hrs 1200 RBBS-PC %-* Flight.................339-1113 IBMPC 24 hrs 1200 custom % Forbidden Planet.......836-7117 IBMPC 24 hrs 1200 RBBS-PC %-*-! Freeside.............. Fun World..............346-6519 IBMXT 24 hrs 1200 RBBS-PC %-*-! Future Quest........... TRS-4 24 hrs 1200 TBBS %-*-! Gallifrey..............345-6042 PCjr 24 hrs 2400 WWIV %-*-! Green Pastures......... Health-Link............444-9908 AT&T 24 hrs 1200 RBBS-PC %-* The Hub - IBM U.G......328-6633 PCs Ltd 24 hrs 1200 RBBS-PC %-* Illuminati.............447-4449 Apple 24 hrs 300 T-Net % Jim-Net................837-0953 IBMXT 24 hrs 1200 RBBS-PC %-* Kaypro Club of Austin..258-8328 KayPro 24 hrs 1200 ROS %-* KB5PM..2 Meter Band @ 145.01MHz Rainbow 24 hrs Packet radio board % Last Resort............255-9983 IBMXT 24hrs 1200 Wintermute %-* MicroDelicious........ PCAT 24 hrs 2400 RBBS-PC %-* Nightmare............1-846-6151 IBMPC 24 hrs 1200 FidoNet %-* Note-BBS...............836-6637 IBMPC 24 hrs 1200 WWIV %-* PC's Limited Tech Line.339-4127 PCsTurb 24hrs 2400 RBBS % Phoenix.....458-5628 Tandy 24 hrs 1200 Wintermute %-* Pie In The Sky.........327-0476 IBMPC 24 hrs 1200 RBBS-PC %-* Principia Discordia....444-1840 Atari 24 hrs 1200 SupSys %-*-! Recording Studio.......452-2040 COMPAQ 24 hrs 2400 Wintermute %-* Ringside...............255-0221 LEPC 24 hrs 1200 RBBS-PC %-* S.A.M..................463-3188 Bondwel 24 hrs 1200 RBBS-CP/M %-* Siberia................327-6241 KayPro 24 hrs 1200 OBBS %-! Silent Epidemic....... IBMXT RBBS-PC Silent Running.........835-4867 IBMPC 24 hrs 1200 RBBS-PC %-* SoftNet................836-4232 IBMXT 24 hrs 300 RBBS-PC %-* Sphere West............323-9534 ITT-Xtr 24 hrs 1200 Fido % Star's End.............255-1030 24 hrs 2400 Wintermute %-*-! Tex-A-Caid.............465-4690 IBMXT 24 hrs 2400 RBBS-PC %-* Thunderbird BBS........448-3701 Tandy 24 hrs 2400 Fido %-* Tron...................251-7182 IBMXT 24 hrs 1200 RBBS-PC %-* Tumbleweed's Ranch.... C-64 24 hrs 1200 C-Net %-$ War Lord's World...... TRSColor custom _______________________________________________________________________ ____ Non-Member Austin Area Systems _____ System Phone System WkDay Maximum BBS ______ Name __________ Number __ Type _ Hrs _____ Baud _Program _ Notes Abyss..................335-8725 C-64 24 hrs 300 C-Net %-* Amiga Abusers Anon. IBMXT 24 hrs 1200 RBBS-PC %-* Apokolips..............471-5850 IBMPC 24 hrs 1200 WWIV *-% Armadillo..............385-9150 Atari 24 hrs 1200 FoReM %-* Artificial Realities...280-0230 IBMPC 24 hrs 300 $-% Aunt Billy's Kitchen...482-8871 Mac 24 hrs 1200 RRHost * Austin Matchmaker......255-0803 PCjr 24 hrs 1200 custom % AusTInet...............832-9224 TIPC 24 hrs 1200 TIgger %-* Austin Party Line......892-6521 Apple 24 hrs 300 Diversi-Dial %-$ Austin Private Library.250-5967 TI99 24 hrs 1200 % Austin Yacht Club......834-9016 Apple 24 hrs 300 TeleCat %-*-! Bates Motel............442-1022 AtariST 24 hrs 1200 MicronBBS %-! BBC....................255-8418 IBMPC 24 hrs 1200 FIDO %-*-! Billboard..............836-6383 TI99 24 hrs 300 % Black Box..............835-9742 Atari 24 hrs 1200 RCP/M $-%-*-! Bull Creek.............343-1612 Mac 24 hrs 2400 RRHost %-* C-5....................454-0890 C-64 24 hrs 300 C-NET %-* Chai Way...............388-3464 ALTEX 24 hrs 2400 Fido %-* Chaser's...............479-6000 IBMAT 24hrs RBBS % Compuswing.............477-7593 Apple 24 hrs 300 Dial-Your-Mat % Computer Exchange......451-2065 IBMXT 24 hrs 2400 TBBS %-* Cracked Night..........282-4479 C-64 24 hrs 300 C-NET %-* Cygnus X-1.............331-9816 C-64 24 hrs 300 C-NET %-*-! Dial Your Match # 38...477-4747 Apple 24 hrs 1200 Dial-Your-Mat % Diner..................443-3084 Mac 24 hrs 2400 RRHost %-* Dr. Bub................440-3771 Altos 24 hrs 1200 BubNet %-* Double Vision..... IBMXT 24 hrs 1200 WWIV %-*-! Dragon.................343-6732 24 hrs 1200 Collie % Dragon's Lair..........258-1841 IBMPC 4pm-8pm 1200 WWIV *-! Electric Pages.........472-6028 Vax 24 hrs 1200 $-% Freebies..............472-6028 Vax 24 hrs 1200 % Hideout................339-1822 Ti99 24 hrs 2400 % Insomniac City.........440-1948 C-64 11pm-8am 300 Irata..................462-3306 Atari 24 hrs 2400 %-* Kyfho Wildlife.........836-6881 IBMPC 24 hrs 1200 %-* Library................339-7646 IBMXT 24 hrs 1200 RBBS-PC %-* Mac Trade Center.......447-6882 Mac 24 hrs 1200 RRHost %-* Magic Show.............454-6204 Atari 24 hrs 2400 %-* Mailbox................327-5376 1200 Fido Match-A-Mate #1........928-9551 C-64 24 hrs 1200 % Megafone...............331-1662 Mac 24 hrs 1200 RRHost %-* Message Center.........837-2003 Columbia24 hrs 1200 Stonehenge %-* Micro Tech Times.......444-3204 C-128 24 hrs 1200 Color-64 %-* MUG....................445-6493 C-128 24 hrs 300 Color-64 %-* Nancy's Carnaval.......442-7751 Amiga 24 hrs 300 custom % New Haven..............335-1455 Mac 24 hrs 1200 RRHost *-! Omega Force.835-5706 C-64 24 hrs 300 Split %-! Outpost................832-1680 Mac 24 hrs 1200 RRHost %-! Palmer Telegraph Depot.440-7627 C-64 24 hrs 300 C-NET * Phantom's Mansion......835-7282 C-64 24 hrs 1200 C-NET % River City Magazine....331-6054 Apple 24 hrs 300 AppleSIG % Sergeant Pepper's......836-7552 24 hrs 1200 %-$ S.Ex...................478-4282 AtariST 24 hrs 1200 Michtron %-* Smof...................836-7663 Apple 24 hrs 1200 T-Net % Star Lifter III........440-8377 Apple 24hrs 1200 GBBS.PRO %-* STarship...............448-1112 AtariST 7pm-8am 1200 MicronBBS *-! Texas Leprechaun.......288-2114 Apple 24 hrs 1200 T-Net %-* Thieves Den ][.........458-9008 Apple 24 hrs 300 $-%-! TI Speech..............250-4476 TIPC 24 hrs 1200 TIgger %-* Trails End.............244-7682 Atari 24 hrs 300 BBCS % University Central.....495-5120 IBMXT 24 hrs 1200 Fido * Utility Board..........443-3470 AtariST 24 hrs 1200 MicronBBS % View Port..............444-4780 Atari 24 hrs 1200 % Wirenuts BBS...........282-8765 C-64 24 hrs 300 C-Net %-* ______________________________________________________________________ New Listings System Phone System WkDay Maximum BBS ______ Name __________ Number __ Type _ Hrs _____ Baud _Program _ Notes Star Lifter III........440-8377 Apple 24hrs 1200 GBBS.PRO %-* University Central.....495-5120 IBMXT 24 hrs 1200 Fido PC's Limited Tech Line.339-4127 PCsTurb 24hrs 2400 RBBS % Last Resort............255-9983 IBMXT 24hrs 1200 WinterMute %-* Mailbox................327-5376 1200 Fido Chaser's...............479-6000 IBMAT 24hrs RBBS % ______________________________________________________________________ ---Recently Dropped Boards--- Tom's Cave..................... IBMPC 9am-12am 1200 RBBS SKYLine........................ IBMPC 12am-7pm 1200 RBBS-PC Texas Wellness Network......... Mac ?? hrs 1200 RRHost % Texas T-Net.................... Apple 24 hrs 1200 T-Net % ______________________________________________________________________ ---Phone Number Changes--- Kaypro Club of Austin has a new number, 258-8328 ______________________________________________________________________ ---Other Changes--- Phoenix is down with a bad modem Tex-A-Caid is now 2400 baud Dog's Breath has gone public at 836-8588 SKYLine is no longer 24 hours. The hours are 12am.-7pm. Diner has switched to a Mac running RRHost and supports 2400 baud Computer Room is now called Tron ______________________________________________________________________ ---Boards That Do Not Appear To Be Up--- Dragon's Court.........255-3288 AT&T 7pm-7am 1200 Fido %-* Nancy's Carnaval.......442-7751 Amiga 24 hrs 300 custom % ______________________________________________________________________ ---Key For Notes--- $ - Fee Required % - 24 hrs 7 Days a week * - Down Loads Available ! - On-Line Game (i.e. Dungeons and Dragons, etc.) ______________________________________________________________________ _________ PLEASE SUPPORT AN ACCURATE BBS LIST _________ BY MAKING YOUR SYSOP AWARE OF ANY ALTERATIONS NEEDED TO THE ABOVE The home of this BBS list is Deep Thought 512-244-1598. Leave messages for SYSOP there or for Mike Stafford on CTSA Unlimited at 512-339-7199. _________ THANK YOU _________ ********************************************************************** I N F O R M A T I O N A B O U T T H I S N E W S L E T T E R Comments? Suggestions on future articles? Offers to write, or collaberate on, an article? Want to to get on our mailing list? Call CTSA Unlimited at 339-7199 and leave a message. Your aid, help, friendly guidence, and helpful suggestions will all be appreciated! ********************************************************************** REMEMBER !! DUES FOR 1986-87 ARE PAYABLE NOW **********************************************************************