THE DUTCH ATARI 8-BIT BBS SCENE
-------------------------------
"Atari 8-bits online!"
By Frankenstein
In Holland there are two BBS's which run entirely on an Atari
8-bit computer; 'Beco Tel' and 'ANG BBS'.
Both BBS's exchange mail with Germany, USA and Canada. In this
article I like to review these BBS's.
Although both BBS's run PRO-BBS (a good BBS program), I won't
talk too much about this software. It would be better to have a
separate review about PRO-BBS in a future issue. So, if there's
someone out there using PRO-BBS, feel free to write about it.
Both BBS's can handle ATASCII as well as normal ASCII. This
means that it is not necessary to call the BBS using an Atari
8-bit computer.
BECO TEL BBS - AMSTERDAM - HOLLAND
----------------------------------
BBS Name---:BECO TEL BBS
Sysop Name-:Sysop Bernard
Co-Sysop---:Folkert de Gans
Computer---:ATARI 65XE + 140MB
Software---:BBS Express PRO 3.1d
Location---:Amsterdam, Holland
Phone #----:+31-(0)20-6326859
Baud Rates-:300/1200/2400/4800/9600
Online-----:18:00-06:00 (Local Time)
This BBS is kept alive by donations from its users. You don't
have to donate for this BBS, but if you do you'll get something
in return:
Type Donation Time U/D Ratio
------ ------------- ---- -----------
dutch nothing 30 1/5 files
normal 30 guilders 60 1/10 files
super 45 guilders 90 0/unlimited
foreign nothing 90 0/unlimited
'Type' is the type of user.
'Time' is the time you can stay connected per day. The 'U/D
Ratio' is the amount of files you can Download if you Upload one
file. So, if you're a super user you can stay on the BBS for 90
minutes each day and download as much as you want. Foreign users
(users from outside Holland) are automaticly super user, but
they don't have to pay. This may sound strange, but a foreign
user already has enough costs on the phonebill when calling to
Holland.
BECO TEL uses the Black Box from CSS and a 120MB harddisk (the
20MB harddisk just died recently).
If you've logged in you're greeted with a nice welcome screen.
If you're using ATASCII you'll get different login and logout
screens. When using normal ASCII you'll get the following
screen:
W E L C O M E T O
____ ____ ____ ___
/ _ \ / ___\ / ___\ / _ \
/ |_| \ / |___ / | / / \ \
/ _ ( / ___// | / / \ \
/ |_| \ |___/_ |___/_/_____\ \
\_________/________/_______/________/
_________ ___ _
\__ __// __\ / |
| | / |__ / |
| | / |__/_ |___
|_| \______/_____/
The Atari 8-Bit Connection
Your Host: Bernard Kok
Your Co-Host: Folkert de Gans
After this you have to enter your usernumber and password. If
you connect for the firt time you don't have a usernumber, so
you have to type 'NEW' and after filling in a few simple
questions you'll get a usernumber.
Then the main menu appears. This menu is in Dutch, so you'll
probably want to choose 'E' for the English menu:
+------------------------+
| BECO TEL MAIN-MENU |
+-----+-----------+------------+-----+
|[A]other BBS-sen |[N] System top 10 |
|[B] Msg.->SYSOP |[O]nline games |
|[C] Chat to SYSOP|[P]ost |
|[D]own/Upload |[S]ystem NEWS |
|[E] This MENU |[T] ASCii/ATASCII |
|[F]ind File's |[U] Your horoscoop|
|[G]oodBye(Logoff |[V] Change data's |
|[H]ardware News |[W]ho called (50) |
|[I]nfo system |[X] Birthday users|
|[K] Look pictures|[Z] Look for user |
|[L]ove story 18+ |[>] View status |
|[M]ega magazine |[+] Status ON/OFF |
+-----------------+------------------+
The most important menu items are; Post (messages) and
Download/Upload (files).
+-+--------------------------------+-+
| | BECO TEL - POST MENU | |
| +--------------------------------+ |
| | | |
| |
POST | |
| | Quick scan NIEUWE POST | |
| | bases AAN/UIT zetten | |
| | | |
| | Kijk of er E-MAIL is (PRIVE)| |
| | Laat E-MAIL achter (PRIVE)| |
| | | |
| | FILE MAIL (NIEUW)| |
| | | |
| |RETURN terug naar het HOOFDMENU | |
| | | |
+-+--------------------------------+-+
As you see this menu is not in English. Unfortunately only the
main menu is available in English.
For you who can't read Dutch, I've translated this menu:
Post (Mail bases)
Quickscan new mail
Set mail bases ON/OFF
Look if there's E-mail (private)
Leave E-mail (private)
File mail (new)
RETURN to go back to the mainmenu
If you select 'Post', you get a list with message bases to
choose from.
[01] General (ATARI)
[02] General (AMIGA)
[03] Adverts
[04] ABBUC/ANG mail
[05] Inter. Atari Net
[06] JAGUAR SIG
1,2,3 and 6 are Dutch message bases.
4 is the message exchange base from the ABBUC BBS, ANG BBS and
BECO BBS. In this base you can write messages in any language
you like.
5 is the international mail base. This base is connected to ANG
BBS (Holland), ABBUC BBS (Germany) and some BBS's in the USA and
Canada. Messages here are written in English.
Let's take a look at the files menu:
[L] List file sig areas
[R] Raw directory of all file(s)
[B] Browse all file sig areas
[N] NEW file since your last logon
[A] Verbose listing of all file(s)
[U] Upload a file
[X] or [Return] to exit
Files are divided into areas. The following areas are active:
[ 1] General
[ 2] Demo
[ 3] Games
[ 4] AMS/Music
[ 5] Communication
[ 6] Doc/Info TXT
[ 7] Dos/Utility
[ 8] 18+ erotics
[ 9] Graphics
[10] Sources
[11] MOD files a-m
[12] MOD files n-z
There are about 500 files in the download (about 17MB). There's
also an area for supporters only. In this BBS you will find the
most recent files (mostly imported from the USA).
Conclusion:
This is a fine BBS. There's a lot to download and it's fun
reading and writing messages (I wrote over 1000 messages here!).
The Sysop (Bernard) is very helpful and always in for a chat
when you need him.
ANG BBS - TERNEUZEN - HOLLAND
-----------------------------
BBS Name---:ANG BBS
Sysop Name-:Louis Van Eijk
Co-Sysop---:Fred Meijer
Computer---:Atari XE
Software---:BBS Pro! 3.1d
Location---:Terneuzen, Holland
Phone #----:+31-(0)1150-13275
Baud Rates-:300/1200/2400
Hours------:24 hours online
This BBS is kept alive by its users and ANG-Software. Users are
free to send a donation (do it! the BBS needs it!).
Every user has a maximum of 255 minutes per day to spend on the
BBS (I would not recommend to stay all 255 minutes - watch out
for the phonebill!).
ANG-BBS runs on a 800XL with a Black Box and a 40MB harddisk.
Since this BBS uses the same software (PRO BBS) as BECO, the
login procedure is very similar.
The mainmenu has 20 items:
+------------------------------------+
| +-----+ +-------+ +----- software|
| +-----+ | | | ---+ --------|
| | |.| |.+-----+. B.B.S. |
+------------------------------------+
|[A]SCII/ATASCII [L]ast 50 callers |
|[B]Bslist [M]essage Sysop(s) |
|[C]hat with Sysop[N]ews (winners) |
|[D]own/upload [O]nline Games |
|[E]dit scanlist [P]ost |
|[F]ilemail [Q]uickscan |
|[G]oodbye [V]alidate data |
|[T]op 10 [Z]earch User(s) |
|[U]ser Status [S]tore of A.N.G. |
|[K]wik logoff [+]D/l CGS files |
+------------------------------------+
The mail menu is very simple and therefore easy to understand:
+-------------------------+
| A.N.G. BBS Mailmenu |
+-------------------------+
+----------------------------------+
| M... MessageBase Choise |
| R... Read E-mail |
| W... Write E-mail |
| C/r. Mainmenu |
+----------------------------------+
The following message bases are currently active:
[01] General Post
[02] Adverts
[03] Netmail => ABBUC
[05] Cheats etc.
[06] IAN NET
[08] MTS bullshit
[09] DOS's
[10] Music
[11] The A-Team
[12] Star Trek TNG
[13] Communication
[14] Film & Video
Base 3 is the ABBUC/BECO mail exchange and Base 6 is the
international mail base. All other bases contain Dutch messages.
Now to the files menu:
[L] List file sig areas
[R] Raw directory of all file(s)
[B] Browse all file sig areas
[N] NEW file since your last logon
[A] Verbose listing of all file(s)
[U] Upload a file
[X] or [Return] to exit
A listing of file sig areas:
[ 1] Games
[ 2] Application prgs.
[ 3] Data Files
[ 4] Demo's
[ 5] Magazine Upload
[ 6] General
[ 7] Page 6
[ 8] Ultimate MTS d/l
There's about 7MB of download.
Conclusion:
The ANG-BBS isn't as famous as BECO BBS. Therefore it's even
harder to get support. The Sysop (Louis) is not to blame, since
he's always helpful and always looking for new users.
The BBS is 24 hours online, doesn't cost you extra money and
you'll have plenty of time to be online.
More Atari 8-bit supporting BBS's
---------------------------------
In Holland are a few more BBS's which support the Atari 8-bit
computer, but do not run on an Atari 8-bit.
For those who are interested I've made a list so you can check
them out.
BBS Name---:STack BBS
Sysop Names:Bo & Ernest Schreurs
Location---:s'Hertogenbosch, Holland
Phone #----:+31-(0)73-147837 (line 1)
Baudrates--:3/12/24/96/14k4/1275
Phone #----:+31-(0)73-147838 (line 2)
Baudrates--:3/12/24/96 hst
Phone #----:+31-(0)73-122766 (line 3)
Baud Rates-:3/12/24/96v32
Hours------:24 hours online
Remarks----:CSS dealer
BBS Name---:Atari Benelux BBS
Sysop Name-:Wilfred Kilwinger
Location---:Vianen, Holland
Phone #----:+31-(0)3473-77584
Baudrates--:1200/2400/9600
Hours------:24 hours online
Remarks----:All Atari computers
BBS Name---:Waterland BBS
Sysop Name-:Joop Stokvis?
Co-Sysop---:Kaj de Vos (Atari)
Location---:Purmerend, Holland
Phone #----:+31-(0)2990-40202 (line 1)
Baudrates--:3/12/24/96 (12 lines!)
Phone #----:+31-(0)2990-45740 (line 2)
Baudrates--:3/12/24/96 and more
Phone #----:+31-(0)2990-41661 (line 3)
Baudrates--:3/12/24/96 and more
Phone #----:+31-(0)2990-46971 (line 4)
Baudrates--:3/12/24/96 & 1200/75
Phone #----:+31-(0)2990-47971 (line 5)
Baudrates--:3/12/24/96 & 1200/75
Phone #----:+31-(0)2990-48441 (line 6)
Baudrates--:3/12/24/96/MNP5 & 1200/75
Hours------:24 hours online
Remarks----:Many systems supported
BBS Name---:QuickBBS ST
Sysop Name-:Theo Runia
Location---:Leeuwarden, Holland
Phone #----:+31-(0)58-153849
Baudrates--:1200/2400/9600/hst
Hours------:24 hours online
Remarks----:Mega Magazine area