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