Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 20:16:36 -0700
From: Dennis Recla 
To: bbssoftware@bbsdocumentary.com
Subject: RBBS for CP/M Computers

I was reading your list of information, and would like to add some more
information on those later years of RBBS.

About 1984, I wrote a revision of RBBS by Bruce Ratoff, with a way for users
to create a version of the program without having to have a MBASIC compiler.
It was expensive and not everyone who wanted to put up a BBS could afford
it.  A number of external setup files were used to allow anyone to make use
of the program and configure it in a number of different ways.  This was
done using a separate Install program which would create a data file that
was loaded at startup to configure how RBBS would operate. Several versions
were created, and the last version was released on the CP/M users group disk
#249 which is still available online. The program would run on nearly all of
the CP/M based computers and for the odd ball ones, I was able to create a
number of the interface programs so you could even run this version on the
AMPRO Little Board, Apple based CP/M add-ons as well as the Colleco Game
computer.  The program also linked to the BYE program to control user access
if a proper CPR or ZCPR program was installed in your computer BIOS.  It was
free program as were probably all of the CP/M based programs written by
users of CP/M.  It was by my Company... Lillypond Software - "Bug Free
Software"  haha!!

I operated the Lost Island RCP/M and BBS system in Garland Texas for a
number of years using this program, it provided me with a way to test it as
well the BBS provided a very wide range of "Configuration" files for almost
every CP/M based computer from ALSPA to ZORBA.  Early communications
programs on CP/M computers required a configuration file that would
interface your specific hardware with the modem program you would install on
your computer. This file would be merged with the program to produce a
program specific to your system.  I collected them from all over the BBS
community and wrote a number of them for some of the really weird or low
production computers like the Beehive Topper series and others.

Unfortunately because the BBS computer made so much noise, and it was in the
bedroom, it was not up during sleep times.  The program was used by a number
of BBS systems around the world, including the CNN news, who used the
message feature to leave notes and messages to other ground stations over
their satellite network.

About that time the PC was beginning to take over the CP/M based market, and
I did switch to using a PC, but never begin writing a BBS program for the
PC.  Tom Mack was on his way with the PC version and saw no reason to create
another thread.

I got tired of RBBS and started playing with C and got the source for
Citadel for CP/M and ran that for about 6 months before converting the BBS
to a PC computer, and then ran the PC Version of Citadel for several years
before leaving the Dallas area and moved to Southern Oregon by the company I
worked for.  The BBS stayed alive up here in the wilderness, but switched to
the commercial program WILDCAT when a copy was re-licensed given to me. It
ran for about 3 years from 1993 till 1996, when users dropped to 1 per day.
The Internet had taken over and the BBS community faded away.  I shut down
the BBS and now just play on the Internet.

Just a bit more history to add to your information files.

Attached is a zipped copy of the RBBS38A program and all of the support
files necessary to operate it. It will work with any CP/M system with 55K of
available memory.  You were lucky if you had 60K of usable memory in those
days.

Enjoyed your list of information, but wanted to add a bit more to the
history of what was happening in the 80's with CP/M computers and RBBS.

Regards

Dennis Recla

Jeezzzz  I can't believe the entire disk ziped down to 148K  haha !!  Back
in 1984 that was an incredible file to try and download at 300 baud.

BTW - The first modem on the Lost Island was an acoustic coupled 300 baud
modem.  The handset was set in the acoustic cups of the modem, the modem set
to Originate mode, and when the phone would ring, it would be picked up by a
coil of wire under the ringer of the phone.  This small voltage was coupled
to a control circuit that operated a solenoid relay that would release the
two pins where the hand set would set on the desktop phone. Then off line
the weight of the solenoid would hold the two pins (off hood switch) down
like they would be if the handset was set in place.  When it would ring, it
would lift up and "answer" the telephone, then the modem would "hear" the
other tone and respond with the correct set of tones for a roaring fast 300
baud connection.

For a short time there was also a 450 baud connect speed, when it was found
that many 300 baud modems could operate at this speed.  This was a big jump
in speed, but when the 1200 baud protocol appeared, it was so fast it was
hard to imagine anything faster.. Haha !!

Arrgghh I'm feeling older.. Haha !!