Re: Interesting PC-to-Apple Software: Lora BBS

[Doug Mitton <doug_mitton@hotmail.x.com>]

"Warren Ernst" <wernst@gmail.com> wrote:

>All,
>
>So I was noodling around with ideas to better integrate my Apples and
>my PCs, and I had the dumbest idea I've had in some time. I'm reporting
>here that it seems to (mostly) work.
>
>My idea was to locate and run some Windows (or DOS) based BBS software
>on my PC, then hook up the serial/null-modem cable between the Apple
>and a PC COM port, and then let the Apple hook up to the PC for easy
>access to files on the PC's hard drive and such.
>
>It should come as no surprise to Apple II users that there were dozens
>of MS-DOS  and Windows BBS software packages that have either been
>abandoned or released as freeware. Many have been modified to work as
>Telnet-only BBS packages.
>
>Thus far, I've had the best success with "LoraBBS"
>(http://www.lorabbs.com/), which runs in Windows and is a real Windows
>32-bit program, and is now freeware.
>
>The only trick I've found is that you should really hook up an external
>modem to a COM port at first, so that you can run its configuration
>system and turn off the modem init string, or change it from ATZ to
>just nothing. Setting the baud rate and such to match your Apple II
>would be a good idea also. Unfortunately, there's no help file, but the
>GUI is almost self-explanitory.
>
>Then hook up the serial cable and fire up your Apple modem software of
>choice (I use ProTerm 2.1). At the Apple, type ATA at the terminal
>screen, and the BBS software will think a modem has answered, and
>you're now logged into the BBS from the Apple.
>
>I still haven't gotten uploads and downloads to work (which was my
>original idea), but the Lora BBS has a FTP and Telnet module that works
>automatically with Windows! My PC is permanently online via DSL, and
>via my Apple II, with no configuration, I was able to telnet to other
>systems on the Internet, and download files from several FTP sites,
>once I logged into the BBS.
>
>I'm certain others have had this idea, and probably have better BBS
>software to suggest. If so, I'd love to hear about it. Otherwise, if
>someone here manages to get uploads and downloads to work with Lora
>BBS, please let me know how to did it.
>
>Cheers!
>
>Warr
>(former Beagle Bros tech support staff)

I have been transfering data from my //gs to my Linux machine in a
similar manner ... Linux has a (multi user) shell available already
and it was just a matter of connecting up to the serial port.  Shortly
after that I acquired an old terminal server and now I use that (since
real serial ports are getting rare) to telnet into my Linux box and
transfer files.  Xmodem and the family are still alive and well!   :-)

I'm doing the transfer to archive some of my Apple data and source
code AND to make it available in the Kegs emulator.  If you like the
//gs there are some great features in the recent version(s) of Kegs.

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