Interesting PC-to-Apple Software: Lora BBS

["Warren Ernst" <wernst@gmail.com>]

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)