This guide will help you get started with our bulletin board system (BBS). Emerald Valley BBS is a classic, text-based community forum that brings back the charm of early internet communication.
What is a BBS?
A Bulletin Board System (BBS) is a computer system that allows users to connect and share information through forums, private messages, and file downloads. BBSs were popular in the 1980s and 1990s before the World Wide Web became mainstream.
Our BBS offers:
Forums: Topic-based discussion areas where you can read and post messages
Private Mail: Send personal messages to other users
File Areas: Download and upload files shared by the community
Real-time Chat: Connect with other users who are online
The Private Nature of BBSes
BBSes like Emerald Valley represent a different approach to online communities compared to modern commercial platforms:
A Non-Commercial Space
No Advertisements: We don't display ads or promote commercial content
No Data Harvesting: Your activities aren't tracked, analyzed, or sold to third parties
No Corporate Involvement: Emerald Valley is independently operated as a hobby project, not a corporate service
Privacy Expectations
While BBSes are private in the sense of being non-commercial, there are important privacy considerations to understand:
SysOp Access: As with traditional BBSes, the System Operator (SysOp) has complete access to all content on the system, including private messages and emails. This is simply the inherent nature of BBS systems—the SysOp runs the BBS on their own computer and has full access to everything on it.
Network Messages: Content that leaves our system (such as messages posted to networked boards) may be retained by third parties and is beyond our control.
Public Forums: Messages posted in public areas can be read by all users and should be considered public information.
Hobbyist Nature Disclaimer
Emerald Valley BBS is a hobbyist-run platform and operates differently from commercial services:
No Service Guarantees: The system is maintained as a hobby and may experience occasional downtime or technical issues
Not for Critical Communications: Please don't rely on the BBS for time-sensitive or critical communications
No Warranty: The BBS comes with no warranty, express or implied
Complementary Service: Consider the BBS a complement to, not a replacement for, commercial services that are professionally maintained
By using Emerald Valley BBS, you acknowledge and accept these conditions. Our goal is to provide a fun, nostalgic, and community-oriented space for digital interaction outside the mainstream commercial internet.
Emerald Valley BBS Features
Our BBS offers a wide range of services and features that combine classic BBS functionality with modern connectivity:
Games & Entertainment
Door Games: Over 20 classic BBS games including Trade Wars 2002, Legend of the Red Dragon, and many more
Storyboard: Collaborative storytelling where callers can add lines to an ongoing community story
Graffiti Wall: Leave your mark with public messages and ASCII art
ANSI Art Gallery: View and create colorful ANSI art with our built-in viewer and drawing tools
Voting/Polls: Participate in community polls and see what other users think
Communication Services
Email Service: Every user gets a personal email address (yourhandle@bbs.emeraldvalley.net) that works with standard email clients
Message Boards: Participate in discussions on various topics
IRC Access: Connect to Internet Relay Chat networks from within the BBS
Finger Service: A protocol that allows users to view information about other users on the system or connected networks (predates modern social media profiles)
Internet Services
Gopher Browser: Access the Gopherspace, a text-based information system that predates the World Wide Web
FTP Server: Upload and download files using standard FTP clients
File Sharing: Our file libraries are growing through community contributions - callers are encouraged to upload files to help expand our collection
Getting Started
Creating an Account
To participate in the BBS, you'll need to create an account. This requires connecting to the BBS terminal:
Use the terminal window on the main page (click "Connect Here" button)
When connected, type NEW and press Enter
Follow the registration prompts to set up your account
After your account is created, you can either continue using the terminal or log out
Once your account is set up, you can use the web interface by clicking "Login" at the top-right of any page and entering your BBS credentials.
Navigation
The BBS uses a menu-driven interface. You can navigate using:
Menu numbers: Type the number of the menu option you want
Letter commands: Many functions have single-letter shortcuts (like 'M' for mail)
Command help: Look for command hints at the bottom of screens or in menu descriptions
Forum Participation
Reading Messages
Forums are organized into message areas by topic. You can:
Browse different forum areas from the main menu
Read messages in chronological order
Search for specific topics or keywords
Posting Messages
To contribute to discussions:
Navigate to the appropriate forum area
Choose "Post Message" or use the 'P' command
Enter your subject and message text
Review and confirm your post
Private Messages
Send personal messages to other users:
Access your mailbox from the main menu
Use 'S' to send a new message
Enter the recipient's username and your message
Check for new mail regularly with 'M'
Community Guidelines
Help us maintain a friendly community:
Be respectful: Treat all users with courtesy and respect
Stay on topic: Keep discussions relevant to the forum area
No spam: Avoid posting repetitive or off-topic content
Follow local laws: Don't post illegal content
Have fun: Enjoy connecting with your local community!
Connection Methods
Web Interface (Current)
You're currently using our web-based interface, which provides easy access through your browser.
Direct Terminal Connection
For the full experience, you can connect directly using:
Bulletin Board Systems represent an important chapter in the evolution of online communities and digital communication. Here's a journey through BBS history:
The Birth of BBSes (1978-1984)
The first BBS was created in February 1978 by Ward Christensen and Randy Suess in Chicago during a blizzard. Called the Computerized Bulletin Board System (CBBS), it allowed users with modems to dial in, leave messages, and share information—all at the blazing speed of 300 baud. This revolutionary system ran on an S-100 computer with an 8-inch floppy disk.
The early 1980s saw the emergence of BBS software for various computer platforms. Popular early systems included RBBS, TBBS, and PCBoard. These systems were typically run by hobbyists (SysOps) on personal computers with a single phone line, allowing only one user to connect at a time.
The Golden Age (1985-1995)
The mid-1980s to mid-1990s marked the golden age of BBSes. As modems became faster (2400 to 14400 baud) and more affordable, BBSes proliferated. By 1994, an estimated 60,000 BBSes were operating in North America alone. This era saw the development of several important innovations:
BBS Networks: FidoNet, founded in 1984, allowed BBSes to exchange messages globally through a store-and-forward system. Messages would hop from one BBS to another until reaching their destination.
ANSI Art: Colorful and animated text art became a distinctive feature of BBSes, with groups like ACiD and iCE creating elaborate digital artworks.
Door Games: External programs like Trade Wars 2002, Legend of the Red Dragon, and BRE enhanced BBSes with multiplayer gaming experiences.
File Sharing: BBSes became important distribution channels for shareware, freeware, and underground software.
Multi-line BBSes: Some systems expanded to support multiple phone lines, allowing several users to connect simultaneously and interact in real-time.
The Decline (1995-2000)
The rise of the World Wide Web and commercial Internet Service Providers led to a rapid decline of traditional BBSes in the mid-to-late 1990s. Many factors contributed to this shift:
The web offered graphics, hyperlinks, and multimedia content
Internet access provided global connectivity without long-distance phone charges
Email replaced the need for FidoNet and similar messaging systems
Web forums offered similar community features with improved interfaces
By 2000, the number of active dial-up BBSes had dwindled dramatically, with many SysOps either shutting down or transitioning to Internet-based services.
The Modern BBS Revival (2000-Present)
Despite their decline, BBSes never completely disappeared. The 21st century has seen a revival of interest in BBSes for several reasons:
Nostalgia: Many users who grew up with BBSes have returned to experience the unique atmosphere of these systems.
Telnet/SSH Access: Modern BBSes like Emerald Valley use Internet protocols instead of phone lines, making them accessible worldwide.
Preservation: There's growing recognition of BBSes as important cultural and historical artifacts of early online communities.
Alternative Spaces: Some users appreciate the text-based, focused, and less commercial nature of BBSes compared to social media platforms.
Today's BBSes often run modern software like Synchronet (which powers Emerald Valley BBS), Mystic, or WWIV, while maintaining the spirit and feel of classic systems. Many connect to modern echonets like FSXNet or DoveNet, continuing the tradition of message sharing between systems.
By connecting to a BBS like Emerald Valley, you're not just using a communication tool—you're participating in a living piece of computing history that helped shape today's digital landscape.
Further Reading
Interested in learning more about BBSes? Check out these resources:
Agora Road - Modern digital forum with BBS aesthetics and culture
BBS Glossary
A comprehensive list of terms you might encounter on the BBS:
ANSI
A graphics and color standard used in BBSes that allows for colorful interfaces, menus, and artwork.
ASCII
A simpler text standard without color or positioning controls. Most basic terminals support ASCII.
Avatar
A visual representation of a user, sometimes used in BBS interfaces.
Baud
A historical measurement of connection speed. Modern connections are much faster than the 300-2400 baud rates of early BBSes.
BBS
Bulletin Board System - A computer system running software that allows users to connect to it, upload and download files, post messages, and interact with other users.
Caller
A user who connects to a BBS. Historically, users would "call" the BBS using a modem over a phone line.
DOOR
External programs that run on a BBS providing additional features like games, utilities, or services.
Download
The process of transferring files from the BBS to your computer.
Echo
A message area that is shared between multiple BBSes in a network.
Echomail
Messages that are distributed across multiple BBSes, similar to Usenet or forums.
FidoNet
A worldwide network of BBSes that exchange mail and files, established in 1984.
Flame
A hostile or insulting message posted to a forum or sent via email.
Handle
A username or alias used on a BBS.
Hub
A central BBS that distributes messages and files to other BBSes in a network.
Lurker
Someone who reads messages but rarely or never posts.
Netmail
Private messages sent between users on different BBSes in a network. On modern BBSes like Emerald Valley, Netmail also includes connectivity with standard email systems, allowing messages to be sent to and received from regular email addresses.
Node
A connection point on a BBS; most modern BBSes support multiple concurrent users or "nodes."
Offline Reader
Software that allows users to download messages in bulk, read and respond offline, then upload responses later.
QWK/REP
A message packet format used by offline readers.
Shell
A command interpreter that allows users to execute commands on the BBS host system.
SIG
Special Interest Group - A forum dedicated to a specific topic.
Sub-board
A specific message area or forum dedicated to a particular topic.
Synchronet
The BBS software that powers Emerald Valley BBS (and many others).
SSH
Secure Shell - A network protocol that provides encrypted communications between computers. A more secure alternative to Telnet for connecting to modern BBSes.
SysOp
System Operator - The person who runs and maintains the BBS.
Telnet
A network protocol used to connect to remote systems, commonly used to access BBSes over the Internet.
Terminal
Software used to connect to a BBS, such as SyncTERM, NetRunner, or PuTTY.
Thread
A series of messages on the same topic, usually started by an initial post and followed by replies.
Upload
The process of transferring files from your computer to the BBS.
User List
A directory of users registered on the BBS.
WHO
A command that shows which users are currently online.
X/Y/Z-Modem
File transfer protocols used to upload and download files to and from BBSes.