Well, we're getting the remnants of hurricane Helene so anything goes today. I'm supposed to go over to my son's house for movie day so if anything goes out I'll take care of it when I get back (we're in Floyd County -pretty much the middle of the radar map).
Well, it turned out to be not bad for us. We had a 10 minute or so outage but nothing besides that. We had high winds but nothing got near the 60-70 mph range in our immediate area. Lexington, Ky supposedly got that. Others were not so lucky. There's a place on the other side of Prestonsburg, Abbot Creek, that was reported as being Abbot River. 🙂 and one of my friends at Hueysville had a tree fall, crushing both of their vehicles in their driveway.
Overall though, not so bad. Nothing like the states south of us got (Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida).
D00d. When I get home from driving drunk strippers around I partake in the happy smoke (I guess mine is called happy vapor 😂😂) and I usually put on something on the tv and have been watching some old Rolling Stones videos I have watched 100s of times. Well the other night I was preparing for some 3d Hyjinx and I started hearing parts of the songs I have never hear before. lol. Be fully aware I pretty much know every note in those videos and I was shocked when I started hearing some new……things. lol.
But the other night I was back to 3d Adrian’s digital basement.
Adrian is one of the panelists at this year's Portland Retro Gaming Expo. He joins Jeff Minter, Scott Adams, and others too. It looks like it's going to be a great show. 😉
As for the happy smoke and 3D effects...I got the reference earlier which is why I said you can kill two birds with "one stone" by trying some 3D BBSing. 😂
Folks, beginning September the 1st, I'll be purging the DarkForce! user database of all users who have not called within the last few years.
I've been meaning to do this for a while and it's long overdue...
After that, I'll be "migrating" users with positions higher than 500 into the lower ranges. Unfortunately, this will change the user numbers for those people.
So it's very important that everyone keep their user name in mind when they call in. At least until they become used to their newly assigned number.
This part will not affect anyone with a user number less than 500.
I'd like to apologize for any inconvenience and thank everyone for their patience and continued support...
This month, June 2024, the DarkForce! BBS is giving away:
A SidecarT !
A multi-device emulator for the Atari ST, STE, and Mega series on Raspberry Pi Pico steroids.
SidecarT is a state-of-the-art cartridge ROM emulator crafted for the Atari ST, STE, and Mega series. It leverages the robust capabilities of the RP2040 microcontroller found in the Raspberry Pi Pico, enabling it to:
Emulate both 64Kbyte and 128Kbyte ROMs by simply loading the binary files from a microSD card or via a Wi-Fi connection.
Interact with the cartridge bus in real-time for data reading and writing, which allows for seamless emulation of devices such as floppy disks, hard disks , real-time clocks, keyboards, mouse devices, and more.
Dive into a realm of possibilities, limited only by your creativity. Thanks to its open architecture and the open-source code, SidecarT can evolve to meet any challenge you envision.
Bop (Just Bob not Bob_C) Asked for a check in on Ice-T connecting to Dark-Force in the message bases on southern amis - Quick Video Using a fresh ATR build of Ice-T Version 2.71 Which I will also post in the downloads..
Finally found a set of dust covers for my Mega STe that I like. I think they are a little pricey but they seem to be of really good quality and I like the way they look. :)
I've had that cover for years. Over in the 8bit forum at AtariAge, Slor's wife used to make leather covers for just about anything. She actually had a company that did that. Unfortunately, she's no longer taking orders. I asked just a year or two ago and was told that she had stopped. 🙁
Funny story, BTW. Metalguy66 had made a cover for his Amiga that said, "ST Killer". So I got this one for my STacy that said, "Sadly friend, where I go you can not follow". It's in reference to that fact that an Atari STacy is portable and Commodore never released a portable Amiga.
It's also in homage to the movie, "The Hunt For Red October". Ramius (played by the awesome Sean Connery) says almost the exact same line to the party political officer that he had just killed.
Basically, I've always run the buffer at 8192 using the AT*BL[x] command. That was the previous maximum. However, as of this update, it looks like Jim has dropped it down to -> 4096 <- . However, after the update, the buffer, according to AT&V, was still showing 8192 on all 3 of my WiModem232's. Now per Jim's advice, I did an AT&F, resetting to factory defaults on the WiModem232 on my Mega STe and then laboriously reset all my settings. I took a screenshot before resetting, BTW. After doing that and noticing that it gave me an error when I tried to do 8192 for the buffer I went back, D/L'ed the updated PDF manual and read about the change there (always, always read the instructions LAST, right?). Seeing Jim had changed it, I used the buffer command to set it to 4096, saved everything, then ran tests on it. It seems okay on that WiModem232 now. So...I thought, why not just try changing that on the other WiModems instead of a full factory reset. I went to my STacy and made the change there, then tested it. Boom! - seems to work okay. I just now made the change to the Mega ST4 that runs DarkForce! and so far, it seems okay there as well too.
Here's a screenshot of one of my WiModem232's, after the firmware update, but before I changed anything. Notice the buffer setting - it's still showing the old upper limit! 😀
For the WiModem232, Jim Drew divided the commands up into standard Hayes compatible commands, using the " & " character, for example, " AT&W " saves your settings and WiModem232 specific commands using the asterisk, for example, "AT*UPDATE" (self explanatory)...
Okay, more fun stuff (I'm using the word "fun" in a way most people wouldn't be familiar with). :)
So I was logged into DarkForce!, my BBS, calling in with Windows10 and SyncTerm. It suddenly stopped responding. I went over to the BBS (this was all in my man cave) and first off, the BBS was still "active" on the Mega ST4 itself. The WiModem232 had changed it's LED color to blue and was now scrolling the screens from the BBS on it's OLED! Weird.
As soon as the screen loaded all the way up on the BBS, it stopped scrolling on the OLED too. You can see it on the screenshots below. I powered the WiModem232 off and restarted it. For the moment, it's working again. I am clueless as to what is going on...
Okay folks, from 3pm on, according to WYMT Weather and the Weather Channel, we're supposed to have really "bad stuff" <trademark pending> here so if you can't reach us, you know what happened.
I've had my UPS's kick on and off about 3 times in the last 1/2 hour alone...
The script just makes a connection to the BBS, waits for 10 seconds, then disconnects. Output from the BBS is sent to a file. The script checks to see if there is any text from the BBS in the file. If so, it assumes the BBS is up. If the file is empty, it assumes the BBS is down. The script is not programmed to send anything to the BBS. I don't know why that might be happening on your end. From what I can see on my end, it just gets to the "40 or 80 columns" prompt and disconnects after the 10 second time out.I believe my script works like the ipingthereforeiam.com script. See the output window in the link below. My script sees the same output from your BBS before it disconnects.https://www.ipingthereforeiam.com/bbs/?step=detail&id=18647-JP
Ran a couple of test connects. Is it possible to adjust the script to change the user profile parameters to align with the logon selection of 40 column? I had to run through a few menus in 80 column to hit the user parameters edit to adjust all things to 40 column.
I mention in it that if you've previously logged in at 80 columns and login the next time in 40 columns, you will have to use [E]dit Preferences, Option [J] to change to 40 columns and then the *next* time you login, all will be good.
Same if you're were using 40 columns and then login with 80. You'll have to adjust the video width again and then BBS Express! ST will remember it for your next call.
You won't have to keep doing it over and over IF you keep logging in with one setting. It's also why I suggested that if you have multiple machines (16 bit like the ST and 8bit like the XL/XE line) that you might want to consider making 2 accounts, one for each machine and it's video width, for the convenience of it...
Yes, understand your process. Just a suggestion as if you logged in for the first time in 40 column you have to make your way to the edit parameters and edit the column field… Seems the string can be augmented at the time a user logs in where the switch can occur without manual intervention 😀
Nope, I wish it was that easy. The video width info is an internal component. It's not a "&" or .DAT file or anything like that. For example, &66 is your video translation. When you pick 40 columns from that first login screen, it enters 40 or 80 into a file (VW.DAT) that's used to get the caller through the login process until they reach the main menu. It doesn't affect anything else though, unfortunately.
From there, if you've already called in before and set vw to 40, you're golden. If not, you'll have to set it. (and vice-versa). You won't have to keep doing it over and over because Express will remember that from call to call.
As I said, it's only an issue for anyone that calls in with multiple machines and uses different video widths...
I'm curious... why 40-col support? Do people request it? I know I prefer to call your BBS using Syncterm in ANSI 80 cols. I guess maybe someone on an Atari 8-bit machine using BobTerm in ASCII mode could call... I was just wondering why...
Yes, there was some kind of "outage" around 11:30pm last night or so. My son had a Dr. appointment early today so we went ahead and just made "movie day" out of it. It was late this afternoon before the Internet service was restored.
Okay, in an attempt to make things a bit less confusing, there will be 2 separate drawings for the two prizes this month. Using BBS Express! ST's scripting language (because who doesn't like to be up at 3 o'clock in the morning writing code? 😀 ) I added the option to pick between prize 1 and 2 (or both, if you're feeling supremely lucky), from the Monthly Prize Giveaway screen. Thanks all.
Here's screenshots, in VT52 and ANSI format to demonstrate:
Er, guess I didn't make that clear. (with the "concurrently" comment) But yeah, there will be -2- separate drawings for the December 2022 prize Giveaway.
I know it's a few days late, but this just came in (rather unexpectedly, I'll admit!) so we're going to run with it.
Alan H., long time active developer for the Atari ST community is donating his most recent innovation, the "ImpoSTer" as a
monthly prize at The DarkForce! BBS, for December 2022.
From the website:
The ImpoSTer adapter is a keyboard/mouse emulator for the Atari ST/STE/MegaST/MegaSTE/TT and Falcon computers. It plugs into the keyboard port of the Atari and has a passthrough port for attaching the original keyboard. The ImpoSTer also features two DB9 joystick ports, with port0 being able to use both joystick and original Atari mice. It also has two USB ports for keyboard/mouse and USB hubs.
Russ reposted 15 old videos on Facebook today. This was one of them. I noticed the comment below. So, what more did Russ do for Darkforce! BBS? 😆https://youtu.be/cBnB6ewQ6ZQ-JP
Just a reminder about how to edit messages that belong to you on DarkForce.
Just go to the Message Base in question, then type in [E]dit and it will ask for the message number that you wish to edit. Type that in and it will take you to the message editor with a message something like "Beginning Edit at line XX". Make your changes and save, just like you'd do normally.
So two vital requirements:
It must be your message. You can't edit someone else's.
You can not initiate an edit during a Quickscan of the message base.
Here are a couple of pictures to give everyone an idea of what to expect.
I am trying to connect to the DarkForce! BBS and must have something wrong in my settings in SyncTerm. Can someone please provide me the proper address, port, etc.? Much appreciated!
Everyone should call DarkForce! today - but beware! strange things are afoot!
Take care with all the Main Menu choices... 😃
Here is the lucky winner for March 2025 at The DarkForce! BBS:
March 2025
1. Bob_C - wins a NetUSBee...!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations to our winner, and thanks to all our callers!
🙂
PS Bob_C, I need your actual physical address.
Here is the lucky winner for December 2024 at The DarkForce! BBS:
December 2024
1. BOP - wins an Atari ST game themed 2025 calendar!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations to our winner, and thanks to all our callers!
🙂
PS BOP, I need your actual physical address.
This month, December 2024, the DarkForce! BBS is giving away:
An Atari ST calendar for 2025!
Each month has an individual iconic game from the ST's gaming history. High quality construction and very well made.
Good luck to all, and thanks for calling! 🙂
Well, we're getting the remnants of hurricane Helene so anything goes today. I'm supposed to go over to my son's house for movie day so if anything goes out I'll take care of it when I get back (we're in Floyd County -pretty much the middle of the radar map).
Ooww. I will really try to get back on. I think my number is 443. Sorry to all for being mia I just haven’t had too much free time or energy to BBs.
I do have some “3d” stories to tell (if you understand what I am talking about. ). Maybe I will post em here. lol.
Folks, beginning September the 1st, I'll be purging the DarkForce! user database of all users who have not called within the last few years.
I've been meaning to do this for a while and it's long overdue...
After that, I'll be "migrating" users with positions higher than 500 into the lower ranges. Unfortunately, this will change the user numbers for those people.
So it's very important that everyone keep their user name in mind when they call in. At least until they become used to their newly assigned number.
This part will not affect anyone with a user number less than 500.
I'd like to apologize for any inconvenience and thank everyone for their patience and continued support...
Here is the lucky winner for June 2024 at The DarkForce! BBS:
June 2024
1. Krupkaj - wins a SidecarT (now SidecarTridge)!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations to our winner, and thanks to all our callers!
:)
PS Krupkaj, I need your actual physical address.
The SidecarT has arrived. 🙂
This month, June 2024, the DarkForce! BBS is giving away:
A SidecarT !
A multi-device emulator for the Atari ST, STE, and Mega series on Raspberry Pi Pico steroids.
SidecarT is a state-of-the-art cartridge ROM emulator crafted for the Atari ST, STE, and Mega series. It leverages the robust capabilities of the RP2040 microcontroller found in the Raspberry Pi Pico, enabling it to:
Emulate both 64Kbyte and 128Kbyte ROMs by simply loading the binary files from a microSD card or via a Wi-Fi connection.
Interact with the cartridge bus in real-time for data reading and writing, which allows for seamless emulation of devices such as floppy disks, hard disks , real-time clocks, keyboards, mouse devices, and more.
Dive into a realm of possibilities, limited only by your creativity. Thanks to its open architecture and the open-source code, SidecarT can evolve to meet any challenge you envision.
More details here:
https://sidecartridge.com/
It's a new and exciting device. Good luck to all, and thanks for calling! :)
I seem to remember we all know someone from Kentucky. 😂😂😂
Spammers delete but man do they love DarkForce 🤣
Bop (Just Bob not Bob_C) Asked for a check in on Ice-T connecting to Dark-Force in the message bases on southern amis - Quick Video Using a fresh ATR build of Ice-T Version 2.71 Which I will also post in the downloads..
Finally found a set of dust covers for my Mega STe that I like. I think they are a little pricey but they seem to be of really good quality and I like the way they look. :)
Here is the lucky winner for June 2023 at The DarkForce! BBS:
June 2023
1. Questor wins a WiModem232!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations to our winner, and thanks to all our callers!
😀
PS Questor, I need your actual physical address.
This month, June 2023, the DarkForce! BBS is giving away:
A WiModem232! "The WiModem232 is an internet modem for any
computer with a RS-232 interface port that emulates a standard
Hayes compatible modem. Just plug the WiModem232 into the
"serial" port and connect to BBS's all over the world or run a BBS
of your own!"
More details here:
https://tinyurl.com/4abxpuva
It's a wonderful device. Good luck to all, and thanks for calling! 😀
Here is the lucky winner for March 2023 at The DarkForce! BBS:
March 2023
1. Bob_C wins Droids: The Definitive Collection!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations to our winner, and thanks to all our callers!
😀
PS Bob_C, I need your actual physical address.
Okay, I think I found the problem...
Basically, I've always run the buffer at 8192 using the AT*BL[x] command. That was the previous maximum. However, as of this update, it looks like Jim has dropped it down to -> 4096 <- . However, after the update, the buffer, according to AT&V, was still showing 8192 on all 3 of my WiModem232's. Now per Jim's advice, I did an AT&F, resetting to factory defaults on the WiModem232 on my Mega STe and then laboriously reset all my settings. I took a screenshot before resetting, BTW. After doing that and noticing that it gave me an error when I tried to do 8192 for the buffer I went back, D/L'ed the updated PDF manual and read about the change there (always, always read the instructions LAST, right?). Seeing Jim had changed it, I used the buffer command to set it to 4096, saved everything, then ran tests on it. It seems okay on that WiModem232 now. So...I thought, why not just try changing that on the other WiModems instead of a full factory reset. I went to my STacy and made the change there, then tested it. Boom! - seems to work okay. I just now made the change to the Mega ST4 that runs DarkForce! and so far, it seems okay there as well too.
Here's a screenshot of one of my WiModem232's, after the firmware update, but before I changed anything. Notice the buffer setting - it's still showing the old upper limit! 😀
In the meantime...
Okay, more fun stuff (I'm using the word "fun" in a way most people wouldn't be familiar with). :)
So I was logged into DarkForce!, my BBS, calling in with Windows10 and SyncTerm. It suddenly stopped responding. I went over to the BBS (this was all in my man cave) and first off, the BBS was still "active" on the Mega ST4 itself. The WiModem232 had changed it's LED color to blue and was now scrolling the screens from the BBS on it's OLED! Weird.
As soon as the screen loaded all the way up on the BBS, it stopped scrolling on the OLED too. You can see it on the screenshots below. I powered the WiModem232 off and restarted it. For the moment, it's working again. I am clueless as to what is going on...
Okay folks, from 3pm on, according to WYMT Weather and the Weather Channel, we're supposed to have really "bad stuff" <trademark pending> here so if you can't reach us, you know what happened.
I've had my UPS's kick on and off about 3 times in the last 1/2 hour alone...
This month, March 2023, the DarkForce! BBS is giving away a new copy of:
Droids: The Definitive Collection!
Droids: The Definitive Collection contains Droids I + Droids II plus a special STe version. More details here:
https://tinyurl.com/56yy86km
Great Atari game collection. Good luck to all, and thanks for calling! :)
Wow, didn't know we had our own special "event"... 😀
PS First person to post that this "sucks" loses points. 😁
This isn't right. I'm logged in even as I type this... 😀
Can someone (anyone?) please post some screenshots when they are logged in with an actual 8bit machine in 40 column mode?
I don't have any 8bit machines actually setup here so I'd love to see what it really looks like.
Thanks all.
Ran a couple of test connects. Is it possible to adjust the script to change the user profile parameters to align with the logon selection of 40 column? I had to run through a few menus in 80 column to hit the user parameters edit to adjust all things to 40 column.
I'm curious... why 40-col support? Do people request it? I know I prefer to call your BBS using Syncterm in ANSI 80 cols. I guess maybe someone on an Atari 8-bit machine using BobTerm in ASCII mode could call... I was just wondering why...
Okay, we're back online.
Keep in mind, when I say we're in the beta testing stage I really mean we're in the pre-pre-pre alpha testing stage! 😀
Please report anything that seems off, here or via e-mail or PM.
Thanks everyone.
Yes, there was some kind of "outage" around 11:30pm last night or so. My son had a Dr. appointment early today so we went ahead and just made "movie day" out of it. It was late this afternoon before the Internet service was restored.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
Folks, I'm happy to announce that the RSVE mod is now working!
Everyone please check it out and please report any issues. Thanks! 😀
I will be pulling DarkForce! offline later today for some much needed
file backups/maintenance/upgrades. Hopefully, everything won't
take longer than a day or two...
I'll post as soon as we are back online. Thanks all. 😀
Here are the lucky winners for December 2022 at The DarkForce! BBS:
December 2022
1. Bikerbob wins the Atari Falcon game, "L'Abbaye des Morts"!
2. Atari8guy wins the "ImpoSTer" USB keyboard/mouse board!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations to our winners, and thanks to all our callers!
😀
PS Guys, I need both of your actual physical addresses.
Okay, in an attempt to make things a bit less confusing, there will be 2 separate drawings for the two prizes this month. Using BBS Express! ST's scripting language (because who doesn't like to be up at 3 o'clock in the morning writing code? 😀 ) I added the option to pick between prize 1 and 2 (or both, if you're feeling supremely lucky), from the Monthly Prize Giveaway screen. Thanks all.
Here's screenshots, in VT52 and ANSI format to demonstrate:
Er, guess I didn't make that clear. (with the "concurrently" comment) But yeah, there will be -2- separate drawings for the December 2022 prize Giveaway.
😀
I know it's a few days late, but this just came in (rather unexpectedly, I'll admit!) so we're going to run with it.
Alan H., long time active developer for the Atari ST community is donating his most recent innovation, the "ImpoSTer" as a
monthly prize at The DarkForce! BBS, for December 2022.
From the website:
The ImpoSTer adapter is a keyboard/mouse emulator for the Atari ST/STE/MegaST/MegaSTE/TT and Falcon computers. It plugs into the keyboard port of the Atari and has a passthrough port for attaching the original keyboard. The ImpoSTer also features two DB9 joystick ports, with port0 being able to use both joystick and original Atari mice. It also has two USB ports for keyboard/mouse and USB hubs.
https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=42197&hilit=imposter
http://www.atarikit.co.uk/
So as usual, thanks for calling and good luck to everyone who enters! :)
PS This is running concurrently with the December 2022 Atari Falcon game prize giveaway.
Just in time for the holiday season, this month, December 2022, the DarkForce! BBS is giving away a new copy of:
L'Abbaye des Morts!
L'Abbaye des Morts is a newly released (this year) game for the Atari Falcon. More details here:
https://tinyurl.com/w9dwaw2w
Great new Atari Falcon game, good luck to all, and thanks for calling! :)
Russ reposted 15 old videos on Facebook today. This was one of them. I noticed the comment below. So, what more did Russ do for Darkforce! BBS? 😆 https://youtu.be/cBnB6ewQ6ZQ -JP
Time to kick the Fall season off the right way! :)
This month, September 2022, at The DarkForce! BBS we are giving away a free copy of:
Kings of Edom!
Kings of Edom is a game released last year for the Atari Jaguar.
More details here:
https://tinyurl.com/bdcmd2st
https://tinyurl.com/48259256
Great new Atari Jaguar game, good luck to all, and thanks for calling!
Here is the lucky winner for June 2022 at The DarkForce! BBS:
June 2022
1. Jason Young wins the Atari ST game, "Toogle"!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations to our winner, and thanks to all our callers!
:)
PS Jason Young, I need your actual/physical address.
Gotcha... Thanks. :)
That's probably it then because it's usually once a day.
Thanks.
Check it out - a new scan-doubler called Medusa from Lotharek and Acidmaker (creator of SIO2SD).
RetroLemon UK and Lothark both have it listed:
https://tinyurl.com/2p93ft5p
https://www.lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=135
Pictures, stats and videos on both web sites but I'll post the ST video and a picture of the Medusa here:
Here is a picture:
No problem. I would just add that "real men" don't care about typos... :)
Just a reminder about how to edit messages that belong to you on DarkForce.
Just go to the Message Base in question, then type in [E]dit and it will ask for the message number that you wish to edit. Type that in and it will take you to the message editor with a message something like "Beginning Edit at line XX". Make your changes and save, just like you'd do normally.
So two vital requirements:
It must be your message. You can't edit someone else's.
You can not initiate an edit during a Quickscan of the message base.
Here are a couple of pictures to give everyone an idea of what to expect.
Thanks all. ;)
Just a reminder - DarkForce actually has 2 telnet addresses for those who are unable to accommodate a " - " (dash) in the address.
The second "dash-less" address is (seems obvious, doesn't it?): 😉
darkforcebbs.dyndns.org
and of course, the port address remains the same, "1040".
Thanks all.
This month, March 2022, the DarkForce! BBS is giving away:
The game Wyvern Tales for the Atari Lynx handheld gaming system.
You can check it out here:
https://tinyurl.com/3tw57pjy
Good luck to all of our callers and remember, you can't win if
you don't call and register! :)
I am trying to connect to the DarkForce! BBS and must have something wrong in my settings in SyncTerm. Can someone please provide me the proper address, port, etc.? Much appreciated!
Here is the lucky winner for December 2021 at The DarkForce! BBS:
December 2021
1. BSDRob wins the game, "Attack of the Petscii Robots" !
--------------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations to our winner, and thanks to all our callers!
:)
PS BSDRob, I need your actual/physical address.
This month, December 2021, at the DarkForce! BBS we are giving away a free copy of:
Attack of the Petscii Robots!
This is a brand new, and autographed copy of the hit Atari
8bit game, bought directly from its' creator at VCF Midwest
2021!
Nice Atari 8bit game, good luck to all, and thanks for calling.
Backups are finished and we are back online.
Sorry it took a little longer than I thought it
would... :)