How difficult would it be to setup a globally accessible telnet based chat server? I used to be in a Greece based one (it was called Homecoming and was hosted in National Technical University of Athens - NTUA). It had several rooms, you could pm someone and it was really really nice. Do not know which exact software it was running but we would connect via telnet. Come on, you guys, wouldn't you like all the crazy Amstrad forum maniacs inside a chat room?
Hi we do already have IRC and BBS chat on our Amstrad dedicated BBS. Though as some other users have already mentioned the BBS doesn't seem to work yet with Duke's telnet client. I've logged on successfully with it but sometimes it won't display anything, sometimes it displays some menus or intro text (such as the login and user setup), and other times the menus go completely bonkers. A few times it crashed my CPC too. I'm going to try it on my 6128 PLUS next. On Amstrad NC200, PPC640 and other Amstrads the BBS does work really well. Also on linux and on my Amiga 1200 too. So I think it is just down to Duke's telnet client needing further work, features and testing. It is awesome he even made it in the first place with little time to spare! I'm sure he'll improve it when he gets more time...
Currently users have accessed the Amstrad BBS with Pace RS232 and other hardware/software - but to use it on the M4 would be fantastic for a lot of users.
So what we really need next is an ANSI BBS terminal package or more fully featured telnet client to get everything working that works with the M4 board.
I did hope to try work on one myself but haven't had much time and also I've not done much Amstrad coding (other than when I was 8 out of the back of Amstrad Action etc!!).
Great work though Duke, if you get a chance to test with the Amstrad BBS at amstrad.simulant.uk:464 let me know, I can always help with anything you need to know or hopefully aid in debugging etc.
It would be great if you could github the source code and open up the project for more work, or if we could all get together and get a new ANSI BBS client that works with the M4 set up between us all. The possibilities are exciting with online chat, message boards, file uploads and downloads, sending email through the BBS, online gaming and such
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Another thought that may be easier is if a driver for the m4 could be made to emulate the pace rs232 connection. So when you load Ansiterm / EwenTerm / Honeyview / Honeyterm or other existing Terminal emulators that are already out there on CPC, they think the wifi connection is the serial connection? Then software from back in the day could be used to logon to the BBSes with the M4? How cool would that be???!
