Help Needed!! Best C64 BBSes (for C64 Ultimate and COS)

[LeoNigro]

Commodore needs your help!!!!

The new Commodore 64 Ultimate will come with software enabling it to access BBSes over the internet.
It would be nice to have a list available within the software ready to go. This is time critical for inclusion in the C64U. (perhaps a few days)
What are the best, most user friendly, and child friendly, 40 column BBSes for the C64 platform (Not Amiga, not yet)?
Any thoughts on the best 5 or so would be greatly appreciated.

I will also be testing Telnet software for Commodore OS whilst I go.
The three software candidates can be installed via the following commands:

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sudo apt install pcmanx-gtk2 -y
sudo apt install qterm -y
sudo apt install fqterm -y

And maybe syncterm which has to be downloaded separately via FTP.

If you know how to set up modem access within C64 emulation please post how.

Below is a list of BBSes I will be going through and testing (hopefully this weekend).

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BBS                     SYSOP                      SOFTWARE          ADDRESS                            VERIFIED   RUNNING ON      NOTES 
13th Floor              Hoy Brothers               Image             13th.hoyvision.com:6400	        21-Feb     Ultimate64
64 Vintage Remix BBS    Switchblade                Color 64          64vintageremixbbs.dyndns.org:6400  21-Feb     Emulated	
8 Bit Playground        Hoy Brothers               C-Net64 DS II     8bit.hoyvision.com:6502            21-Feb	   Ultimate64/CMD 4GB Thunderdrive																
Altar of Wares	        Trouble/Onslaught          C*Base(HMoses)    altarofwaresbbs.hopto.org:6464	    21-Feb	   C128(64 mode)/CMD HD/GG Labs RS232 
Antidote Taper          Juckie, Frantic CoSysops   C*base (TAO MOD)  antidote.triad.se:64128	        21-Feb	   C128/CMD HD
Bayou	                Jazzy J                    Image             jayctheriot.com:6401               21-Feb
Boar's Head Tavern      Macx & HeavyHead           C*Base(HMoses)    byob.hopto.org:64128               21-Feb     C64 Reloaded MK1 w/ Turbo Chameleon and Silver Surfer (in Clockport)
Borderline              Balzabaar                  All American      borderlinebbs.dyndns.org:6400	    21-Feb     C64	
Cabin BBS (The)	        Backintime                 Color 64          thecabinbbs.com:6400               21-Feb
Centronian BBS          Alterus                    Magnetar          bbs.centronian.ca:6400             21-Feb
Citadel 64              Chiefnerd                  Color 64          citadel64.thejlab.com:6400         21-Feb
Commodore Image         X-Tec                      Image             cib.dyndns.org:6400/6401/6402      21-Feb
Cottonwood              Balzabaar                  Color 64          cottonwoodbbs.dyndns.org:6502      21-Feb
Dark Endless            Trouble/Onslaught          C*base (HMoses)   darkendlessbbs.hopto.org:6510      21-Feb     New World Order HQ	
Deadzone                Trouble/Onslaught          C*base(Cyborg)    dzbbs.hopto.org:64128              21-Feb
Decades                 PawPrintLogic              Color 64          decades.freeddns.org:6401          23-Feb
DeepSkies               Rick-T137                  Vic BBS           bbs.deepskies.com:6400             21-Feb     VIC 20!
Eaglewing               Eaglewing                  Color 64          dantherman.freeddns.org:6400       21-Feb     C64	Recently updated address!
Enterprise              Capt Kirk                  Color 64          enterprisebbs.ddns.net:1701        21-Feb     C64 
Fria Bad Jucke          See notes.                 C*Base            friabad.hopto.org:64128            21-Feb     Emulated (TAO/Jucke&Kerstin)
Goofs Garage            Phigan                     Image             goofsgarage.com:6464               21-Feb
HackiShack              Mr Micro                   C-Net DS2-2 v2.5  bbs.hackishack.online:6401         21-Feb
Hidden (The)            L.A.Style                  C*Base(notes)     the-hidden.hopto.org:64128	        22-Feb     Quantum World HQ (L.A.Style/HMoses)
High Desert             Geo455                     Color 64          highdesertbbs.ddns.net:6400        22-Feb
Image 2.0 HQ            X-Tec                      Image             cib.dyndns.org:6407                22-Feb
ItchyButt               Nukem                      Centipede 128     itchybutt.org:6502                 22-Feb
Kats Alley (The)        Palkat                     Image             tka.8bitboyz.com:6400              22-Feb
Lexicon                 Sutekh                     Image             lexiconbbs.com:6400                22-Feb
Lost Caverns            Mo                         Centipede         tlcbbs.dynu.net:6400               22-Feb
Madworld                Cyberjank                  Centipede         www.madworldbbs.com:52146          22-Feb     C128
Microtown               Jeff V                     Online64 Cgbbs    microtownbbs.com:6400              22-Aug     Original BBS Software
Oasis                   Desert Fox / ][avok        Color 64          oasisbbs.hopto.org:6400            23-Feb
Particles               Ice Breaker                Centipede         particlesbbs.dyndns.org:6400       23-Feb     C128
Port of Call            Dave W                     Image             pocbbs.duckdns.org:6400            23-Feb
Rapid Fire              pcollins                   C*Base(HMoses)    rapidfire.hopto.org:64128          23-Feb     Ultimate64e
Rat’s Den               Rug Rat                    Image             bbs.catracing.org:6400             23-Feb
Raveolution             Larry                      C*Base(Larry)     raveolution.hopto.org:64128	    23-Feb     Ultimate64e
Reign of Fire II        Spitfire                   C-Net 64 DS-II    call.rofbbs.com:6400/8502          23-Feb     C64/C128	
Retrocent               X-Tec                      Centipede         cib.dyndns.org:6465                23-Feb
Retrograde              X-Tec                      Image 3.0         cib.dyndns.org:6428                23-Feb
Regrograde II           X-Tec                      Image 3.0         cib.dydns.org:6404                 23-Feb
Satellite4              phisbin                    Color 64          satellite4.dynu.net:6400           23-Feb     C64
Sawblade                Iron Maiden                Image 1.2         cib.dyndns.org:6464                23-Feb
Streetcorner            The Lore                   Image 3.x         streetcorner.ddns.net:6400         23-Feb
Surf Shop               Boardrider                 Color 64          ssbbs.ddns.net:6510                22-Apr     Emulated. Can't connect
Time Warp BBS           Bucko                      Centipede         twb.wrgnbr.com:6896                23-Feb     Emulated 
Valley (The)            Keymaster/Scratcher        C*Base 3.2        valley64.com:6400                  23-Feb     C128/Turbomstr
Westwood                Nukem                      Image 3.0         westwoodbbs.net:64738              21-Feb
Willow Creek            PawPrintLogic              Color 64          willowcreekbbs.dynu.net:6400       21-Feb
Wrong Number II         Bucko                      Image 2.0         cib.dyndns.org:6405                23-Feb
Wrong Number IV         jeffv                      Image 3.0         wn4.wrgnbr.com:6482                23-Feb
Wrong Number VI         Bucko                      Image 1.2b        wn6.wrgnbr.com:6411                23-Feb     Original Wrong # as of May 1993
Zelch                   Zacman                     Zelch 128         coffeemud.net:6502                 23-Feb	   C128

[LeoNigro]

Okay....The only Terminal software worth using for C64 stuff is SyncTERM.

I have the SyncTERM download here: https://www.commodoreos.net/downloads/s ... ux-x64.tgz
I also have the SyncTERM C64 site list here: https://www.commodoreos.net/syncterm.lst
If that doesn't work as the URI download directly from SyncTERM, just copy the file(or contents) to ~/.config/syncterm/syncterm.lst
You need to hit ALT-D to start a download receive.

I'll automate this download at some point with a proper icon.

FIXTODO

It's a bit of chore registering for all these, but I'm having fun as I go through and have downloaded and run a few cool C64 demos.
"The Trip" is awesome.

Let me know what your favourite BBSs are.

[LeoNigro]

And the results of checking every bbs....

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                                 BBS                     SYSOP                      SOFTWARE          ADDRESS                            VERIFIED   RUNNING ON      NOTES 
FAILED!                          13th Floor              Hoy Brothers               Image             13th.hoyvision.com:6400	         21-Feb     Ultimate64
GOOD! Do downloads work?         64 Vintage Remix BBS    Switchblade                Color 64          64vintageremixbbs.dyndns.org:6400  21-Feb     Emulated	
GOOD!                            8 Bit Playground        Hoy Brothers               C-Net64 DS II     8bit.hoyvision.com:6502            21-Feb	   Ultimate64/CMD 4GB Thunderdrive																
BROKEN. MENU NOT WORKING.        Altar of Wares          Trouble/Onslaught          C*Base(HMoses)    altarofwaresbbs.hopto.org:6464	 21-Feb	   C128(64 mode)/CMD HD/GG Labs RS232 
BROKEN. NO NEW USER POSSIBLE     Antidote Taper          Juckie, Frantic CoSysops   C*base (TAO MOD)  antidote.triad.se:64128	         21-Feb	   C128/CMD HD
LAME.                            Bayou                   Jazzy J                    Image             jayctheriot.com:6401               21-Feb
LAME.                            Boar's Head Tavern      Macx & HeavyHead           C*Base(HMoses)    byob.hopto.org:64128               21-Feb     C64 Reloaded MK1 w/ Turbo Chameleon and Silver Surfer (in Clockport)
IT IS STUPID!!                   Borderline              Balzabaar                  All American      borderlinebbs.dyndns.org:6400	     21-Feb     C64	
No Files.                        Cabin BBS (The)         Backintime                 Color 64          thecabinbbs.com:6400               21-Feb
MESSAGING ONLY                   Centronian BBS          Alterus                    Magnetar          bbs.centronian.ca:6400             21-Feb
Seems Okay                       Citadel 64              Chiefnerd                  Color 64          citadel64.thejlab.com:6400         21-Feb
Offline                          Commodore Image         X-Tec                      Image             cib.dyndns.org:6400/6401/6402      21-Feb
NOT SURE THE PROBLEM             Cottonwood              Balzabaar                  Color 64          cottonwoodbbs.dyndns.org:6502      21-Feb
Can't log in                     Dark Endless            Trouble/Onslaught          C*base (HMoses)   darkendlessbbs.hopto.org:6510      21-Feb     New World Order HQ	
It looks good but no DL @ start  Deadzone                Trouble/Onslaught          C*base(Cyborg)    dzbbs.hopto.org:64128              21-Feb
More about chat.                 Decades                 PawPrintLogic              Color 64          decades.freeddns.org:6401          23-Feb
Too Simple                       DeepSkies               Rick-T137                  Vic BBS           bbs.deepskies.com:6400             21-Feb     VIC 20!
Offline                          Eaglewing               Eaglewing                  Color 64          dantherman.freeddns.org:6400       21-Feb     C64	Recently updated address!
GOOD! Seems Cool                 Enterprise              Capt Kirk                  Color 64          enterprisebbs.ddns.net:1701        21-Feb     C64 
Adult.                           Fria Bad Jucke          See notes.                 C*Base            friabad.hopto.org:64128            21-Feb     Emulated (TAO/Jucke&Kerstin)
No downloads. Messaging only     Goofs Garage            Phigan                     Image             goofsgarage.com:6464               21-Feb
Offline                          HackiShack              Mr Micro                   C-Net DS2-2 v2.5  bbs.hackishack.online:6401         21-Feb
Too slow. Unfriendly.            Hidden (The)            L.A.Style                  C*Base(notes)     the-hidden.hopto.org:64128	     22-Feb     Quantum World HQ (L.A.Style/HMoses)
Seems okay                       High Desert             Geo455                     Color 64          highdesertbbs.ddns.net:6400        22-Feb
Needs clearance to DL            Image 2.0 HQ            X-Tec                      Image             cib.dyndns.org:6407                22-Feb
Juvenile. Fast                   ItchyButt               Nukem                      Centipede 128     itchybutt.org:6502                 22-Feb
Offline                          Kats Alley (The)        Palkat                     Image             tka.8bitboyz.com:6400              22-Feb
Rather dead. Very basic.         Lexicon                 Sutekh                     Image             lexiconbbs.com:6400                22-Feb
No download. Very basic.         Lost Caverns            Mo                         Centipede         tlcbbs.dynu.net:6400               22-Feb
Offline                          Madworld                Cyberjank                  Centipede         www.madworldbbs.com:52146          22-Feb     C128
Non functional                   Microtown               Jeff V                     Online64 Cgbbs    microtownbbs.com:6400              22-Aug     Original BBS Software
Non functional                   Oasis                   Desert Fox / ][avok        Color 64          oasisbbs.hopto.org:6400            23-Feb
Non functional                   Particles               Ice Breaker                Centipede         particlesbbs.dyndns.org:6400       23-Feb     C128
Non functional                   Port of Call            Dave W                     Image             pocbbs.duckdns.org:6400            23-Feb
throws me out but looks nice     Rapid Fire              pcollins                   C*Base(HMoses)    rapidfire.hopto.org:64128          23-Feb     Ultimate64e
Very simple. No DL.              Rat’s Den               Rug Rat                    Image             bbs.catracing.org:6400             23-Feb
Nice but menus don't work        Raveolution             Larry                      C*Base(Larry)     raveolution.hopto.org:64128	     23-Feb     Ultimate64e
Offline                          Reign of Fire II        Spitfire                   C-Net 64 DS-II    call.rofbbs.com:6400/8502          23-Feb     C64/C128	
OK. Nothing to DL.               Retrocent               X-Tec                      Centipede         cib.dyndns.org:6465                23-Feb
OK. Nothing to DL.               Retrograde              X-Tec                      Image 3.0         cib.dyndns.org:6428                23-Feb
Won't connect.                   Regrograde II           X-Tec                      Image 3.0         cib.dydns.org:6404                 23-Feb
Good. Lotsa files. Too many.     Satellite4              phisbin                    Color 64          satellite4.dynu.net:6400           23-Feb     C64
Offline                          Sawblade                Iron Maiden                Image 1.2         cib.dyndns.org:6464                23-Feb
Messaging but nothing in DL      Streetcorner            The Lore                   Image 3.x         streetcorner.ddns.net:6400         23-Feb
Standard basic.                  Surf Shop               Boardrider                 Color 64          ssbbs.ddns.net:6510                22-Apr     Emulated. Can't connect
Standard but messages only.      Time Warp BBS           Bucko                      Centipede         twb.wrgnbr.com:6896                23-Feb     Emulated 
Sorta worked.                    Valley (The)            Keymaster/Scratcher        C*Base 3.2        valley64.com:6400                  23-Feb     C128/Turbomstr
Seems normal                     Westwood                Nukem                      Image 3.0         westwoodbbs.net:64738              21-Feb
Messaging Only                   Willow Creek            PawPrintLogic              Color 64          willowcreekbbs.dynu.net:6400       21-Feb
Lame                             Wrong Number II         Bucko                      Image 2.0         cib.dyndns.org:6405                23-Feb
No idea how to log in            Wrong Number IV         jeffv                      Image 3.0         wn4.wrgnbr.com:6482                23-Feb
Doesn't work great.              Wrong Number VI         Bucko                      Image 1.2b        wn6.wrgnbr.com:6411                23-Feb     Original Wrong # as of May 1993
NOT CONNECTING                   Zelch                   Zacman                     Zelch 128         coffeemud.net:6502                 23-Feb	   C128

[LeoNigro]

I just discovered the most unique, performant and possibly best C64 bbs by far, quite by accident on youtube, which just launched.

"The Commodore 64 comeback! Use your C64 online for practical modern internet use! WORD BBS!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFnQOl1r4Hs

BBS address:
wordbbs.hopto.org:64128

What may be even more interesting is the custom server software it is running on.
https://github.com/sblendorio/petscii-bbs

Hmmmm....The C64x/CommodoreOS serving BBSs to the C64u.

[LeoNigro]

BBS Shortlist

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                                 BBS                     SYSOP                      SOFTWARE          ADDRESS                            RUNNING ON      NOTES 
Maybe the best C64 BBS ever      The Word                Joebal                     petscii-bbs       wordbbs.hopto.org:64128            PC (COMMODORE OS?)
GOOD! Do downloads work?         64 Vintage Remix BBS    Switchblade                Color 64          64vintageremixbbs.dyndns.org:6400  Emulated	
GOOD!                            8 Bit Playground        Hoy Brothers               C-Net64 DS II     8bit.hoyvision.com:6502            Ultimate64/CMD 4GB Thunderdrive					
GOOD! Seems Cool                 Enterprise              Capt Kirk                  Color 64          enterprisebbs.ddns.net:1701        C64 
Good. Lotsa files. Too many.     Satellite4              phisbin                    Color 64          satellite4.dynu.net:6400           C64
It looks good but no DL @ start  Deadzone                Trouble/Onslaught          C*base(Cyborg)    dzbbs.hopto.org:64128              
Seems Okay                       Citadel 64              Chiefnerd                  Color 64          citadel64.thejlab.com:6400         
Seems okay                       High Desert             Geo455                     Color 64          highdesertbbs.ddns.net:6400        
More about chat.                 Decades                 PawPrintLogic              Color 64          decades.freeddns.org:6401          
OK. Nothing to DL.               Retrocent               X-Tec                      Centipede         cib.dyndns.org:6465                
OK. Nothing to DL.               Retrograde              X-Tec                      Image 3.0         cib.dyndns.org:6428                
Messaging but nothing in DL      Streetcorner            The Lore                   Image 3.x         streetcorner.ddns.net:6400         
Standard basic.                  Surf Shop               Boardrider                 Color 64          ssbbs.ddns.net:6510                Emulated. Can't connect
Standard but messages only.      Time Warp BBS           Bucko                      Centipede         twb.wrgnbr.com:6896                Emulated 
Seems normal                     Westwood                Nukem                      Image 3.0         westwoodbbs.net:64738              
Messaging Only                   Willow Creek            PawPrintLogic              Color 64          willowcreekbbs.dynu.net:6400

[LeoNigro]

Some more to add to the list..

[Anarchy Underground] aubbs.dyndns.org:2300
Comment=Running: C64. Software: C*Base 3.0 Tao Modded. SysOp: Chris537 & Lady Jazmin.
Review: Anarchy Underground is down or being used.

[Endless Chaos] ecbbs.dyndns.org:6400
Comment=Running: C64. Software: C*Base METALsoft V5.1. SysOp: Chris537 & Lady Jazmin.
Review:Endless Chaos is down or being used.

[FRoZEN FLoPPY] bbs.retrohack.se:64128
Comment=Running: C128. Software: C*Base 3.3.8 Tao mod. SysOp: pewp.
Review:Frozen Floppy is down or being used.

[Optical Illusion] Address=optical.c64bbs.nu:64128
Comment=Running: C128. Software: C*Base 3.3.8 Tao mod. SysOp: Optic Freeze, Larry, One-Eyed Pirate.
Review:Optical Illusion is not child friendly. Non functional menu. Some nice graphics. I like the way the menu highlights.

[RapidFire] rapidfire.hopto.org:64128
Comment=Running: C64 SuperCPU. Software: C*Base with 9600 baud. SysOp: pcollins, Secret Man.
Review:RapidFire was pretty good. Couldn't get anything to download though.

[Reflections] reflections.servebbs.co:64128
Comment=Running: C128D. Software: C*Base 3.3.8. SysOp: Stablizer.
Review:Reflections is down or being used.

[Scorps Portal] scorp.us.to:23
Review:Scorps Portal is down or being used.

[The Hidden] the-hidden.hopto.org:64128
Review:The Hidden is down or being used.