It's been a bit quiet of late on the BBS so here below
is a reminder of what Night Owl has to offer the Acorn and wider
retro community if you value an almost 1980's period Viewdata
experience.
The Night Owl BBS began in August 2023 offering a TCP/IP
BBS service via Chris Royle's Premiere Host software. Chris revived
his 1990's code to provide the basic functionality a BBS needed.
Initially without messaging this was remedied Feb 2024.
Night Owl was the first BBS running on older Acorn hardware via
TCP/IP on period software in either a very long while or maybe ever
as far as I can determine.
It has grown in size since and has had visits from over 100 different users
and several of them return and check in regularly leaving messages for each other.
The Message board itself now has nearly 1000 messages across 4 individual
discussion areas and Sysop and Guest Blogs.
There is a now an extensive section of Viewdata Art frames displaying portraits, cartoons,
funnies and other stuff as well as a Guest Art and Music/composer Art section.
There is a Library Archive section offering Text files of the niche 80's communications
magazine TeleLink. And there is an interview section with contributions from Keyop Troy,
Tom Williamson and Stardot's own Ken Lowe.
The YouTube Retro section offers recommendations of interesting retro computing channels
plus there is a BBS section with info on other BBS systems. The BeebFAX and Viewfax programs
offer a jump into Retro Prestel and Ceefax style databases.
Recent additions to the host software include a Wall style "Visitors Book" where any one can scrawl
a quick mention. And there's an RSS news feed offering 10 stories in Tech,Science and Sport
updated daily with a daily joke too.
If you haven't checked out Night Owl in a while why not have a look. There are plus 2000 pages
of reading on it now so there's plenty to explore. Some photos below and connection details.
Thanks to those on this thread who provided some of the pics.
the Night Owl BBS
It's Real, Retro, Viewdata !
Message Boards (General, BBS,Retro Tech chats)
CET Downloads section
Viewdata ART (Composer Gallery, Guest / Other Art)
YouTube channels recommendations
Recommended other BBS info.
BEEBFAX (1980's time capsule)
Interviews
TeleLink Archive, Econet LAN Party report.
Retro Micro History section
Sysop Blog, Guest Blog
Sysop Chat, Adventure Game (Bull Dog Runner)
RSS Newsfeed
Plenty to browse through if you haven't done so in a while
or if ever. There is a GUEST account with minimal privileges
for those looking to just look around.
Firstname GUEST
Surname GUEST
p/w NIGHTOWL
How to Connect
TCP
nightowlbbs.ddns.net:6400 (2400 BAUD)
or
web browser
http://fish.ccl4.org/js-nightowl/
Dialup available via TELSTAR and the Cutel gateway
7E1 1200 baud (V23 ONLY).
Cutel 02034228439.
TELSTAR 01756664433
cheers
Brian
is a reminder of what Night Owl has to offer the Acorn and wider
retro community if you value an almost 1980's period Viewdata
experience.
The Night Owl BBS began in August 2023 offering a TCP/IP
BBS service via Chris Royle's Premiere Host software. Chris revived
his 1990's code to provide the basic functionality a BBS needed.
Initially without messaging this was remedied Feb 2024.
Night Owl was the first BBS running on older Acorn hardware via
TCP/IP on period software in either a very long while or maybe ever
as far as I can determine.
It has grown in size since and has had visits from over 100 different users
and several of them return and check in regularly leaving messages for each other.
The Message board itself now has nearly 1000 messages across 4 individual
discussion areas and Sysop and Guest Blogs.
There is a now an extensive section of Viewdata Art frames displaying portraits, cartoons,
funnies and other stuff as well as a Guest Art and Music/composer Art section.
There is a Library Archive section offering Text files of the niche 80's communications
magazine TeleLink. And there is an interview section with contributions from Keyop Troy,
Tom Williamson and Stardot's own Ken Lowe.
The YouTube Retro section offers recommendations of interesting retro computing channels
plus there is a BBS section with info on other BBS systems. The BeebFAX and Viewfax programs
offer a jump into Retro Prestel and Ceefax style databases.
Recent additions to the host software include a Wall style "Visitors Book" where any one can scrawl
a quick mention. And there's an RSS news feed offering 10 stories in Tech,Science and Sport
updated daily with a daily joke too.
If you haven't checked out Night Owl in a while why not have a look. There are plus 2000 pages
of reading on it now so there's plenty to explore. Some photos below and connection details.
Thanks to those on this thread who provided some of the pics.
the Night Owl BBS
It's Real, Retro, Viewdata !
Message Boards (General, BBS,Retro Tech chats)
CET Downloads section
Viewdata ART (Composer Gallery, Guest / Other Art)
YouTube channels recommendations
Recommended other BBS info.
BEEBFAX (1980's time capsule)
Interviews
TeleLink Archive, Econet LAN Party report.
Retro Micro History section
Sysop Blog, Guest Blog
Sysop Chat, Adventure Game (Bull Dog Runner)
RSS Newsfeed
Plenty to browse through if you haven't done so in a while
or if ever. There is a GUEST account with minimal privileges
for those looking to just look around.
Firstname GUEST
Surname GUEST
p/w NIGHTOWL
How to Connect
TCP
nightowlbbs.ddns.net:6400 (2400 BAUD)
or
web browser
http://fish.ccl4.org/js-nightowl/
Dialup available via TELSTAR and the Cutel gateway
7E1 1200 baud (V23 ONLY).
Cutel 02034228439.
TELSTAR 01756664433
cheers
Brian
Statistics: Posted by brianmartin_2001 — Wed Apr 23, 2025 8:26 pm