So, I've had this idea for awhile, and figure it should be fairly doable, though I don't particularly know where to begin in figuring out how to make work. One thing I think that is lacking both in the BBS world and the internet in general these days is good local communication channels (they're there, just not nearly as widely used as they were back in the pre-internet bbs days). Getting the inspiration from wifi hotspots that send you automatically to a local web page as a portal when a browser is directed anywhere, I came up with the idea of setting up a BBS to connect this day through an external program (as much as I appreciate ftelnet, and would probably use it as a backup option, it's just not the same experience). Whi I'm sure with enough digging I could probably figure it out on my own (and m still anyway), I figured this may be something other people might be interested in doing, and thus is worth asking about on here for ideas on how to set it up, and any other concerns that may arise out of this type of setu I'm not entirely sure this echo is where it would best go (as this wifi hotspot need not actually route people to the internet at all), but I figure it was close, and meanwhile may help the place seem more "lived in" as other people have put it. Anyway, let me know if you have ideas about setting thi kind of thing up. It even seems like the type of thing that releasing a fairly easy to install package may be worthwhile with.
(Oh, and for those of you who don't think this would bring in enough users t be worthwhile, consider that I'm posting from inside Boston...college studen everywhere with laptops, wifi that is mostly available in any large apartmen area, and lots of people jumping on when they see free wifi. If nothing els the novelty seems like it'd be a draw enough to get things going, and would take no effort on the part of the users).
Cykros
Re: WiFi hotspot BBS?
By: Cykros to All on Fri Jan 14 2011 02:36 am
So, I've had this idea for awhile, and figure it should be fairly doable, though I don't particularly know where to begin in figuring out how to ma work.
Hello All
One option I came across, though not all that elegant, would be setting up a DNS server that redirects all requests to the bbs (this would still be a web page, but a telnet:// link along with ftelnet wouldn't be the worst thing ever), and then set this DNS server up as the default on the wireless router I say not all that elegant because by manually configuring their DNS client, an end user can just find themselves on the internet, rather than through th makeshift captive portal. On the other hand, if this isn't a big deal, then it seems a lot easier than the various captive portal software packages (mos of which seem to have a specific aim that isn't this one) or fussing around with iptables and using an extra computer as the router. Just figured I'd throw in this update, and still welcome any ideas on how to do this more elegantly from anyone with the expertise.
Cheers,
Cykros
s
Re: WiFi hotspot BBS?
By: Cykros to All on Fri Jan 14 2011 03:55 am
Re: WiFi hotspot BBS?
By: Cykros to All on Fri Jan 14 2011 02:36 am
So, I've had this idea for awhile, and figure it should be fairly doab though I don't particularly know where to begin in figuring out how to work.
<snip>
Hello All
One option I came across, though not all that elegant, would be setting u DNS server that redirects all requests to the bbs (this would still be a page, but a telnet:// link along with ftelnet wouldn't be the worst thing ever), and then set this DNS server up as the default on the wireless rou I say not all that elegant because by manually configuring their DNS clie an end user can just find themselves on the internet, rather than through makeshift captive portal. On the other hand, if this isn't a big deal, t it seems a lot easier than the various captive portal software packages ( of which seem to have a specific aim that isn't this one) or fussing arou with iptables and using an extra computer as the router. Just figured I'd throw in this update, and still welcome any ideas on how to do this more elegantly from anyone with the expertise.
Cheers,
Cykros
s
Good morning
I've been running that idea threw my head too, To setup an alturnative intreanet (not internet) threw wireless connection. Kinda like packet radio.
any access point wifi units strong enough to cover a huge area and alot of traffic are very expencive new. Security was the biggest consern, It would b drawn to by the underground crew first off.
I haven't thought about this for some time I was starting to dig around wit the old packet radio setups and ka9q stuff for ideas to update stuff to modern day wifi setups.
Again this is how to start by putting small bits and pieces togeter then working out the bugs. I can see this working and mail systems like fidonet working on this setup.
zerwind
Re: WiFi hotspot BBS?
By: Cykros to All on Fri Jan 14 2011 02:36 am
So, I've had this idea for awhile, and figure it should be fairly doable, though I don't particularly know where to begin in figuring out how to ma work. One thing I think that is lacking both in the BBS world and the internet in general these days is good local communication channels (they there, just not nearly as widely used as they were back in the pre-intern bbs days). Getting the inspiration from wifi hotspots that send you automatically to a local web page as a portal when a browser is directed anywhere, I came up with the idea of setting up a BBS to connect this day through an external program (as much as I appreciate ftelnet, and would probably use it as a backup option, it's just not the same experience). I'm sure with enough digging I could probably figure it out on my own (an still anyway), I figured this may be something other people might be interested in doing, and thus is worth asking about on here for ideas on to set it up, and any other concerns that may arise out of this type of s I'm not entirely sure this echo is where it would best go (as this wifi hotspot need not actually route people to the internet at all), but I fig it was close, and meanwhile may help the place seem more "lived in" as ot people have put it. Anyway, let me know if you have ideas about setting kind of thing up. It even seems like the type of thing that releasing a fairly easy to install package may be worthwhile with.
(Oh, and for those of you who don't think this would bring in enough user be worthwhile, consider that I'm posting from inside Boston...college stu everywhere with laptops, wifi that is mostly available in any large apart area, and lots of people jumping on when they see free wifi. If nothing the novelty seems like it'd be a draw enough to get things going, and wou take no effort on the part of the users).
Cykros
Hello All
One option I came across, though not all that elegant, would be setting up a DNS server that redirects all requests to the bbs (this would still be a web page, but a telnet:// link along with ftelnet wouldn't be the worst thing ever), and then set this DNS server up as the default on the wireless router I say not all that elegant because by manually configuring their DNS client, an end user can just find themselves on the internet, rather than through th makeshift captive portal. On the other hand, if this isn't a big deal, then it seems a lot easier than the various captive portal software packages (mos of which seem to have a specific aim that isn't this one) or fussing around with iptables and using an extra computer as the router. Just figured I'd throw in this update, and still welcome any ideas on how to do this more elegantly from anyone with the expertise.
Cheers,
Cykros
s
Re: WiFi hotspot BBS?<snip>
By: Cykros to All on Fri Jan 14 2011 03:55 am
I also came across some info on this at http://wireless.gumph.org
zerwind
Re: WiFi hotspot BBS?
By: zerwind to Cykros on Fri Jan 14 2011 05:38 pm
Re: WiFi hotspot BBS?<snip>
By: Cykros to All on Fri Jan 14 2011 03:55 am
I also came across some info on this at http://wireless.gumph.org
zerwind
Good info on the equipment there, I hadn't thought too much on that end. Mostly I'm just a little stumped on how to set up the redirect on the captiv portal to aim at a telnet connection rather than an http site. It may be fa more trouble than it is worth...an http page can direct the user (as opposed to their computer) to the telnet site within seconds anyhow. Other than tha figuring out the iptables setup (or whatever other captive portal software would be in use...iptables just struck me as being readily available freely pretty much any *nix box). In theory, it seems that this whole set up could be made using nothing more than 1 computer, which just got me thinking: it could also probably be done using a sufficiently advanced phone. Most likel a European Maemo phone, but Android could probably be hacked to do it as wel
Probably more interesting in theory than in actuality, but the idea of a travelling cell phone BBS is a bit amusing.
Cykros
Cykros
---
■ Synchronet ■ Vertrauen ■ Home of Synchronet ■ telnet://vert.synchro.net
bbs days). Getting the inspiration from wifi hotspots that send you automatically to a local web page as a portal when a browser is directed anywhere, I came up with the idea of setting up a BBS to connect this day through an external program (as much as I appreciate ftelnet, and would
One option I came across, though not all that elegant, would be setting up a DNS server that redirects all requests to the bbs (this would still be a web page, but a telnet:// link along with ftelnet wouldn't be the worst thing ever), and then set this DNS server up as the default on the wireless router. I say not all that elegant because by manually configuring their DNS client, an end user can just find themselves on the internet, rather than through this
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