About

Contact

email: basis at convolutionbbs.org

…or send feedback via email within the BBS

Message Networks

Agoranet46:1/114FTNFTP
CommodoreNetCommodoreNet64:500/43FTNWebsite
DOVE-NETCONVOLUTQWKWebsite
FidoNet1:129/102FTNWebsite
fsxnetfsxNet21:4/117FTNWebsite
HobbyNetHobbyNet954:895/78FTNWebsite
ILinkILINKCONVOLUTQWKWebsite
PiNetPiNet314:413/43FTNWebsite
RetroNetRetroNet80:774/43FTNWebsite
twqNet1337:3/214FTNWebsite

League Door Game Networks

X-League777:777/8FTNWebsite

History

I had originally ran a dial-up BBS in the 90’s called The Amplified BBS in Allentown, PA. I had just gotten an Aiwa stereo and I thought it sounded cool. I went by then handle Son of a Butcher. I’m not a son of a butcher, but I thought it sounded cool. I might have heard an advertisement for a local butcher shop called this but I don’t remember. I ran this on my Packard Bell Legend 486 SX/33 with a secondary phone line in my parent’s house that was reserved for a fax machine. I was only allowed to run this after 5pm and until I went to school the next morning. Different times.

I remember getting in trouble for dialing to BBSs in Philadelphia (close by, but not in the same local calling zone) to get the latest wares, midi files, gifs for my BBS. I didn’t know that running a 2400 baud z-modem transfers all night via long distance cost that much. I had to work jobs to pay down my debt.

I found that our school’s library computer had a modem. I was able to sneak in a disk with a BBS dialer on it and call long distance. However, library period was not long enough to get most files. I also knew the phone number to the desk at the library. I used to wait until the librarian was at the other end of the library then call it via the modem and then hang up. I did this a few times for a laugh. What a jerk.

The Internet came around, I went away for college, the BBS was no more.

Fast forward to 2004. I found that BBS software was still being written for modern operating systems. I set about to create a new BBS that I called Convolution. I just graduated Electrical Engineering school and after learning about convolution calculations, I again thought the name sounded cool. I ran this until about 2006 when I had the PC crash. My handle Basis refers to a basis vector when performing linear algebra / Gram-Schmidt orthonormalization. I thought it sounded cool.

Fast forward to 2009. I set out to buy a new PC and setup Convolution BBS all over again. This ran on a Gateway (yes they were still selling computers at least at Best Buy in 2009) until 2025 (when I’m writing this). It survived 16 years – not bad.

I wrote at the time a custom dynamic web generation scripts that took door scores, converted them to html, and updated page multiple times per day. Unfortunately, I had a memory leak in the code and that would cause the BBS to need a reboot times and time again. I couldn’t find the source code anymore, so that turned to a maintenance nightmare.

The PC was running on XP and is completely out of date. I tried upgrading the original 2009 synchronet software I installed, but it didn’t go well. The log files are completely out of control. I’ve replaced the CMOS clock batter multiple times (it’s dead again) and replaced the power supply multiple times. The hard drive crashed at some point and I was lucky I had a backup from a few months back. The UPS died. Parts of my never-ending maintenance scripts stopped working. Some of my scripts to get fidonet, and other network data remote seem to not work. I tried installing filezilla to just get files off and that wont’ run on XP anymore. I found another FTP program, but it locks up with the large quantity of files. I tried copying USB and that also stopped mid transfer. The computer will probably stop working any day. I know I should have kept up with maintenance but life got in the way.

Fast forward to early / mid 2025 (again as I’m writing this). I decided to rebuild Convolution BBS once more (Voltron?). I decided to go the Windows 11 route rather then linux as I didn’t want to deal with dependencies on the os upgrades and having to compile newer versions of synchronet. I decided to go virtual so that I can theoretically transfer the system to newer hardware if needed.

I decided to split the BBS from the webpage for long term supportability. I’m going to run as close to stock wordpress site to avoid upgrade compatibility issues with plugins. I implemented something I’ve wanted for a while – a calendar feature that will show when door were last reset, or if there is a scheduled reset coming up.

The domain for the website is convolutionbbs.org while the domain for the ssh/telnet (don’t use telnet except to register) remains convolution.us. The website will receive dynamic door scores and news from the BBS multiple times per day. For active league door games (such as BRE, FE, etc.) I find it’s handy to pull up this website rather then log in to see updated news / scores / etc.

Please be patient with the BBS during this reconstruction. I hope this (probably last) iteration of the BBS will last as long as I’m able to maintain it. I couldn’t see running the previous version for the next 10+ years.

As always, if you find any issues such as door games needing resets, lock ups, scores not updating, etc. please let me know. I do not have time to go though every sub-system to check for failures. If you want a game or something else added please tell me and I’ll do my best to get it on and advertised for other players.

Enjoy the nostalgia!

SysOp Basis