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Ideas/Section-8
If it came down to it,
each sysop would have their own reason for
wanting to be a sysop. But, the most common reasons would probably
be:
it's fun, it's a challenge, and it's educational. Before you go
out
and spend a month's wages to purchase a computer and a modem, you
will need
to know about being a BBS, and you will need to decide what your
BBS will
be like. In this chapter, I will show you just what it is like to
BE A
SYSOP.
PLANNING FOR YOUR BBS
While some people get right into it, and
have no problems getting
started, most people will tell you that it takes a little hard work
if you
want to have a successful BBS. Even though several of the sysops
have
problems with getting started, and having everything work in "sync,"
the
thing that most people face is their own pride.
If you forget everything else I say here,
remember this: Nearly 95% of
the BBSes that fail within the first year do so because the sysop
can't deal
with negative remarks. One thing you should know is that if your
BBS doesn't
offend SOMEBODY, then you probably won't find ANYBODY who likes
it either.
This is true with any business; if you have people for it, someone
WILL be
against it.
You will need to decide what you want
your BBS to be. Will it be
a Games BBS, or will it be a Business BBS? Will everybody (public)
have
access to this BBS, or just a select few who know about it? Will
you allow
uploading and downloading? What about payments? Will you allow messages?
How about Chatting conferences? Will you access a network?
You will need to know such things as -
What software you will use?
What will your on-line policy be? What time limits will you set?
Will you
give people bonuses for on-line time? While all of these things
are usually
taken for granted when calling a BBS, they are things that you will
have to
know when operating your OWN BBS.
There are a few guidelines that you should
follow when you are
deciding how you will set up your BBS.
1. Keep your files in order. If you have
5 files on IBM PCs, then
put them one right after the other; don't spread them out around
the BBS. If
you devote 5 files to IBM PCs, then you should also devote 5 files
to
Macintosh, etc.
2. Write your BBS policy before you set
up the BBS. Users should
know what the rules are when they log on. You should have a file
on-line for
them to download and read.
3. You should keep your commands simple
and easy to understand. You
will want to have "H" be help, and "G" be good-bye.
If "H" is for "Hang up,"
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then most people will be confused and will not call back.
CHOOSING SOFTWARE
You should use one simple rule when choosing
software: Look at the
software as a user, not as a sysop. Make sure YOU understand it.
If you
can't, how do you expect anybody else to?
When choosing software, you should make
sure that the software you
choose is a kind that the users will want. If you are providing
a BBS that
is for chatting a lot, then you should find out what kind of software
those
people like to use.
The following features are ones that you
should consider before and
while you are choosing software;
Good password protection Good security
features
Public & private messages On-line help
Easy-to-use menus Good file & message system
Advanced user-access levels Doors (Games, Mail, etc.)
Multiple protocols On-line Questionnaires
Networking ability Downloading ability
Usage log Multi-line ability
Upload/Download stats On-line time counter(s)
Remote sysop capability Chatting
Good User/Sysop Relations
You will want to get copies of shareware
BBS programs, or you can
write to BBS companies and ask them for information about their
products.
Ask the sysops on the BBSes that you use, what kind they would recommend
for
the type of BBS you are planning on having. You will no doubt find
that a
BBS that is fun to log onto but may be a real pain to operate. At
least in
the beginning.
A real must: Choose the BBS software BEFORE
you choose a computer and
modem. Choosing the software first will allow you to make a better
selection
among hardware.
CHOOSING YOU COMPUTER
Most IBMs and their clones are acceptable
for BBSes. These are good
because they are pretty cheap and the parts and accessories aren't
expensive,
either. There are good computers for other types of BBSes, too.
If you are planning to offer a BBS for
a certain type of non-IBM
compatible computer (i.e. Amiga), then you probably should have
that type
of computer. If you have an Amiga computer for an Amiga BBS, then
you can
offer Amiga programs for the users to download. If you ran a BBS
that was
for Amiga users and your computer was an IBM, then you wouldn't
be able to
have programs that they could run from the BBS.
Whatever you choose, you need to make
sure that you have enough
hard-disk space for the program and files. If you were planning
to run a
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"one-line-message-only" BBS with no files, etc., you would
only need about
15 megabytes of hard-disk space. But, if you are planning on having
a BBS
with "the works" (doors, bulletins, multiple lines, exchanging
files, etc.),
then you can't stop short of 125-175 megabytes of available hard-disk
space.
Many of the file BBSes use CD-ROM drives to allow for more disk
space.
Combined network conference and file BBSes generally have a "gigabyte"
(1,000 megabytes) of files and messages on-line at any given time.
You will need to devote this computer
ONLY to the BBS. You can't use
it for anything else. If you use the computer, it will disconnect
the line
you have connected for incoming calls.
CHOOSING A MODEM
Ask the BBS sysops in your area what modems
they prefer. Also ask
them why they like those particular modems. This will give you an
idea of
what kind you might like to get. You should find out how dependable
the
modem is. It should be able to withstand several months of non-stop
use.
You should buy the best and fastest modem
that you can afford. Many
of the modem companies will give a discount to sysops, so you will
not have
to pay a whole lot for the modem.
PHONES
You can have more than one phone line
for your BBS without having to
pay for a business line as long as the line is non-commercial; that
is, the
line is not used for business. You shouldn't put your voice phone
number on
the BBS anywhere. People will call you at all times of the night
wanting to
ask you questions, etc.
If you want to allow people to send contributions,
(YOU WILL) and
send comments and questions, then you should set up a Post Office
Box. NEVER
give out your home address. That would allow a thief to find out
where they
could pick up several thousand dollars worth of software and hardware.
