Subj : Wifi232 on a retro PC
To   : All
From : Karu
Date : Sat Feb 13 2021 09:05 pm

Hi folks,

I've got a lovable old 386 box here that I'm using for BBSing and other
purposes by way of a wifi232 device (basically: wifi over serial, it emulates
a modem and goes out via telnet).

Something I've encountered is that a number of DOS terminal apps (so far,
ProComm Plus, Telix, QModemPro show this) attempt to be too smart by half 
when it comes to "dialing" and not let you send arbitrary characters as
"numbers" to dial.

For instance, to call into Vertrauen, you'd send the "modem" the command
ATDTvert.synchro.net:23. If this is done in terminal mode (communicating
directly with the modem), then all is well.

However, if you try to use the phonebook function of these apps, then the 
dial string gets mangled.

The only other app I've been able to use that behaves is Kermit, but I'm
really not a fan of its interface. 

Are there any other decent pure DOS bbs clients that work with "modems" but
don't try to be overly clever regarding what they're told to dial?

thanks!

.