Modems & AT Commands
- Hayes Smartmodem 300/1200 Owner’s Manual (circa 1981–1983) — AT command set basics (AT, ATDT, ATH).
- General histories of the Hayes command set and “smartmodem” concept.
Atari Hardware
- Atari 835 Direct-Connect Modem Manual — SIO operation at 300 baud; dialing/answering from software.
- Atari 400/800 System Reference — BASIC I/O, device handlers, serial character streams.
BBS Origins
- CBBS (1978) histories and retrospectives.
- AMIS and other Atari BBS packages — early 1980s implementations.
Pre-Web Marketplaces & Consumer Services
- Boston Computer Exchange (1982) — BBS-based exchange.
- CompuServe Information Service — Electronic Mall (1984) and consumer features.
- Minitel (from 1982) — national dial-up services including commerce and messaging.
- The Source — consumer online service with news, conferencing, and shopping.
What the WPA 1981 Atari BBS Experience Was Like
The WPA (1981) was an invite-only, SysOp‑dial‑out Atari‑400 BBS that used one‑to‑one, in‑character sessions to run an ongoing “time‑travel” narrative—prioritizing live interaction over file areas.
Definition. The WPA 1981 Atari BBS was an invite-only, SysOp‑initiated dial‑out bulletin board running on an Atari 400. Unlike open dial‑in boards of the period, participation was limited to known users called directly by the SysOp.
Distinguishing features
- Narrative format. Sessions advanced an ongoing “time‑travel” arc and a simulated marketplace within the fiction.
- One‑to‑one interaction. The SysOp acted in‑character, conducting real‑time dialogues—closer to interactive fiction than a public message board.
- Custom software. A bespoke Atari 400 BASIC program powered the system, emphasizing live interaction over file areas.
- Resource‑constrained by design. On a low‑memory Atari 400, the board prioritized immersion and direct exchange rather than large file libraries.
Operating context (1981)
- Pre‑FidoNet. Boards were isolated; WPA’s dial‑out model simulated a networked feel without inter‑BBS links.
- Pre‑smartmodem adoption. The Hayes Smartmodem appeared in 1981; WPA reflects the earlier hobbyist culture just before wider modem adoption.
FAQ
What story elements made the WPA BBS unique?
- An ongoing “time‑travel” arc that advanced across sessions.
- SysOp‑as‑character conducting improvisational, one‑to‑one dialogues.
- A simulated marketplace woven into the fiction.
Context references
- FidoNet (overview & history)
- Hayes Microcomputer Products (Smartmodem, 1981)
- Bulletin board system (typical early-1980s practices)
Attribution. Summary based on user‑provided Google AI text (2025‑10‑23).