This may also work in Windows 3.1 or above.

1. You must first have installed the Hyper Terminal program when you installed Win95 and setup your modem in Win95.
2. To setup your modem in Windows, go to the "My Computer->Control->Panel->Modems".
3. Go to "Start->Programs->Accessories->Hyper Terminal"  "Click" on the Hyper Terminal Folder. You will see a window open that has several files.
4. "Double click" on the "Hypertrm.exe" icon (the one with the computer and phone).  Hyper Terminal will load and ask you for a name of the new connection. Type a name for the connection (generally the name of the BBs you are calling) and an Icon.
5. Next, you will see a window Showing your country code, area code and "connect using". There will be a blank for the phone number to the BBs you want to call. Be sure that the "connect using" is to your modem. Type in the phone number to the BBs and click on the "Ok".
6. A new window will appear. It should have the phone number,  Your location (default) and Calling Card None. Click on the  "Dial" and you're on your way.
7. You can "maximize" the window for better viewing and change the fonts for better viewing as needed. I like the Terminal or Fixed System fonts. They seem to show the Ansi better.
8. NOTE: Do Not use the "Terminal Window" option. If you are asked or find a place in Hyper Terminal to bring up the Terminal Window after connecting, answer No.

1. Start HyperAccess Lite(if running Warp 4, its under Programs:Utilities in WarpCenter.
2. In the Phonebook, choose the New Connection icon(illustrated by a chick fresh hatched from an egg.)
3. When asked for System Name, enter the name of the BBS, hitting OK afterwards.
4. You are then brought to the communications settings, Where you have to fill in phone number port settings, etc.  Fill in the phone number, leave parity to auto-detect, Modify baud rate, port name, and Modem settings to those required for your modem.
5. Hit the OK button. HALite will now attempt to dial the BBS.  If you wish to continue at this point, let it go, otherwise hit cancel.
6. Now go to the file menu and select Save.  It will ask for a filename to save the entry as.  The default should be okay.
7. Now, whenever you start HyperAccess Lite for OS/2, you can just select the phonebook icon for the BBS and away you go.

Telnet is a client program that loads when a hyperlink is clicked on. The Telnet client then connects to a Telnet BBS server via the Internet. With cable and DSL modems becoming more the norm and dial-up modems becoming rare, Telnet is fast becoming the way to access a BBS.

Most operating systems have a built in Telnet client. This is not advertised in general since most operating systems are geared for web access and e-mail. Both HyperTerminal and HyperAccess are Telnet as well as dial-up modem clients and come bundled with Windows and OS/2 respectivly.

Other Telnet clients that we know of can be found here

One of the many things on a BBS are the message areas. If the BBS is part of a "Fidonet" style Network, you might be able to read, write and respond to messages via a "Point Address". This depends on weather the Sysop offers such service and requires special software on your part.

Once you find a BBS you like and decide you like the message areas, Ask the Sysop if s/he supports Point Systems. If so, You can ask about becoming a Point off of that system.