GasCast Linux Telnet BBS

GasCast is a multi-user ANSI BBS for Linux. It can be used from:

• Telnet clients
• APRS-IS (RF-facing bridge)

Architecture

• Telnet side: interactive BBS UI, channels, boards, notes, mail, ham tools.
• APRS-IS side: short packet commands, direct messages, groups, ACK handling.
• Bridge: APRS-IS messages can reach Telnet users/channels and vice versa.
• Storage: SQLite in ./data/bbs.sqlite3.

Requirements

• Linux
• Python 3.11+
• Telnet client (telnet or netcat)
• APRS-IS connectivity and valid ham callsign/passcode (if APRS-IS bridge enabled)

Quick Start

cp config.example.toml config.toml
./run_bbs.sh

Or:

python3 main.py --host 0.0.0.0 --port 2323 --data-dir ./data

Telnet Login

Connect:

telnet 127.0.0.1 2323

At prompt enter only your callsign (no password). Examples: IU1BOT, IU1BOT-10.

Telnet UI (classic fixed screen)

• GasCast now uses a fixed-screen dashboard style:
  • logo/header always on top
  • status panel
  • content window
  • menu window
• The screen is re-rendered instead of continuously scrolling.
• You can select menu shortcuts with digits:
  • 0 help
  • 1 channels
  • 2 notes
  • 3 mail
  • 4 boards
  • 5 APRS-IS
  • 6 main refresh

APRS-IS Config

config.toml example:

[aprs]
enabled = true
callsign = "IU1BOT-10"
server = "rotate.aprs2.net"
port = 14580
filter = "filter m/IU1BOT-10"
passcode = **********

object_name = "GasCast"
object_lat = "4540.00N"
object_lon = "00911.00E"
object_comment = "-GasCast BBS Bridge"
position_interval = 900

Notes:

• position_interval is the interval (seconds) for APRS-IS position/object packets.
• object_interval is still supported for compatibility.
• object_lat / object_lon accept:
  • APRS format: DDMM.mmN and DDDMM.mmE
  • Decimal degrees: 44.3107N, 9.3320E, 44.3107, -9.3320
  • Decimal values are auto-converted to APRS format at startup.

Telnet Command Guide

Core

• help
  • Show command summary.
• cls
  • Redraw the main screen.
• quit
  • Disconnect.

Presence and channels

• who
  • List online users.
• users
  • List registered users (callsign-based entries are auto-created).
• channels
  • List channels and user count.
• join <channel>
  • Join or create a channel.

Example:

join dx

Realtime chat

• say <message>
  • Send message to current channel.
• dm <user> <message>
  • Direct message. If user is offline, message can be queued (note/APRS-IS).

Examples:

say cq test from telnet
dm IU1ABC ping when online

Notes (offline short messages)

• note send <user>
  • Create multiline note (end with single . line).
• note list
  • List notes.
• note read <id>
  • Read a note.

Mail (longer async messages)

• mail compose <user>
  • Compose multiline mail.
• mail inbox
  • List inbox.
• mail read <id>
  • Read mail.

Boards

• board list
  • List boards.
• board ls <board>
  • List posts in board.
• board post <board>
  • Create post (multiline).
• board read <id>
  • Read post.

Ham tools

• ham bands
  • HF band table.
• ham prop <band>
  • Offline propagation estimate (example: ham prop 20m).
• ham qcode <QCODE>
  • Q-code dictionary.
• ham grayline
  • Grayline hint.
• ham sun
  • Estimated solar snapshot.

APRS-IS bridge control from Telnet

• aprs-is status
  • Bridge status.
• aprs-is groups
  • APRS-IS known groups.
• aprs-is msg <call> <text>
  • Queue/send APRS-IS direct message.
• aprs-is gmsg <group> <text>
  • Send from Telnet to a specific APRS-IS group.
• aprs-is gread <group> [limit]
  • Read stored APRS-IS group messages for that group.
• aprs-is group msg <group> <text>
  • Same as gmsg (syntax-compatible form).

Aliases accepted: aprs, rf.

Examples:

aprs-is status
aprs-is msg IU1XYZ hello from gascast
aprs-is gmsg net hello all
aprs-is gread net 30
aprs-is group msg net hello all

APRS-IS Command Guide (over APRS message)

Send APRS text message to your BBS callsign ([aprs].callsign):

• login
  • Register activity and fetch pending APRS-IS messages.
• help
  • Show short APRS command list.
• msg CALL TEXT
  • Store/send private message.
• group create NAME
  • Create and join group.
• group join NAME
  • Join group.
• group leave NAME
  • Leave group.
• group msg NAME TEXT
  • Send group message.

Examples:

login
msg IU1ABC test via aprs-is
group create net
group msg net check in 5m

Bridge Behavior

• APRS-IS group messages appear in same-name Telnet channel.
• Telnet say in channel relays to APRS-IS group with same name.
• APRS-IS/Telnet group traffic is stored and can be reviewed with aprs-is gread.
• APRS-IS direct messages can be delivered to online Telnet users.
• Offline APRS-IS messages are queued in SQLite.

Troubleshooting

• APRS rx stopped: timed out
  • Fixed in current code by blocking read mode and timeout handling.
• If you still receive duplicate login replies:
  • Verify only one GasCast/APRS bot is running with that callsign.
  • Current code suppresses repeated NO MSG within a short holdoff window.

Security/ops

• Restrict server exposure with firewall/VPN/reverse proxy.
• Keep APRS packet text short to reduce airtime usage.