Downloading Files
4GB doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s an incredible amount on the Commodore 128 A disk side on the average Commodore disk is 664 blocks. 4GB is roughly 32 million blocks. Particles! has a 4GB CMD drive, which as of 2021, is about at its limit. We support files for the C64, 128, Vic-20, GEOS, CP/M, PET and the+4/16 family. Most files are in Zipcode format or straight PRGs so you can download straight to your computer.
How Do I Download?
If you’re not from the before time, it’s a bit tricky to understand how to download files using a terminal. Hopefully this quick tutorial will help.
To put it simply, computers send files using a protocol. The protocol used on the BBS has to match your terminal program so that they both know how to talk to each other.
Definition of Protocols:
The BBS supports a few types of different protocols so here’s a quick overview of them and their advantages/disadvantages.
Xmodem – The simplest protocol there is. It is inefficient but it works. It can send a single file at a time, and almost every terminal program in history supports it.
Xmodem CRC – Like Xmodem but with with improved error checking. Only some terminals use this version.
Xmodem 1K – Like Xmodem, but sends in 1K chunks at a time. Only some terminals use this version.
Ymodem – Like Xmodem, but can send in batches and has better error checking. Most modern terminal programs support this.
Punter – The defacto standard for Commodore computers. Can only send a single file at a time.
Multi-Punter – The defacto standard for Commodore computers. Can send multiple files in a batch.