The Wrong Number (TWN) Virtual Community

TWN is a Bulletin Board System (BBS) that was founded on June 6, 1987.  It is not on the Internet, nor is there any plan to put it there.  However I do hope to evolve this web site to a point that, should the unexpected need arise, it could "stand-in" for the BBS. This web site came online on June 6, 1998 -- the 11th anniversary of TWN.

Here is a little history about TWN. The first time I used a modem was on a weekend at my job. Having only a TRS-80 Model 4, I often would play and learn about those new IBM systems on the weekend at work. One day I found a modem was in the PC, and having never used one, I picked up a magazine that had BBS phone numbers in it. I called a few systems until I finally found a local BBS to the Stockton area. The name of that system was "The Garage Sale BBS". I started calling that system, and after about three months I knew I had to run my own system. Once I decided to buy the equipment and software, I had to come up with the name. The first name I thought of was "The Data Star BBS". I liked it but ultimately decided it didn't have that "right ring" to it. I had a flash of inspiration and came up with "The Disconnected Number". I really liked this and was trying to find a way with ANSI line characters to draw this name, but found the "D" was a bit difficult to make look right. The phone rang, and I answered it. As you might have guessed, the person dialed the wrong number, and when I told them, "I'm sorry, you dialed the wrong number.", I knew I had my name. The Wrong Number was born.

TWN originally ran on a 286 using PCBoard 11.8. I had an unimaginably huge 40 megabytes of disk space (my PC has more memory in the video card than that now). I used a multitasking program called "Double Dos" that allowed you to have two windows open at one time -- splitting the 640K of available conventional memory (though I had a whopping one meg of memory). This worked fine for about a year until I decided to go multinode. Double Dos couldn't provid enough memory in each window, so I needed to use another multitasking program. I ended up with, and use today, DesqView. A year after that I doubled again and went to four lines. All four lines operated for about ten years utilizing the convenience of a call-hunting group that automatically transfered you to another line if the one you called was busy. While I only publicize the first number, here are all four just for grins.

Node 1: (209) 943-1880 Node 2: (209) 943-0908 Node 3: (209) 943-1517 Node 4: (209) 943-1965
(Please Note: Nodes 2, 3 & 4 are no longer active. Node 1 is still active.)

On the tenth anniversary my wife took the original full-length Hayes 2400 baud modem and framed it along with all the TWN business cards I've had over the years. Anybody who knows me also knows that The Wrong Number is an important part of my life. Although the Internet has reduced the traffic on TWN by 80% to 95% it still holds a special place in my heart and will operate as long as I can possibly justify it. How long has it been since you've called a good old BBS? Perhaps you should do it again sometime. Thanks for reading this; hopefully your interest has been sparked.  I'm obligated to mention my "famous" slogan...

Remember, TWN is the only BBS that supports your right to call in the nude!