Well I'm an early adopter. Started using TRS80 and a Dick Smith system in the early 1980's, progressed to owning and using a ZX81, then on to BBC Mirco B and on it went from there
By the early to mid 1990's I was accessing the Internet via an early Waikato ISP using a Unix shell account and invoking Pine to send emails and TIN to read Usenet newsgroups.
Around this time I established and ran a BBS in Hamilton called Agency BBS using Renegade BBS software.
I recall spending quite a bit of time figuring out how to take UUCP data packets from my ISP and gate them in to Fidonet message packets that I could import into the BBS and also send around the city to other BBS's
Jump forward to the start of 2014 and the bug bit again to resurrect the Agency BBS.
Details about my project can be found on http://www.bbs.geek.nz
There are options to login via a terminal embedded on the website or use a telnet connection pointed to port 23 at agency.bbs.geek.nz
I suggest you download a copy of the NetRunner software from the website if you are looking for Telnet friendly terminal software.
Thanks for allowing me to join your group... feel free to ask any questions and I'll do my best to answer them.
Cheers, Paul aka Avon.