TelnetBible.com User Manual

King James Bible Telnet Server

1. Connecting to TelnetBible.com

TelnetBible.com is accessible via Telnet or SSH. Telnet is ideal for vintage computers and retro terminals. SSH works out of the box on any modern system with no extra software.

Connection Details

Enabling Telnet on Your System

Telnet is not enabled by default on most modern operating systems. Here's how to enable it:

Linux (Debian/Ubuntu):

1. Open a terminal
2. Install telnet: sudo apt install telnet

Linux (Fedora/RHEL):

1. Open a terminal
2. Install telnet: sudo dnf install telnet

macOS:

1. Open Terminal
2. Install Homebrew if not already installed by running:
   /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
3. Install telnet: brew install telnet

Windows 10/11:

1. Open Control Panel
2. Click Programs, then Turn Windows features on or off
3. Check the box for Telnet Client
4. Click OK and wait for installation to complete

How to Connect

Telnet from a Command Line (Linux, macOS, Windows):

SSH from a Command Line (Linux, macOS, Windows):

Password: guest. Port 22 is the default SSH port. If port 22 is blocked, use the alternate port:

If this is your first time connecting via SSH, you will be asked to accept the host key fingerprint. Type yes and press Enter.

From a Commodore 64:

Use your preferred Telnet terminal software (such as CCGMS, Striketerm, or similar) and connect to telnetbible.com on port 6400 (or alternate port 2323).

Using PuTTY to Connect

PuTTY is a free, popular alternative for making Telnet connections. It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Download PuTTY:

Visit https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html to download the latest version for your operating system.

Installing PuTTY:

Connecting with PuTTY (Telnet):

1. Launch PuTTY
2. In the Host Name field, enter: telnetbible.com
3. In the Port field, enter: 6400
4. Under Connection type, select Telnet
5. Click Open to connect

Connecting with PuTTY (SSH):

1. Launch PuTTY
2. In the Host Name field, enter: telnetbible.com
3. In the Port field, enter: 22
4. Under Connection type, select SSH
5. Click Open
6. Enter username: guest and password: guest

2. Connecting via SSH

SSH (Secure Shell) is the easiest way to connect to TelnetBible.com. Unlike Telnet, SSH is built into every modern operating system — Windows 10/11, macOS, and Linux — so no extra software is needed.

Guest Access

To connect as a guest, use guest as both the username and password:

When prompted for a password, type: guest

If this is your first time connecting, you'll be asked to accept the host key. Type yes and press Enter.

Registered User Access

If you have a TelnetBible account, you can log in directly via SSH using your alias as the username and your account password:

When you connect with your account credentials, you arrive at the main menu already logged in — no need to use the login screen. All your account features (Chat, Email, Bulletins, Bookmarks) are immediately available.

SSH with PuTTY

1. Set Host Name to: telnetbible.com
2. Set Port to: 22 (or 8080 if port 22 is blocked)
3. Select Connection type: SSH
4. Click Open
5. Enter username: guest and password: guest

SSH vs Telnet

Host Key Rejected? How to Fix It

When you first connect via SSH, your computer saves the server's host key fingerprint. On future connections, SSH checks that the key still matches. If it doesn't, you'll see a warning like:

This means the key your computer saved no longer matches the one the server is presenting. There are several legitimate reasons this can happen:

1. Server reinstallation or migration — The server was moved to new hardware, reinstalled, or its SSH host key was regenerated during maintenance.
2. Server software update — An SSH server update may have regenerated the host key.
3. Connecting on a different port — If you previously connected on port 22 and now use port 8080 (or vice versa), the stored key may differ.

Removing the old host key (Linux, macOS, Windows command line):

To clear the saved key and allow a fresh connection, run one of these commands depending on which port you use:

This removes the key for the standard port (22).

This removes the key for the alternate port (8080). Note the square brackets — they are required when specifying a non-standard port.

After removing the old key, reconnect normally. SSH will prompt you to accept the new host key — type yes and press Enter to save it.

PuTTY users (Windows):

PuTTY stores host keys in the Windows Registry rather than a file. If the host key has changed:

1. PuTTY will display a dialog warning that the key has changed
2. If you trust the connection, click Accept to save the new key
3. To manually clear a cached key, open Registry Editor (regedit) and delete the relevant entry under:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SimonTatham\PuTTY\SshHostKeys

3. Terminal Detection

Upon connecting via Telnet, you will see a welcome screen displaying:

• The server name (TelnetBible.com)
• The SysOp name (Ricky Bryce)
• The current version number
• The current date and time

Press any key to continue. The server will detect your terminal type based on how your keyboard sends the backspace/delete character:

4. Main Menu

After terminal detection, you'll see the Main Menu with the following options:

[ Read ] Section

[ Games ] Section

[ Actions ] Section

5. Road to Salvation

This feature presents a 5-step interactive presentation of the Christian Gospel message using verses from Romans (the "Roman Road" approach).

The Five Steps

Navigation

6. Read the Bible

This feature allows you to navigate through the entire King James Bible using a hierarchical selection system.

Navigation Flow

1. Testament Selection - Choose Old Testament (Genesis-Malachi) or New Testament (Matthew-Revelation)
2. Book Selection - Select from the books in your chosen testament
3. Chapter Selection - Choose a chapter from the selected book
4. Verse Selection - Select a specific verse number
5. Verse Display - View the verse with navigation options

Selection Screen Options

Verse Display Options

When viewing a verse, the following options are available:

Saving Your Position

When you press S to save your position:

• A 5-digit PIN code will be displayed
• This PIN is valid for 30 days
• Use option (R) from the Main Menu to resume later

After saving, you can:

7. Random Verse

This feature displays a randomly selected verse from anywhere in the Bible.

Navigation Options

8. Bible Hangman

A classic hangman word-guessing game featuring Biblical words.

Category Selection

Choose from three categories:

Game Rules

• You have 6 wrong guesses before the game ends
• Hidden letters are shown as asterisks (*)
• Already-guessed letters are displayed alphabetically
• Guesses are case-insensitive

Playing the Game

After Game Ends

9. Verse Game

A multiple-choice quiz game where you identify the correct verse reference.

Testament Selection

Game Rules

• A verse is displayed without its reference
• Four possible references are shown (from different books)
• Wrong guesses eliminate that option
• Game ends when you guess correctly or only one option remains

Playing the Game

After Round Ends

10. Fill the Blank

A word-guessing game where you complete a verse with a missing word.

Testament Selection

Same options as Verse Game: Old Testament, New Testament, or Both.

Game Rules

• A verse is displayed with one word replaced by dashes (----)
• Only words with 4+ characters are eligible to be blanked
• Number of guesses allowed = word length minus 1
• Wrong guesses reveal one random letter as a hint
• Guesses are case-insensitive

Playing the Game

After Round Ends

11. Book Series

A sequence completion game testing your knowledge of Bible book order.

Testament Selection

Same options as other games: Old Testament, New Testament, or Both.

Game Rules

• Four consecutive books are shown with one name hidden as dashes
• Guess the missing book name
• Number of guesses allowed = visible character count minus 1
• Wrong guesses reveal one letter as a hint
• Flexible name matching is supported (see below)

Name Matching

The game accepts various input formats for numbered books:

• "1 John", "1John", "I John", "IJohn", "i john" all match "1 John"
• Roman numerals (I, II, III) are accepted
• Spaces and case are ignored

Playing the Game

After Round Ends

12. Search Bible

Full-text search across the entire King James Bible.

Entering a Search

1. Enter your search term (minimum 3 characters)
2. If searching for a single word, you'll be asked if you want "whole word only" matching
3. Results are displayed with pagination

Search Options

Result Handling

• 5 or fewer results: Displayed immediately
• More than 5 results: Option to narrow by book range

Book Range Format

When narrowing results, enter a book range:

• 1-66 - All books
• 1-39 - Old Testament
• 40-66 - New Testament
• 40-48 - Matthew through Galatians
• 43 - Single book (John)
• Press ENTER without input to show all results

Viewing Search Results

Explore Option

When you press E, enter the verse number (shown in the results list) to open that verse in the full verse navigator, allowing N/P navigation from that point.

13. Login / Signup

Create an account to access the User Menu, which provides Chat, Bulletins, Email, Bookmarks, and more.

Signing Up

1. Press L from the Main Menu
2. Press S to select Signup
3. Enter your details:
   • Alias - Your display name (must be unique)
   • First Name
   • Last Name
   • Email
   • Password
4. Review and confirm your information

Account Verification

New accounts start as unverified. To get your account verified and access advanced features (such as posting bulletins), email verify@irvingil.us.

Logging In

1. Press L from the Main Menu
2. Enter your alias (press Backspace on an empty alias to switch to Signup)
3. Enter your password

Logging Out

Once logged in, press L from the Main Menu to log out. A confirmation prompt will appear to prevent accidental logouts.

14. User Menu

The User Menu is available after logging in. Press U from the Main Menu to access it.

User Menu Options

Verified Users

The following options require account verification:

Sysop Tools (Level 9 only)

Navigation

15. Chat

Real-time terminal-to-terminal chat reminiscent of classic BBS chat systems. All connected chat users see each other's keystrokes as they type.

Joining Chat

1. Log in and go to the User Menu
2. Select C for Chat
3. Verify you're human by typing the site name when prompted
4. You're now in the chat room

Chat Features

• Every keystroke is immediately broadcast to all chat participants
• Join/leave notifications when users enter or exit the chat
• No message buffering - true real-time character-by-character display
• Works on both ANSI and PETSCII terminals

Navigation

16. Bulletins

The Bulletins feature is a community message board accessible from the User Menu. Users can read, post, and delete bulletins.

Bulletin Menu

Reading a Bulletin

When reading a bulletin, the message is paginated with 7 lines per page. Each page displays the header (Author, Subject, Date) followed by the message body with word wrapping.

Posting a Bulletin

The bulletin editor supports multi-line input and paste. The following commands are available while composing:

17. Email

The Email system provides private messaging between users. Access it by pressing E from the User Menu. Requires account verification.

Email Menu

Reading Email

Viewing an Email

Composing a Message

The message editor is used when sending or replying to email. The following commands are available:

18. Bookmarks

Bookmarks let you save your place in the Bible and return to it later. Access bookmarks by pressing M from the User Menu. Requires account verification.

Bookmark Menu

Bookmark Limits

The number of bookmarks you can save depends on your user level:

Quick Resume

When logged in, pressing R from the Main Menu takes you directly to your bookmark list instead of asking for a PIN. Select a bookmark to resume reading from that verse.

Navigation

19. Who's Active

See who's currently connected to the server. Access it by pressing W from the User Menu. Requires account verification.

Display

• Logged-in users are shown with their alias
• Your own entry is marked with "(you)"
• Guest connections (not logged in) are shown as a count
• The list refreshes automatically every 3 seconds

Chat Requests

Press a number 1-9 to send a chat request to the corresponding user. The recipient sees the notification instantly on their screen, no matter where they are on the site.

Announcements

Users with level 5 or higher can press A to post an announcement. Type your message and press ENTER to send it to all connected users. Press ESC to cancel.

Navigation

20. Edit Profile

Update your account details from the User Menu by pressing E.

Editable Fields

21. Resume Session

Resume a previously saved reading session. The behavior depends on whether you are logged in.

Guests (Not Logged In)

1. Select (R) from the Main Menu
2. Enter your 5-digit PIN code
3. If valid, you'll be taken directly to your saved verse position

PIN Information

• PINs are exactly 5 digits (e.g., 12345)
• PINs are valid for 30 days from when they were created
• If the PIN is not found or expired, you'll be returned to the Main Menu

Logged-In Users

When logged in, pressing R from the Main Menu takes you directly to your bookmark list. Select a bookmark to resume reading from that verse. See Bookmarks for details.

22. Color Mode

Toggle color display on or off from the Main Menu.

Color Options

The current status is shown in brackets: [ON] or [OFF]

23. Baud Limit

Simulate vintage modem speeds for an authentic retro computing experience. This feature adds per-character delays to output, recreating the feel of connecting via classic modems.

Accessing Baud Settings

Press B from the Main Menu to access the Baud Rate Settings page.

Available Baud Rates

Navigation

Historical Note: The 300 Baud Revolution

For Commodore users, 300 baud represents a pivotal moment in home computing. Before 1982, modems were expensive specialty items costing several hundred dollars — far out of reach for most hobbyists. Commodore changed everything with the VICModem (Model 1600), breaking the $100 price barrier and making online connectivity accessible to everyday computer owners for the first time.

To keep the manufacturing cost under $33, Commodore took an unconventional approach: instead of wiring the modem directly to the phone line, they routed it through the telephone handset jack. You had to pick up the phone, dial the BBS number yourself, listen for the carrier tone, and then plug the handset cord into the modem. It was a hands-on process, but the tradeoff made the modem affordable enough that it became the first to sell over a million units.

Overnight, VIC-20 and C64 owners had a way to reach bulletin board systems, swap programs, and explore services like CompuServe's Commodore Information Network. At 30 characters per second, every line of text scrolled onto the screen one character at a time — an experience that defined early home telecomputing. The BBS community that grew out of those 300-baud connections, with its message forums, file libraries, and online door games, planted the seeds of the networked world we live in today.

Commodore continued the tradition with the 1650 Automodem and 1660 modems for the C64, keeping 300 baud alive well into the mid-1980s. For many users, these modems provided their first taste of being "online" — an experience this baud rate simulation aims to recreate.

24. Troubleshooting (Hidden Option)

The Character Troubleshooting utility helps diagnose terminal input issues by displaying the raw byte values of keys you press.

Purpose

Use this tool to debug:

• Backspace key detection issues
• ESC key detection problems
• Character encoding issues
• Terminal emulator configuration problems

Using the Tool

• Press any key to see its hexadecimal value, decimal value, and name
• Control characters are shown with standard names (BS, ESC, CR, LF, etc.)
• C64-specific codes are labeled (C64-DEL, C64-LEFT, C64-UP, C64-CLR)

Common Key Codes

Exiting

Press ESC (0x1B) twice to return to the Main Menu. This allows you to see the byte value of keys that send escape sequences (like the Delete key on Linux terminals) without immediately exiting.

Character Code Reference

For detailed character code reference tables including ASCII, ANSI escape sequences, PETSCII, ATASCII, Baudot (ITA2), ZX Spectrum, and TRS-80, see the Character Code Appendices.

TelnetBible.com — Serving the Word Since 2025
SysOp: Ricky Bryce