Why Do I Get Different Results Using Telnet and NCAT on ascii.bigjobby.com?

Telnet isn't the best choice for what you're trying to do, as it's not designed for handling things like text formatting or colors reliably. If you're comfortable with the command line, you could use Bash to send data through TCP connections using /dev/tcp. It's a bit more technical but could give you a more stable experience.

If you're experiencing issues with Telnet, switching to a different terminal emulator could help. Some users have better success with others, so experimenting might be your best bet. Plus, there's always the option of using NCAT, which seems to have been working better for you!

It's pretty common for Telnet to be a bit unpredictable like that. "Telnet is sketchy" is a fair point; its handling of color can be hit or miss depending on the terminal and the client used. NCAT tends to be more reliable, so it makes sense that you’re seeing better performance there. You might want to check your Telnet settings or consider sticking with NCAT if you need consistent results.