The Cellar BBS

Why does one start a Bulletin Board System in 2024 ?

I grew up with a PC and its demoscene and the BBS culture always wanting an Atari ST.

When I read a Multi-User BBS existed on the Atari ST I had found a new project to dive into.

It has taught me a lot of Python, UNIX tools and patience since starting to work on it in February and have the base system running in March 2024.

So what is it and how can I access it ?

telnet thecell.ar port 1040

The BBS runs on an Atari MegaSTe

connected to the internet via a CMBSTUFF Wimodem232 PRO.

The Wimodem enables the STe to accept an telnet session and it will translate this to AT commands upon which the BBS will accept the call and launch the logon procedure.

It currently only allows 1 user at a time, if you cannot connect, please try again later.

It runs in 80 colums by 25 rows and the menus have been optimised for this. The menus are ASCII, ANSI (16 colors) or VT52 (Atari ST 4 colors)

It is best enjoyed with

PC Syncterm RAW,19200 Baud,8N1 (ASCII/ANSI)

or Atari ST ANSI capable Terminal

like ANSIterm 19200 BAUD,8N1

or Atari ST VT52 capable Terminal

like TAZ,STalker,Flash , 19200 BAUD,8N1 for 4 colors

You can also use your browser to access it via FTELNET

Final Thoughts and Thanks !

My sincere thanks to all these people (UPDATED 16th of June 2024)

• Team Thunderstorm (who kindly donated the BBS a Lightning VME USB card upgrade)
• Perdrix (USB drivers)
• Techman aka Timothy Purves (author of Michtron BBS)

• ASCII art - zEUS/stylE+mystiC!

• The USA Atari BBS Sysops for their testing/advice and encouragement
• The SNDH archivers
• The Fujiology archivers
• The Fading Twilight archivers
• Pouet.net
• scene.org
• demozoo.org
• ABBUC
• the Atari scene worldwide

and YOU for reading this.

Frank - the sysop of the first Pirate BBS I visited here in Antwerp - THECELLAR lives on !