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   Basement BBS Upgra…

   
   

   01 January 2026

   This event began 01/01/2019 and repeats every year forever

   
   

   In January 1987, the Basement BBS upgraded its software to the original BBS Express! software by Keith Ledbetter. The Basement also added an Avatex 1200 modem connected to the BBS' Atari 800XL with an ICD P:R: Connection.
    
   The Avatex 1200 modem was a rather inexpensive 1200 baud modem. However, it was partially Hayes Compatible. The partial Hayes compatibility worked OK with BBS Express but created some compatibility challenges with other BBS software. Some SysOps, therefore, would refer to this modem as the "Avayuck".  Another non-standard feature was its "Data/Voice" switch (see photo below). Modems typically allow a telephone to be plugged into them so the user can make voice calls with the modem plugged in. On full Hayes compatible modems, this just works. On the Avatex 1200, the user had to push out the "Data/Voice" button before making their voice call. This meant if you forgot to push the "Data/Voice" button back in after your call, your BBS will not answer any more calls (until you remember to push the button back in). This was yet another reason why it got the "Avayuck" name.
    
   Later in 1987, the Basement would add a 10 meg MFM hard drive, a 1 meg ICD MIO, and an Avatex 2400 modem. The Avatex 2400 modem was a full Hayes Compatible 2400 baud modem and would run without issue for several years.
    
   More information on the Basement BBS is available on its website. See also the Basement's calendar entries for November, May 19th, and July 4th.
    
    
    
    
    
   
   

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   BB/ST is released

   
   

   01 January 2026

   This event began 01/01/2020 and repeats every year forever

   
   

   Around this time in 1989 the BB/ST Bulletin Board Software by Steve Grimm for the Atari ST was released. The software was published by Quantum Microsystems Incorporated and retailed for $49.95. A review of the software is available here.
    
    
   

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   Boot Factory BBS g…

   
   

   01 January 2026

   This event began 01/01/2023 and repeats every year forever

   
   

   In January 1984, the Boot Factory Atari BBS goes online for the first time. Boot Factory has undergone many changes over the years including a version that was run on a PC. Today, it is an Atari 8 bit BBS running BBS Express Pro!. SysOp Abdul acquired the BBS Express Pro! software from his friend, Keith Ledbetter. Ledbetter had shut down his BBS after he sold the rights of the BBS Express Pro! software. Abdul did not do anything with Keith's old BBS until 1999 when he resurrected the BBS as a telnet/Internet based BBS. He made the BBS his own by renaming it Boot Factory 2K+ (or simply BF2K+). Despite the name change, many of the original message bases and file downloads have been preserved. You can check out the BBS today by connecting to bfbbs.no-ip.com port 8888 with your favorite term program (both telnet and raw connections are supported).
    
    
    
   
   

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