Michtron BBS
MichTron BBS was a commercial bulletin board system (BBS) software package developed for the Atari ST line of personal computers. Released in the mid-1980s by MichTron, a Michigan-based software publisher, the software became one of the most popular BBS platforms for the Atari ST and was notable for its use of the ST’s graphical and multitasking capabilities.
History
MichTron BBS was first released in 1986, at a time when the Atari ST was gaining popularity due to its affordable pricing and powerful hardware, including a Motorola 68000 CPU and a GUI-based operating system (GEM). Developed by Jim Steinbrecher and distributed by MichTron, the software aimed to bring BBS functionality to a new generation of home computer users.
Unlike most BBS systems of the time—which ran on Commodore, CP/M, or MS-DOS systems—MichTron BBS took advantage of the ST's graphical interface and multitasking environment. This allowed sysops to manage the system locally while it was online and accessible by callers.
The software supported 300–9600 baud modems, ANSI terminal emulation, multiple message bases, private e-mail, file libraries, and remote administration. Versions of the software were sold via mail order and Atari ST dealers across North America and Europe.
Features
MichTron BBS offered a feature set considered advanced for its time:
- Support for Atari ST’s GEM desktop for sysop control
- ANSI and ASCII terminal compatibility
- Multi-level user security and access rights
- Public message forums and private mail
- File upload/download sections with file ratio control
- Configurable menus and system prompts
- Sysop chat and local console commands
- Automatic log-off timers and caller log tracking
Some versions supported basic door games and custom modules written in GFA BASIC or C.
Platform and hardware support
MichTron BBS was designed specifically for the Atari ST family, including the 520ST, 1040ST, and later STe models. It required a single floppy drive or a hard disk, and supported external modems via the ST’s RS-232 serial port.
Sysops often ran the system on ST machines with RAM upgrades (1 MB or more) and multitasking shells such as Geneva or MultiTOS, which allowed background operation and monitoring.
Decline and legacy
As the Atari ST market declined in the early 1990s and the rise of PC-based BBS software (such as Wildcat! BBS and PCBoard) became dominant, MichTron BBS gradually faded from use. MichTron itself pivoted away from BBS software and focused on publishing games and utilities before ceasing operations.
Although it did not enjoy the long-term influence of some other BBS platforms, MichTron BBS is remembered among Atari enthusiasts as one of the few full-featured BBS systems for the ST. Emulated Atari ST environments such as Hatari have allowed for legacy preservation of MichTron BBS setups.