MacTerm for Mac

Being an old school BBSer -- I run my own BBS at telnet 202.128.4.177 and BBS website at www.armageddonbbs.com -- I downloaded this app to see how well it works as a telnet client for BBSing. I use an iMac running Yosemite 10.10.3, and my BBS uses the Hermes II BBS software.. I encountered several problems while trying to set up this app for BBSing purposes, and also when attempting to log on to my BBS. Being as a true PC-ANSI-based BBS uses the CP437 character set -- i.e., extended ASCII or high ASCII glyphs -- to draw ANSI graphics, I tried to change the default font in the app from Monaco to a font which actually contains the CP437 symbols, in the translation section of the app's preferences. I actually have three different fonts on my machine which meet this requirement. However, regardless of whether I tried to change the default format, or set up a new format specifically geared towards BBSing, the app would not let me change the font. In each case, whenever I clicked on the field to change the font, it would launch Apple's font chooser, where I could select a different font and font size. However, despite repeated attempts to alter the default setup, or to create a new one, or to alter the "Throwback" format, MacTerm refused to accept the font change, and in all cases in remained at Monaco. Using the "Throwback" format did give me the desired black background which is standard for old style BBSing, but because I could not change the font, the ANSI graphics look rather crappy. It does show the high ASCII glyphs, but they don't look right because it is the wrong font. However, MacTerm does properly display the 16 PC-ANSI colors. As I recall though, flashing characters were not working. Trying to log on to my BBS revealed more problems. The first is that hitting the return key does absolutely nothing. I can type in my user number, but hitting the return key does not advance me to the next line where the BBS asks me for my user password. There also appears to be a problem with MacTerm not echoing back my typing to me. It worked sometimes, but more often than not, it didn't. Sometimes there was a long pause before it would display them, and sometimes it would simply not display them at all. Likewise, the backspace/delete key is not working fully either. MacTerm refuses to allow me to delete the first character that I type in a line. Being as I was unable to even log on to my BBS with MacTerm, I can't say how the rest of the BBS looks with it. However, due to the inability to change the font, I imagine that it likewise looks rather crappy, just like the ANSI welcome screen. I am also wondering if MacTerm suports the X, Y and Z modem transfer protocols. If not, then just like Apple's terminal app, it is rather useless when it comes to downloading files from BBSes. While Apple's terminal app doesn't handle BBS file transfers either, I will note that when properly set up -- as explained on the Armageddon BBS website -- my BBS looks wonderful in the Terminal app. You will find plenty of screen captures of my BBS on the website. Look in the links section that is located on the lower half of the home page. Anyway, due the problems which I encountered, I can't agree with the developer's assessment in his description above that MacTerm "is now a complete replacement for Terminal". Perhaps it works well in other areas, but not for old school BBSing.

Excellent app and free! I like the features!

The floating command line window is awesome. Thanks for keeping this free.

Sorry, no color presets, no run.

Anyone remember the days of MUD? I remember. Those were some fun days. :)