V20 Site Problems

[willy]

I just got new internet in here and it is fast, we got it mostly because I keep having trouble with this site and some other sites were occasionally slow.
Now all the other sites pop up instantly.

Well it is not my computer, and not the internet, it is the site MJ. It is so slow it is timing out on me half the time I try to post.
It has gotten really bad the past couple of months.

Is there something we can do to improve the V20 site server wise?
Even if we have to chip in a few bucks each to do it.

I do know for tech reasons I do not understand some guys are not having the same problems all the time like I am but I wonder how many guys are having the problems.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Same here Willy, been getting worse slowly for the past few weeks. I know there have been some Vbulletin updates going on here lately on alot of sites, but this one is getting REALLY slow.

[jasoncooperpcola]

Yep same for me. Its not so bad on my computer because i can open another tab and do something else while waiting. But on my phone its been timing out alot lately. My phone is how i post about 50% of the time.

[RWilson2526]

Same here. Never times out on me but definitely SLOW

[phester]

I agree, site is painfully slow.....this is the first time I've actually logged on in months and like others have stated, it's SLOW. Feels good to be back nevertheless.

[joe7670]

I would echo the prior comments. Slow and occasional timeout.

[chumbucket]

It's the same for everyone guys. MJ knows it. It's a server issue. Something that he and Valiant need to work out but seem reluctant. I've tried to encourage him too saying that most of the guys on the site wouldn't mind chipping in a couple bucks each to pay for a faster server.
It's why I generally don't post a lot anymore.

[draglink]

Im in to contribute!!

[lathehand]

I've never been in such good company.I thought it was just my stupid fingers

[reelapeelin]

DSL and an old laptop my daughter used thru 4 yrs of college and mine is popping right up...I put up a BUNCH of pictures of the dogs and they popped right up...RARELY do I have to wait and that's cuz I got a load of other stuff up...I'd be glad to chip in if we go that route, but no probs here...:beer:

[buckleyjr]

I would be happy to contribute to the cause! Just let me know.

[Kracker Jack]

Let me know what kind of deneros I can contribute also if it is needed.

[macojoe]

We are aware of all that has been said! The reason for it is the server, i run the site for free all this time for you guys. but i pay for it myself,and it is pretty cheap, but to go to a server that will treat us right we are talking $$$ and i just think the site should be free to all!
I will speak to valiant and see whats out there and what it will cost ?? But how to charge all for the site and make it free is the real question?? I want it to be fair for all!

What we need is sponsors to pay for advertising that could fund the site, but i am not a computer sales man, and don't know what to offer and how much? if anyone knows such a person or firm that dos that stuff i will look in to it??

We are having growing pains for sure!

[THEFERMANATOR]

Anothe site I'm on uses google ads to help pay for the site. They only show up for guests or people not logged in so it's not a real big deal for members. I believe they break even just about by doing the ads for guests though.

[jasoncooperpcola]

Paid memberships? But how to make them appetizing so they will be bought? Limit signature space, pm box size, for free members? Paid members get free stickers, shirts, more sig space, more pm storage space, etc.

[macojoe]

THEFERMANATOR Anothe site I'm on uses google ads to help pay for the site. They only show up for guests or people not logged in so it's not a real big deal for members. I believe they break even just about by doing the ads for guests though.

This sounds like a idea ?? Not looking to make money, but will have to look into it, Thanks!

jasoncooperpcola Paid memberships? But how to make them appetizing so they will be bought? Limit signature space, pm box size, for free members? Paid members get free stickers, shirts, more sig space, more pm storage space, etc.

Sounds nice but who is going to pay for all the free give a ways? By the time you do that i be better off getting a 2nd jobto pay the extra for the new site!

[spareparts]

slow here as well, I'd be glad to contribute and sponsor to the cause, would it be a one time upgrade fee for the server, or would it be monthly usage fee charged by the server? If it were a one time charge, I'm sure we could get enough volunteers to contribute, but if its a monthly access fee, I could see where it would be good in the beginning, then the contributions would drift off slowly, causing the whole thing going in the red. I've seen a couple of sites find their demise that way. Would any changes to the format help with the speed. I hate to be the one that suggest it, but would eliminating the gallery help with the speed?
Go figure that Reel would be having no issues up in BFE with his old school equipment, he probably doesn't even have to peddle fast on the generator/exercise bike to keep the lights on:nut:

[Destroyer]

slow here as well, I'd be glad to contribute and sponsor to the cause, would it be a one time upgrade fee for the server, or would it be monthly usage fee charged by the server? If it were a one time charge, I'm sure we could get enough volunteers to contribute, but if its a monthly access fee, I could see where it would be good in the beginning, then the contributions would drift off slowly, causing the whole thing going in the red. I've seen a couple of sites find their demise that way. Would any changes to the format help with the speed. I hate to be the one that suggest it, but would eliminating the gallery help with the speed?
Go figure that Reel would be having no issues up in BFE with his old school equipment, he probably doesn't even have to peddle fast on the generator/exercise bike to keep the lights on:nut:

My niece has her own company that does internet advertising type jobs for other companies.. Basically she designs websites so that when you do a google search their company comes up on the first page. Pretty tricky stuff actually. But one of the things she has to do is arrainge advertising on the sites to get the better spots. No promises, but I'll speak to her over the weekend and see what she can come up with.

As to the gallery issue, if it's not being used it doesn't contribute to the bandwidth slowdown issue. Basically it just is data lying dorment on the hard drive. There are no issues with it unless it's being accessed. So no worries there.

There are 3 (hardware) things that determine speed.
1) The server itself. Obviously, the faster the computer the quicker the data can be accessed and disseminated out to the users.
2) The wiring. And by that I mean anything between the computer and the ISP's server. That includes the modem, router, switches, hubs, and any wires themselves.
3) The available bandwidth. The ISP only provides a certain amount of space (bandwidth) for data to travel over for a given fee. Basically, the more you pay, the greater the amount of data they will allow to travel over their wires at the same time.

So, all that being taken into account, the only things that we can control is the server and the equipment leading out of the house. Once it hits the pole it's out of our hands.

Unfortunately, I believe that Spare is right on the money. A monthly usage fee will only result in a slow death to the site. I, like him, have personally seen it happen 4 times to sites I was involved with. So a contribution to help upgrade the server and the various other equipment is going to be the only realistic route we can go. Like everyone else, I'm more than willing, (eager in fact) to contribute some coins to help with an upgrade.

And, like Reel, I have no real issues with this site from my home. Most times it's fast and my wait time to make a post is less than 5 seconds from the time I press the enter key.... But as soon as I go to work and try to access this site from there it's like I've stepped into molasses. Everything slows down to a crawl and a few times I've actually timed out waiting for the site to accept a post.

The only thing that really changes is the anti-spam, anti-virus programs and the firewalls that my company uses on thier servers. I cannot help but wonder if that's a part of the issue. Some kind of incompatability between their server and this servers' software/firewalls?

MJ, what kind of CPU and memory is the server using? Would an upgrade help? I'd be more than happy to help pay for upgrades if they are necessary or advisable.

[macojoe]

Yes spare please talk with her and see what she might be able to come up!
Destroyer you are right about the gallery and stuff, but we don't have any control of the server, we buy space there and thats it. We have a huge amount of space and all, when valiant fights with them we get a bit faster for a short time then back to the same old stuff.

This is a monthly site we pay for, so no upgrade will help. Thank you all for wanting to cheap in, but as said a monthly fee is not a good thing for all. this is a good thread cause maybe we will find a sponsor or advertiser something to help any way??
this site has been running for almost nothing all these years! One cause BS started out with free software and a free server, then went to paying for server a little, then i took the site and bought the V Bulletin software and upgraded that, and change servers a few times. It was good till we started getting to be a little big, then all the spy bots started to join and bog the site down, so valiant put blocks on there country's that were doing it, then I had him block all new members from just joining to stop the spammers, now i approve each new member after looking up there IP to see if they have anything against them, and even if they have one thing they get denied.

Thank God Valiant and I have been friends for over 31 years, and he learned this stuff!! He is are tec guy for FREE!! The site cost us about $300 a year to run! I am willing to go a little more but i have not work in a year now, just sent in my disability paper work, so things going to be a bit tight for a bit.
But I am open to anything to make it better, even got a email from a guy who buys websites with a offer to buy this one, but I looked at a few he has and did not like them so never looked into it, as i like are little corner of space just the way it is! :love:

[macojoe]

Also I looked into the Google stuff as Therm suggested, i filed out there app and here is the email i got back

Thank you for your interest in Google AdSense. Unfortunately, after
reviewing your application, we're unable to accept you into AdSense at
this time.

We did not approve your application for the reasons listed below.

Issues:
-
Insufficient content

---------------------
]
Further detail:

Insufficient content: To be considered for AdSense, your site must contain
enough text content for our specialists to review and for our crawlers to
identify relevant ads to show on your pages. We recommend including more
complete sentences and paragraphs on your site. We require websites to be
fully launched and functioning, allowing users to navigate throughout your
site with a menu, sitemap, or appropriate links. Once the majority of your
site is complete and functional, we'll be happy to reconsider your
application

[spareparts]

they obviously don't have a clue what they are talking about, to think they are passing up the premier boating site on the web because we don't have enough complete paragraphs. Sounds like you got the flunkie skeleton staff from the holiday(same reason the weather forecast hasn't been right this weekend). I got on thing to say to them :butt:

[randlemanboater]

Are you saying we got turned down because of wind talking?


Valiant must have talked to them again because the site seems to be running good today...at least for me.

[willy]

I say the h@ll with any of them advertizing groups, if I see one more green lizard pop up I might shoot it.

Why don't we sponsor our own site. Not as advertisers but as sponsoring members.
Figure out what it will cost with Valiant to do a decent upgrade. Annually.
And then figure out what we need split up by sponsors annually.
Then as a high honor on this site each fellow will have "Sponsor" or Contributor or Snagger or whatever under his membership title (Senior Junior God etc )
That way we can keep our own little place in this world like you suggest MJ, beholding to no one and an even tighter family group.
Let me say that I was never a big get on the computer guy, but with the guys I have met here and the friends I have made on this site it is definitely something special in the world of communication and other sites are envious of our camaraderie
You do enough already MJ, plus you have all kind of health issues with yourself and your wife. We do not need you doing more or especially paying for the site.
Plus you entertain us with copious Wind Talking
That way we can be our own family group, you can continue to monitor and moderate the way you have been, and we we can have a good fast moving site for all. Plus we will still be free for most members.
I am fortunate enough to be running my own business right now and I am willing to commit to $100.00 a year. Not everyone will be able to do that and a couple of years ago I could not do that much. But pick a number after you find out the cost and come up with an amount that will allow everyone who wants to be a proud sponsor to contribute. You are going to have to do something like that anyhow as having one of our brothers paying for this site out of his disability check is not right.
That is my suggestion.

[willy]

Another suggestion is to add a sponsor section and let a guy who runs his own business post his link there for whatever he does and maybe if a fellow here is in his area and needs something done he might get some business from it.
Personally I am thinking about posting a link as a hitman or male prostitute.

[Cam]

I for one would be more than willing to kick in $20 a year as a subscription fee. Not all members would have to kick in, but if you get enough people to subscribe to helping out this site, you can easily offset the server costs. Another forum I belong to does this and it helps immensely. Count me in if you decide to go that route. I like this site and want to see it succeed and be here for a long time to come.

:nice:

[yodaddy]

Also I looked into the Google stuff as Therm suggested, i filed out there app and here is the email i got back

They probably ran a bot against the site that couldn't find anything. Turn on the vBulletin 'Friendly URLS' option and give Google another shot. - https://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main/options_seofriendly_urls

[spareparts]

Another suggestion is to add a sponsor section and let a guy who runs his own business post his link there for whatever he does and maybe if a fellow here is in his area and needs something done he might get some business from it.
Personally I am thinking about posting a link as a hitman or male prostitute.

:haha::you::you::you::you:


btw, I'd be more than willing to sign on a sponsor with my business

[jasoncooperpcola]

I dont have a business that can be a sponsor but i can personally chip in $50/year and if need be i can chip in up to $100/year.

[willy]

You see MJ, guys are willing to step up here, so find out what you can and let us know.

[Destroyer]

MJ, my neice is out of town for the holiday weekend, so I'll ask her about it this Tuesday when she returns. As to the cost of the website...hell, $300 a year is nothing... The gaming sites that I play on run $250 - $600 a month servers. I would not mind a $100 a year donation to speed this server up. In fact, you can put me down for that right now. Who do I make the check out to? Send me a PM. What I'm saying is if $300 a year gets us what we have now, what would $400 or $500 or $600 a year get us? We spend obscene amounts of money on our boats, paying 3 or 4 times more for things that would normally cost much less. $100 a year is a bargain.

[jasoncooperpcola]

MJ, my neice is out of town for the holiday weekend, so I'll ask her about it this Tuesday when she returns. As to the cost of the website...hell, $300 a year is nothing... The gaming sites that I play on run $250 - $600 a month servers. I would not mind a $100 a year donation to speed this server up. In fact, you can put me down for that right now. Who do I make the check out to? Send me a PM. What I'm saying is if $300 a year gets us what we have now, what would $400 or $500 or $600 a year get us? We spend obscene amounts of money on our boats, paying 3 or 4 times more for things that would normally cost much less. $100 a year is a bargain.

Not to mention the advice and help here. :nice:

[macojoe]

ok guys i am going to look around, this will take a little time but we will do something! I know you all want to support the site and thats great but would like to make it fair to all, so lets see what comes of all this? you never know!

thank you all!!!

[valiant_200]

They probably ran a bot against the site that couldn't find anything. Turn on the vBulletin 'Friendly URLS' option and give Google another shot. - https://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main/options_seofriendly_urls

I kicked the Google bots off the site ages ago. We would have 60 or more of them on at once. They are supposed to just crawl and look for keywords and whatnot, but I would find them trying to post stuff in the calendar section and getting into other areas in which they had no business.

I am not a fan of Google and their bots. I think they are more trouble than they are worth.

[willy]

Agreed, lets be our own sponsors!

[jasoncooperpcola]

Agreed with Willy and Valiant. I am not a fan of the ads either, i dont like flashing banners reminding me of what i just searched for.

[yodaddy]

I kicked the Google bots off the site ages ago. We would have 60 or more of them on at once. They are supposed to just crawl and look for keywords and whatnot, but I would find them trying to post stuff in the calendar section and getting into other areas in which they had no business.

I am not a fan of Google and their bots. I think they are more trouble than they are worth.

I hear you about google bots. I was only suggesting to MJ that they probably threw a crawler at the site when he applied for AdSense, which couldn't crawl the site.

[macojoe]

Like I said this is a great thread, and has lead to something I think is going to be great!! I have not spoke with Valiant yet, and a few more things, but looks like things will get better in a month or so, I will update you guys soon!

[RidgeRunner]

It seems fast this morning.. I would gladly contribute, can't get this kind of commeradere anywhere else.
Great site MJ. Thanks for all the hard work. Valiant too.. I sit back and watch while folks make comments about speed, I have wanted to mind you, BUT I hesitated thinking you already had enough on your plate... Good to see your back to posting often, a sign that you are on the mend..:clap:
Willy and others make a valid case for contributions/dues. I am sure there will be a bunch of willing participants.

[Bygracealone]

A little faster this morning, but still much slower than in times past.

I look forward to the solutions MJ and Valiant come up with. Thank you for your dedicated service and sacrifice to keep this site going.

Even though I no longer own a V20, this is still my favorite boating forum and it has everything to do with the quality of friendships formed here over the years.

I, too, would be willing to contribute an annual membership fee if needed.

[Blue_Runner]

Whatever you do, if you decide to sell please do not sell to an outsider (unless the offer you big $$). I myself would be interested and probably some of the other guys that frequent, if you ever were to sell that is. I just want to see it stay in the family so to speak!!!

Thank you for all you do. Slow or not, I ain't going anywhere. Ya'll are stuck with the Blue man.

:hi:

[Road King Cole]

MJ, my neice is out of town for the holiday weekend, so I'll ask her about it this Tuesday when she returns. As to the cost of the website...hell, $300 a year is nothing... The gaming sites that I play on run $250 - $600 a month servers. I would not mind a $100 a year donation to speed this server up. In fact, you can put me down for that right now. Who do I make the check out to? Send me a PM. What I'm saying is if $300 a year gets us what we have now, what would $400 or $500 or $600 a year get us? We spend obscene amounts of money on our boats, paying 3 or 4 times more for things that would normally cost much less. $100 a year is a bargain.

:clap:

Without hesitation, count me in! as a member that approves of Destroyer paying most of the fee.:hi:

rkc

P.S seriously I wouldn't mind paying a reasonable subscription fee.

[aussie]

i have never had any problems with the site always seemed fast enough to me----but i havent been on for a few weeks and im having problems when going to another page i get error internet explorer cant dispaly this page and if i refesh a few times it works---must be a new problem only been happening for a short time for me