Bandwidth and Attachments

[redshoes]

Due some ongoing issues with our server and ISP we have been forced to look at ways to reduce the amount of bandwidth Ten Tenths uses. One of effects of this is that we have been forced to withdraw the facility to upload attachments, which is one of the main culprit for both bandwidth and disc space usage. They used to say picture is worth a thousand word, that is still very true in internet terms - a single attachment will use the same system resources as several pages of posts.

Any existing attachments will remain but you will now see a link to display the image rather than actual image itself.

If you need to include an image in your post you can still use the [ img ] tags. As these will be hosted remotely they will not impact our server. If you do this please remember that 400x400 pixels maximum size guidelines still stand - not everyone has a large resolution monitor and ADSL connection.

We hope that the issues will be resolved shortly and we will be able to re-introduce the attachment facility.

[Kicking-back]

Sensible move.

Hope everything works out!

[ASCII Man]

Ahh, so that's why.
Good move!

[touringcarnut]

I've suffered the server to bust problem quite a lot recently, so it seems to be the best thing to do for the sake of the forum's smooth running.

[Kicking-back]

How about we all make a one-off payment of say, £20.

If just fifty of the 13000 members did that, they'd have £1000 out of nowhere, which would be a start in the necessary upgades fund.

[Wrex]

While the gensture is a nice one KB, there are 2 problems with it.

Firstly, written gestures and cold hard cash are 2 seperate things (not yourself here, just a generalisation). Many people say they will contribute, but the money never arrives.

Secondly, the sites expenses are ongoing, and we are doing everything we can to find a way to keep the site running (possibly even improve it) without going. Difficult given our resistance to pop-up ads etc.

[Kicking-back]

Good luck with your efforts.

If there's anything I can do to help, please ask.

This forum is by far the best motorsports forum on the internet and deserves to flourish.

[Armco Bender]

Delete all the JV threads,that will free up half the site..


* Dives into nearest foxhole *

[Adam43]

Originally posted by Armco Bender
Delete all the JV threads,that will free up half the site..

Already have done

[Es Nes]

may i make a suggestion regarding images? instead of 400 x 400 limit, have a 40-50K limit? that way we can still get a decent size image (640/480 800/600). for instance, i posted a 800/688 image that was smaller than some of the 400/400 kb wise.

if the user uses photohop, they can use "save for the web" instead of save as to get the kbs down and not lose too much image qualitly.

[redshoes]

File size is much harder to police (pixel size can be done visually) and doesn't help people with smaller resolution screen. I sometimes read the forum on an oldish laptop so know all about the problem of suddenly finding a huge jpg in the middle of a page of text.

If image quality is really an issue there's nothing to stop you using the [ URL ] tags to link to a bigger image.

[Tim Falce]

Why not stop all image uploads and just use url links. Jpgs take up vast amounts of space on the server. You could also stop the use of avatars, that would help save loads of space. Also maybe delete everything over a couple of years old as most subjects seem to be repeated every 6 months or so anyway.
Does anyone have any idea how much space the entire site is occupying and the bandwidth used each month?

[redshoes]

Originally posted by falcemob
Why not stop all image uploads and just use url links. Jpgs take up vast amounts of space on the server.

If you read the opening post that's exactly what we have done.

You could also stop the use of avatars, that would help save loads of space.

We don't use avatars. You can upload an image to your profile but take up on that has been so small it's not really an issue.

Also maybe delete everything over a couple of years old as most subjects seem to be repeated every 6 months or so anyway.

Generally speaking the issue is bandwidth not disc space. Old thread are rarely viewed so consume minimal bandwidth. This is hopefully a temporary situation which will be resolved shortly. If a thread is being repeated then simply point the poster to the original thread. If neccessary the appropriate forum mod can merge the 2 threads.

Does anyone have any idea how much space the entire site is occupying and the bandwidth used each month?

Yes, but that's not something we will be making public. The short answer is 'a lot'.

[Gnomex]

Originally posted by Kicking-back
How about we all make a one-off payment of say, £20.

If just fifty of the 13000 members did that, they'd have £1000 out of nowhere, which would be a start in the necessary upgades fund.

How about making it a subscription based site? I would willingly pay an annual sub to access the site. No payment - no access.

[SPARK Msport]

How about making it a subscription based site? I would willingly pay an annual sub to access the site. No payment - no access.

Remember when Autosport changed their website to a pay-to-view site? I can remember there being alot of unhappy people on this Forum who said they weren't going to pay when they can go else where for free. If a pay-to-view happened here, the same could happen and I don't think redshoes-racing can afford to lose some of its members aswell as putting off new ones who wanted to join because its free.

[Es Nes]

i know id be gone if it went ptv. dscwho ... ?

[Gnomex]

Over the years I think I've learnt the lesson that "you get what you pay for". If a forum is of that much interest, then logic says you will pay to subscribe to it. After all, if there is a magazine that is of interest, you will pay for it. You wouldn't take it from the newsagents shelves and walk off with it, would you?

[Gnomex]

Also, how about saving space by closing down Park Ferme? A quick glance shows that there are numerous topics with no association whatsoever with motorsport, e.g. football and the olympics, not to mention a recent topic which seems to be about someone "making love to themselves".

In my opinion, such subjects have no place in a motorsport forum and Ten-Tenths are doing themselves a mis-service in hosting such items. Surely there are plenty of other chat rooms / forums available for topics other than the world of motorsport.

[Neil Adams]

why dont you follow the btccpages.com / toca route of allowing people to upload pics to the server but then link to them, this way the page doesnt have the load all the pictures and the viewer can choose to view a particuar one if they want?

[garcon]

Gnomex, Parc Ferme exists as an off-topic forum. It's not supposed to be about motorsport. It's meant to be a place for motorsport fans to relax, where they can discuss anything they like (within reason). Admittedly, there are probably some members who read and contribute to Parc Ferme and add very little to the rest of 10 Tenths, but I tend to think that minor negative is eclipsed by the positives ... even if motorsport is the common factor that brings us here, surely everyone wants to relax at some point, share non-motorsport stories, have a joke, discuss just about anything else with the friends they've made here? Why not have an area of 10 Tenths to let them do that? Let's face it, if we didn't have Parc Ferme, members and mods alike would doubtless have to sift through no end of off-topic stuff posted in the F1 forum, the marshals forum and no doubt most of the others...

I'm not sure a subscription is the answer, but it may become the only alternative. Trouble is, that could reduce the membership to such a degree that we wouldn't need to upgrade! :confused:

We've discussed many things around this before, such as a higher membership level for subscribers (with associated benefits to make it worthwhile). That could work, but you have to remember that such a thing needs administration, which takes alot of time, and everyone involved with running and moderating 10 Tenths does so voluntarily, in their own time. There's a limit to what can be done on that basis.

[Tim Falce]

If you made TT subscription you would kill it off overnight. You would end up with a hardcore few dozen members and would find hardly anyone posting. The thing that makes TT the best forum around is that you can post a message and get a reply within minutes, unless you are KPC in which case he would be ignored.
If the powers that be have to relocate servers and pay then I think advertising will be the unfortunate answer.

[touringcarnut]

Originally posted by falcemob
The thing that makes TT the best forum around is that you can post a message and get a reply within minutes, unless you are KPC in which case he would be ignored.

[Adam43]

Or in some cases within 4 hours 3 minutes.

[Knowlesy]

Making ten-tenths a pay site would be stupid. I'd put up with a pop up or two for the privilege of visiting for free.

[luke]

It would be a shame if there was a payment there would be a drop in itendences meaning less to discuss.