Speeding up the site, what can we do?

[justfishin]

I was curious. Is there anything we can do as users of this site to help speed things up. Lately it has been brutal, at least for me. I understand that Glenn is doing everything he can to adapt to the number of users but, is there anything we can do to help in order to speed things up. I am referring to less input, less smilies, etc, etc. I just want to help if I can and maybe make all of us aware of what is good and not good for this site. I feel this is the best fishing info site on the net as well as being the most fun. Financially it is hard to keep a site like this up and fast per all the users that have come on board. I guess I am asking, what can I do as a user to help? Thanks ---Jim

[Redlinerobert]

I'm with you Jim,

Also I think it may be a good idea to ask for donations to the site.  I for one would be willing to pay to be here - other sites I belong to ask a one time fee of $25, $50, or $100.  The amount you give then gives you either a silver, gold, or platinum member status.  

Just something to think about, but I am sure that MANY members here would gladly donate to make this place even better than it already is.  

[Tom Bass]

I'd be willing to pay up every once in a while to help out. $100 a year? Heck yeah, that's less than $2 a week.

[timmyswetarded]

i think he was asking like technically...maybe not monetarily

[frogtog]

If money can make this site faster lets go for it.

[burleytog]

If money can make this site faster lets go for it.

You would be surprised just how much it costs to keep something like this going.  I am a member of a rather large internet community that has 125 000 users and regularly has 5000-7500 members/guests online.  The yearly bill to keep that forum & site open is in six figures.

Contrast that with this forum that has around 200-300 members/guests online during peak usage.

[frogtog]

Burley how much do you think it would cost each member any idea?

[burleytog]

I have no idea as I don't know how much bandwidth this site uses on a day to day basis.

The other site I referenced accepts donations from members. Those members then have use of a special private forum as well as get entered in several drawings a year.

The site also has an extensive advertiser catalog.

I know I pay around $200 a year to maintain the two forums I own.  And those forums don't get anywhere near the traffic that BR gets.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

We (the staff) have discussed donations.  Glenn feels it is kinda tacky and has insisted on doing this solo with the help of advertisers only.  Well, we as staff, have an idea of what it costs to run this place and let me tell you,..I sure couldn't do it.  It's alot more money than I originally thought when I got involved in the forum game.

Perhaps posts like this will help Glenn to see that we WANT to help.  We wouldn't be insulted, rather honored to help participate in keeping a site we all know and love.  I'm not saying the forum is in jeopardy of closing any time soon, just saying, in general.

But Jim isn't asking about $$, he is asking , as a user, if there are things we can do to avoid a bandwidth jam up.  The animated smileys  use the most BW I think.  Other than that, I'm not sure.

and maybe I'm getting lucky but I haven't had any speed problems lately.

[Catt]

Some of the problem has to do with your internet provider; I was on Cox Communications and never experienced any problems. Sudden Link bought out Cox and things went down hill since. I use my son's laptop which has wireless internet connection and I never experience any problems.

As for donations I would gladly  

[flechero]

LBH,

do you remember the thread from several months ago that was like this... there were a bunch of people that jumped in and offered to donate money.  Seems like we have one every few months.  And each time it's a diffeent bunch of people- which tells me that there would be a big group of people that would donate voluntarily.  

I think it's obvious to Glenn that many people would like to help out but he's hesitant for one reason or another.  

For me, it doesn't matter if it's home or work (different providers) or even when I visit family in Dallas... if it's a high traffic time, I click and then I wait.  When I'm online real early or real late, it speeds through.

As always, add a donation link and I'll be one of the first in line.

[justfishin]

You are right LBH. I understand from previous post that Glenn wants to handle this site solo. I see his point, as well. Its obvious he will not except money. I also understand that times of the day, users on line, ISP servers have a lot to do with the idiosyncrasies we have on this site. My general statement was I would like to know what we could do as users. Simple things in a list to avoid such problems, at least to a certain extent, such as, smiley's, too much input on answers, etc, etc. Its obvious that we all like it here or we would not stay here. Basically a list of do's and don'ts would help, I feel that this would help immensely. Just some thoughts, thats all.  

[.ghoti.]

I would NOT be insulted, were I required to pay a membership fee to be a part of the best fishing site on the planet. This is a priviledge I would gladly pay for. I realize this could be a problem, particularly for some of our younger brothers and sisters. A voluntary donation scheme may be a good way to go. Let those who can, donate. Having said that, I'd hate to see any kind of "status" or extra priviledges awarded to those who do step up to the plate. This is a marvelously democratic place. Everybody has an equal voice here. Loosing that quality would be a tough pill to swallow.

Glenn, it would not be "tacky" to ask for donations. The best things in life are not free. You have a large group of people here who are willing, able and would be happy to help. And now I'll shut up about it.

As for bandwidth, we could sort of police ourselves. Does adding a smiley help to punctuate a point? Sure. One is definitely required when yanking someones chain. Does adding thirty of them do it better? Welllllll?

How about not automatically opening pictures. Just post the link, with a good description of what the picture is, and let us all open just the ones we want to see. That would serve to speed things up a bit.

Cheers,

GK

[Dan:]

Some of the problem has to do with your internet provider; I was on Cox Communications and never experienced any problems. Sudden Link bought out Cox and things went down hill since. I use my son's laptop which has wireless internet connection and I never experience any problems.

As for donations I would gladly  

That's strange...Is your son's laptop connected to a network other than your own? Otherwise it should be the same speed as your computer because they are accessing through the same connection.

Anyway, large pictures take up bandwidth as well. I don't think there are enough of them posted to really take up enough bandwidth to do anything. The best bet is probably to upgrade servers.

[burleytog]

Photos only affect the site if they are hosted on the site.  If you host your photos at Photobucket or other photo hosting site, then they do not affect the bandwidth usage here.

[Catt]

Dominion Dan

It's a direct satellite link

Mine is cable  

[Dan:]

Burley -- many if not most of the pictures are hosted on the site. Every thread with a paperclip next to it means a image was attached to a post, putting the image on the site's server.

Catt -- That sounds expensive...

[Guest the_muddy_man]

What about some regional gatherings of members to fish,camp etc. Each doing its own to PASS THE HAT so to say and donate the procedes to the forum not as a profit thing but to help with the expenses incured. It would give us a chance to meet and fish with each other and then each member can decide what he can or cannot contribute? This would be non tournement events

[BucketmouthAngler13]

Photos only affect the site if they are hosted on the site.  If you host your photos at Photobucket or other photo hosting site, then they do not affect the bandwidth usage here.

In that case members posting photo's should try to use uploading sites, right? (photobucket, imageshack)

Alot of people upload via this site in the Outings board. If we could cut down on that it probaly would make a difference.

[Gotta Love It]

I wouldn't mind paying yearly dues.  I spend way too much time here (LOL) and the information which is shared is well worth the money.  This place is better than opening up a Bassmaster or Bassin magazine.  Most fisherman subscribe to both of those pulications!  

If the younger guys have a problem paying a yearly fee, have a month to month (or quarterly) payment schedule.  I'm not sure how much of a headache this would be for Glenn if this happened but I thought I would throw it out there.    

[Bassassasin12]

I have never really encountered a problem with the speed of this site. My family and I use Mozilla Firefox instead of Internet Explorer and it seems to be a lot faster.

Another thing regarding donations, I agree exactly with what Ghoti said. Members should have the option to donate if they can, but their should be no special reward. The reward is helping out something you believe in. If you volunteer at a homeless shelter they don't give you a new car, all you get is the satisfaction of knowing you did something kind.

[Fish Man]

ok dont get me wrong here because i would pay a due with pleasure...however i think that it would be difficult for me to pay it because i am 14 and dont have a job to get the needed money.and there are probobly quite a few other ppl that wouldnt be able to pay the due bacause of age or other reasons.i dontt know fo any way around that but i would sure love the help improve the site

[Hookemdown.]

I have never really encountered a problem with the speed of this site. My family and I use Mozilla Firefox instead of Internet Explorer and it seems to be a lot faster.

Exactly.  I used to use IE and it just got to be a pain in the butt.  A friend told me to try firefox, and i've loved it ever since.  I would try it guys....

[frogtog]

How do you get Firefox?

[justfishin]

If you are going to get Mozilla Firefox, which I recommend, and you have IE 6 thats fine. If you were set up for auto updates and you already downloaded IE 7, dump it. I had problems with conflictions. You will like MFF.

                                                          www.mozilla.com