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Topband: Support Request

To: <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Topband: Support Request
From: w4an at contesting.com (Bill Fisher, W4AN)
Date: Wed Feb 26 10:05:55 2003
    
Re: Bi-Annual Subscription Request

 

Contesting.com & eHam.net Users

 

I have been hosting the Contesting.com and eHam.net web sites and mailing lists 
on my network since 1996.  In the beginning, my company (Akorn Access) provided 
the hosting for free.  Since we started the eHam.net web site two years ago and 
began to accept advertising, eHam has been able to pay a small amount each 
month toward the hosting costs.  

 

Today, eHam.net and Contesting.com steadily consume more than a T-1 of 
bandwidth.  Combined, the two sites deliver well over 4 million pages and push 
more than 200 gigabytes of data each month.  The success of both sites and all 
of the mailing lists are demanding more and redundant bandwidth.   However, we 
face the question of how to pay for it.  

 

The cost to host this level of bandwidth most anywhere else would exceed $2000 
per month.  eHam is currently paying only $250.00 per month, which leaves Akorn 
Access out of pocket for at least $23,700 per year.  

 

In the past, I have been able to cover these costs because Akorn was doing well 
enough in other areas and the utilization was not as high.  With the recent 
slow down in the economy and our changing Internet access business, Akorn is 
unable to continue this level of support.  

 

Many potential advertisers are engrained in their print advertising, and refuse 
to acknowledge the Internet as a viable method of promoting their products.  We 
continue to sign up new advertisers, but not at the same rate as the bandwidth 
utilization.  

 

So, I'm reluctantly forced to turn to the users of both sites for ongoing 
assistance.

 

We have an annual subscription program at eHam.net for users to help pay for 
the site operations.  We don't define the amount of the subscription, but 
rather suggest that each user define for themselves the site's value, and 
consider their own financial ability to subscribe.    We suggest comparing how 
much time you spend reading QST or CQ magazines with how much time you spend 
reading eHam.net, Contesting.com, or the various mailing lists when making your 
decision.

 

You can help by subscribing at http://www.eham.net/cart/product/111.  If you 
are unable to contribute by credit card, you can send a check to eHam.net, 5095 
Hamptons Club Drive, Alpharetta, GA  30004.  

 

 

Many thanks & 73

 

Bill Fisher, W4AN

 

 

 

 


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