[Boatanchors] QTH.NET

[Jim Wilhite]

> $10-$20 dollars a year would be a cheap price to pay for access to all the
> knowledge available on these lists. Might also weed out some of the sea 
> gulls that only eat, crap, and squawk about  everything.
> Thanx
> Lloyd  KK7IZ





In any discussion there are different views as how to solve a problem. 
Inherent in any solution on this list creates another problem that must be 
solved on other QTH sponsored lists

As stated, some of us must pick and choose where our dollars go.  Anyone 
with an income producing job can manipulate their dollars to solve a 
subscription fee; however those who have a fixed income will almost always 
choose to eliminate hobby related interests first.  Most of the discussion 
that has suggested a fee has centered on the boatanchors reflector, 
indicating it is the list with most traffic.

QTH supports many other reflectors.  Would the fee cover boatanchors plus 
the webhosting?  I subscribe to the WRL list and rarely is there much 
traffic on it, as well as the National and Hammarlund list and would drop 
off if a fee is charged.  So the list that generates most traffic is 
boatanchors.  Should the fee be only for boatanchors? Webhosting? or for 
all?  Would it help to eliminate most of the other lists and direct all 
traffic here?

Not knowing for sure, I suspect that most of the bandwidth is used by the 
webhosting server.  So should those with web pages pay the fee and the rest 
of us not?  If there is to be a fee per list and another for webhosting, the 
accounting would be a nightmare, despite the automated software available 
and many of the less used lists would disappear and non payment would 
require someone to remove the non-payers.

I began reading boatanchors at thepoarch.com back in 92 but never joined.  With 
all the furor over the fee, nominal as it was- $12.00 per year, I noticed 
that the quality of information concerning boatanchors deteriorated after 
the fee was implemented and the list today is not what it was in the 
beginning.  Some migrated from there to this boatanchors list, I think. 
The technical expertise here generates answers from more people and is much 
greater than the other list and parts help is also much greater.

To some of us, the computer is adjunct to ham radio and if we had to choose 
to spend $12.00 for the list or for a piece to fix one of our radios, I 
believe we would choose the latter.  Al has and is doing a very good job 
with his sites.  He has shown that he does not want to start a 
fee-for-service list by having the give away program and relying on the 
donations of a few.   Al has been a good and fair host, to which we all 
should say thanks.

Right now some things could be done to help the situation.  When replying, 
delete everything in your message except the appropriate quote, delete the 
information in your signature, delete the information added by the QTH 
server at the bottom and  I am sure Duane could add other information.  By 
the way, Duane does a great job moderating and should be thanked as well.

73  Jim
W5JO