[SOC] Trans.: [QSL-Net] FYI

[SOC HQ]

FYI

73/72!

The unknown SOC Secretary

http://www.qsl.net/soc

Competence is tolerated, but not encouraged
I demand the right to make a fool of myself in any way I see fit

====

   Date : Fri, 03 Dec 2004 16:48:04
     De : Al Waller K3TKJ <k3tkj at qsl.net>

This will go out to all users sometime tonight. I would appreciate your
help getting the word out on your lists also.

73. Al

---

QSL/QTH Users


It's been a while since I last mailed all users. Things here are slowly
getting back to normal after the passing of my Father (K3RLW) in September.
I am now fully retired other than a few consulting jobs at my old work
place (NASA). I am still swamped with e-mail and it sometimes takes weeks
to even read them, if you need something urgent the best way to contact me
is by telephone 302-875-1358  8AM to 11PM Eastern time.

This January we will be starting out 10th year on the Internet. The growth
of QSL/QTH in the last year has been incredible so much that we are using
all available bandwidth including some we just added. The sites are slow
responding. It's obvious by the amount of traffic we see that these sites
are very popular worldwide. It's time to buy more bandwidth, hence the
purpose of this mailing.

The cost of another T1 will be $5400 yearly. This is money we don't have!
QSL/QTH has no income other than donations so you see we count on you to
help us grow.

Other expensive things that need addressing are the RAID 5 Harddrives,
(these boxes have 16 80GB drives) 8 being primary storage and 8 being an
image for data backup if needed. I have had 2 drive failures in the last 2
months so I need to replace all 16 and increase the capacity at the same
time. These Raid drives have been spinning 24/7 for the last 3 years.

The QSL FTP server needs to be upgraded both in hardware and software soon.
It's a 4 year old dual 700Mhz and can barely keep up with the demand put on it.

The QTH "Mailman" reflector server is new and has the latest software, this
was completed a few months ago at a cost of about $1000

Less than 1% of our users have ever contributed, with many who have
contributed over and over to keep us going. Now is a time we need all of
you to pitch in a little and help us stay alive and functional for years to
come. Anything you can contribute will help. I hate to sound like a TV
evangelist but without hearing from you we will be gone someday soon.


That's the bad news.... Now for some exciting news.

Through the generosity of a long time supporter of QSL/QTH we will be
giving away another radio to a user who contributes between now and January
31, 2005. Not just any old radio this time but a new shiny Icom 756pro3.
Yes you read that right a 756pro3, Icom's newest addition to the incredible
Pro series. List price on this radio is $3000. I have a 756pro2 and I can
honestly say that in my 44 years as a ham this is the best radio I have
ever owned. The 756pro3 is even better.

http://www.icomamerica.com/products/amateur/756proIII/


Here are the rules:

1. Only users of QSL/QTH are eligible
2. A $15 donation is one chance, $25 donation is 3 chances $50 donation is
7 chances, $100 donation is 15 chances etc.
3. All donations previously made in November/December 2004 are
automatically entered.
4. Drawing will be January 31, 2005
5. If you do not want the radio the cash value to the winner is $2500




The winner of the previous 746pro giveaway was KB9LIE and K9OT.

Good luck to all and as always thanks for your support.


Donations accepted by Credit Card     https://proxy.qsl.net/donation
                       PayPal          http://www.paypal.com   (account
k3tkj at qsl.net)



Donations by mail:
                       QSL.NET, Inc
                       34087 Old Hickory Road
                       Laurel, Delaware 19956


73, Al K3TKJ


"It is not the class of license the Amateur holds, but the class of the
Amateur that holds the license."