Post by SKYSUMMIT on Sept 2, 2012 16:50:57 GMT -6
As you all know, during the Isaac threat, our main forum went down when our usage went up. This was not due to our server having issues. This was due to corruptions in our database. In order to thoroughly re-establish the database, we would have to hire a professional programmer to dig in and find all the errors. We are not sure where these errors are, or where they came from.
For the past few storms, we have always had to come back to our "backup forum"....the place it all began. It's worked great for us over the years. Since it has been so reliable, the staff has come to an agreement that this is where we'll stay...back at "home".
Yes we'll lose some cool features the other forum had to offer, but we'll be saving a lot of money by staying here. You'll also continue to get the great source of information that GCWX has been known for through the years.
We'll be soon adding a new "homepage" similar to the "portal" on the other site. Also, some time this year, this forum will be getting an in house upgrade which will add some of those features back..."like" buttons, "shoutbox", and a few other things. We're not sure when that's going to happen, but it should be some time in 2012.
As for costs, the other site was financially high at $2,200/year to run. Here, it will cost roughly $740/year to run. That includes ad free browsing for members, domain registration, domain replacement, hosting for the homepage, and an integrated chat room which has not yet been fully built. So instead of us wondering where the next year's funding will come from, we'll be at ease knowing we have the service we need here and the lower cost of operations.
Once all changes have been completed, the main url of GCWX will continue to be "gulfcoastwx.com" which will take you to the home page. (We also own gulfcoastwx.org, gulfcoastwx.net and gulfcoastwx.info which will all eventually take you here.) From the home page, you can simply click "Forums" to come here. That home page will be updated from time to time depending on what's going on in the weather world. The forum url will eventually change to "forums.gulfcoastwx.com"
We know many people may be disappointed by not having some of those neat features the IPB forum offered, or having the sleeker design, but at the same time, we know many members will feel more at home by staying here since this is where it all began.
Financially, we should be set for the next 2 years with the donations we have gotten. As long as we stay ahead, we'll be in great shape. We thank every single one of you who has donated over the years to support us and assure you every penny that has been donated, has gone directly to the operation of this website.
THANK YOU!!!
For the past few storms, we have always had to come back to our "backup forum"....the place it all began. It's worked great for us over the years. Since it has been so reliable, the staff has come to an agreement that this is where we'll stay...back at "home".
Yes we'll lose some cool features the other forum had to offer, but we'll be saving a lot of money by staying here. You'll also continue to get the great source of information that GCWX has been known for through the years.
We'll be soon adding a new "homepage" similar to the "portal" on the other site. Also, some time this year, this forum will be getting an in house upgrade which will add some of those features back..."like" buttons, "shoutbox", and a few other things. We're not sure when that's going to happen, but it should be some time in 2012.
As for costs, the other site was financially high at $2,200/year to run. Here, it will cost roughly $740/year to run. That includes ad free browsing for members, domain registration, domain replacement, hosting for the homepage, and an integrated chat room which has not yet been fully built. So instead of us wondering where the next year's funding will come from, we'll be at ease knowing we have the service we need here and the lower cost of operations.
Once all changes have been completed, the main url of GCWX will continue to be "gulfcoastwx.com" which will take you to the home page. (We also own gulfcoastwx.org, gulfcoastwx.net and gulfcoastwx.info which will all eventually take you here.) From the home page, you can simply click "Forums" to come here. That home page will be updated from time to time depending on what's going on in the weather world. The forum url will eventually change to "forums.gulfcoastwx.com"
We know many people may be disappointed by not having some of those neat features the IPB forum offered, or having the sleeker design, but at the same time, we know many members will feel more at home by staying here since this is where it all began.
Financially, we should be set for the next 2 years with the donations we have gotten. As long as we stay ahead, we'll be in great shape. We thank every single one of you who has donated over the years to support us and assure you every penny that has been donated, has gone directly to the operation of this website.
THANK YOU!!!
Looks like I have some work to do. 
