December 2010 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

RE: ARRL Web Site Complaint
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 11 Dec '10

11 Dec '10

Dick, the issue here is the time it takes to load a page. The proxy error message is the result of it taking too long. I covered this in my December 1 status report: The ARRL Web store experienced heavy traffic on Cyber Monday, November 29, and some members reported having difficulty with timeouts. It's not clear that all of this was the result of the load on the servers that now host our website (we currently lease server space from Rackspace) but most of it probably was. The 2011 Plan that the A&F Committee reviewed on November 20 and is recommending to the Board for ratification includes purchasing our own servers, which Jon Bloom believes will significantly improve performance. Jon Bloom is looking into other solutions. Dave ________________________________ From: dick(a)pobox.com [mailto:dick@pobox.com] Sent: Fri 12/10/2010 10:31 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: ARRL Web Site Complaint 10 DEC 2010 - 1531 CST Here is another knowledgeable complaint about our new ARRL web site. I have already replied to Tim, but if anybody else wants to chime in, be my guest. Because of our ongoing web site problems, we are probably losing revenue at this point... but we will never know the full extent of our losses. - Dick Isely, W9GIG ========================================================================== Date: Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:32:45 -0600 From: Tim N9PUZ <tim.n9puz(a)gmail.com> To: Dick Isely W9GIG <dick(a)pobox.com> Subject: ARRL Web Site Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Dick, I just need to vent a little... I think the League would have a better, more reliable site if they had hired a couple of high school kids to build it. I've been trying to spend money with them off and on for hours now. Here's the result on multiple occasions today: Proxy Error The proxy server received an invalid response from an upstream server. The proxy server could not handle the request GET /shop/Antennas/. Reason: Error reading from remote server Apache/2.2.3 (CentOS) Server at www.arrl.org Port 80 I work in IT. It shouldn't be this bad after all the time (and probably money) they've spent. Hope you and your family have a great Holiday season this year! Tim McDonough, N9PUZ IL ARES Assistant SEC - Digital Operations Sangamon County, Springfield, IL

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Re: Mail Query
by Kent Olson 11 Dec '10

11 Dec '10

I received one yesterday. 73 Kent KAØLDG ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Vallio To: arrl-odv Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 3:21 AM Subject: Mail Query I recently received an e-mail from Cam Trowbridge, and am wondering if any of the others on this list have received mail from him.. Thanks, Bob -- W6RGG

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ARRL Web Site Complaint
by dick＠pobox.com 10 Dec '10

10 Dec '10

10 DEC 2010 - 1531 CST Here is another knowledgeable complaint about our new ARRL web site. I have already replied to Tim, but if anybody else wants to chime in, be my guest. Because of our ongoing web site problems, we are probably losing revenue at this point... but we will never know the full extent of our losses. - Dick Isely, W9GIG ========================================================================== Date: Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:32:45 -0600 From: Tim N9PUZ <tim.n9puz(a)gmail.com> To: Dick Isely W9GIG <dick(a)pobox.com> Subject: ARRL Web Site Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Dick, I just need to vent a little... I think the League would have a better, more reliable site if they had hired a couple of high school kids to build it. I've been trying to spend money with them off and on for hours now. Here's the result on multiple occasions today: Proxy Error The proxy server received an invalid response from an upstream server. The proxy server could not handle the request GET /shop/Antennas/. Reason: Error reading from remote server Apache/2.2.3 (CentOS) Server at www.arrl.org Port 80 I work in IT. It shouldn't be this bad after all the time (and probably money) they've spent. Hope you and your family have a great Holiday season this year! Tim McDonough, N9PUZ IL ARES Assistant SEC - Digital Operations Sangamon County, Springfield, IL

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RE: Mail Query
by Jim Weaver K8JE 10 Dec '10

10 Dec '10

Bob, Got one. Not surprising, though. Jim Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director ARRL Great Lakes Division 5065 Bethany Rd. Mason, OH 45040; Tel. 513-459-1661 ARRL, The national association for Amateur Radio _____ From: Bob Vallio [mailto:rbvallio@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 4:21 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: Mail Query I recently received an e-mail from Cam Trowbridge, and am wondering if any of the others on this list have received mail from him.. Thanks, Bob -- W6RGG _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1170 / Virus Database: 426/3306 - Release Date: 12/09/10

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Re: Mail Query
by Rod Blocksome 10 Dec '10

10 Dec '10

I got one - advertizing a book. Rod, K0DAS ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Vallio To: arrl-odv Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 3:21 AM Subject: Mail Query I recently received an e-mail from Cam Trowbridge, and am wondering if any of the others on this list have received mail from him.. Thanks, Bob -- W6RGG

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RE: Mail Query
by Dwayne Allen 10 Dec '10

10 Dec '10

I got one Bob. 73, WY7FD -----Original Message----- From: Bob Vallio <rbvallio(a)gmail.com> Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 02:21 To: arrl-odv <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> Subject: Mail Query I recently received an e-mail from Cam Trowbridge, and am wondering if any of the others on this list have received mail from him.. Thanks, Bob -- W6RGG

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Mail Query
by Bob Vallio 10 Dec '10

10 Dec '10

I recently received an e-mail from Cam Trowbridge, and am wondering if any of the others on this list have received mail from him.. Thanks, Bob -- W6RGG

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RE: Web project status report
by Brian Mileshosky 10 Dec '10

10 Dec '10

Dave -- I agree with Bill's comments below as they relate to our membership, but also want to bring our SMs into the discussion as well. Dwayne and I recently held a telecon with all our SMs to see how things were in their world, to share ideas, etc. The website was an expected topic, and the SMs spoke with obvious frustration about their SM pages and their belief that things exhibit less functionality now than there was in the SM area of the old site. One example they spoke to in great length was the Field appointment database, the difficulty of adding/deleting volunteers via it, odd information (I am shown, in my role as Director, as appointed by the NM SM), no real indication or confirmation that information was submited other than a common and generic "thank you" email, etc. Essentially all four (of my four) SMs find it quicker, easier, and more efficient to conduct such business via Leona Adams, and maintain their own database of appointees in Excel. In other words, they are abandoning the new ARRL website that so much money was put towards because they now find better service and utility elsewhere. And in so doing, they are burdoning a staff member (who our SMs love to deal with, by the way) with something that the website should be taking off her shoulders. Both of these end results are HUGE problems. Certain (or all?) priorities ought to be revisited. They ought to be categorized as "must haves" and "would be nice to haves". As "needs to restore pre-existing functionality" and "wants to expand into new directions" The former of each category should then drive the agenda, to a large degree. Getting our SM's page functional and easy for them to use ought to be high on the list in terms of funding and budget, especially when they are otherwise abandoning the website in favor of their own alternatives. I understand various aspects of the SM page have different complexities and can't be tackled all at once or necessarily quickly. On the other hand committing time and funds to audio RSS development isn't going to make those SM's lives any easier, at least before their own stuff is taken care of so they can do their jobs. Echoing Bill's comments, I too wish for the site to be completed before we look at expanding it, and especially before handing over new funds to Fathom. 73, Brian N5ZGT On Thu, 9 Dec 2010, Bill Edgar wrote: > Dave, > > > > I'm assuming that the vetting by Chris was for legal issues and not for > overall approval of concept. > > > > I'm really concerned we're spending more money with Fathom especially since > the original project is not finished. > > > > I'm equally concerned that we are spending money for an audio RSS feed for > the website. An overwhelming majority of members that I've talked to in my > division don't even know what it is, let alone feel it is worth spending > additional money on. > > > > We've got members who are upset with the website. Below is a sample email > from one member Tim Duffy K3LR, a loyal ARRL member and Maxim society > member, whose subject title was: Trying to buy at ARRL.org - website still > a train wreck. > > > > Hi Bill: > > > > I bought 5 books. It took 32 minutes. I have a 20 MB connection - doing a > trace route to the ARRL server - looking at how slow things are - reminded > me of dial up connections. > > > > The ARRL website is slow and clunky - to say the least. > > I got the Proxy error 5 times during the transaction. If it was any other > web site - I would have quit. CQ's web site is 10 times faster. > > > > 32 minutes to buy 5 books - just terrible. Wonder how many people give up - > and never come back - this is a sad representation of the ARRL > > > > > > Back to my original question. When will the web site be fixed? Or is this > the way it is? > > > > Did the BOD approve payment (paid the invoice) to the company that produced > the current website? If so, double shame. Once for allowing a Purchase Order > to an incompetent supplier with no supervision/oversight, then again for > paying an invoice for something the ARRL (and its dues paying membership) > are still waiting to receive - a usable web site. > > > > > > 73, > > Tim K3LR > > > > Your answer to Tim that we would be adding capacity as part of next year's > budget was appreciated and accepted for now, but I'll bet if you asked the > majority of our members, they'd say to use the money requested for the audio > RSS feed to pay for additional capacity now. Because Tim is outspoken, we > found out that he had a problem with ordering from the website. How many > lost sales did we have because other people found the same results with our > website being slow and bailed out - and not to come back again? > > > > Please understand that I appreciate the project has new management and it > may take a little more time to get it finished AND we've seen some good > successes, but I'd rather see the website finished than add new features > that most member probably won't use. > > > > - Bill > > > > > > From: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ [mailto:dsumner@arrl.org] > Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 8:49 AM > To: arrl-odv > Subject: RE: Web project status report > > > > Bill, I explained this in my December 1 report: > > The A&F Committee also reviewed a draft contract with Fathom that had been > vetted by Chris Imlay. The contract is for two enhancements: the report > generator "Widget" mentioned earlier and an audio RSS feed. While our bias > is strongly in the direction of doing things ourselves from this point > forward, we believe these two projects are within Fathom's capabilities and > that they are better able to deliver them than our own staff will be in a > reasonable time frame. I forwarded the proposed contract to Kim Mitola at > Fathom just before Thanksgiving; she has acknowledged but needs to confirm > their ability to meet the proposed completion schedule in light of the > upcoming holidays and other commitments. > > Dave > > > > From: Bill Edgar [mailto:n3llr@earthlink.net] > Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 10:01 PM > To: arrl-odv > Subject: RE: Web project status report > > > > Dave, > > > > What are the two enhancements for the website that we need Fathom to do work > for us? > > > > Thanks. > > > > - Bill N3LLR > > > > ARRL Director, Rocky Mountain Division On the web at www.RockyMountainDivision.org

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RE: Web project status report
by Bill Edgar 10 Dec '10

10 Dec '10

Dave, I'm assuming that the vetting by Chris was for legal issues and not for overall approval of concept. I'm really concerned we're spending more money with Fathom especially since the original project is not finished. I'm equally concerned that we are spending money for an audio RSS feed for the website. An overwhelming majority of members that I've talked to in my division don't even know what it is, let alone feel it is worth spending additional money on. We've got members who are upset with the website. Below is a sample email from one member Tim Duffy K3LR, a loyal ARRL member and Maxim society member, whose subject title was: Trying to buy at ARRL.org - website still a train wreck. Hi Bill: I bought 5 books. It took 32 minutes. I have a 20 MB connection - doing a trace route to the ARRL server - looking at how slow things are - reminded me of dial up connections. The ARRL website is slow and clunky - to say the least. I got the Proxy error 5 times during the transaction. If it was any other web site - I would have quit. CQ's web site is 10 times faster. 32 minutes to buy 5 books - just terrible. Wonder how many people give up - and never come back - this is a sad representation of the ARRL Back to my original question. When will the web site be fixed? Or is this the way it is? Did the BOD approve payment (paid the invoice) to the company that produced the current website? If so, double shame. Once for allowing a Purchase Order to an incompetent supplier with no supervision/oversight, then again for paying an invoice for something the ARRL (and its dues paying membership) are still waiting to receive - a usable web site. 73, Tim K3LR Your answer to Tim that we would be adding capacity as part of next year's budget was appreciated and accepted for now, but I'll bet if you asked the majority of our members, they'd say to use the money requested for the audio RSS feed to pay for additional capacity now. Because Tim is outspoken, we found out that he had a problem with ordering from the website. How many lost sales did we have because other people found the same results with our website being slow and bailed out - and not to come back again? Please understand that I appreciate the project has new management and it may take a little more time to get it finished AND we've seen some good successes, but I'd rather see the website finished than add new features that most member probably won't use. - Bill From: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ [mailto:dsumner@arrl.org] Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 8:49 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: RE: Web project status report Bill, I explained this in my December 1 report: The A&F Committee also reviewed a draft contract with Fathom that had been vetted by Chris Imlay. The contract is for two enhancements: the report generator "Widget" mentioned earlier and an audio RSS feed. While our bias is strongly in the direction of doing things ourselves from this point forward, we believe these two projects are within Fathom's capabilities and that they are better able to deliver them than our own staff will be in a reasonable time frame. I forwarded the proposed contract to Kim Mitola at Fathom just before Thanksgiving; she has acknowledged but needs to confirm their ability to meet the proposed completion schedule in light of the upcoming holidays and other commitments. Dave From: Bill Edgar [mailto:n3llr@earthlink.net] Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 10:01 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: RE: Web project status report Dave, What are the two enhancements for the website that we need Fathom to do work for us? Thanks. - Bill N3LLR

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RE: Web project status report
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 09 Dec '10

09 Dec '10

Bob, I reviewed this, including the proposed contract language that had been vetted by Chris Imlay, with the A&F Committee at the November 20 meeting. I provided an explanation in last week's report but perhaps the somewhat longer explanation I gave A&F will be helpful: I mentioned earlier that there are two enhancements for which we would like to contract with Fathom. Discussion of three enhancements had been going on for some time, with Chris Imlay becoming involved in the development of a contract form that Chris feels is suitable. Chris had signed off on the contract on October 19, but I wanted to review the projects with Jon Bloom before proceeding. The result of that review was that we decided to eliminate one of the three projects and to scale back a second one. Jon believes that the two remaining projects are within Fathom's capabilities, that they are better able to deliver them than our staff will be in a reasonable time frame, and that therefore - somewhat exceptionally - the best course of action for us to take is to enter into the contract. The revised contract is attached. I have told Kim Mitola that I will let her know whether we want to proceed right after this A&F Committee meeting. They are listed on page 81 of the Proposed 2011-2012 Plan as two of three examples of web enhancements for which we are budgeting some capital expenditures for outside programming, but with the committee's concurrence I would much prefer to proceed with them now. The projects are described as follows in the draft contract: 2.1. Query Report. Fathom will develop and integrate into the ARRL website the ability for ARRL Directors, Section managers and members to conduct for themselves data queries (for example, event dates, times, club activities and the like) and the ability to print the results of the query. Fathom will implement this functionality as follows: Users perform a search on the website the same way they currently do. If the search returns results, a button, link or drop-down will appear along with the results to allow the user to generate a report based on the current search results. Each type of data can have one or more fixed templates. In the case where there is more than one template option, the user will be given a choice of which template to use. A template may output any type of format (e.g., HTML, plain text, CSV, XML...). Fathom will provide sample HTML and CSV templates; ARRL will be responsible for modifying or creating additional templates as needed. This capability will be available for each type of data for which a search page is provided if one or more templates are configured for that search type. The number of records that can be returned in a report will be limited to a finite number. The limit will be configurable for each kind of data. 2.2. Audio RSS Feed. Fathom will design, implement, test and deploy an addition to the PagesController that has the ability to read and display audio media in an RSS format compatible with iTunes.(r) This will allow ARRL to feature audio media content of any page-builder page within iTunes. There is some urgency, particularly with respect to the audio RSS feed, which we are being asked about almost daily. What we expect Fathom to deliver in each case is a function within the content management system, which at this point their programmers are much more familiar with. This was Jon Bloom's recommendation, despite his strong bias against farming anything out, so he and his staff can deal with other priorities. I am still waiting to hear back from Kim Mitola. 73, Dave K1ZZ From: Bob Vallio [mailto:rbvallio@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 8:38 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: Re: Web project status report Please see the over-sized red print in the paragraph below. As near as I can tell from what I have read, those two enhancements are not critical to our mission.. We have spent, in my opinion, way too much money for a poor product from Fathom. What is the urgency to spend even more money for Fathom to work on those two items right now? I believe they are well within the capabilities of our own personnel to manage at some time in the near future. Bob Vallio, W6RGG On Wed, Dec 8, 2010 at 1:54 PM, Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ <dsumner(a)arrl.org> wrote: Officers, Directors and Vice Directors: Here is this week's website project status report. Last week Jon Bloom was preoccupied with programming necessary to production of the next edition of the Repeater Directory and could not devote much attention to the website. Partly as a result, just four Bugzilla tickets were closed. On Monday, December 6 the IT and Sales & Marketing staffs held a joint meeting to review e-store and membership issues. While this led to a couple of tickets being closed, the net result was an increase in the bug list as we tried to capture everything needing attention (including desired enhancements). As of now there are 68 items on the bug list, two of which are the enhancements that we would like Fathom to do under a supplemental contract (I'm awaiting a call back from Kim Mitola) and another 32 of which are staff-assigned enhancements (in addition there's one enhancement currently assigned to Fathom that I expect us to take back). Of the remaining 33, 15 are bugs that are assigned to Fathom and 18 are assigned to ARRL staff. In the coming weeks, these two numbers will be the best measures of progress toward completion of the transition. There may be some new ones added as we go along, but ideally we will see the two numbers decline and ultimately reach zero. I have sent a message to Section Managers following up on the one I sent on November 18 about the "big club list." I have made the same request of them that I did of you: to make public at least the basic contact information in their Member Profile. I also asked them to make the same request of their section leadership appointees. I hope the response is as good as it was among officers, directors and vice directors. 73, Dave Sumner, K1ZZ

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