https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/ Fri, 29 May 2026 20:29:27 +0000 MyBB https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1469 Mon, 15 Sep 2025 21:44:19 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1469 READ-ONLY resource should continue.

The forum data is now separately hosted and should continue for at least the short-to-medium term future.

It will remain a source of historical data only, no NEW end user posts can be added.

Doug, admin
16 September 2025]]> READ-ONLY resource should continue.

The forum data is now separately hosted and should continue for at least the short-to-medium term future.

It will remain a source of historical data only, no NEW end user posts can be added.

Doug, admin
16 September 2025]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1467 Tue, 12 Nov 2024 21:16:36 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1467 The forum was closed to all new posts and private messaging on 7th November 2025.
It was going to be removed entirely but has been reinstated so that existing posts are searchable, using the search box option at top RHS, for now.
Existing search engine results should find articles but no new details will be found.

Registered users need no longer log in as there are no options available to post.

There will be no new users added so registration is unnecessary, and will fail regardless.

This archive may be moved to piggy-back off another domain at some stage OR may simply disappear entirely.

A revised colour scheme has been applied to differentiate its archive status as against the original blue colours...]]> The forum was closed to all new posts and private messaging on 7th November 2025.
It was going to be removed entirely but has been reinstated so that existing posts are searchable, using the search box option at top RHS, for now.
Existing search engine results should find articles but no new details will be found.

Registered users need no longer log in as there are no options available to post.

There will be no new users added so registration is unnecessary, and will fail regardless.

This archive may be moved to piggy-back off another domain at some stage OR may simply disappear entirely.

A revised colour scheme has been applied to differentiate its archive status as against the original blue colours...]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1440 Sat, 27 Jul 2024 21:51:33 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1440
This bulletin board is currently closed. The Administrator has specified the reason as to why below.

The AHRDF Forum is currently closed due to lack of apparent interest from users.

My intention was to keep this forum available until at least mid-2025 but that is seeming to be a less likely option at this time - as based on use.

Check back to see when/if it is again available..

If the status is set to closed then I don't need to read posts or do any software maintenance - yes, this is me being selfish with my time - so I will not need to devote periods multiple times each day to checking the forum for new posts, hacks or updates.  Every new post is read and, if necessary, moderated. 

Time, energy, willpower, enthusiasm are all required to keep it going. Off-line requires none !

So, if one day soon, you see the above message then don't be totally surprised. 
You (as one of many) caused it.
 
And, the /if is a very serious/obvious possibility..

Doug, admin]]>
This bulletin board is currently closed. The Administrator has specified the reason as to why below.

The AHRDF Forum is currently closed due to lack of apparent interest from users.

My intention was to keep this forum available until at least mid-2025 but that is seeming to be a less likely option at this time - as based on use.

Check back to see when/if it is again available..

If the status is set to closed then I don't need to read posts or do any software maintenance - yes, this is me being selfish with my time - so I will not need to devote periods multiple times each day to checking the forum for new posts, hacks or updates.  Every new post is read and, if necessary, moderated. 

Time, energy, willpower, enthusiasm are all required to keep it going. Off-line requires none !

So, if one day soon, you see the above message then don't be totally surprised. 
You (as one of many) caused it.
 
And, the /if is a very serious/obvious possibility..

Doug, admin]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1439 Thu, 25 Jul 2024 21:35:21 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1439
The Forum user structure is based on an amateur radio callsign.

If you do not have one and you use anything else then expect it to be changed before the account is acrivated for posting.
Look out for an email sent to your supplied address.

ALL user IDs must be in capitals, so 'vk4zzz' must be entered as 'VK4ZZZ'. Anything in lower case has to be changed before account activation so may reflect in an unknown delay..

Almost all new applicants undergo a security check process to eliminate scammers and hackers.
Questionable  accounts may be deleted without warning, notice or excuse.

Make sure you read the Forum Rules before posting..

If replying to an existing thread then use the 'New Reply' button - and NOT the 'Reply' one directly below the message text.]]>
The Forum user structure is based on an amateur radio callsign.

If you do not have one and you use anything else then expect it to be changed before the account is acrivated for posting.
Look out for an email sent to your supplied address.

ALL user IDs must be in capitals, so 'vk4zzz' must be entered as 'VK4ZZZ'. Anything in lower case has to be changed before account activation so may reflect in an unknown delay..

Almost all new applicants undergo a security check process to eliminate scammers and hackers.
Questionable  accounts may be deleted without warning, notice or excuse.

Make sure you read the Forum Rules before posting..

If replying to an existing thread then use the 'New Reply' button - and NOT the 'Reply' one directly below the message text.]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1391 Mon, 04 Mar 2024 09:21:34 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1391
One Russian hacker did make it through last week, had a post accessable for about 3 hours and posted just once, part in English and part in Russian. Since then, the server access logs have been reviewed and any IP address range seen to be a viable hacker access point has been blocked.  This is being reviewed daily and more new address blocks are excluded each time checked.

If you have been blocked then the only way an unblock will occur is if you directly email me your IP address and user name and I will check the user log.  
I will NOT unblock IPs that are from VPNs.

If you don't know how to email me then you need to do a bit of research !

Doug VK4ADC, admin]]>
One Russian hacker did make it through last week, had a post accessable for about 3 hours and posted just once, part in English and part in Russian. Since then, the server access logs have been reviewed and any IP address range seen to be a viable hacker access point has been blocked.  This is being reviewed daily and more new address blocks are excluded each time checked.

If you have been blocked then the only way an unblock will occur is if you directly email me your IP address and user name and I will check the user log.  
I will NOT unblock IPs that are from VPNs.

If you don't know how to email me then you need to do a bit of research !

Doug VK4ADC, admin]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1379 Wed, 31 Jan 2024 08:16:07 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1379
I often edit out such unnecessary text but it seems timely for a reminder on what to do.. so I don't need to do that.

If you purposefully NEED ( and I stress NEED) to enclose the previous post then use the Reply button  (near the Edit / Delete / Quote buttons)  enclosed in the bottom segment of the post's screen.

The NORMAL process to initiate a reply uses the separate New Reply button at RHS below that post window. 
That allows you to type in your comments without enclosing any previous posts !!

Simple isn't it...

Doug, admin]]>
I often edit out such unnecessary text but it seems timely for a reminder on what to do.. so I don't need to do that.

If you purposefully NEED ( and I stress NEED) to enclose the previous post then use the Reply button  (near the Edit / Delete / Quote buttons)  enclosed in the bottom segment of the post's screen.

The NORMAL process to initiate a reply uses the separate New Reply button at RHS below that post window. 
That allows you to type in your comments without enclosing any previous posts !!

Simple isn't it...

Doug, admin]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1371 Fri, 29 Dec 2023 20:32:43 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1371
If things don't work at the moment, they will hopefully eventually be attended to.  

At least one forum post was lost since yesterday arvo, and that wasn't my doing..

It could come to pass that the forum software will need to be completely rebuilt - too early to tell.

Doug, admin]]>
If things don't work at the moment, they will hopefully eventually be attended to.  

At least one forum post was lost since yesterday arvo, and that wasn't my doing..

It could come to pass that the forum software will need to be completely rebuilt - too early to tell.

Doug, admin]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1335 Wed, 13 Sep 2023 02:57:54 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1335
I took the forum off line so that it was no longer in overload mode while the hackers tried their best. The SQL server was rejecting all requests for service (hence the slow speed) but there has not been any actual successful hack, data access or data loss.  Please recall that only callsigns, a password and email addresses are requested on signup/registration so nothing totally critical is available to hackers anyway. The software that runs the forum is up to date with security patches at this time.

In the event that I see a recurrence, I will re-activate a static HTML page that de-activates the forum until I am ready to make it available again - hopefully the hackers will have given up by then !  The presence of the static page will be obvious as, while it has the logo, it has no menu or login options etc..

Doug, admin]]>
I took the forum off line so that it was no longer in overload mode while the hackers tried their best. The SQL server was rejecting all requests for service (hence the slow speed) but there has not been any actual successful hack, data access or data loss.  Please recall that only callsigns, a password and email addresses are requested on signup/registration so nothing totally critical is available to hackers anyway. The software that runs the forum is up to date with security patches at this time.

In the event that I see a recurrence, I will re-activate a static HTML page that de-activates the forum until I am ready to make it available again - hopefully the hackers will have given up by then !  The presence of the static page will be obvious as, while it has the logo, it has no menu or login options etc..

Doug, admin]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1308 Thu, 15 Jun 2023 07:28:46 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1308
Throughout the year the activity with the new posts is like a seesaw. There have been periods recently where there have not been any new posts - or responses - for 2 weeks or so and then there is a bit of a flurry of activity.  Consistent - it is not.   The problem arises when you consider that most returning/recurring visitors are expecting to see something new on the Forum, and when there isn't then they are likely to go away at some point - and stay away.

Sure, there are often visitors searching for info of some kind and a search engine has pointed to the Forum as a possible match against key words and some of the visitors probably find something of use.  Then again maybe not.  It exists, but to what end. This activity is not quantifiable in any worthwhile way.

Let's face it, it does cost to  keep the domain name going year after year plus there are some hosting costs attributable, and that comes out of my pocket. 

And so the annual question arises yet again : Do I keep it going - or not ??  

Doug, admin]]>
Throughout the year the activity with the new posts is like a seesaw. There have been periods recently where there have not been any new posts - or responses - for 2 weeks or so and then there is a bit of a flurry of activity.  Consistent - it is not.   The problem arises when you consider that most returning/recurring visitors are expecting to see something new on the Forum, and when there isn't then they are likely to go away at some point - and stay away.

Sure, there are often visitors searching for info of some kind and a search engine has pointed to the Forum as a possible match against key words and some of the visitors probably find something of use.  Then again maybe not.  It exists, but to what end. This activity is not quantifiable in any worthwhile way.

Let's face it, it does cost to  keep the domain name going year after year plus there are some hosting costs attributable, and that comes out of my pocket. 

And so the annual question arises yet again : Do I keep it going - or not ??  

Doug, admin]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1249 Mon, 12 Dec 2022 09:29:51 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1249 only then report back by posting details against this topic.

Software updates are necessary to help protect this resource from hackers and any disruption to essentially-normal operation is a small price to pay for continuing access.  I just have to find causes and then a solution - the harder part.

Doug, admin


POST NOTE : There have been so many errors appear that the code has been rolled back to a backup copy made earlier today.  That will be available pending resolution of the updated code issues (MAYBE).


NOTE  13 Dec 2022  : It appears that the whole forum package may need to be dumped and re-loaded, and then saved data imported.  
The existing package has gone through about 30 updates since original installation but has now some very obvious faults that will not be easy to resolve and are likely to continue with further/future updates.

There are no guarantees that ALL info will be available after that, particularly in the form of attachments, avatars and images, so it is a last resort.     

My only other choice might be to discontinue the forum entirely.....

IN THE INTERIM, SOME FUNCTIONALITY WILL BE DISABLED PENDING ANY/SOME RESOLUTION]]> only then report back by posting details against this topic.

Software updates are necessary to help protect this resource from hackers and any disruption to essentially-normal operation is a small price to pay for continuing access.  I just have to find causes and then a solution - the harder part.

Doug, admin


POST NOTE : There have been so many errors appear that the code has been rolled back to a backup copy made earlier today.  That will be available pending resolution of the updated code issues (MAYBE).


NOTE  13 Dec 2022  : It appears that the whole forum package may need to be dumped and re-loaded, and then saved data imported.  
The existing package has gone through about 30 updates since original installation but has now some very obvious faults that will not be easy to resolve and are likely to continue with further/future updates.

There are no guarantees that ALL info will be available after that, particularly in the form of attachments, avatars and images, so it is a last resort.     

My only other choice might be to discontinue the forum entirely.....

IN THE INTERIM, SOME FUNCTIONALITY WILL BE DISABLED PENDING ANY/SOME RESOLUTION]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1198 Mon, 06 Jun 2022 06:22:40 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1198
Apologies for the outage but it was beyond my immediate control.  It was first noticed about 8AM and a support ticket raised with the hosting company, and I'm not totally sure about its return but somewhere around 4PM..  Basically about 8+ hours outage.

It seems that the shared web server in the datacentre in Sydney ended up with a full hard disk where the SQL database activities occur - so while static HTML pages were served, any dynamically generated pages were not !  Obviously their network server status monitoring did not pick up the issue  .... Grrrr.

It had nothing to do with any non-renewal of AHRDF.NET !!

Doug, admin

Addendum : The web server was fixed about 4PM but email support finally returned about 9PM after multiple exchanges with support staff. Not happy Jan !]]>
Apologies for the outage but it was beyond my immediate control.  It was first noticed about 8AM and a support ticket raised with the hosting company, and I'm not totally sure about its return but somewhere around 4PM..  Basically about 8+ hours outage.

It seems that the shared web server in the datacentre in Sydney ended up with a full hard disk where the SQL database activities occur - so while static HTML pages were served, any dynamically generated pages were not !  Obviously their network server status monitoring did not pick up the issue  .... Grrrr.

It had nothing to do with any non-renewal of AHRDF.NET !!

Doug, admin

Addendum : The web server was fixed about 4PM but email support finally returned about 9PM after multiple exchanges with support staff. Not happy Jan !]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1197 Thu, 02 Jun 2022 09:36:18 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1197   
Several hundred users / 'members' who have not logged into the forum since before 1st January 2020 have been purged, taking the nominal user count down to 264 from 629.

Any posts made by any of them should have been retained.

Previous users who wish to re-access the forum to post will need to register again.

User ID is always the user's callsign in UPPERCASE.
The password can be any arrangement of letters/numbers/punctuation accepted during the registration process. If what you enter isn't accepted, try a different combination.

Non-amateurs - and therefore users without an allocated callsign - should enter another combination as a starting point  (eg initials+surname), but should be aware that an acceptable subsitute ID will be utilised during the manual user approval process, so should expect an incoming email with the revised ID info in due course.

Doug, admin]]>   
Several hundred users / 'members' who have not logged into the forum since before 1st January 2020 have been purged, taking the nominal user count down to 264 from 629.

Any posts made by any of them should have been retained.

Previous users who wish to re-access the forum to post will need to register again.

User ID is always the user's callsign in UPPERCASE.
The password can be any arrangement of letters/numbers/punctuation accepted during the registration process. If what you enter isn't accepted, try a different combination.

Non-amateurs - and therefore users without an allocated callsign - should enter another combination as a starting point  (eg initials+surname), but should be aware that an acceptable subsitute ID will be utilised during the manual user approval process, so should expect an incoming email with the revised ID info in due course.

Doug, admin]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1095 Mon, 08 Nov 2021 05:07:11 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1095
I know that this date is still some 8 months away but I have a decision to make before then : keep the forum going or close it down.......

My original plan was to provide a replacement functionality for the VKLogger forum since it was rumoured to be closing - which it has since done (- and here comes a big BUT -)  BUT the number of posts and even registered daily visitor numbers has dropped over the not-so-recent period to make me question whether it should continue after the current domain expiry date.

Initially I had a few alternate 'admins' who could look after it when I was unavailable but these have been lost due to inactivity, deaths or relocations.  So it has just been 'me' for the last couple of years and, while it is not a gigantic workload, it still involves approving new applicants and reading every post - daily..

I will be 'watching' it's use over the next 6 months and will make a decision on/before 1st June 2022, just so I can give some notice (a month) to users in the event that it is closing.

This old saying comes to mind : Use it or lose it !!

Finally, I am not looking for responses to this thread : the next 6 months activities' will decide the forum's fate.  


Doug VK4ADC, admin.]]>
I know that this date is still some 8 months away but I have a decision to make before then : keep the forum going or close it down.......

My original plan was to provide a replacement functionality for the VKLogger forum since it was rumoured to be closing - which it has since done (- and here comes a big BUT -)  BUT the number of posts and even registered daily visitor numbers has dropped over the not-so-recent period to make me question whether it should continue after the current domain expiry date.

Initially I had a few alternate 'admins' who could look after it when I was unavailable but these have been lost due to inactivity, deaths or relocations.  So it has just been 'me' for the last couple of years and, while it is not a gigantic workload, it still involves approving new applicants and reading every post - daily..

I will be 'watching' it's use over the next 6 months and will make a decision on/before 1st June 2022, just so I can give some notice (a month) to users in the event that it is closing.

This old saying comes to mind : Use it or lose it !!

Finally, I am not looking for responses to this thread : the next 6 months activities' will decide the forum's fate.  


Doug VK4ADC, admin.]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1052 Mon, 28 Jun 2021 22:47:25 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1052
This issue only became apparent with the latest forum software update installed today (29June2021) but has now been solved through a work-around, all caused by the website hosting company changing things at their end without any notifications..

Apologies to any who have not had forum requests fulfilled : mail works again !

Doug, admin.]]>
This issue only became apparent with the latest forum software update installed today (29June2021) but has now been solved through a work-around, all caused by the website hosting company changing things at their end without any notifications..

Apologies to any who have not had forum requests fulfilled : mail works again !

Doug, admin.]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1043 Thu, 20 May 2021 06:43:58 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1043 This should be a minor issue as many new users seldom post in their first few weeks.

The number of new applicants has dropped significantly so lower priority is being applied to processing. It may also occur that a new user account appears just prior to an administrator visit so the account could be activated within minutes or even just an hour or two provided the user details (callsign, IP location, email etc) check out. 

Not all user applications are successful, in an attempt to keep the forum clear of spam, bad behaviour, scams etc.., and these would-be accounts are removed from the new users list.

Doug, admin]]> This should be a minor issue as many new users seldom post in their first few weeks.

The number of new applicants has dropped significantly so lower priority is being applied to processing. It may also occur that a new user account appears just prior to an administrator visit so the account could be activated within minutes or even just an hour or two provided the user details (callsign, IP location, email etc) check out. 

Not all user applications are successful, in an attempt to keep the forum clear of spam, bad behaviour, scams etc.., and these would-be accounts are removed from the new users list.

Doug, admin]]>