Free Users - Turn off your ad blockers

[eorange]

Now LB sweating and chanting 'Contributors' would be priceless beyond all measure.

 

[wb1ccp]

I visit this site a fair amount, so I've been a Premium Subscriber for a few years. Often as not, though, I'm too lazy to log in just to check something quickly. I have RR whitelisted in my ad blocker. I don't mind the type of ads here as they tend not to jump out at me. Some of them, though, it's a bit difficult to figure out exactly what they're selling.

The ones that really annoy me elsewhere are the kind that cover up whatever I'm trying to read. And videos that start playing without me doing anything. I'm constantly re-configuring Firefox to block those, but they keep figuring out ways to break through.

I also check one of the weather sites pretty regularly, so I whitelisted them as well. Almost immediately, I got hit with one of those things that pops up a red screen and screams, "YOUR COMPUTER HAS 72 VIRUSES!!! Just call 1-888-blah, blah and give us your credit card info and we'll fix it for you!" And it locked down my browser so bad that I had to kill the process before I could use it again. Somebody needs to vet their ads more carefully.

BTW, a certain giant online retailer who expects you buy stuff and spend money with them absolutely hammers you with ads.

 

[GMAN5UKP]

We're going to start implementing gatekeeping for those that have adblockers installed and who are not premium subscribers. It will be a gentle reminder a few times a day for non-premium subscribers who have ad blockers enabled.

You can use this thread to complain to me that this is a violation of your rights, and you'll be quiting RadioReference, and you'll be reporting us to the BBB. Flame away...

With all due respect, your not supposed to be looking into our computer's, it is no one's business how they are set up, so please quit looking into them, correct me if I'm in error over this undying belief.

 

[K7MFC]

With all due respect, your not supposed to be looking into our computer's, it is no one's business how they are set up, so please quit looking into them, correct me if I'm in error over this undying belief.

It's not so much that this or any other website is "looking into your computer" to see you have an ad blocker. It's more like you requested to load a website, and it sent content like text and images back to you, as well as code to be executed inside your browser. But the website saw that you declined to accept some of that content and code and they couldn't show you the ad or execute code that collects personal information. So then the website puts up notifications and such asking you to turn off the ad blocker, or in some cases, restricts access to the site completely (though this can be thwarted with minimal effort). And then we wind up here..oh man I can't believe this thread is still going lol..

 

[BMDaug]

What people really need to understand about internet services is that nothing NOTHING is actually free. If you are using a service that is provided free of charge, YOU the user, are the product! The sooner internet users grasp this concept, the better. This forum, as far as free users are concerned, is paid for by ads. The people buying the ad space want information pertaining to all parties viewing those ads. The simple way to stop anyone ‘looking into your computer’ is to make the site require a subscription to view content at all. Radio Reference is not concerned about who you are, but the people that pay for ad space certainly are, and they are effectively allowing you access to this great resource in exchange for some of your information…

 

[KAD1120]

What people really need to understand about internet services is that nothing NOTHING is actually free.

Ha - this site relies heavily on free/unpaid labor. They have a skeleton staff and use volunteers to keep their databases accurate and up to date, volunteers to administer, moderate, and support the forums, and volunteers to provide all the streaming source content and hardware. All of the marketable content here is created with the help of people not paid by RadioReference. Break down Broadcastify to it's simplest form: radio transmissions originating from a government funded source with advertisements and an access fee added by a 3rd party..

Given that so much of the overhead for this site is farmed out to unpaid users, it's just so bizarre that management whines to it's users that we're not allowed to ignore the advertisements

Imagine getting a letter from the cable company saying they knew when you muted or fast forwarded through commercials - you'd throw that nonsense straight in the trash and laugh at how stupid the premise was.

 

[fxdscon]

volunteers to administer, moderate, and support the forums, and volunteers to provide all the streaming source content and hardware. All of the marketable content here is created with the help of people not paid by RadioReference.

Ummmm no. A complete fabrication on your part... unless you plan to state that Lindsay is flat out lying here:

Free Users - Turn off your ad blockers

I will catagorically disagree that we are “bombarding“ you with ads. It’s just not even in the same realm of what other major media companies do. Like the UK Daily Mail. I'm not sure how anyone even uses the site. The actual stories are indistinquisable from the ads as they float in strange...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[KAD1120]

A liar? No... Someone who can't control their emotions to the point where they openly tanut the people who pay his bills? 1000% yes.

 

[fxdscon]

A liar? No...

So you are now taking back this statement?

volunteers to administer, moderate, and support the forums, and volunteers to provide all the streaming source content and hardware. All of the marketable content here is created with the help of people not paid by RadioReference.

 

[BMDaug]

Content drives usership, but still needs a host. The organization of said content into a usable service still requires resources. The ad revenue, along with the premium subscription, provides the resources required for the organization and hosting of the content created by users into something enjoyable for everyone to use. Note that this is not unlike any other internet service.

Also, streaming services like Hulu and Prime have ads and you can’t even skip them or buy your way out, yet people still pay monthly for these services while also allowing their viewing preferences and habits to be observed. If you enjoy this hobby, please support great resources like Radio Reference one way or another… it’s a labor of love, not greed.

 

[6079smithw]

I visit this site a fair amount, so I've been a Premium Subscriber for a few years. Often as not, though, I'm too lazy to log in just to check something quickly. I have RR whitelisted in my ad blocker. I don't mind the type of ads here as they tend not to jump out at me. Some of them, though, it's a bit difficult to figure out exactly what they're selling.

The ones that really annoy me elsewhere are the kind that cover up whatever I'm trying to read. And videos that start playing without me doing anything.
I also check one of the weather sites pretty regularly, so I whitelisted them as well. Almost immediately, I got hit with one of those things that pops up a red screen and screams, "YOUR COMPUTER HAS 72 VIRUSES!!! Just call 1-888-blah, blah and give us your credit card info and we'll fix it for you!" And it locked down my browser so bad that I had to kill the process before I could use it again. Somebody needs to vet their ads more carefully.

BTW, a certain giant online retailer who expects you buy stuff and spend money with them absolutely hammers you with ads.

I gotta agree, ad content here is minimal compared to what Mr. wb1ccp just described. When I bring up the screen, I see 1 ad at the top,
one down around the middle, and sometimes another at the bottom, all static and unobtrusive. Well worth it for the knowledge I've gained
and the entertainment I've enjoyed here over the years.

Not trying to take sides here, just dropping my $0.02 in the slot...

 

[KK4JUG]

A liar? No... Someone who can't control their emotions to the point where they openly tanut the people who pay his bills? 1000% yes.

I'm not sure you have a dog in this fight. Since you're not a premium subscriber, you're not paying his bills.

 

[buddrousa]

KAD1120 seems to be an EXMEMBER with a hand full of cockleburs in his drawers that did not get hugged enough when he was a child.

 

[prcguy]

Unless you have seen the big dog's profit and loss sheets, all the information and examples below are moot. Do you think he uses just enough advertising profits to pay for this site? Its possible that a fraction of the revenue from selling just the frequency lists from mostly free RR labor to scanner mfrs completely pays for this site and the rest is pure profit in the pocket. This is America and more power to the big dog if he can buy two new house every year from the profit from this site.

But unless this site becomes a pay to play, no other way type site I'll be getting rid of all the annoying and dangerous advertisements. There is no good reason not to and I suspect if every RR user did the same the site owner would still make a very comfortable living. If that was not the case then this site would have become a pay to play site a long time ago. This site in its current state is not here to be a comfy place for us to hang out, its a business for profit. It may have started as a hobby for the original owner but its been sold for a profit to make a profit and any enhancements made since its inception are all for generating more profit. If the site owner has a different take on this then please speak up and I'll not add any more comments along these lines.

Content drives usership, but still needs a host. The organization of said content into a usable service still requires resources. The ad revenue, along with the premium subscription, provides the resources required for the organization and hosting of the content created by users into something enjoyable for everyone to use. Note that this is not unlike any other internet service.

Also, streaming services like Hulu and Prime have ads and you can’t even skip them or buy your way out, yet people still pay monthly for these services while also allowing their viewing preferences and habits to be observed. If you enjoy this hobby, please support great resources like Radio Reference one way or another… it’s a labor of love, not greed.

 

[KK4JUG]

I still say if you don't like the convenience, information and ease-of-use this site provides, go to the other one.

Oh, wait!! There isn't another one. My bad.

 

[eorange]

Do you think he uses just enough advertising profits to pay for this site?

The ad blockers clearly have a material financial impact, otherwise this thread wouldn't exist.

 

[BMDaug]

Unless you have seen the big dog's profit and loss sheets, all the information and examples below are moot. Do you think he uses just enough advertising profits to pay for this site? Its possible that a fraction of the revenue from selling just the frequency lists from mostly free RR labor to scanner mfrs completely pays for this site and the rest is pure profit in the pocket. This is America and more power to the big dog if he can buy two new house every year from the profit from this site.

But unless this site becomes a pay to play, no other way type site I'll be getting rid of all the annoying and dangerous advertisements. There is no good reason not to and I suspect if every RR user did the same the site owner would still make a very comfortable living. If that was not the case then this site would have become a pay to play site a long time ago. This site in its current state is not here to be a comfy place for us to hang out, its a business for profit. It may have started as a hobby for the original owner but its been sold for a profit to make a profit and any enhancements made since its inception are all for generating more profit. If the site owner has a different take on this then please speak up and I'll not add any more comments along these lines.

Of course it’s a business. I don’t see your statements as oppositional here. All of the internet services I named are certainly for profit. Facebook and Google services are too but there is no paid tier! People want the content/service and they pay by way of having their browsing habits recorded and sold to interested parties.

The service does take some of the revenue to actually run, but of course there is a profit margin. The point is that if you want to view the content, you pay for it outright with a premium subscription, or you allow the parties buying ad space to ensure they are getting their money’s worth by allowing them to glean some minimal amount of viewer data…

 

[K3HY]

KAD1120 seems to be an EXMEMBER with a hand full of cockleburs in his drawers that did not get hugged enough when he was a child.

The hypocrisy is amazing. The very same people that want 'something for nothing' on here, complain about the poor wanting 'something for nothing'. Renewing a ham license is going to be $35, but instead of appreciating it had been free in the past, they whine about $3.50 a year. Sorry for going off topic.

 

[KAD1120]

It was never about the money. It's about a CEO going full retard (AKA KAD1120) in front of his customers.

 

[buddrousa]

@KAD1120 I wish for you to be banned. You need to look in the mirror and see who you are. All you want in life is everything for free I and the rest of the good members need to IGNORE YOU FOR THE TROLL YOU ARE.