Two Rivers ARC W3OC Website Went Down

First, let me say that I completely understand how frustrating it is when our website goes offline, especially since we rely on it to share information about our beloved hobby. But let me explain what happened and why this isn’t entirely a bad thing.

Recently, AI tools—yes, those advanced computer programs you’ve probably heard about—have been scouring the internet for useful information. Think of them as a new kind of digital librarian, trying to gather knowledge from all over the web to help people find information more easily.

Our ham radio website, which is full of valuable information about a hobby that many of us hold dear, caught the attention of these AI systems.

They saw our site as a treasure trove of knowledge worth indexing. Essentially, these tools were saying, ‘Hey, there’s something really interesting here!’ Unfortunately, they were a bit too enthusiastic and ended up putting a lot of strain on our server. It’s like having too many people try to walk through the door at once—it can clog things up!

Why This is Actually a Good Thing

Now, here’s why this isn’t bad news:
1. Ham Radio is Getting Attention Again: Ham radio might feel like a niche hobby in the age of smartphones and the internet, but the fact that AI programs want to learn about it means people are asking questions about it. This increased interest can lead to a resurgence in curiosity among younger generations—future hams who might not otherwise discover us.

2. AI Isn’t Malicious: This wasn’t a malicious attack. It’s not like someone was trying to harm our club or our website. It’s more like an overly curious student excitedly flipping through all the pages of a book and accidentally tearing a few in the process. We’ve put measures in place so that this kind of digital ‘stampede’ won’t happen again.

3. An Opportunity to Share Our Knowledge: Ham radio has a rich history of fostering communication and innovation, from Morse code to modern digital modes. The fact that AI sees value in what we do reminds us that ham radio still has a place in today’s high-tech world. It bridges generations of technology enthusiasts.

A Modern Parallel to a Familiar Concept

Think of these AI systems like shortwave listeners or DXers of the digital world, scanning the airwaves—or in this case, the internet—for something interesting. In the same way that we might have been excited to hear a rare signal from a far-off land, these systems are ‘excited’ to find content about a fascinating hobby like ham radio. They just didn’t realize they were overwhelming our equipment!

Moving Forward

We’ve made the server more robust and added some ‘filters’ to ensure our website can handle traffic without disruption. It’s like upgrading our antennas and filters to handle unexpected interference better.

And while it’s a little ironic that this modern technology caused a hiccup, it’s also a reminder that ham radio has always been about innovation, adapting to challenges, and connecting people. Even in the age of AI, we’re still part of that story.

Thanks,
James.
Media IT
Two Rivers ARC W3OC