Much needed updates have been done to ukfree.tv
I must apologise for this taking much longer to deal with than I had expected. There have been several issues that have needed addressing.
The first is that the AWS servers that run this site have been moved from the AWS site in Dublin to their London one. This has been mainly done to improve the page load time for most users who are based in the UK. There are four machines: the main webserver, the overlay map webserver, the database server and the backup server. This, I hope, will reduce the hosting costs.
The second issue is to do with the Google Maps API. This is system that, for over a decade, Google have provided to us here for free. However, this is no longer the case and cost £280 (plus VAT) for September 2018.
https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform/pricing/sheet
I am going to keep the Google Maps JavaScript API calls for the TV and radio prediction pages, so they should still look like this…
However, Google Maps still provides a free system for showing “Embed” static maps. With a bit of new code, this means that the transmitter coverage maps can now be shown like this...
I may have to adjust other maps on this system from time to time to keep the costs down: this is a Freeview and Freesat website.
As well as moving the server around, I have made a few changes to the front-end code to provide a better way to display the site’s material design icons. You might notice this if you zoom in a lot…
For now, I have also made a new system to get the data from the Freesat system’s API, so the list of channels and channel numbers will be kept up to date again.
9:20 AM
Whoops
My inbox has gone into overload with duplicate emails
Dozens of them!
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11:03 AM
I have the same problem with multi duplicate emails from your site today.
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2:32 PM
Briantist:
Thanks for the update and information, I'll go and have a browse about later. Shame about Google ripping everyone off and no doubt making more money on which they aren't paying their "fair" share of tax!!
Whoops indeed :)
I got 24 of those emails. Lets Hope Briantist checks that this is a one off and we don't get repeats of our regular update emails!
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11:34 PM
Do you have a PayPal address or similar for donations to keep the site running?
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11:37 PM
Do you have a PayPal address or similar where people can contribute to the running of the site?
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9:44 AM
Hi Briantist:
I got 68 emails Saturday but the first 37 were all 'empty'!
I know you have a lot of catching up to do as every transmitter page has what are now incorrect channel information and several of ther programmes have moved too.
The system for sending emails has had a problem as I didn't get any emails at all for almost two weeks, so had to rely on the 'Your latest comments' option at the top of the page - I'm sure I missed some of the comments too. Didn't get any fresh email Sunday either.
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MikeP I'm so sorry about the extra emails. I think they should have stopped a while ago.
I've fixed the system - at least I think I have - so that the changes for the 700MHz are showing up correctly.
Updates for 700MHz Freeview retunes, fixed all channels, new icons, radio fixes | free and easy
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3:25 PM
Briantist:
Nice to see you active and again thanks for starting to get things updated.
I thought I'd let you know I did get two identical of "The ukfree.tv occasional email" today.
Regards.
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