I've done some work in this area, and thought, given recent topics, that I would summarize some of it.
It's actually pretty easy to block entire countries from accessing your website through the Internet, particularly if you have some money to spend. There are various software packages, generally available for a monthly fee, that will do just that. They rely on the fact that IP addresses are assigned on a per country basis, and the monthly fee is partially there to keep the lists up to date.
It's a bit harder to do if you don't want to pay those fees, but it can be done. One of the easiest ways, if you have a single Windows server, is to use Advanced Firewall rules. You can either block everything, and then only allow certain IP addresses through, or you can allow everyone through and then block the IP addresses in the countries you don't want. The firewall works in mysterious ways (not really, but sometimes it seems like it does), so if you decide to go that route, you really have to do some homework on how it does work. Sometimes you don't get the results you thought you would.
There are various internet security companies that allow you to download IP lists by country for virtually every country - a simple google search can find them. Some will even provide scripts to help you add the firewall rules, although you may have to modify them for your particular needs.
Of course, if you don't buy their services, you will have to download the updated lists of IP's periodically for the countries you are interested in, and redo the firewall rules. A bit painful, but I found that these files don't change much and you can probably get away with every 3-6 months. The process can be automated as well.
One word of caution when using this approach - you can generate many hundreds of firewall rules for a country such as the U.S., which has hundreds of IP ranges associated with it. The initial connection to a website can experience a delay with these large numbers (after that initial delay everything is fine).
When I was testing geo blocks to the Artisan Radio website and stream, allowing only Canadian IP addresses through because of copyright rules, several hundred firewall rules was really no issue with little to no delay.
Of course, a potential listener could still get through these firewall rules with a VPN, which makes it look like they are located in Canada. If you want to go a step further, you can always further subscribe to a VPN locator service, which basically knows the IP addresses of all major VPN and TOR servers. Some websites will just block VPN access; others will require you to pass some security check (such as proving you are human - those Cloud Flare captchas are very annoying).
A few security paranoid administrators will use services that go way beyond just checking for VPN IP's. There are several, more intrusive (and expensive) methods to do this, all way outside the scope of this post, but they usually involve inspecting the data packets for signs of VPN use. You have to really wanna ban VPN's if you do that, and those methods are usually (but not always), used in countries which heavily restrict internet use.
So why would you go through all this? I've seen some of these security companies use the example of hackers primarily being from certain countries, and blocking all IP's from those countries may help stop them. I'm not so sure about that, as I don't know why anyone would want to hack a tiny, micro powered radio station website. Or a Part 15 Forum for that matter.
I see it more from a legal and copyright point of view, particularly if you are making public domain material (in your country) potentially available to countries in which it is copyrighted. I've never seen a definitive legal argument about whose responsibility it is to stop that scenario.
Some websites such as Librivox warn users that the material they download may not be in the public domain in their country, but you can still download it. Other websites actually block these downloads. Still others do nothing.
I took the approach that I would geo block, and when I get things up and running again normally, I still will, but I would ignore VPN's. In the absence of any other information, if someone really wants to access a small website in Canada and listen to public domain material that badly, then they're on their own.
I'll have to re-read your above post later, but my initial response is that I really have no interest in hacking into anyone's site nor do I think it appropriate to be suggesting or promoting it here.
Part 15 is a legal hobby
Not sure what you mean. Using a VPN is legal, not hacking. They're meant to protect your privacy. Something that, ironically, HB goes on about on their site (while trying to block people using them).
And geo blocking is a method of stopping IP's from other countries accessing your site, either because you don't trust them, or for legal reasons such as copyright protection.
Further to my initial reply, after thinking what you said over...
Discussion isn't advocating anything. If we, for example, talk about the certification of obviously overpowered transmitters, and whether it is legal to use them, are we advocating their use? Of course not. You can't just ignore their existence, and bringing everything out into the open helps people make their own decisions. Which they will do, regardless of others' recommendations.
The intent of my post was to provide information. First, to show how easy it is to block entire swaths of IP's from a supposedly public website for whatever reason. In this case, because you don't like their criticism. I've experimented with it to avoid copyright issues.
And then, how easy it is to use countermeasures, if you are so inclined, to bypass that block. These countermeasures are readily available, and legal, even if they are intended for other purposes, such as privacy.
Although I would argue that public should mean public, i.e., for everyone. Websites are not guaranteed the ability to determine who is accessing them. I'm not sure when that even started. If they want that guarantee, then they should lock down entirely, requiring identifying information to get in. A lot of websites these days want to be perceived as being public, without really being truly public.
I always made sure to inform readers of my website that I was geo blocking music content due to copyright restrictions, as what is in the public domain in Canada might not be in the public domain in other countries.
To conclude, I'd rather err on the side of openness in this Forum. Discuss. Argue (nicely) if necessary. And then move on, hopefully with no hard feelings. Minimal censorship and preferably, no editing, of posts. I'd rather get rid of a post that breaks the rules here, and explain why, then edit it, and have the readers not know what came from the OP, and what came from the Moderator/Admin.
@artisan-radio Yeah, I was tired when I initially read your post and apparently misinterpreted what you were actually saying. At first I got the impression you were suggesting methods to circumvent the site "protections" he put in place.
Yesterday the "Last Decade of Part 15" thread appeared to have picked up steam again with 3 or 4 new post, but today I again only get the 403 error for both his forum and the main site. I forgot to give it a try again today at some of the local public hotspots on shore to see if I could pull it up that way.
It's a quirky comedy.. if that is indeed what he's doing, closing off entire cities or counties from access just to spite a few outside hobbyist who he deems unworthy to peer into his domain.
Aakk! Half hour ago I was still getting 403 again, but just now tried and the site is loading fine.
You know it's quite possible the 403 error we're getting is due simply to some site problems he's been having lately. He might not be trying to blacklist anyone at all and we have just presumed that's the situation. (it does however align with his kind of tactics, so who knows)
I say I don't care, and I don't, except you know, I can't help but be curious what kind of subjects their coming up with to talk about .. So what the hell, I asked Google what the new topics yesterday and today were over there..
+5
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- GatesAir Sold Again: A recurring discussion thread was updated on both days.
- Operating Systems: Discussions about Windows 10 reaching end-of-life and the release of Windows 11 version 25H2 were active yesterday.
- Radio Programming: A thread about what determines when the "oldies" musical era begins and ends was updated yesterday.
- Legacy Equipment: Members discussed restoring old analog broadcast gear.
- Radio Technology: A post covered a 72 MHz Studio Transmitter Link. AI Overview
Bill needs to get on the ball and block Google from looking in his windows, Quick! close the blinds, round up all the kings horses and all the kings men because Google runs it's mouth about all the royal content to anyone who ask
I guess I am being just as childish as he is.. Yeah, I see myself, what can I say? That's what I'm doing. Silly kids fighting over insignificant things. Totally pointless. Absolutely embarrassing. Why do I keep fussing about it? My reactions are totally ridiculous, but I guess it's the only way to emphasize his ridiculousness. Such a weird kid...
I guess we'll never grow up.
If he blocks Google he blocks his own forum. His own members will not have access.
There must be a browser that is not connected to Google in any way. Some private browser that he and the members know about. And that could be discovered also.
When we were kids we did things like build forts or had hideaways that we would keep secret. That's what this is like. Acting like kids is right. The one hiding it and the ones trying to find it.
Now that he(Bill) sees this here that the forum is still in view what will he do next?
If he blocks Google he blocks his own forum. His own members will not have access.
There must be a browser that is not connected to Google in any way. Some private browser that he and the members know about. And that could be discovered also. .. ....
I know! That's what's so hilarious, what will he do? Not sure what you mean by he has to find a "browser not connected to Google in anyway.. it makes no difference what browser is used, you can search with Google from any browser.
I am curious exactly what it is he is blocking.. in some hours I can pull hobbybroadcaster up with no problem, other times can't pull anything up anything at all (not even the main site) for days or weeks at a time. And it doesn't matter if I'm using my own phone, the local library computers, or even someone else's phone.. It used to always work at the Walmart parking lot on Wilmington Island (next island over about 20 mile drive, presumably still does work there though I haven't tried lately). All I can figure is that he must be blocking access to the entire city or something, otherwise why would I not be able to pull it up from the library or from someone else's smartphone?
As far as I can tell, the Part 15 radio world on the Internet has always been this way.
I've been doing a lot of Part 15-related surfing recently on other radio Forums, and you tend to get a lot of self-important opinions. Some well intentioned people as well, experienced or otherwise, but discussions surrounding Part 15 always tend to degenerate into animosity. It usually starts off with someone asking a question, you get a few reasonable responses, and then the condescending 'experts' weigh in (because they're so experienced, they know more than anyone else, blah blah blah).
Over at an Antique Radio Forum, there was one "experienced radio engineer" who stated categorically that a Part 15 FM signal couldn't go more than 7 (?!) feet.
This Forum will always be open to all, even its detractors.
We have just as many professionals here (radio, computer, etc.) as anywhere else. Maybe even more. But I'd rather discuss, share and potentially learn than flout a supposed superiority.
If I've said something stupid, I'd rather hear about it so I don't say it again.
I was searching for a specific quote to end this post, and came across a Google AI entry that, surprisingly, says it all.
"... truly knowledgeable individuals recognize the complexity of a subject and understand the vastness of what they don't know. This humility comes from being aware of their limitations, whereas the incompetent often lack the very skills needed to recognize their own incompetence. "
@richpowers He's blocking the whole country. At least Canada. There's many browsers and search engines. Little known ones. We use the main ones like Google, Yahoo, Internet Explorer, and search engines like the same....Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox which I use but there are many more search engines that are little known. Some still access Google and yahoo like Dogpile for example but there's other independent ones that Bill could put his site on and not have it accessible from Google at all.
All this to make himself invisible, but if we want to be like children we could find it. If we have the know how. Artisan probably has more computer savvy then a lot of us and "there's always a way".
But when we find it so important to see what is over there that we still try to get around the blocking of the website all it does is feeds his ego. Maybe the opposite is what to do so he won't feel so important.
As far as I can tell, the Part 15 radio world on the Internet has always been this way.
I've been doing a lot of Part 15-related surfing recently on other radio Forums, and you tend to get a lot of self-important opinions. ... ..
"... truly knowledgeable individuals recognize the complexity of a subject and understand the vastness of what they don't know. This humility comes from being aware of their limitations, whereas the incompetent often lack the very skills needed to recognize their own incompetence. "
Yes, agreed, however such self-important opinions in forums are naturally open for discussion to be countered and debated (that's the primary purpose of any forum), A forum by definition is just that, a forum, involving different perspectives and views that intended to leads to a ultimate clarification of whatever the topic may be. But at HB he is determined that his views and interpretations must be upheld, he will simply ban anyone and everyone who does not agree. Off with the heads!
HB forums are actually more of a.. what? Club? Cult? I don't know, but it's not an actual forum.
@artisan-radio My post replying to Rich came before yours but yes I think we should not keep feeding Bill's ego by continuing this indefinitely talking about him.