TexasCHLforum.com

For at least a couple of years now, any time I wanted to even view the site, let alone login to it, I’ve had to turn off my VPN. Otherwise, I get a message saying:

You have been permanently banned from this board.

Please contact the Board Administrator for more information.

A ban has been issued on your IP address.

My VPN IP address is a Dallas address. There’s no good reason (apparent to me, anyway) to ban it. The result is that I have to unprotect my computer to access the site, rendering my VPN useless to me. NordVPN is my provider. Given the increasingly hostile nature of the Internet, it makes no sense to have to make myself vulnerable so that I can participate in the forum in which I was for years the most active member. The reason I have posted so rarely for a couple of years now is the inconvenience of having to do this every single time I even want to just read the site.

Is there anything that can be done to rectify this situation?

Thank you.

It's been a challenge for some time.

viewtopic.php?p=1174758#p1174758

Even when i use Dallas as a VPN site, sometimes I get temporarily "Permanently Banned". If I turn off the VPN, I'm back in.

I noticed the same problem, but I use SurfShark for my VPN, and it allows me to specify a specific web site or specific app which is allowed to bypass the VPN without having to turn off the entire VPN on my computer.

I don't know if NordVPN has the same feature or not though.

txpilot wrote: Sun Sep 21, 2025 8:04 am I noticed the same problem, but I use SurfShark for my VPN, and it allows me to specify a specific web site or specific app which is allowed to bypass the VPN without having to turn off the entire VPN on my computer.

I don't know if NordVPN has the same feature or not though.

It’s not Nord that’s keeping me out. The IP address comes from Nord, and even though it’s a Dallas address, it’s the site's software that’s blocking it as "banned." If I turn the off VPN (like right now), the site lets me log in. It’s most frustrating, and to be honest, it’s the reason I so seldom participate here any longer.

Years ago this Board had a problem with spammers, and IIRC, Mr. Cotton banned the use of VPN. I'm sure I don't remember the details accurately.

That's the exact same symptoms I had - the bypasser in Surfshark is the same as turning off the VPN - for the designated site/app only. So the board allows me in, but without the bypasser, it gives me the banned message.

Same issue for me ... currently using Proton VPN and previously using Express VPN.. same same..
The site is in decline for more reasons than just this...
#1 among them is that nobody is approving new users.. No new blood for a long while.
From the forum homepage... newest user "hammertime" Join date 27-Feb-2021.