Bad connection

[Mark Slater]

I have a very bad connection to this site. It takes minutes to load a page - and more often than not a page won't load at all. It isn't due to graphics loading, in fact once the page starts to load an image, the response is usually much better. A few times I've checked source html and sometimes only the first few lines load - then no further response.

It has taken around a dozen trys just to get this far posting.

Is this a problem for anyone else?
Perhaps there is a browser setting I have that is preventing good response??

[T Paul]

What browser are you using (Internet Explorer, Netscape....)? Is it the lastest version? Also are you running any firewall programs such as Norton Internet Security or Zone Alarm? Are you running Windows, and if so have you check for the latest updates/patches?

~T

[chris h]

There's so many variables its hard to know where to start, connection speed etc. I run IE6, Opera and Firefox and the site loads very quickly on all.

[Mark Slater]

Thanks for quick response!
I'm using latest IE6 SP1 (2800.1106IC)
The firewall is very light - integrated with 602lan. I don't have the same problems with any other site, so I don't think it's this.
Win98SE fully updated with MS security CD + windows update only last week. This had made no difference to the problem.

Mark

Originally Posted by T Paul

What browser are you using (Internet Explorer, Netscape....)? Is it the lastest version? Also are you running any firewall programs such as Norton Internet Security or Zone Alarm? Are you running Windows, and if so have you check for the latest updates/patches?

~T

[Doug Nelson]

Check any privacy software you have, make sure we're whitelisted or trusted or 'friendly' or whatever they call it.

[Mark Slater]

Thanks Doug, I have tried Opera and Firefox recently also with same slow loading. BUT ... today speed is quite good! This problem has been with me for the last few weeks at least, perhaps since the site upgrade.

I posted here thinking that there might be an issue your end - but I guess not. I haven't had the sme problem with any other sites, at least not at the moment.

I vaguely remember one other site I visited that also was very slow until I has posted at least once.

I wil check my white/trust listings. The only problem I could think of was I had third party cookies blocked, but I tested that here and of course no problem in that area!

Occasionally I think there are personality viruses on the net, they just get into a huff over something and don't co-operate. Lol

Hopefully, all will continue OK from now. Again.. thanks for your reply!

Mark

PS love your animated warning. I can relate whether the poor little chap is nodding off or just plain head-banging! :-)

[Flora]

Hi all,

Particularly in the last 10 days or so, I've had the same problem, (still have), as Mark has....

Sometimes I'm "only" having a very hard time in trying to connect to RP, other times I don't even get the connection ... other times no problem at all .... Like for Mark, this only affects my connection to RP!

From where I am at the moment, I connect to the Internet via dial-up .... that says it all about speed .... But I've been here nearly a month now, and never had a problem before...

I use Netscape 7.1, I didn't change any of my settings, I'm not behind a firewall ...

Does anyone know if the Gremlins exist???

[T Paul]

Typically when only a few sites load slowly it may simply be popular pages on overloaded servers.

Why is it taking so long for the pages to download?

Even using the best equipment available, you may experience delays when viewing web pages. Below are some of the major reasons for slow loading of web pages.

The Internet/Network/Server is busy
The Internet uses a series of connected computer networks to transfer information. Any point in the chain of communication is potentially a weak link. So if any part of the network connection is slow the whole process is slow. Similarly at peak times servers may experience high demand and therefore slow down. The only option is to be patient or to try again later!

The page is ‘big’
Good web site design focuses on keeping file sizes as small as possible. The smaller the size the quicker the page loads.

And finally!
Poor network connections or bad signals from telephone companies can also affect the quality and speed of your Internet connection.

[Mark Slater]

In one way I'm pleased that I'm not the only one having trouble - at least Im not imagining things!! Though, I'm sorry to hear Flora is also having difficulty.

The behaviour seems to be like a very overloaded or flaky server. It also seemed to vary in difficulty according to time of day?? I did find a timeout message somewhere in a log when I looked. Just want to say again - it was only happening with RetouchPro. Sometimes a page would load only as far as the doctype tag.

It is only happening infrequently now for me.

[Flora]

T Paul,

Thank you *so much* for your patient explanation ....

Mark,

Originally Posted by Mark Slater

In one way I'm pleased that I'm not the only one having trouble - at least Im not imagining things!! Though, I'm sorry to hear Flora is also having difficulty.

...my feelings exactly after reading your post ....

[Paris]

Sorry to hear that both you, Mark, and Flora are having this problem. If there is a spare seat I'd like to join you.

I'm having exactly the same problem as you good folks. Takes forever for the site to load. All my browser settings are fine, firewall is permitted to access site, but still problems. At times nothing loads, yet later when I get on the site it says I last visited at such-n-such a time, which was the time that I couldn't access the site. I'm in Australia so the problem is not localised to just Flora and Mark.
I have tried the work computer with the same results. I wonder if it's a bandwidth problem - server wise?
Very frustrating, because even though I don't get a page loading it logs as I've been there and this makes new posts unavailable in the "New Posts" menu.
I don't seem to be having this problem with other sites.
HELP - I'm missing a great site. Open to suggestions.

**Paris**

[Doug Nelson]

Sounds like it's loading fine, just having trouble displaying. So many things could cause this, from privacy software to browser plug-ins that conflict.

We've had a few situations where I screwed something up and most people were having problems, but the only case I can remember where only a handful were having problems were related to embedded data in uploaded images. There's an in-depth thread here somewhere about that. The only way to fix that is for someone to methodically find which image is causing the problem and then I can delete it.

[Mark Slater]

Paris, I'm in Australia too! Like you I'm just annoyed that access is limited for me to such a great site!

We had a problem similar on another board. It appeared that member's sites hosted with Verizon would not load for anyone in Australia or New Zealand. We didn't resolve it. Someone suggested that it was "a bad hop". I don't know, but we were totally locked out, although I could view verizon's home page.

The difference here is that pages do load but only partially and sometimes fully if a bit slow.

Doug, I don't know if it would be an image, because I've consistently seen pages stop loading just after doctype tag.

This only took three attempts to post!! :-)

[Doug Nelson]

Another possible solution is a cache flush. It's possible a corrupted version of one of the support files has been cached, and instead of reloading a new one it's referring back to the old one.

Reaching for straws here, but this has actually happened.

[Mark Slater]

Thanks Doug.

I'm not sure if you're referring to client or server side cache. I do have a proxy running, but cache is turned off.

I've flushing my browser cache regularly lately.

BTW. Right now is the fastest response I've had in a while. A short while ago I tried to look at Flora's profile to see if her location is Australia but couldn't load it at all. Even all the smilies loaded!

[Flora]

Hi all!

....Since about an hour I'm back to my "usual" Location which is Italy .... Here I have DSL connection and everything works perfectly (well nearly!!! .... )

I've had, and probably will have, the 'problem' while located in South Africa (where I've been for the last month and where I'm on a Dial-up Connection....)

The most frustrating thing was the irregularity of the problem because, sometimes, everything was working very well, relatively fast and I had no problem in viewing the images....

I also 'flush' Netscape cache regularly ... sooo .... I came to the conclusion that, in my case, the 'problem' was due to

Originally Posted by T Paul

Poor network connections or bad signals from telephone companies ......

[Paris]

So far have tried all the suggestions listed in this section, but sadly still experiencing difficulties.

Mark and Flora, have you managed to solve your issues with access? If so, would you be so kind as to tell me how.

Any and all suggestions most welcome.

**Paris**

[Mark Slater]

Paris,
I'm still getting the problem, but it's irregular. Sometimes no repsonse at all, at others - just slow, and yet other times all OK. It has improved though for me.
The number of times where pages won't load is much less now, but I don't think it's been any setting I've changed my end.
Posting this reply was at normal speed and during the time of day and week where I've previously found it difficult.
Mark

[Mosha]

Friends:
Don't take this the wrong way -- finally some sort of an answer!!!, and I am not the only one -- I thought I was going "nuts". Are we all from countries otuside the US? The same thing has been happening to me for the past 3 days and you wouldn't beleve all the things I've done...everything but formatting my machine. We have a say here in Mexico which says "mal de muchos, consuelo de tontos", "when many are at a loss, only a fool finds confort" well sort of, it looses some in the translation.
How can I flush the cache...I've never done it, sorry

Mosha

[freelancer]

Hi

To clear your cache in IE6

Tools/Internet Options/General Tab

Temporary Internet Files/Delete Files

[Mark Slater]

Good luck Mosha,
Hey I like your quote!
My connection improved when I went to broadband. I don't think it was the better bandwidth - simply a different ISP, so the routing was changed. To back up this thought: I had a speed limited plan so I was down to 28.8 for part of last month and could still access RetouchPro without problem.
I'm guessing it was one or more congested servers somewhere along the line that was causing the problem for me. I never did find out for sure.

Mark

[Mosha]

Thanks Mark:

Well guys, It's official, I BELONG SOMEWHERE!!! I belong to the "Foreign RP problematic connection fighters League", and the bad news is that all of us in this forum which are "foreign" to the US are members of this League. (I told you I was going mad from frustration not beeing able to work and learn from RP, so you will have to excuse me).
I've tried connecting through a DSL wide band connection, (at the office) and still have the pbroblem, so after reviewing all the facts, I came to the conclusion that it has to do with something related to our different countries Internet connections.

Be brave my friends, and don't dispair....
Love to all
Mosha ( smilie winking), (remember I can't even see the smilies)

[ljl269]

Similar to a PING, this will tell you where ur packets r going & how long it takes. Serves to keep u from wondering if it's ur browser & u might be amazed. Search Google 2 find site that does this.

http://www.dslreports.com/tools will allow u to test ur connect speeds vs others in ur area (Mine is INSANE!). Test during non-peak hrs- makes 100% difference

HTH-Larry

[Mosha]

Hi HTH-Larry.-

Thanks for your tip, I'll try to follow your advice, though I must tell you that for the moment, everything is working ok again (cross my fingers for it to last)
But I'll keep monitoring it.

Mosha

[ljl269]

Glad it's OK now.

If a fast server is down, ur packets will be sent to slower alternates. Distance is unimportant since packets go at speed of light.
I once traced a route that was Fl > Ga > England > USSR > China ... Ca > Va !! This was faster than an all USA route that it later had to take.

See http://www.dslreports.com/faq/2310 re ROUTER.

HTH-Larry