I continue to have the problem of posting here. I will write a response, and get either a screen that says "try again in 30 seconds" or "timed out". But if I do anything but log off the site and log back on again, I risk the problem of a double post, as most of the time my post goes through anyway.

I merely report this "for the good of the order", as I have no idea how to fix it.

Thanks,
Richard

Richard,

I have the same problem once in a while. I use AOL but it seems to happen when there are very few people on the boards. I have learned that if it does time out, that my message has usually been posted. I wait and verify that that is what happened. I've just learned to accept some of these computer things that could make you crazy. <img border="0" alt="[Hammer]" title="" src="graemlins/hammer.gif" />

When Ken comes home, I will have him take a look at the problem.

I have never seen the "try again in 30 seconds" or "timed out" message before but I imagine its frustrating.

Karen:

I've had the same experience, but like Kathy, I just close the site....then re-enter. My post is always there. I think the double posts happen when we use "reload". Because I often use AOL, that may be the culprit but it's not really a problem, just a little time consuming, but heck, I've got the time, if not the patience! <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_6_109v.gif' alt='Waiting' border=0></a>

We just switched to DSL last week. I find that I am still experiencing problems, as well. Sometimes when I click onto the name of the person who has posted last on a thread, it doesn't take me to that person's post, at the end of the thread. It takes me to the top.

When I edit my posts, many times it will not edit correctly. I have to make a few attempts before the edit makes the correction.

I've never had a problem, but I don't post nearly as often as the rest of you. We do have a cable connection to the internet.

I've never had a problem, but I am on the old slow dial up as DSL is not available in the country and I use Earthlink as my ISP. Wow an advantage to old antiquated systems! That is a first.

I am sometimes slow but think it is due to my server between 9-5 but rarely have trouble at home on a cable connection.

R

The board is really slow this morning. Takes almost 4 minutes to make a post. I learned to site back and wait while it churns away or it will make a double post. I have very high speed broadband when I'm at home.

I just timed how long it took to load the page and I didn't get all the way through one mississippi :)

I am sure Ken can figure out what is wrong when he gets back.

At home we do not have DSL and I seldom have problems.
At work I do and I frequently have to hit refresh to make things happen.
I also have received a note saying "to busy to allow my post to be served" (or something like that), so I just get out and when I go back my post is there.

I have had DSL since I started this board. I have never had any of the problems that have been posted, however it does seem that they do stem from "server" problems.
It really has to do with graphics. This site is intensive with alot of pictures that have to load every time something changes, even if it is one word.
Alot of other message boards use very few graphics for that reason.
Ken will check when he gets back. This is his forte'

I did have the tech from infopop visit here a few weeks ago, he seems to think that our server is too small. Since we just upgraded, I was surprised to hear that.

Another reason I didn't think that was the reason is that some of us have problems and some of us don't. You would think if it was the server, that we all would have a problem.

it has to do with time of day, how many are online, and how many are actually "doing" something....activity on the site, negotiating the site. People on at 3am, or offtimes would have no problem. Definitely stems from the server. John

John, I am pretty much on all day long til about 11pm and have never received the errors that some of the gang has been reporting!

I have DSL and have not received an error message on LTC

John - you DO know that you're logged on as Kimmi, right? :)

Masaki

YEs Kimmi has hijacked my laptop (Due to it being wireless) She now keeps herself logged on which messes me up.

Just making sure that you weren't having an identity crisis or anything ... ;) Amanda used to borrow my laptop as well to surf - I put an end to that by buying her her own. :D :D

Masaki

Oooooh GREAT idea, Masaki. My husband will love you for that one ;) I guess YOU just love your wife THAT much!

Kimmi - I'm not touching that one with a 10-foot pole! :D But knowing Amanda, she'll be on this thread eventually to add her 2 cents ... :)

Masaki

I've had that 30 sec thing a few times.. but if you hit refresh sometimes that works. But many times it takes a long time to get this site/board to open.. ( never have with other sites.. so not sure what that is?)

Jan and I have 4 different e mail addresses.
2 work and 2 personal. Sometimes it really confusses people when they get emails from us on different address. All has to do with which computer we are working on.

It double posted again!

Hey, I didn't use his laptap that often! But I have to admit that I do love my Powerbook...maybe that'll be a good hint for John. :D
LCT does take a long time to load but I've never gotten kicked off or had that 30 second message.

We are back and Ken is going to see what if anything can be done. Cant sleep it is 5.00 am so I am checking the boards.

I am not a "techie" but these are the facts in laymans terms as I understand them and I may have some things wrong of course.

These boards work and operate so differently from a normal web site. Lots of things are far more complicated than on any other type of site. Just like we could not load a simple button for the Chat feature. I do have more empathy now for cruise critic and all the issues they faced when they tried to update their boards and change things.

We went to a very large I think called "virtual server", far more than we ever thought we would need so it is not the "size" of the server, so going to an even larger server would not solve the problem. I think when Karen talked to the Tech from the boards they always say it is the server. Standard answer. Servers of all types do have problems at times. The extensive graphics I know causes problems but we have tons of bandwith to accommodate them but they still need to load everytime and that takes time and can cause problems. The larger the boards get the more of a problem this could become. I really like the graphics. If we had no graphics we may have no problems but what a boring board that would be.

Anyway Ken will research this and see if anything can be done. I have come to learn that "technical" problems stem from the servder or site you visit, then your server, your computer etc etc. No simple answers. I personally have never had a double post or any problems here or at the office.Plus the majority of time it loads fast.

I have made one decision though and I am going to post this information below under a new thread. I was talking to LCT'ers on this trip about this and everyone agreed this was probably the best thing to do.

I am going to set up a new sub topic for "Off Topic Posts". This will include all the threads about pets, jokes, birthdays, travel other than cruises. I really think this will be better for a mulitude of reasons.

(1) The obvious issue is for new comers who dont understand all the off topic posts and it does inhibit many from posting real cruise questions.

(2) The off topic posts are growing and I dont want to inhibit that because if you are all enjoying these then that is one of the purposes of this board. However, it makes cruise talk so long at times to dig through to the "meat" of the matter. I notice a lot dont post under jokes, or birthdays, I am one of those myself. I used to feel I had to respond to all of these O/T posts and wish people happy birthday etc. Obviously I saw these posts and to not answer I felt was rude. However, to be honest it takes a lot of time and I usually only post at night and found myself up to all hours and not tending to emails that were coming in so I finally only posted when I have time. There are an increasing number of these posts now. So this way if you have an interest in these aspects you can go to off topic posts. If not you dont have to dig through them all or feel badly that you did not respond. This may be a personal reason for me but others have expressed the same opinion. It does separate all those threads from the real business of the boards.

(3) Also at some point we may have to delete old posts and we dont want to lose any valuable cruise information. These OT posts do not need to be retained forever and this is a much easier way to handle deleting old material. It often seems that these posts are the ones with the most graphics as well. Birthday cakes, tea sets, pictures of pets and family. So this could help with our graphics issues.

I know some of you may not like having to open two different threads but I think this is the best decision for the majority of people. You cannot please all the people all the time. So I am going to ask John or Karen to start a new thread called

Off Topic Posts
Posts for birthdays, jokes, pet or personal posts, posts relating to anything other than posts about cruises.

Ok this is 2 days in a row I have had this problem.
When ever I want to "add a reply" I have to get completely out of LCT and then come back.
What happens is after I send the message I get a blank screen which says done at the bottom left hand corner. I have waited up to 10 minutes and nothing happens.
If I hit the refresh button everything will come back but I usually get a double post when I do that so I just get out of LCT and start over.

Ok this is 2 days in a row I have had this problem.
When ever I want to "add a reply" I have to get completely out of LCT and then come back.
What happens is after I send the message I get a blank screen which says done at the bottom left hand corner. I have waited up to 10 minutes and nothing happens.
If I hit the refresh button everything will come back but I usually get a double post when I do that so I just get out of LCT and start over.

If there is a problem, my computer (Mac) is usually the one to experience it, but I have had none of these problems!