Delays in loading Forum Screens

[processhead]

Does anyone else have issues with their browser taking a long time to load content from SMF? I really enjoy the site, it's just time consuming. What am I doing wrong?

 

[rabbithutch]

We need more information.  Slow response can be attributed to many things from those on the server that hosts SMF all the way out to your computer.

What type of service are you using . . .   dial up or broadband?  What speed do you get?  Have you run a SpeedTest?  What kind of computer are you running (processor speed, RAM)? How many apps are running on your computer?  Have you talked to your ISP? et al

I run broadband cable and get good results on an old 1.8GHz processor with 4GB RAM.  I haven't noticed any response time issues at SMF.

 

[jimf]

I view the forum regularly on 4 different computers (windows & Mac), an iphone (on wifi and 3g), and an ipad (wifi).  I have not experienced any problems

 

[diggingdogfarm]

What operating system and browser?



~Martin

 

[processhead]

I have the same speed issue from two different computers on two different networks.

Both locations are broadband connections, I am using XP SP3 and IE on both. I don't experience any latency issues with other web sites, just  SMF.

I guess that's why I find it odd.

 

[s2k9k]

I have speed problems here at work but I attribute it to all the idiots illegally downloading movies!

Other than that everything works fine. I use Google Chrome.

 

[orlandosmoking]

Seemed slow yesterday evening but is back up to speed today. I just figured the server was extra busy. Running win 7 and ie on broadband cable.

Don

 

[lght]

I signed up a while back and noticed the problem on day 1.  It was one of the main reasons why I almost never used my account and even now I only use it at the office when I don't mind waiting for page loads because i'm stuck behind my desk regardless.  It doesn't have any thing to do with your pc or connection speed or anything else of that nature.  
 
Not sure why, but the forum doesn't use common online forum software like Vbulletin, phpBB, or Invision.  Instead they use Huddler families software??  If you do your research you will realize that "Huddler" is a marketing company and there software is VERY intensive on markting plugins which slows down the page loading.  (see old SMF post here)  http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/94572/some-concerns-about-huddler

I've hosted my first Bulletin Board software back in 1992 and as I write this I've never even heard of "Huddler" before and after reading the post I know why.  Most people don't want to be tracked to death and give up privacy and performance as a result.
 
Because huddler is a marketing company there are a LOT of java scripts that track, log, record, and store your post.  Normally a few scripts won't slow down page loads much, but if you use too many of them your going to end up with a really slow loading page.  If you look at the source code you and search for "script" you will see java scripts and or API's for the below.  
 
google-analytics.com
scorecardresearch.com
Facebook.com
viglink.com
quantserve.com
crowdscience.com
Yahooapis.com
google-analytics.com
doubleclick.net

I normal site may use 1-2, but wow they use just about every tracking / marketing service available :(

 

[uechikid]

I view the forum on three different computers and have the same problem on all of them with pages loading slow, painfully slow.  But I really like this forum so I'll deal with it.

 

[diggingdogfarm]

Revealing the solution may get me in trouble, so all I'm going to say is, pay very close attention to LGHT's post.




~Martin

 

[lght]

It's not really broken in which it needs to be fixed, but the owner simply went the route of selecting software from a marketing company that will essentially yield him more profits.   This was very common back in the late 90's when online pages realized that they could "sell" advertisement based on how many "clicks" a site got a day.  The more clicks the more money you could make.  Then 10-15 years later that's all, but dead so now companies try and sell tracking data to make those lost profits back. 

Most forums have some overhead and cost even if minimal and having ads, tracking scripts, etc is a means of generating more profit to cover those cost.  Some guys setup online forums for the fun and do it because of the passion they have toward the subject at hand while others try and use the forum to generate profit even if it's only a few hundred bucks a month.  The problem with the later is they essentially loose "customers" do to slowness complaints which in the long run decrease their long term potential profit. 

I also enjoy the forum and the guys here, but I can assure you the slowness is by far the reason why I only average 2 post per month over the last 4 years.

 

[rabbithutch]

I have the same speed issue from two different computers on two different networks.

Both locations are broadband connections, I am using XP SP3 and IE on both. I don't experience any latency issues with other web sites, just  SMF.

I guess that's why I find it odd.

Try Firefox!  I don't know that it will solve any issues for you, but it might.  IE is way too bulky.  I'm using XP-Pro SP3 and broadband cable modem.  Never had a response time issue here at SMF.   Of course, the interwebs are long and diverse.  It could possibly be that you are coming through a node somewhere that takes a bit longer with the SMF pages - not likely but possible.

 

[rabbithutch]

I signed up a while back and noticed the problem on day 1.  It was one of the main reasons why I almost never used my account and even now I only use it at the office when I don't mind waiting for page loads because i'm stuck behind my desk regardless.  It doesn't have any thing to do with your pc or connection speed or anything else of that nature.  
 
Not sure why, but the forum doesn't use common online forum software like Vbulletin, phpBB, or Invision.  Instead they use Huddler families software??  If you do your research you will realize that "Huddler" is a marketing company and there software is VERY intensive on markting plugins which slows down the page loading.  (see old SMF post here)  http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/94572/some-concerns-about-huddler

I've hosted my first Bulletin Board software back in 1992 and as I write this I've never even heard of "Huddler" before and after reading the post I know why.  Most people don't want to be tracked to death and give up privacy and performance as a result.
 
Because huddler is a marketing company there are a LOT of java scripts that track, log, record, and store your post.  Normally a few scripts won't slow down page loads much, but if you use too many of them your going to end up with a really slow loading page.  If you look at the source code you and search for "script" you will see java scripts and or API's for the below.  
 
google-analytics.com
scorecardresearch.com
Facebook.com
viglink.com
quantserve.com
crowdscience.com
Yahooapis.com
google-analytics.com
doubleclick.net

I normal site may use 1-2, but wow they use just about every tracking / marketing service available :(

Try Ghostery, (http://www.ghostery.com/) a free download that blocks stuff you don't want.  It gives you the ability to set various things to fit your pistol but it stops the trackers very very well.

 

[lght]

Try Ghostery, (http://www.ghostery.com/) a free download that blocks stuff you don't want.  It gives you the ability to set various things to fit your pistol but it stops the trackers very very well.

I'm old skool so I just use pix and proxies to filter things I don't want to see or block. 

 

[chilefarmer]

I to find that the pages load very slow, way slower than most. CF

Win xp pro

Satellite INTERNET service.

 

[daveomak]

I don't see the problem you are all speaking of....  Considering the wonderful photography that is prevalent on this site, the wait, if any, is worth it....  like waiting for a pulled pork butt that takes 8-10 hours.....  of a fine proscuito that takes 8 - 12 months.....  Some things just can't be hurried......

My 2 cents...   Dave

 

[smokinsue16101]

I've been having the same problem.  Thought it was just my machine.

 

[smokinhusker]

I use Google Chrome, cable internet and Win 7 pc, less than a yr old. In the past few days I have noticed it takes just a bit longer for the ads to load from time to time but then again I usually open multiple windows of various posts. 

 

[thoseguys26]

LGHT is on the spot. It's just a lot of scripts running in the background as this software tries to collect a lot of info from its visitors. Plus it's very heavy on images (that's a good thing) so your download speed will affect your experience.

I even notice it at times and I'm on a brand new macbook pro loaded up with the best apple provides. I also have 50 tabs open and every adobe program running at the same time. :)

 

[sound1]

I had that problem with IE and about any forum I visited. I tried using Chrome, problem solved.