# Ed or Jerry..please delete if necessary **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 29, 2000, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814 "2000-05-29T18:22:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/1 "2000-05-29T18:22:53Z")
Any of my past threads. It might add some room for the board to move around. I could have washed my car while waiting for mpsims to load. I could have washed it again waiting for this post page to load. It has been that way since the new forum and mods were added ( no offence guys). I am not the only one either…I have spoken to several people that can’t even get on this board anymore without a 15-20 minute wait. Usually 5 minutes on each forum. I don’t think it is my machine. I am running a 56K, 64 mgs RAM and 20 gigs of memory to move around in. And there is no good time of day or night, the board acts the same all the time… for me at least. I realize that the board is under a big load and a lot of strain so if there is anything us posters can do, please let us know. Thanks, aha ---
**Author:** ![aenea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@aenea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aenea)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/2 "2000-05-29T18:50:44Z")
pssssttt…that’s 20 gigs of HDD space. I think that’s what you meant anyways. BTW, where did you get that large drive and was it very expensive? ---
**Author:** ![Silo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Silo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silo)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/3 "2000-05-29T19:37:25Z")
Hey aenea, I have a big hard drive too. Heheh. Ok, I have to brag about my computer now, 733Megahertz uP, 128 mb RAM, 40 gig hard drive!,19 in high def. monitor. Ok enough!!! Aha, their server is having trouble handling the load, that is the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/4 "2000-05-29T19:47:27Z")
Hmmmm, this is so odd. I have a dinky old piece of garbage computer at home (1.5 Gig HD [and 1.2 of it’s used - yikes!], a measly 32mb RAM, a speedy(not) 28.8 baud modem and a 120 megahertz pentium) and the board loads super fast for me. At work, however, where I have 4 times the HD space, 4 times the memory and a 56k modem, I can’t get diddly going with the board. It takes at LEAST 10 minutes to post a reply, and then, most of the time I get an error message but the reply still posted. What’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/5 "2000-05-29T19:53:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Aha, their server is having trouble handling the load, that is the problem. > \*\* There is also some evidence that one of the internet routers in Chicago is having problems and kicking out quite a bit of the traffic, so the problem may not be with our servers at all. ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/6 "2000-05-29T20:04:41Z")
Alright, something I know a bit about. First of all, your modem type (28.8k, 33.6k, 56k, etc.) just gives you a higher potential connection speed. You have to check your actual connection baud rate (My 56k modem only connects me at 28.8) I have two computers, one very old and very crappy, while the other is pretty decent. Yet my old one has a more consistent baud rate connection to the internet because the phone line that it is connected to carries less noise on the line. Another potential problem is not the server that the SDMB is using, but rather your ISP server you connect to. Shayna, your connection to the internet from your house may be better because it is more direct. Your connection at work (I’m assuming here) probably goes through a firewall of some sort, and that can slow things down a bit. Also, if you’re on a network with other people sharing the internet with you, that can slow things waaaay down. The best way to speed up your internet connect is either A) Get a new phone line to plug into or get your current one checked out and repaired if necessary B) Get a new ISP C) Get DSL or cable connections if you can (Unfortunately, I can’t get any kind of broadband access) ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/7 "2000-05-29T20:22:27Z")
Good suggestions, all, Monster, as I’m already in the process of implementing them. 😃 As much rock-throwing as goes on here against AOL, I’ve been quite happy with their service. At work we have AT&T, and franky, it sucks. And we were not networked and no firewalls existed. But at this very moment I have someone in my office installing a network and Time Warner has finally made Roadrunner available in our area. Although at the moment it’s only set up for residential use, because we’re a consultant to them, they’re providing it to our office for use on our network with the understanding that we’ll have to rely on our in-house MIS guy for technical support until their business service is up and running. So a cable connection is on its way - YAY! Oh, and all brand new, kick-ass computers, too! I just said, “Bossman, we need this,” and he said, “OK, buy whatever you want.” How cool is that?!! Let’s hope it helps. I can’t live without MPSIMS at work! Hehehehe ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/8 "2000-05-29T20:31:06Z")
Wow…you just have to say “Bossman, get this” and he gets it? Well, I hope you enjoy your cable modem, I’m still out of range for roadrunner (stupid middle of nowhere house…I swear, eventually I’m going to the pit with that one). My friends who have roadrunner are pretty satisfied, and setting up cable on new computers will be a very noticeable difference. You’re one lucky person, Shayna. ---
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/9 "2000-05-29T20:35:12Z")
Ok I believe I have 144 megahertz. yeah aenea I did mean harddrive space. I ordered from gateway a few months back and had them load on an extra 10 gigs space. Total cost? 1600.00 including shipping. ---
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/10 "2000-05-29T21:30:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Hmmmm, this is so odd. I have a dinky old piece of garbage computer at home (1.5 Gig HD [and 1.2 of it’s used - yikes!], a measly 32mb RAM, a speedy(not) 28.8 baud modem and a 120 megahertz pentium) and the board loads super fast for me. Shayna it loads fast for you because you are a non-smoking gorgeous jewish american princess… ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/11 "2000-05-29T23:10:25Z")
Why you can get a 30 gig HD these days for $161.00… If its ATA66, itll be twice as fast. aha, you aren’t connecting right to the board, but thru a bunch of computers on the way to the board. If you did a traceroute like I did, it shows which computers are the slow ones. If you went to [straightdope.com](http://straightdope.com) & tested that, you’d see it was just fine. [boards.straightdope.com](http://boards.straightdope.com) as several slow computer on the way…try a traceroute next time & youll feel better. ---
**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/12 "2000-05-30T02:01:29Z")
I spent 3 days trying to load the boards. My computer showed that I was loading at 31200. However, the pages would load about halfway and not finish. I mean after 10-15 minutes, still incomplete. I was trying at all times of day, from the same computer, using the same access numbers. Today, I’m back to normal. None of the boards would load, I couldn’t even get the board index. I’m in rural Northern California, if that helps, and no other websites were affected. ---
**Author:** ![Jetty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4da419/32.png) [@Jetty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jetty)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/13 "2000-05-30T02:11:41Z")
What browser are you using? When I try using Netscape, it takes FOREVER for the board to load, but when I use IE, it loads in no time. ---
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/14 "2000-05-30T02:15:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > When I try using Netscape, it takes FOREVER for the board to load, but when I use IE, it loads in no time. > \*\* I use Netscape at work and it sucks the big weenie. I hate it! At home I use the AOL browser (no comments) and MIE. ---
**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/15 "2000-05-30T02:26:01Z")
I use MIE. It’s all I have and doesn’t explain my problems of the last few days. I didn’t have problems loading anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/16 "2000-05-30T02:33:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > However, the pages would load about halfway and not finish. I mean after 10-15 minutes, still incomplete. I was trying at all times of day, from the same computer, \*\* That’s the same problem I had; for about four days, nothing would load completely. Most of the time I would just get the banner and ad before it timed out. Oh, and I have a screaming fast DSL connection attached to a Pentium 3. ---
**Author:** ![CreoSote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@CreoSote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CreoSote)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/17 "2000-05-30T02:52:25Z")
@ Work (I work for a networking/communications company) Some new Dell, going over a T1, loads slick as lightning. (dunno how slick or lightning is, tho). I dunno how fast it is at home, oddly I have MUCH more free time @ work.  Morkster ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/18 "2000-05-30T07:18:02Z")
The problem is not processor speed, it’s not modem speed, it’s not a Chicago router, and it’s not Napster slowing down the whole Internet. The problem is that the boards themselves are slow. I have no problem whatsoever with any other page I visit, including the non-board pages at [straightdope.com](http://straightdope.com), which would presumably use the same routers as the board. However, on the board, I’m lucky if I can get through after two hours of trying, most times… Tonight seems to be an exception, but then, I’m typing this at 2 AM Chicago time. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-or-jerry-please-delete-if-necessary/20814/19 "2000-05-30T15:55:26Z")
Oh, wanna bet? When it was slow here is the traceroute: traceroute to: [straightdope.com](http://straightdope.com): 1 119 119 216.228.0.20 2 116 -3 216.228.0.1 3 113 -3 216.200.8.4 4 112 -1 208.184.102.41 5 111 -1 216.200.254.162 6 112 1 209.133.31.178 7 113 1 207.98.191.185 8 111 -2 207.98.191.34 9 167 56 207.98.191.10 10 166 -1 209.141.199.18 11 173 7 204.95.48.1 12 180 7 204.95.48.88 Trace Route to; [boards.straightdope.com](http://boards.straightdope.com) Tracing route to 204.95.48.199 50 bytes from 204.95.48.199: time=199 ms Hop Avg Diff Address 1 121 121 216.228.0.20 2 148 27 216.228.0.1 3 122 -26 216.200.8.4 4 114 -8 208.184.102.41 5 213 99 216.200.254.162 6 111 -102 209.133.31.182 7 131 20 207.98.191.185 8 317 186 209.141.199.9 9 163 -154 209.141.199.18 10 165 2 204.95.48.1 11 180 15 204.95.48.199 Look at how slow some of those coputers on the way to the board are…nuff said.