What happened to NGRM?

[velotrain]

Their site has been MIA for about a week.  At first I took it to be an ISP issue, but now I just don't know.

[RJS1977]

It's definitely still working - I've been on it this evening and most other days over the last week!

[velotrain]

Hmmm . . . Thinking it could be some sort of cache issue, I've tried getting there from a web search instead of my saved link, but with no luck.

 

I get "waiting for Google" and then "This page can't be displayed".  Guess I need to try another browser.  Do any techies know of a browser (Google) refusing to acknowledge a site?

 

I tried linking a photo before Christmas and had an error - perhaps that caused something fatal on my end?

 

Thanks for the info.

[PaulRhB]

There was some discussion when they altered some settings that made it harder to find, unless you put in the exact address, after a few attacks. Word of mouth works well for finding specialist fora so I'd try clearing cookies and cache and see if that helps.

[Southwold]

I've been able to get NGRM without any problem since before Christmas. In fact I have it open in another tab at this moment. I use Firefox for browsing. Hope this helps

[RJS1977]

Although I use Torch for most sites these days, I still use IE for NGRM because it's remembered the password and I can't be bothered going through all the rigmarole of changing the password to switch it across!

[velotrain]

OK - I had been locating it via search, to hopefully eliminate cache, etc. issues, but have now tried:

clearing cache and cookies, multiple browsers and search engines - they all time out trying to connect to the site's server. 

 

I'm giving up - at least until February.

[Mike Bellamy]

Sorry to hear of the problems - just used wife's laptop as my PC has it saved as a favourite and ngrm-online.com took me straight to the site and so it must be a problem with your own machine - but I have no idea what !

[Irishswissernie]

I have just been on it and have had no problems since well before Christmas.

 

Ernie

[velotrain]

Since it apparently isn't obvious to all, at this point additional people saying they can access the site is less than brilliant.

[velotrain]

Sorry to hear of the problems - just used wife's laptop as my PC has it saved as a favourite and ngrm-online.com took me straight to the site and so it must be a problem with your own machine - but I have no idea what !

 

That's the sort of creative thinking we need.

[Hobby]

But it's a fair comment, if everyone else can get on then it narrows it down to your machine, doesn't it... Delete one of your browsers and reload it? Otherwise some other programme than the browser is blocking it perhaps?

[Kenton]

Aren't computers wonderful, so adaptable to the user ...

 

(Oh, and despite the fact that is just repeating what everyone else is saying, and may be a surprise to many - NGRM even works for me :D )

 

I guess I could also say something along the lines of: What does it matter when you can clearly access RMWeb. A site that covers all railway modelling interests and preceded all them other ME2 sites?

[PLD]

As you can not access it but others can it may be that your IP Address is being blocked...

 

From what I've heard the owners are a strange lot and various users have found themselves suddenly blocked without explanation or their account deleted (as in my case and when contacted they denied I had ever had an account despite me being able to show them the 'welcome' e-mail!)

 

I'd just accept that your face apparently doesn't fit and walk away...

[PaulRhB]

NGRM does offer stuff RMweb doesn't, yes you have to abide by the owners rules and yes it is a fun forum.

I can't comment on why accounts might be lost but a polite email asking to start a new one should be no problem, there was a glitch when the forum changed software. To be honest as one of the owners suffers with a serious condition and is of a strong character he might have been caught on a bad day and decided he didn't want hassle. It is worth politely persevering as there are some exceptional modellers on there who are only interested in NG.

Much like rmwebs mods block things they have their reasons unknown to the wider audience so they will tell you personally if there's a reason

[velotrain]

Thanks for the helpful info PLD and Paul - a welcome marked contrast!

 

I was also considering a blocked IP address, although my last "activity" was an odd error while trying to add photo attachment code to a post.  However - that may quality based on the characterization of the owner.

 

I did write Matt, and he responded, "We are experiencing problems with the (CK editor) software that runs the site."

 

There are potential situations in internet-land between "it works for me" and "must be your machine".  Just because it's a narrow-gauge forum, doesn't mandate narrow minds.

 

However he also mentions IE 11, and I reverted to IE 10 when Andy told me that IE 11 was causing problems here.

 

I'll wait and see what Matt says after the holiday, then consider options.

 

Although - as Kenton says, this site is quite good.

[Kenton]

As regards IP address blocking - it is sometimes actually quite crude - it might not be personal but someone else that has been moderated and you end up implicated. It can always be evaded by those who are in the know so a very blunt instrument.

 

Good luck - I actually quite like NGRM (as well as RMWeb) I just don't post there very often ...... so it is probably all the better for that

['CHARD]

Although - as Kenton says, this site is quite good.

 

Did he?  I didn't see any words of qualification!

[corax67]

I hadn't come across NGRM before this thread but have just registered (accessed fine via my iPad) as, following a visit from kindly Santa I have narrow gauge toys which need a layout for them to play on.

 

It does look like an excellent resource at first glance, but will never replace RMWeb for me - honest Andy

[velotrain]

Did he?  I didn't see any words of qualification!

 

NAS.  LOL.   ALLOAFC.

[velotrain]

As regards IP address blocking - it is sometimes actually quite crude - it might not be personal but someone else that has been moderated and you end up implicated. It can always be evaded by those who are in the know so a very blunt instrument.

 

 

If that is indeed the issue, I'm quite certain it was caused by the error process triggered while trying to attach a photo, as I was logged out and couldn't get back in- no human intervention. 

 

I'm planning to use a machine at a library to test this out.

 

I ran across Narrow Gauge and Branchline Modeling, but it seems morbid; it appears to be run by another idiosyncratic gent.

[Kenton]

 

it appears to be run by another idiosyncratic gent.

I think you will find they all are.

 

It takes a lot of personal dedication, time and money to run a social network site. Most do not succeed (reasons can be varied) and fighting off the inevitable scum that floats to the surface of the internet is part of the problem, not forgetting the generally poor software and support.

 

I don't think Andy's RMWeb has been immune or different - it has survived because of his dedication and the wide membership that the content under his guidance has attracted. Any forum is only as good as its membership - if we didn't keep posting, it would go the same way.

 

 

I didn't see any words of qualification!

:blind: :blind:

[velotrain]

Well - it was in fact NOT my computer, but issues with the site servers/ISP.  Do remember this the next time you're tempted to quickly state, "If it's not "A", then it must be "B" - regarding anything.  While many people said they could reach NGRM, none bothered to mention the many problems that others were reporting from the same time - just before Christmas.  Check the Website Info forum.

 

The below from Matt:

 

> We are currently talking with the server provider, which I believe they have
introduced new security measures which could be effecting the forum. I'll
let you know when they have removed them, for you to try again.

 

> The hosting company have made changes to the server, please could you try
and access the forum now. Let me know if the issues persist.

 

> It was some form of Anti-Spam software which was implemented on the server,
but the hosting company was unaware that the forum has its own anti-spam
software and what we used on the web space. . . . . . . The hosting company
have been doing lots of work on the server, shame they fail to contact their
customers!!

 

I can now access the site; whether I can post photos is TBD, as many were experiencing issues with this from before the server problem.  Also, as hopefully can be seen from the above, I found Matt quite reasonable to deal with, and I appreciated his follow-up efforts.

 

Charles

[Brandyman]

I ran across Narrow Gauge and Branchline Modeling, but it seems morbid; it appears to be run by another idiosyncratic gent.

To clarify.

 

The owner of the forum has passed it's day to day running over to others. Including the moderation of all members including himself.

 

He has the final say obviously, but if it gets to that stage phone calls are made.

We are a small forum but I find hard to swallow that we inter-discuss other forums shortfalls including NGRM on the WEB

[Kenton]

 

I find hard to swallow that we inter-discuss other forums shortfalls including NGRM on the WEB

I agree it is not good etiquette and such matters are best aired on the respective forum (as long as the powers that be permit such self-criticism - RMWeb always has). However, it is always useful to know if a forum is in difficulty or a new one is set up in competition.

 

My own personal view is that all have nothing different to offer than RMWeb, most of them are mere copies and frequently more narrow minded/focused, some of them simply run by the disaffected and malcontents rejected from RMWeb. Visiting them all is a bit like a pub crawl, they all look the same once you have had a pint or two and you waste good drinking time walking between them.