SANParks.org Forums

This is a bit that is actually in the The User Control Panel explained topic, but I think it's a handy topic on it's own as well.
Read the bit below, you get to this options screen by clicking this link.

Edit display options


Now here is a screen with options which people with dial-up or other slow internet connections can do something with! People on ADSL or other highspeed connections may find it a little less usefull.

The options:

Display images within posts
Set to no, you will not see the photos posted in the topics. But it saves you an awful lot of loading time. Instead of a photo you see this: [ img ], which links to the photo. When clicked you do get to see the photo, so it is actually a very good option to use when reading for instance the tripreports.

Display Flash animations
Set to no it will not show flash animations. However, as flash is not used on this site you will not notice any difference.

Display smilies as images
Set to no smilies like will display as a code only, in this case 8). This speeds up loading of pages.

Display avatars
Set to no avatars will not display, speeding up the loading of pages.

Enable word censoring
As abusive language is not allowed on the forums there should be no noticeable difference between the settings.

Display topics / posts from previous days
I think these options explain themselves...

Thanks, DQ

I know someone who is on dial-up that I'm sending this to asap!!!

Thanks DQ!!

Thanks DQ indeed! I'm on mobile phone link up. Just disabled images, avatars and signatures. It loads in a flash! If I want to see an image I click on the link! Whoo-hoo!

Great tips, DQ!

I wonder how many people use this now?

I use the tips for when i use my cell phone and it works wonders!

Okay, that works, I use it myself a lot on my phone.

But since today there is another option (not for the phone), Opera Turbo.

Opera Turbo uses a server-side optimization and compression technology that provides significant improvements in browsing speeds over limited-bandwidth connections by compressing network traffic. This does not only make you surf faster, but also lowers the cost of browsing when you are on a pay per usage plan. (Also read: helps you reach your cap way later!)

Now that sounds rather technical, so in short and laymans terms, you'll be getting your pages through their server.
It compresses text before sending, saving some downloadtime and bandwidth, and it also gives you a poorer quality graphics, again saving time and bandwidth.

I work with a like option here, and never miss the high quality graphics, except when I am rating photos. But then I just set it to high quality again.

Download and more information.

I used precious mB to download Opera - but find it is no better than Firefox which I have used for a while. I carfully watched the total mB per page loading with each one to compare! And the Firefox page is much clearer too.