Slowness of site

[sdr46]

I don't like to complain, but....

I used to play many more moves a day here, but the response time of the site is so slow, that I can make 5 moves at a different chess site in the time I can make one move here.

This is not something new. It has been going on for quite some time. I just am finally getting it off my chest.

I hope that Stan, or his hosting server, can one day once again get the speed on the site up to its competitors.

Sdr46

[Stan Steliga]

Sheldon - Are you using a dial-up internet connection? I'm not saying the site is as fast as it used to be, but it seems to have a very reasonable speed for me most of the time.

I think one thing that is hurting you is the long list of games where it is your turn. Every time you move or show your Player Page, a list of games where it is your turn is shown. When I checked tonight, you had almost 100 games in that list. That is a lot of information to bring down in every page. I wonder if maybe I should make an option that allows you to make it so it only shows 5 games where it is your turn and if there are more than 5, then give you a link that would allow you to show them all so you could see them all if you wanted. I think that would help you and some others a lot.

[reyn]

The other possibility is the access from one's computer to the server itself. Depending on the path your access takes and which routers are being used, depends a lot on your speed I have found. I have high speed cable, but that doesn't matter.

If there's one bad router on that route, it'll slow you right down. I speak from experience, because I have done many tracer route tests and can see it happening, often in the same spot.

What you can do is check with your ISP and see if they can point you in the right direction. Firstly, they can confirm whether or not it has anything to do with them, and secondly, they can perhaps give you the pertinent information of whom to contact where the problem lies.

If you want to try a tracer route test yourself:
(This is for Windows XP)

All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt

Type in: tracert www.stansco.com
Click, Enter.

If you see "* request timed out", that might possibly be where the problem lies.

For me, there's always a big slowdown in a router in Chicago.

Try it. You've got nothing to lose.

[sdr46]

I did the tracert and didn't have any timeouts.

I use DSL at home, and high speed connect to the internet at work. At both locations, Stansco is MUCH slower than its unnamed competitor.

If showing a limited list of my games would speed things up, then I would welcome it. Perhaps showing the top 10 games closest to being out of time would be best. At the other site, it shows 50 games in the list at a time, with no appreciable slowness.

[poet]

Hey, I like slow - it gives me time to think! LOL

[ZorMaster]

I am mostly using the University server and i have no problem at all and neither at home: we have a 20mb download & 4500 upload speed, doesn't say anything to me but my husband tolds me it is quite fast.

Is it possible to make an option to play some blitz games without a few months Stan? Can we challenge eachother in short games, no ratings ofcourse just for fun and ego We do need a fast server from you then

Love, Natacha

[Stan Steliga]

I don't think I will ever offer "live" chess here (where you would see an automated board and make moves within seconds of each other), but who knows... maybe if the right chance comes along it could happen. For now, the site will continue with the correspondence-chess style.