Error Report Advert blocking the Forums4Airports header

[Kevin Farnell]

When opening the F4A forum, as soon as I start scrolling down an advertising bar descends and blocks the F4A header. Yesterday, I sent RichL a PM. I can see that he visited this morning, but I've received no reply. It is quite possible that he started scrolling down before seeing the conversation notification. I have nothing against adverts being hosted, as I understand that F4A need the revenue. But, adverts should not interfere with the features of the forum.
Some time ago, these adverts disappeared but seem to have returned a few weeks ago. Is it not possible for them to appear in a less inconvenient position?

 

[Brum X]

No issues for me 🙂

However that silly Ad-blocker thing in red keeps coming up when i log on but i have it disabled and i am a subscriber, but i deal with it. I usually have to click on it about 3 times and then it goes away and i can log in.

 

[HPsauce]

No great problem for me, but i generally ignore the adds anyway.

 

[Len Fish]

I’m a subscriber now so don’t get them but when I wasn’t I found them a minor irritation but they didn’t spoil the forum.

 

[Aviador]

No issues for me 🙂

However that silly Ad-blocker thing in red keeps coming up when i log on but i have it disabled and i am a subscriber, but i deal with it. I usually have to click on it about 3 times and then it goes away and i can log in.

Thanks, that's interesting considering you shouldn't be seeing anything like that as a subscriber.

 

[Ashley.S.]

View attachment 28502

This is what I am seeing on my PC which seems perfectly normal.

I have created a poll asking for feedback. This is not about whether people like advertisements or not, obviously if we could do away with them entirely we would. This is about whether advertisements are actually getting in the way of using the forum.

I've not tested the guest experience, I will update when I do as it might only appear when you start scrolling down and activate the sticky navigation or be disabled for guests.

For some reason most of the adverts have disappeared especially
those down the side.

You're currently subscribed to premium, premium members get an ad-free experience as part of their subscription 😉

No issues for me 🙂

However that silly Ad-blocker thing in red keeps coming up when i log on but i have it disabled and i am a subscriber, but i deal with it. I usually have to click on it about 3 times and then it goes away and i can log in.

I may need to investigate this as premium members are supposed to be exempt from seeing adverts and therefore should not be getting the adblock message either...

 

[tonysmith]

They are extremely annoying and a pain in the bum

 

[Brum X]

I've not tested the guest experience, I will update when I do as it might only appear when you start scrolling down and activate the sticky navigation or be disabled for guests.



You're currently subscribed to premium, premium members get an ad-free experience as part of their subscription 😉



I may need to investigate this as premium members are supposed to be exempt from seeing adverts and therefore should not be getting the adblock message either...

Thank you ;-)

 

[Ashley.S.]

Thank you ;-)

Could you possibly get me some screenshots so I can look into it?

 

[Aviador]

They are extremely annoying and a pain in the bum

Csn you clarify, are you struggling to view and navigate the forum or do you just not like adverts?

 

[Brum X]

Could you possibly get me some screenshots so I can look into it?

Will do, next time i log on ;-)

 

[The Pole]

No issues on laptop or mobile

 

[deepdale2]

No problem with the adverts. Part of every-day life now.

 

[Finger66]

All good for me

 

[Aviador]

@Matt995

Thank you for sending me a screen capture of what you're seeing.

In your email you mentioned an arrow on the right hand side which you click down to remove the ad. I'm not sure where you are referring but if you look at the image here, if you click on the down arrow which is located where my red arrow is pointing the advert will slide away. Let me know if that helps.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Whilst in the past, I've had the advertising bar appear at the bottom of the screen, for the last few months it has always been at the top. Windows PC, Mozilla Firefox.

 

[Matt995]

@Matt995

Thank you for sending me a screen capture of what you're seeing.

In your email you mentioned an arrow on the right hand side which you click down to remove the ad. I'm not sure where you are referring but if you look at the image here, if you click on the down arrow which is located where my red arrow is pointing the advert will slide away. Let me know if that helps.

View attachment 28580

Yes Aviador, i do click on the "down arrow" and it reduces the size/closes it, but i have to do that every time i click on a new page, or new topic, so if i'm viewing 20 topics, i have to click on it 20 times, very annoying!

 

[Aviador]

Yes Aviador, i do click on the "down arrow" and it reduces the size/closes it, but i have to do that every time i click on a new page, or new topic, so if i'm viewing 20 topics, i have to click on it 20 times, very annoying!

I've done some extensive testing today and my conclusion is the advertisements although sometime can be annoying (on any site), they don't prevent you from viewing or using the site as it is intended.



I've said before Forums4airports adverts are a necessary evil. Servers and software cost money for us to run and Forums4airports operates free of charge and members are able to upload and store a decent number of aircraft photos for no charge at all. As a regular member you can also upload 10 attachments before you would be required to subscribe to make use of the sites attachment manager at a small charge to you.

I do recognise it is a difficult balance between a user friendly experience and advertisements. Google Ads say they want to ensure the user end experience isn't to the detriment of publishers websites. You could always take your feedback directly to them if you feel your user experience is reduced to a level which you feel is unacceptable as the ads are automatically placed using their auto ad placement system.

Alternatively we do have a subscription facility to remove advertisements. Each level of subscription removes all advertisements and offers increased privileges the higher up the subscription.

@White Heather
@Sherburnflyer92
@rollo
@jfy1999
@smithy108
@Len Fish
@kfs
@HX3


You each reported having minor problems with advertisements on the site. A couple of you are subscribers and shouldn't be seeing adverts. Can you elaborate on the problems you are each having so I can look into it?

 

[Len Fish]

If I scroll right to the bottom of any thread I get what are headed as advertisements but are actually links to posts “advertising” new routes, awards, plans etc. No problem whatsoever with this.

 

[Aviador]

If I scroll right to the bottom of any thread I get what are headed as advertisements but are actually links to posts “advertising” new routes, awards, plans etc. No problem whatsoever with this.

Thanks, I refer to these as IFPs "in forum pointers" used to highlight news, topics etc. They aren't advertising anything but maybe using the forum advertising blocks to be displayed.