Hey Kalmbach. Those of us who have subscribed to the annual Trains Unlimited. Can we get an Ad free website?
I have been suffering from Internet Withdrawal the last month and a half... my ISP (the local phone company, Century Link... I lost Telephone service on around December 11, 2020 and the internet access was then intermittent until January 31, 2021 and then it quit completely) has broken something on their end of the wire and are apparently too incompetent to repair it. Thus, I have not been able to log-on to any for the various forums I usually frequent and have had no access to my e-mail addresses. I call and make (via an automated system) an appointment for them to repair my connection and I stay home all day and NOBODY shows up and no repair occurs (not that they need to come here, since the problem is on their end, but I kept up my end of the appointment schedule!).
They even have the audacity to send me a full bill for services not rendered! I paid it the first month, but, for the 2nd month's bill, I wrote a check as:
"Century Link, $0.00"
"No Phone + No Internet = No Payment"
I have not heard from them (or the bank) yet.
My very nice neighbor across the street has shared his WiFi password so I can now get to the internet. Unfortunately, I am on the fringe of his WiFi signal and if a truck passes down the street, or if someone walks near his WiFi unit or close to my house, it interrupts the signal and I have to reconnect to it -- happens often.
Well, today I got to log-in to the TRAINS forums and all I see is a different banner at the top and that irritating drop-down menu bar has gone away. (The one that, if I accidently moved the mouse too close to it, it would drop down, covering what I really wanted to have the mouse over, such that had to move the mouse way far away to get the unwanted menu to go away so I could the arrow over what I really wanted to click on.)
The rest of this forum seems to be exactly as it was back on January 31st. It is just as functional/dysfunctional as it was before.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
I suppose I should just contact support, but perhaps one of you can help me out since I'm probably not the first to encounter this problem.
Some years ago, I was going to lose access to my ISP provided e-mail address. I went through my online accounts and changed e-mail addresses to a replacement e-mail account, and thought I tied my Kalmbach account to my new e-mail at that time.
Looking at my Kalmbach account today though before triggering my 30 day trial of their new premium digital subscription, I see my old e-mail address. I go to change my e-mail address to my current and it says my current e-mail is already in use.
And logging in with my new e-mail address takes me to my usual Trains account that I'm posting from right now, so I did indeed change my address years ago like I thought. Yet my old e-mail address is still listed in my account information. How are both e-mail accounts tied to my Trains account?
I wondered why I never got Kalmbach e-mails. I assume they're going to my defunct e-mail address. Yet at the same time despite not being listed in my account information anywhere, my current e-mail address is also tied to my account in some manner as well.
Any idea of how to fix this?
Edit: I do actually get Kalmbach e-mails. They just go to my G-Mail promotions folder that I never pay attention to. So I suppose if it works even with the incorrect e-mail address showing up in my account information, nothing important is actually broken.
Convicted OneSo, if they DO paywall this site, what happens to all the membernames on posts for any member who does not subscribe? Everybody just get jammed into the "anonymous" graveyard?
It'll be a ghost town here, so that would be appropriate.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
So, if they DO paywall this site, what happens to all the membernames on posts for any member who does not subscribe? Everybody just get jammed into the "anonymous" graveyard?
Erik_MagThe issue with the DVD archives is the Mac software is not compatible with any recent version of MacOS, and up to date apps, specifically web browsers, do not support that old of a version of MacOS.
I had TOTALLY forgotten how frustrating that feeling is. I remember (now, thanks to you) 15-20 years ago when I'd take photofilm in to get developed, they offered an option where for a couple dollars extra they would put all your pictures on a CD disc, in addition to your prints.
But the &#$@!$&% viewing "software" embedded on the disc required windows, to view it. AND I used to think "It's JUST A BUNCH OF .JPGs!!" why make it more complicated than necessary? I was using OS/2 at the time
To me, $7.00 a month is pretty cheep for all that's offered.
I pay way more than that for my cable TV service, and with over 400 channels, there's still nothing to watch
York1 John
Erik_Mag One motivation was to get a chance to read the MR issues from the 1964-66 range, as I have 11 issues from that time frame. Been waiting almost 56 years to read the first 4 entries of the Ma & Pa series.
One motivation was to get a chance to read the MR issues from the 1964-66 range, as I have 11 issues from that time frame. Been waiting almost 56 years to read the first 4 entries of the Ma & Pa series.
Main reason I signed up for the plan. Lots of back issues of Trains I can't wait to read.
Convicted One Erik_Mag One motivation was to get a chance to read the MR issues from the 1964-66 range, as I have 11 issues from that time frame. Been waiting almost 56 years to read the first 4 entries of the Ma & Pa series. It's good to see someone with a "happy ending" for a change. Congrats!!
It's good to see someone with a "happy ending" for a change. Congrats!!
It was kind of like being in a time warp reading those issues for the first time, brought back memories of reading the other issues for the firt time.]. One other issue that I enjoyed reading was the October 1966 issue with the article on the PB&W layout at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, where I spent many an hour watching operations from 1968 to 1989 (builing was torn down early 1990).
FWIW, external optical drives do work well, bought one for my wife to use with her new "drive-less" laptop. I even had success in using a USB 3.5" floppy drive with my new MacBook - would be fun to get external USB drives for 5.25" and 8" floppies.
The issue with the DVD archives is the Mac software is not compatible with any recent version of MacOS, and up to date apps, specifically web browsers, do not support that old of a version of MacOS.
OvermodTL;DR: $83.88 per year... billed in advance.
No thanks. There's other things I could spend the money on.
TL;DR: $83.88 per year... billed in advance.
Actually not a bad deal if you use the content (but I'll be interested to see what happens to your Zinio Reader access to the stored copies if you let the monthly Unlimited subscription lapse!)
Leo_AmesThe new site briefly popped up for me about 10 minutes ago before the old site returned. Do I also have to clear cookies?
Try entering the following in your address bar https://www.trains.com/why-join/
The new site briefly popped up for me about 10 minutes ago before the old site returned. Do I also have to clear cookies?
Are any of Kalmbach's shorter lived periodicals available in the archive? I'd love to see their archive for Ships & Sailing, Trains Illustrated, and Airliners International.
Erik_MagOther motivation is that I'm about to decommision the last computer I have that will run the Trains and Classic Trains DVD software.
Yikes!! Thanks for reminding me how old I'm getting. I went out the other day to window shop new laptops, and was astounded how most of the really nice ones do not have optical drives anymore.
Overmod, I just wish to share your point-of-view of not using an Ad-blcker, but still having limits on what is acceptable as an ad appearance. Thanks.
Convicted One So, what's the offer you are doing? Free trial for a plan you'll eventually have to pay for?
So, what's the offer you are doing? Free trial for a plan you'll eventually have to pay for?
That's the one.
I have a couple of ways of getting to the forum, with the favorite being cs.trains.com/f/. The other is through the main portal of the Trains.com site and that's where I got the prompt to try the "Unlimited" plan. One motivation was to get a chance to read the MR issues from the 1964-66 range, as I have 11 issues from that time frame. Been waiting almost 56 years to read the first 4 entries of the Ma & Pa series.
Other motivation is that I'm about to decommision the last computer I have that will run the Trains and Classic Trains DVD software.
One quirk of the unlimited plan is that access to all of the magzine archives has to be done from the main portal - with the exception of the magazines that one has subscriptions.
I signed up for the 30 day free offer Saturday evening. So far I have noticed that it seems to take a long time to switch from different applications although once in the applications things seemed to be a reasonably good speed.
I get the special-offer e-mails myself, which I usually delete quickly.
With a bookcase groaning under the weight of all my railbooks just how many more rail publications and images do I need? Not too many, unless they're really exceptional. And even now most, if not all my railmags go into the recycling bin when I'm done. I used to leave them on the magazine table at the gym but with COVID now that's a no-no.
Erik_MagGot the "would you like to try the Trains Unlimited?" notice a few days ago and decided to go for it. Got signed up, tried to login and got an error message. Then tried deleting cookies, and still got an error message - using FireFox 78.0. Tried Safari, got the same error message, then sent a note to customer service. Their reply was deleting cookies or try another browser - only thing I hadn't tried was deleting cookies on Safari - which worked! Next step was trying Firefox 48.0.2, which worked nicely. Tonight I tried logging in with FF 78.0 and to my great surprise - It Worked! (hmmm)
I suspect there to be a basic hurdle in web tech support where in order toget them to look under the hood on their end, hundreds of people have to be complaining. When only a small handful complain, they just tell you the problem is on your end., and hope you'll either figure it out, or go away.
I never see their special offers anymore because I ditched all my burner e-mail accounts cause I was afraid Gerald might track me down.
Bringing this thread back from the dead...
Got the "would you like to try the Trains Unlimited?" notice a few days ago and decided to go for it. Got signed up, tried to login and got an error message. Then tried deleting cookies, and still got an error message - using FireFox 78.0 86.0. Tried Safari, got the same error message, then sent a note to customer service. Their reply was deleting cookies or try another browser - only thing I hadn't tried was deleting cookies on Safari - which worked! Next step was trying Firefox 48.0.2, which worked nicely. Tonight I tried logging in with FF 78.0 and to my great surprise - It Worked! (hmmm)
Bad news is that the pop-ups at the bottom of the screen are still here...
Good news is that the magazine archives are sweet, seem to be a nicer experience than the DVD's. A couple of advantages are that the archives are kept up to date, and for Apple users there is no worry about the software being compatible with the latest versions of MacOS, not to mention being compatible with the M1 processors. Having a large screen is a big help when reading the archives.
One complaint about the archive is the way that fold-outs are handled.
Convicted One Paul of Covington "... was maliciously doxxed by someone ..." Yes, by someone hiding behind his cloak of anonymity. The point I was trying to make earlier, once you surrender your anonymity, there are abundant resources available that enable some sicko to find your home address.....meaning your children's home address as well. If you were to say something that didn't set well with some sicko.....are you willing to gamble with how seriously he is going to take it? But most important of all Paul, it's very misguided to believe that the sick cannot be intelligent too (meant to address your "assuming they can think twice" comment). Often the sick command considerable intellect, yet fail to perceive "reasonable" boundries. Who knows to what length such a person might go seeking.....validation?
Paul of Covington "... was maliciously doxxed by someone ..." Yes, by someone hiding behind his cloak of anonymity.
The point I was trying to make earlier, once you surrender your anonymity, there are abundant resources available that enable some sicko to find your home address.....meaning your children's home address as well.
If you were to say something that didn't set well with some sicko.....are you willing to gamble with how seriously he is going to take it?
But most important of all Paul, it's very misguided to believe that the sick cannot be intelligent too (meant to address your "assuming they can think twice" comment). Often the sick command considerable intellect, yet fail to perceive "reasonable" boundries. Who knows to what length such a person might go seeking.....validation?
Anyone with half a brain that knows anything about computers can find that information without you giving up any personal information at all. With just two programs on my computer, if I were so inclined, I could easily find out your real name, address, phone number, job and any number of other personal information about you. Just being on the internet exposes you to all sorts of bad actors(as they like to call them). Not saying I would do that, but I know how it's done and I know people that have done it.
Flintlock76. My flip-phone does everything I want it to, which is make phone calls and nothing else.
And you can hear clearly the person on the other end with one of those.
I hate the omnidirectional mics on the newer phones, have to guess about 1/4 what the other person is saying.
Convicted One I hope they don't do something lame such as require a mobile number as part of registration.
The problem nowadays is smart-phones, iphones, or whatever you want to call them, are so ubiquitous that some people, probably too many, up to and including website designers, can't imagine anyone living without one. There's some sites I go to where you can't gain access without a temporary ID. They do e-mail you one, but I have to do some "gymnastics," for lack of a better term, on the computer to get the ID and then apply it to the website. Easy if I had a smart-phone, not so easy if you don't have one.
Well I don't have a smart-phone and have no urge to get one. My flip-phone does everything I want it to, which is make phone calls and nothing else.
Anyway, when they eventually do get the new forums integrated into the revitalized website, I hope they don't do something lame such as require a mobile number as part of registration. Many sites are doing that now, and I just refuse to be assimilated in that manner.
SD60MAC9500So it's best to keep personal info private..
Every now and then you'll see someone on a forum accuse other posters of hiding behind their screen nom de plume. These days there are more than enough nuts who want to settle an inconsequential disagreement face to face.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Indeed and you can find videos on youtube where exactly this has happened. Matter of fact a youtuber named boogie2988. A "fan" doxed his info and showed up to his house. Boogie responded in kind with a firearm. So it's best to keep personal info private..
One of the denizens of the forum was able to find a satellite image of my truck...
If you take enough notes (even mental notes) over time, you can often gather enough snippets to piece together a pretty accurate picture.
Convicted OneFor that reason alone, I find the barrier of anonymity to be comforting.
So do I. My close friends here (The few that are left! ) know who I am, but I prefer to remain a mystery to others. I'm more comfortable that way.
David raised a very good point a while ago, about the opportunity cost of anonymity. For the most part I feel like I could sit down, kick back, and enjoy a cup of coffee with most members of this message board. But there are a few, just based upon casual observation, who give pause for concern.
For that reason alone, I find the barrier of anonymity to be comforting.
And not pointing a finger at anyone, I frequently find the highly excitable to be among the first to lament about anonymity...hence my comment earlier about red flags.
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