Testing changes to JKB ads

[Ulysses]

Test changes to ads

 

This has been posted in the Shed, and it's posted here as well so that it gets seen by as many members as possible.

 

We're testing some changes to ad displays for a week, starting early on Monday morning (July 7th).

 

We would be grateful if members - especially those who have raised issues about ads and their user experience - could tell us if they notice any changes to their browsing experience from Monday morning onwards. 

 

We'd like to hear (1) if you notice any changes and (2) whether or not you think things have improved as a result of the changes.

 

You can do that by posting on this thread or by sending a PM to one of the management team, preferably to me.  Please mention your device type and browser as well.

[Gorgierools]

I’ll be changing back from safari to Google to see if it’s any better. However, prior to leaving Google it was unwatchable 

[Ulysses]

20 minutes ago, Gorgierools said:

I’ll be changing back from safari to Google to see if it’s any better. However, prior to leaving Google it was unwatchable 

 

See how you get on with both.  Most of the problems reported to us were from people using Chrome on Android devices, but we've had reports of problems from a few Safari users as well.

 

By the way, we don't know yet what differences people will notice.  So we're planning to test one set of changes for a few days, then to test a different set, and see which works the best.

[Canscot]

1 hour ago, Ulysses said:

 

See how you get on with both.  Most of the problems reported to us were from people using Chrome on Android devices, but we've had reports of problems from a few Safari users as well.

 

By the way, we don't know yet what differences people will notice.  So we're planning to test one set of changes for a few days, then to test a different set, and see which works the best.

I will change back to Safari from Brave and see what happens. 

[WheatfieldWarrior]

I added some css to the page to move the notifications up the screen a bit (so they weren't under the transparent ad box.) - I'll switch that off and see how I get on.

[Portable Badger]

If you could remind us again on Monday I will use the Safari on my iPhone - which was absolutely horrendous previously - so many ads & lost functionality. I couldn’t reply to any posts previously.

[Locky]

3 hours ago, Ulysses said:

 

See how you get on with both.  Most of the problems reported to us were from people using Chrome on Android devices, but we've had reports of problems from a few Safari users as well.

 

By the way, we don't know yet what differences people will notice.  So we're planning to test one set of changes for a few days, then to test a different set, and see which works the best.

Interesting to know. I'm a chrome/android user and had a couple of issues. Nothing too serious but just annoying ads that can't be removed and particularly block the quick quote button in the bottom right corner.

[HMFC01]

I use an Android 14 , Google, Chrome.   No problems.  RAM 4GB , ROM 128MB.

 

Previously an Android 7 phone and it was awful.

 

 

[Oda be a JT]

I also switched to Brave (million times better), but will switch back to Chrome for testing purposes and report back

[Ulysses]

On 05/07/2025 at 19:56, Portable Badger said:

If you could remind us again on Monday I will use the Safari on my iPhone - which was absolutely horrendous previously - so many ads & lost functionality. I couldn’t reply to any posts previously.

 

Here's a Sunday late night reminder.  We're not exactly sure of the time, but there should be changes from some time Monday morning onwards, and they'll be in place for a week to give us time to test their effects and get people's opinions.

[Portable Badger]

1 minute ago, Ulysses said:

 

Here's a Sunday late night reminder.  We're not exactly sure of the time, but there should be changes from some time Monday morning onwards, and they'll be in place for a week to give us time to test their effects and get people's opinions.

👍

[Ulysses]

On 05/07/2025 at 21:39, HMFC01 said:

I use an Android 14 , Google, Chrome.   No problems.  RAM 4GB , ROM 128MB.

 

Previously an Android 7 phone and it was awful.

 

 

 

Android 16, and I've tried JKB on Chrome, DDG and Firefox.  I see ads on all three, but they're not intrusive - though IMO Chrome is a little worse than the other two.  But other posters with similar setups have reported very intrusive ads.

[Masonic]

11 minutes ago, Ulysses said:

 

Android 16, and I've tried JKB on Chrome, DDG and Firefox.  I see ads on all three, but they're not intrusive - though IMO Chrome is a little worse than the other two.  But other posters with similar setups have reported very intrusive ads.

 

with adblocker nothing shows but on android chrome they can be intrusive imo

[Ulysses]

We thought there would be changes this morning, but it seems they haven't taken effect.  Right now we don't know when we'll be starting this test, but as soon as we find out we'll let you know.  Apologies for the mix-up.

[Bring Back Paulo Sergio]

47 minutes ago, Ulysses said:

We thought there would be changes this morning, but it seems they haven't taken effect.  Right now we don't know when we'll be starting this test, but as soon as we find out we'll let you know.  Apologies for the mix-up.

Started seeing changes about 10 minutes ago 😂

 

Grampa found something weird apparently 

[Mikey1874]

No difference.

 

The main thing remains the adverts at bottom with X to remove. 

[mitch41]

It’s a pain in the arse I really thought I would of bee sorted by now.

[Aussie Jambo]

I don’t get any ads at all. 
I’m on duck duck go plus I use AdGuard and ABP. Both free. 

[Ulysses]

5 hours ago, Ulysses said:

We thought there would be changes this morning, but it seems they haven't taken effect.  Right now we don't know when we'll be starting this test, but as soon as we find out we'll let you know.  Apologies for the mix-up.

 

 

Right, we think we've figured out what went wrong.  The changes we're testing should be made a few hours from now, in or about 9 am today (Edinburgh time).

 

Fingers crossed it works this time. 

 

[Spellczech]

Bitdefender, with Adblock and Ublock on Chrome and I get no ads at all - on PC or Samsung phone. Probably not what you want to hear but hey-ho

[Jack Torrance]

Seems to be fixed ads now with one top and two bottom. They don't block anything so its definitely better. Will let you know if it notice anything else. 

 

I'm on Google browser on Android.

Edited July 8, 2025 by Jack Torrance

[hughesie27]

Yep seems mich better now.

[Gorgierools]

Yep much better now. Only adds at the bottom and no hidden buttons. Back to being usable.

using Google on an iPhone 

[kila]

I use Ad Blockers anyway, but the site feels snappier from the changes

[Wee Mikey]

Whatever has just been done works for me ... Chrome / Android phone.

 

No more ads with the x impinging on the posts; only two 'proper' ads, one at the top and one at the bottom.

 

Even better ... the intermittent jumping up and down causing folks to accidentally hit the submit reply button or a user's name whilst typing seems to have gone.

[hughesie27]

Will the changes result in a drop in ad revenue?

[mrcrisps]

Feels like it is changed now... what a difference! Android phone and Chrome.

[alanjambo]

I'm on Chrome on my pc and it's much better now. No ads at all.

[jambo1998]

Much better. No ads at bottom of screen.

[XB52]

Much much better

[Norm]

Lot better. Now I just need to get used to opening it in Chrome again.

[Rogue Daddy]

Still getting ads at the bottom of the page that I can’t ‘X’ off…. and if I can it opens up a new page with the link, due to my sausage fingers. 
Using Chrome on an iPhone14. 
So, slightly better, but not much. Wouldn’t have realised if I hadn’t noticed this thread, unfortunately. 
Kudos @Ulysses for taking issues on board and trying sort👍

[kila]

8 minutes ago, Rogue Daddy said:

Still getting ads at the bottom of the page that I can’t ‘X’ off…. and if I can it opens up a new page with the link, due to my sausage fingers. 
Using Chrome on an iPhone14. 
So, slightly better, but not much. Wouldn’t have realised if I hadn’t noticed this thread, unfortunately. 
Kudos @Ulysses for taking issues on board and trying sort👍

 

Try clearing Chrome's cache

[Rogue Daddy]

3 minutes ago, kila said:

 

Try clearing Chrome's cache

👍cheers mate. I’ll give it a go! Page keeps trying to refresh itself also. Real pain. 

[Ulysses]

9 hours ago, Ulysses said:

 

 

Right, we think we've figured out what went wrong.  The changes we're testing should be made a few hours from now, in or about 9 am today (Edinburgh time).

 

Fingers crossed it works this time. 

 

 

Changes were made a little earlier than planned, at about 8 this morning.  

 

 

4 hours ago, hughesie27 said:

Will the changes result in a drop in ad revenue?

 

It's hard to tell.  We're testing one set of changes this week, then switching to a different set next week, and we'll see what people have to say about them.  The changes may have a negative effect on ad revenue, but we won't know until we've tested them.  

 

Thanks for the feedback so far, and the more we get the better.  Please don't forget to include a mention of your device and browser.  We don't need lots of detail, just whether you're on Android, iPhone, desktop or whatever, and the name of the browser.

 

Finally, thanks especially for the positive feedback, but please don't forget that the changes are temporary (for now at any rate).  We're testing a different set of changes next week and you might start yelling at us.     

[Another Robbo]

Normally use Duck Duck Go so no ads. Tried on Chrome and get adds top and bottom but not overly intrusive. Samsung Android phone for both.

 

 

[Portable Badger]

I’m using Brave on iPhone to send this reply.

 

I previously was on Safari on iPhone but had loads of Ad issues but also JKB site functionality issues.  I have just been on JKB using Safari on my iPhone…..

 

I am getting an ad at the bottom of the screen but on occasion it is a smaller black rectangle (I assume a video ad).

 

If I go onto a specific topic it takes to the last page of posts.

I tried to reply to a specific posted comment by pressing the “Quote “ button. Nothing happened. I pressed the quote button again & again - eventually my whole phone screen is playing a video ad. Had to close that down but I couldn’t reply to a specific post.

 

I went further down to the bottom of all the comments posted - I have No text box stating “Reply to this topic” and there are No arrows/cursors “List of Topics” or “Next topic”.  To navigate to a new topic, I have to scroll all the way to the top and press the maroon cursor “The Terrace”.

 

The only thing I can see that has improved SLIGHTLY is I can now, very slowly, use the cursor to eventually navigate to the previous page of posts on a topic eg. go from Pg 365 to Pg 364 - though if does take 5-10 seconds to display.

[Jambo-Fox]

One big improvement:- whilst on a thread when a ‘new post’ alert pops up at the bottom of screen it’s now possible to click on it and see it immediately. Previously that was not possible due to advert in that location, so to see it (new post) had to leave thread and then re-open it. 
Big improvement!

[Boris]

On phone using chrome, and edge on laptop, all the pop up ads have gone .

 

Excellent work!

[kingantti1874]

Better

[Captain Canada]

I'm on an Android phone using Chrome and it's much better now. The ads are further down the screen and don't interfere with my reading or typing a reply. Thanks! 

[The Goalscoring Knee]

On Chromebook, footer ads which masked bottom post/reply button have disappeared - much better. 

[ehcaley]

Much better on Android and Kindle Fire thing👏👏👏👏👏

[XB52]

Forgot to say I'm on Android and Chrome. A lot better, no ads on the bottom with the infuriating X that refuses to go

[hughesie27]

Android and Chrome too. Not only is there no longer an ad blocking UI. But there seems to be else ads than usual as well. None at all at top or bottom on this page just now.

[Ulysses]

17 hours ago, mitch41 said:

It’s a pain in the arse I really thought I would of bee sorted by now.

 

You might post again to say if you've noticed any change since early this morning (Tuesday).

[Penrices left boot]

Seems better, no more jumping around.

 

 

[Oda be a JT]

Def better for me using Chrome on iPhone (was brutal before)

[One five]

Much better 👏👍

[Martin B]

Definitely better on Iphone Safari.