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Thread ID: 106714 2010-01-20 09:39:00 Help with feedback on troubleshooter? adslgeek (14687) Press F1
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850202 2010-01-20 09:39:00 Hey there,

My code for my current troubleshooter is horrible (Logic flaws and the layout is crappy too), so I am working on a revised troubleshooter for www.adslgeek.com (Simpler interface, and more graphs at the end).

I was really keen to hear your feedback on what you think of the following draft images / layout ideas for the final summary page?

If you had a simple troubleshooter what would you want to show / explain?

I found it a bit tricky with trying to really simplify the concept so it is simple to understand without corrupting the concept of what is happening at a technical level.. anyway, keen to hear your thoughts!
adslgeek (14687)
850203 2010-01-20 09:44:00 You should add torrent plans to that. Since thats what Xnet's prob is Speedy Gonzales (78)
850204 2010-01-20 09:57:00 You mean for the possible issues? Good call.

I was keen to add to the existing symptoms of:
Can't connect
Disconnections
Disconnect when calls
Slow speeds
Connection / no data transfer
Can't Surf or
Can't email
VoIP Problems
Phone problems (static etc)

------
Wireless problems
Error message (and put answers to all the known errors eg 0xccc0E Email errors or 404 Page not found etc etc)
A problem with a specific page
Torrents / P2P is slow (This could explain that some ISPs rate shape and what that means)
Latency
Jitter

But I am trying to think of a way to have a very cut down say 5 main categories that it then expands on.

This is meant to be something I could point my mum at and she can solve anything easily. (And still have the tech detail (sync rate, attenuation etc) behind it all for helpdesk support).
adslgeek (14687)
850205 2010-01-20 10:02:00 Yup a possible cause. Because thats what causes slowdown for non-torrent users on Xnet, every day during the torrent plan hours. And, here they are planning on telling ISP's to disconnect users who pirate files :rolleyes: Xnet IMO should be one of the ISP's that should look at themselves before cutting anyone off. For condoning / having a torrent plan in the 1st place. Xnet's isnt shaping. Its because torrent users HOG the bandwidth, and non-torrent users end up getting the crap speeds. Malware would be another cause. DNSchanger is another (a trojan). Since it hits routers. And unless you reset a router, you wont go anywhere Speedy Gonzales (78)
850206 2010-01-20 10:10:00 This is meant to be something I could point my mum at and she can solve anything easily. (And still have the tech detail (sync rate, attenuation etc) behind it all for helpdesk support).If that is your intended basic audience level, then you must write in a language they can understand. This can be hard when you are very familiar with the terminology and forget how gobbly-gook it can be to non-techno's. For example, you have written this:

Make sure that you are entering the correct realmRealm? It sounds like I'm about to head off on an off-world experience. :illogical

I would also make your links look more like links (underlined/diff colour etc) as they can be different to spot.

This does sound like a good (and challenging) project, so good on you for doing it. :)
Jen (38)
850207 2010-01-20 10:34:00 Yeah good call Jen! My mother would have NO idea what a realm is! :-) adslgeek (14687)
850208 2010-01-20 10:36:00 But I am trying to think of a way to have a very cut down say 5 main categories that it then expands on.Here are some suggested groupings.

Basic problem categories:

Connection
Internet speed
Email
Web browsing
Phone or VOIP

Then for example, under Connection you would have these sub-categories:

Modem cannot get an ADSL signal
Disconnections
Disconnects when phone rings
Connection, but no data transfer (web pages don't load)
Latency
Jitter
Jen (38)
850209 2010-01-20 17:30:00 I'm with Jen, keep the main categories just that, main. As the more technical users drill down through the sub-categories / questions, then have more advanced questions / information available.

Disconnects when phone rings could be under "disconnections" as a sub category, or asked as a question "Does your connection only disconnect when your phone rings?"

Same for things like "Connection, but no data transfer (web pages don't load)", is that under "connection" or under "web browsing"? If you're aiming this at non-technical people then I'd suggest both ...
Chilling_Silence (9)
850210 2010-01-21 08:21:00 Thanks so much guys, I really appreciate it!

I was thinking a number of the sub-categories are almost not needed as it will need to ask your line details, so if they are having "Connection" problems that could be a heap of different things, but the answers will point where it is..

Cheers!
adslgeek (14687)
850211 2010-01-27 05:15:00 Thanks for all the feedback - so this is what I am getting close to settling on.. adslgeek (14687)
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