This page looks at some common Internet connection issues.

Ideas will be collected here as encountered. If you have suggestions, please let me know.

If any part of the connection is not working properly, then you may not be able to access the web site.

There are many timing issues involved.

If the site is available some times, but not other times, and other users can access the site at those times, that tends to indicate an issue between you and the web site, not the web site itself. When almost all users can access the web site, but at the same time, a few users cannot, the issues is most probably in their specific setup, connection, etc.

It may be an issue with your browser, in which case clicking on the same link again and again has no effect.

Try pressing Ctrl-F5 to force a complete refresh.

Then, if not working, close the browser and open it again.

There are known issues with Chrome (and other browsers) accessing web sites. This often has to do with caching issues by the browser. Let me know what happens when you try #2 below.

1. Try clearing your browser cache, part 8 of:

https://kinsta.com/blog/err_connection_timed_out/

2. Try using incognito mode in Chrome: (avoids the cache)

https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95464?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en

3. Also many suggestions at: (cache is common problem)

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/google-chrome-wont-load-pages-62633.html

Some caching issues happen when the computer OS and browser are always on. Ask yourself the following questions.

1. When is the last time you did a cold boot of your computer? (Turning it completely off, wait a few seconds, and restart it).

2. When is the last time you closed pages to the web site and closed the browser and re-opened it?

Anti-virus software or your ISP could periodically block access. They know the big sites such as Google, but could periodically block a site aliased with my site by IP (though they should know better).

You will have to be alert and think about what could be causing the issue in your area. It could cause certain issues if you access my web site from two different pages/computers at the same time while logged in. (This is mostly an issue with taking quizzes).

You will need to try different things and be observant at your end to determine what might be causing the intermittent connection issues from your computer and your location.

It can help to know the following.

• Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) (Going through the phone company vs. cable company)
• Your location (nearest town)
• Your browser - if several do the same thing, it is past your browser.
• Your operating system (Windows 7, 10, Apple, etc.) - if two different computers do the same thing at the same time, it is past your computer.
• Your anti-virus software

A UPS - Uninterruptible Power Supply - protects against surges and provides backup
power in case power goes out.

• Laptops and phones have a built-in battery.
• Routers and other computers do not.

You can lose valuable data when the power goes off and the computer loses power.

Have a way to unplug and isolate computers, routers, etc., during a lightning storm.

For more information, see Backup power supply .