A Very Simply Forum

Harry_Flashman

I run a voluntary group for youngsters (teenagers) and would prefer not to use Facebook.

I'd like to create a website for the group. I'd like to do the following:

1. Have a forum where there can be different levels of access (eg. an open area, an area just for the adult volunteers, etc).

2. Be able to let the kids post their pictures of our activities.

3. Have a basic front page where we can introduce our group to people who find it just though browsing.

4. I'd like to do it all for free

I should mention that I know nothing about website design, nor can I do any coding or programming.

Am I flogging a dead horse or is there something out there that I could use (that isn't too over the top with advertising)?

Many thanks.

S0litaire

If you have a website host, they usually offer a control panel where you can add things like Wordpress or a Forum like "phpBB" http://www.phpbb.com/

With phpBB You can give users different levels (i.e. kids, adults, volunteers) you can limit where they can post and what they can see.

It will take a bit of getting used to. but it's not that bad.

The 2 main ones are:
"phpBB" which is free
or their is
"vBulletin" (what this site uses!) but you ave to pay for that and it's not that cheap!

fwor

As I guess you've already found, there are ~loads~ of "free forum" websites out there, but they are generally either packed with adverts, or have a very low size threshold, which means that if your forum gets to any size you have to pay a subscription to keep it going.

As S0litaire says, it's better to pay a relatively modest fee for a domain name and proper web hosting and then use one of the many free packages related to phpBB - such as PunBB and SMF.

That way you get full control over its appearance and the ability to grow without problems later.

Harry_Flashman

fwor wrote: »

As I guess you've already found, there are ~loads~ of "free forum" websites out there, but they are generally either packed with adverts, or have a very low size threshold, which means that if your forum gets to any size you have to pay a subscription to keep it going.

As S0litaire says, it's better to pay a relatively modest fee for a domain name and proper web hosting and then use one of the many free packages related to phpBB - such as PunBB and SMF.

That way you get full control over its appearance and the ability to grow without problems later.

I really am a complete duffer at this, please can you point me to where I could find such a thing? and what sort of outlay would I be looking at?

Coopdivi

You could create a forum on Forumotion which is free. It's supported by advertising but if you've got an ad blocker you won't see any.

http://www.forumotion.com/

I'm a member of this forum which will give you an idea of layout. It has a separate section for members only which the general public can't see.

http://stennymad.forumakers.com/

richard734

If you dont mind buying hosting from Ebay, you can have space for as little as £1 a year. A domain name from around £5 a year - setting up a website and a forum - trial and error'learning opportunity or my current favorite place on the web - Vworker - will find someone to set it all up ad get it all working for around $50.

Discodave

HFM - there is nothing for nothing in this world mate.

Yes, you can have a free forum but this will come with adverts, restriction and will be waste of time, imo.

You're better off getting someone to build and host it for you and paying what works about about £2 per week for a 2 year site.

I've PM you a link to the one I'm currently having built

InsideInsurance

@£2/week you are not having something built but at best a skin put over something that is prebuilt (and may well be a free product). Given you can buy good hosting for less than £2 per week it may not be that economical to be be paying a subscription for what is predominately a one off task.

Harry_Flashman

So would something like this be what I'm looking for?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UNLIMITED-UK-WEB-HOSTING-5-years-PRICE-ONE-/220946923744?pt=UK_Computing_Services&hash=item33717680e0

fwor

I wouldn't go to a cheap, unheard of hosting company. I know nothing about the example you give, but the problem with this "unlimited" type of shared service is that you are sharing a server with an unknown number of other people, all of whom are "unlimited". If the operators want to save money by under-sizing their server, response times will be poor.

At a glance, I don't think this includes a domain name either - the reference to "unlimited domains" means that you can point any number of domain names at their server, but you still (I think) have to pay for these elsewhere.

Personally, I'd stick with one of the established hosting companies. 123-reg seems to get reasonable responses here, and the one I use - Extendnet - has been Ok for me.

InsideInsurance

123-reg only gets good reviews as a domain provider. Never seen anything but bad reviews as a webhost.

Personally I use 123 for domains but host elsewhere