Frequently Asked Questions

 Q)  I have a Meccano site.  What advantages do I get through joining the Ring?
A)  The obvious one is increased traffic to your web site.  As all the sites in the Ring are linked together, surfers naturally proceed from one site to the next one in the Ring.  This is a far more efficient way of touring the Meccano sites than the use of hit-or-miss search engines and haphazard link pages.  Your site is also included on the index page.

Q)  What are the advantages of this system over the links pages on other peoples' web sites?
A)  Many.  Members of a Web Ring form a linked community.  The links pages on other peoples' sites are not under your control.  You have to contact the owner of every site, and rely on them to update their information at your request - often a frustrating excercise, and one that cannot be carried out very often.  Other web site owners can easily remove your link or change it without your knowledge.  Individual links pages have no common structure to them, and it is difficult to browse sites in a logical order using links pages.
In a Web Ring, all members have their information stored on a central index page that is accessible from every site, and you can change your own entry whenever you want, instead of having to rely on somebody else to do it.  Visitors to a Web Ring tend to proceed from one site to the next, so there is a far greater chance of your site being visited.

Q)  Is this a new idea?
A)  No, there are already more than 500,000 Web Rings on the net; dealing with every conceivable subject (and many inconceivable ones!).  This is the first (and only) Ring devoted to Meccano.

Q)  I am interested in joining.  What are the disadvantages?
A)  There aren't any.  It's Free, it's easy, and it's fun!  If you find that membership is not for you, you may easily remove your site from the Ring at any time.

Q)  You say that the service is free, do I have to carry adverts on my site or something?
A)  No, definitely not.  I am a Meccano enthusiast and I set up the Meccano Web Ring for the benefit of all Meccano enthusiasts on the Internet.  I have no commercial interests, and do not need to carry advertising to pay for the service.  The only thing you have to add to your site is the logo, which includes the navigation buttons.  If in doubt, take a look at existing member sites.

Q)  Do I have to move my site to your server?
A)  No, your site stays where it is.  All you have to do is to add the buttons to your Home page.

Q)  But I know nothing about HTML coding, how do I add the buttons?
A)  You don't have to know anything.  Anybody can join a Web Ring, it's easy.  When you apply, you will be given the required code to paste onto your front page.  The Ringmaster will even do this for you if you want.  Then all you have to do is to upload your updated page to the web.

Q)  I use Microsoft Front Page and I am having difficulty in adding the code to my site.
A)  Front Page is not very user-friendly when it comes to adding your own HTML code. Here's how to do it:
First Copy the HTML code to the clipboard.  Then open your web page and put the cursor where you want the HTML code to go.  Click Insert / Advanced / HTML.  Then Paste the HTML in the window, and click OK.

Q)  Can I put the logo where I like on my web site?
A)  Yes you can within reason, but it makes sense to put it on your home page.  Visitors to your site from the Ring would expect to be directed to your home page.

Q)  But I've got a Links page.  Wouldn't it be better on there?
A)  No.  Unlike ordinary links, the Web Ring directs traffic TO your site.  If visitors come in on your Links page, they may well click on a link and never see your site!

Q)  I have a site about a construction system similar to Meccano. Can I join the Ring?
A)  I used to accept these sites into the Meccano Web Ring.  However, in January 2003, MeccanoSN raised objections to certain sites carrying the Meccano logo on a site that promotes a non-Meccano system.  I think those objections are quite understandable.  Therefore, to protect the Web Ring and those sites from possible legal action, I no longer accept non-Meccano sites into the Meccano Web Ring.

Q)  If I have a site about Dinky Toys or Hornby Trains, can I join the Ring?
A)  No.  The site has to be about the Meccano construction system, not about other unrelated products made by Meccano Ltd.  There are other Web Rings devoted to these interests.

Q)  What happens if I move my site to a new address?
A)  You just go to the Members Log In section on the home page, and type in your new address.  Or the Ringmaster will do it for you.

Q)  I am a Meccano dealer.  Can I join as well, or is it non-commercial?
A)  Anybody can join, as long as their site has a Meccano theme.  Commercial sites are welcome.

Q)  I want to join, but somebody else looks after my web site, and I can't modify it myself.  Can I still join?
A)  Your site can't be part of the Ring until you have added the logo and buttons to your site.  These are essential to navigate around the Ring.  I can possibly modify your home page for you, but you will have to get your webmaster to upload the new page to your server.

Q)  How are the sites arranged on the index page?
A)  They are listed in alphabetical order.  However, the index 'rotates' on the screen, so that the top site will be the site that you last visited, rather than always being site No.1.  This helps to distribute the traffic fairly amongst Ring members.

Q)  Why isn't the Meccano Web Ring part of the Webring.org system?
A)  Like the majority of web rings on the Internet, the Meccano Web Ring was initially located on Webring.org.  When Webring.org was taken over by Yahoo in September 2000, they introduced many unpopular changes to the system.  For instance, every ring member had to obtain a Yahoo ID, and all sites were eventually expected to carry Yahoo's own navigation bar.  These and other disastrous 'improvements' resulted in many ringmasters moving their rings to other systems.  At that time, Meccano Ring members voted unanimously to remove the Meccano Web Ring from Yahoo and transfer it to another system - any other system!  As the other public web ring systems were slowly grinding to a halt due to the mass exodus from Yahoo, I decided to install the necessary script handlers on the Meccanoweb server, and set up a dedicated private web ring system.  Although this was the most difficult option (by far!) it does have the advantage of providing long-term stability and immunity from banner advertising and future corporate takeovers, etc.  Since that time, Yahoo has pulled out of the Web Ring system and handed it over to another concern!  Which rather proves my point!

Q)  How can I join?
A)  Just CLICK HERE!