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Totalfta.com Official Site Policy

In an effort to clearly spell out all policies regarding posting, files, user profiles, and general forum behavior, the moderators of this site have drafted this thread. Please read these policies before posting. Be sure to check them often, as they are subject to change without notice.

I. User Profile Policies

User Names
User Names must be in good taste and may not contain email addresses, URLs, or either of those in disguise.

Avatars
Avatars must be in good taste. Nothing pornographic, racist, or otherwise inappropriate may be used. The basic rule to follow is if you wouldn't want your kids to see it, don't use it as your avatar.

Please remember that we do not allow avatars featuring bare buns, bare breasts, or naked people. This is an FTA site, not a porn site. Some of you seem to forget that sometimes the kids or the boss looks over our shoulder as we're browsing the site. Please keep that in mind.


Signatures
Signatures may contain no form of solicitation, email, or other content in violation of other rules. The maximum font size for all signatures is 3.


II. General Posting Policies

Proper Forum
All posts must be in the proper forum. That is why there are many different forums on this site. Off limit topics are Off limit! Period. Not "just this once" or "I know but...." It is off limits and treat it that way.

Prohibited forum practices
All of the following are prohibited:

1. Double Posting. The practice of posting the same post in two or more forums with the hope that more readers will see your question and help you. This makes you look like a desperate fool who can't help yourself.

2. Thread Hijacking. The practice of inserting a post into a thread which has nothing to do with the thread. For example, in the middle of a thread discussing the difference between circular and linear LNBs, someone posts a question about how to change the keys.

3. ALL CAPS. This is shouting. Please do not shout at us. We can hear you just fine.

4. Quoting an entire FAQ. Some FAQs and how-to threads are closed so that they can be free of discussion and are meant only to be used for reference. Others are open and may be replied to and discussed. In these threads, use the "Post Reply" button at the bottom left of the page instead of the "Reply" button at the bottom right of the post. This is to be used only if you wish to quote part of a message. There is no need to have everyone read the entire FAQ before getting to your reply. This is very annoying to other users reading the thread.


"Me Too" posts
Please do not post things such as "I have the same problem too. Can anyone help?". This will not cause anyone to respond any faster.

Links
The general rules concerning the posting of links on this site are as follows:
1. Links within the site are always allowed.
2. Links to Dealers or other sites to include chat and FTA related sites are NOT
allowed.
a.Exception manufacturer links are fine.
Example: Fortecstar.com or coolsatusa.com, etc.
3. Certain site links allowed: lyngsat.com, dbstalk.com, Satcodx, channellist.us, freehostia sat calculator, titantv, google.
4. E-Mail addresses are forbidden. This is for your security.
5. Posting ebay item numbers is considered the same as posting a link.

This policy relates to links within posts and signature files.

One further clarification: ALL of these examples are to be considered links (but the policy is not limited to these examples):
www.TOTALFTA.com
www dot TOTALFTA dot com
hxxp://www.totalfta.com
wwwtotalfta com
www_totalfta_com
totalfta.com
moc.atflatot.www (try it backwards)
totalfta (add www and dot com where appropriate)

www.totalfta.com

Any other creative way to hide the fact that you are posting a link.

Bashing and Flaming
There has never been a clear definition of what is considered "bashing" but basically if you haven't got something nice to say, don't say anything at all. Disagree with others, but do so in a respectable and not personal manner.


C&P Posts
C&P Posts from other sites are prohibited on Totalfta. C&Ps are often taken out of context and at times the user who wrote it is not a member of this site. If it did not come from here do not post it.


Keys
Keys may never be posted anywhere on the site. Not even partial keys. Not even as part of a quote. Key posting will earn you a one-day ban on the first offense. Ignorance is no excuse. We are serious, folks!!!

Plastic
The discussion of PLASTIC whether related to FTA or providers is not allowed on this site. Plastic is the property of those providers and we do not condone any discussion or modification of such devices.


Re-posting
If your post or thread disappears, it is for a good reason. Posting it again, especially at a time when you think it will escape notice by the moderators, is not acceptable.


Spoon feeding and Laziness
Newbies are encouraged to do as much reading and research as possible. FTA and satellite hobbying is very computer-dependent and requires a certain amount of technical knowledge before engaging. Please help by not providing quick answers to questions easily answered using stickies and search.


Trademark names
Use caution when mentioning names of satellite providers. "Charlie", "Dave", and "BEV" are okay to use . The full trademark names are not allowed to be used.


III. Forum-Specific Policies

Each forum has its own guidelines as to what material is appropriate. Please read forum guidelines before posting.

IV. File Sections

File sections vs. Discussion sections
File sections are designed for posting files. Discussion sections are designed for discussion. Do not post files anywhere besides the file sections and do not post discussion of any files in the file sections. The only exception to this rule should be appropriate pictures and graphics to illustrate instructions. These may be posted in the discussion section.

Posting untested files
If you don't know whether a file works, do not post it. Don't use the rest of us as your guinea pig.

V. Private Messages

Use of Private Messages
Private Messages (PM's) are intended for private communication between members about topics that are not generally appropriate to discuss in the open forums.

Sending PM to Admin and Moderators
Don't send private messages to the administrator or moderators unless it is about an issue that requires moderator attention. Don't send PMs to mods/admin asking setup questions or anything that should be posted in the forums instead.

VI. Off-Limit Topics
The following is not to be discussed/posted on this site:

Direct TV. This is not a Dave forum. Don't post info about P4 or anything related to Direct TV.

Proprietary Dish/Charlie/BEV receivers. This site is an FTA site. Discussion about Dish receivers, Atmegas, emulation, or any other receiver/card-based hacking is not allowed. If you must discuss these things, there are many other sites to do so.

VII. Mod/Admin Discretion
The administrator and moderators may, at their sole discretion, move, edit, or delete any post considered to be inappropriate for either the site or a particular forum. Most moderation activity involves judgment on the part of the moderator. If you feel a post has been wrongly deleted, moved, or edited, send a PM to that moderator and do not post your grievance in the forums.



VIII. For Sale
This site does not contain a For Sale forum. Posts offering items For Sale are prohibited on this site.