cheap or free forum solutions

VimFuego

some friends and I need to set up a discussion forum and were wondering what's out there that's either free or really cheap. It's probably going to be for only about 50 people max and only needs to be really simple. I'm aware that facebook can be used, but some of the group won't use it.

PolarityMan

Do you have existing web hosting you can tie it off of?

VimFuego

erm, pass. We do have a website, but the forum option for that is expensive. Not sure what sort of infrastructure they have in place/will put in place.

BenSirAmos

Google+  ? Might be more acceptable than facebook

VimFuego

I shall pass the suggestion along, thank you.

mart

Wow, 50 people!? That's a major flounce you're talking about!

PolarityMan

If you have a website that supports uploading your own files then vBulletin or phpBB are the most common applications. You basically jsut upload the php to your web site then you can login into the admin control panel and start customizing. 

The framework used here is a similar deal called Vanilla but as you;ve seen it has a bunch of problems associated with not being as mature software so if it was me I would pick one of the "big 2".

If on the other hand your website doesn't give you control at this level you might need to opt for a hosted forum solution, that's pretty much what emp Fab's temporary board was. You can get free one's but you'll most likely need to endure ads unless you pay for the premium version.

d8m

A flock of these:

VimFuego

PolarityMan said:

If you have a website that supports uploading your own files then vBulletin or phpBB are the most common applications. You basically jsut upload the php to your web site then you can login into the admin control panel and start customizing. 

The framework used here is a similar deal called Vanilla but as you;ve seen it has a bunch of problems associated with not being as mature software so if it was me I would pick one of the "big 2".

If on the other hand your website doesn't give you control at this level you might need to opt for a hosted forum solution, that's pretty much what emp Fab's temporary board was. You can get free one's but you'll most likely need to endure ads unless you pay for the premium version.

I will pass this on.

@d8m we were thinking of smoke signals, lots of shooting goes on here and pigeons may not get through.

Nomad

Small Machines Forum (SMF) is pretty good, and free if you have somewhere to host it.

xHymnal

If "discretion" is the name of the game

VimFuego

/\ /\ ty, we shall look at that.

VimFuego

Hymnal said:

If "discretion" is the name of the game

well, it does take place in the woods, so sort of.

Mick

Nomad said:

Small Machines Forum (SMF) is pretty good, and free if you have somewhere to host it.

Small = Simple.

DLM

My band uses this, it's free and works well: http://www.forumprofi.de/ Site doesn't seem to be available in English, though...

chillidoggy

There are free forums around, I used to have my own. Sorry Vim, can't for the life of me remember which one. Oh yes, it was phpbb, do a search and you'll find it.

Mick

There's loads of free hosted boards about, such as smfforfree or proboards etc.  But you get what you pay for with these, adds plastered all over the place, no cPanel or similar, and no control over your files or databases, and lack of customisation.

But I guess for only 50 members its not worth getting a proper hosting package.

VimFuego

mick, I see what you're saying. I guess it may come down to how much the group are willing to pay for the forum.

Nomad

Mick said:

Nomad said:

Small Machines Forum (SMF) is pretty good, and free if you have somewhere to host it.

Small = Simple.

Aye. I knew it was SMF...

chillidoggy

Found it - https://www.phpbb.com/

 

VimFuego

noted, thanks chilli