IDNet RSS Feed

Moonshine · Nov 04, 2010, 18:19:35

Hi

I am having a problem with the IDNet RSS feed at the moment. I haven't been able to update it for over 24 hours. In the end, I decided to unsubscribe and then resubscribe to see if that made a difference. However, Internet Explorer will not allow me to resubscribe, and has come up with the following message:

"Internet Explorer cannot display this feed

This feed contains code errors.
Go back to the previous page.

More information

An invalid character was found in text content.
Line: 148 Character: 9

<br />BTs engineers, working with specialists from BTs network equipment vendor, are proactively monitoring both the network and systems stability of the affected node. In parallel, plans are being developed to implement total resilience to this environment".

Does anyone know what this means, and what I can do to rectify the situation (in layman's terms)? I am using the latest version of Internet Explorer. Is this something to do with my computer, or something more widespread? As far as I know, I haven't done anything out of the ordinary, or anything different to usual, and until yesterday lunchtime, was able to view the RSS feed normally.

Any help would be much appreciated, as at the moment, I'm unable to identify my family's download usage, which I like to keep an eye on.

Many thanks.

Moonshine.

Rik · Nov 04, 2010, 18:20:59

It's working fine for me, but I did get that odd coding yesterday. What email client do you use?

Moonshine · Nov 04, 2010, 18:36:51

Hi Rik

I only ever use Hotmail. I've never used Outlook, not even sure it's been set up!

Cheers.

Moonshine.

Rik · Nov 04, 2010, 18:41:13

Bang goes that idea.

All I can think is to clear your cache and if it still won't work, have a word with support. It's fine for me in both FireFox and Outlook.

esh · Nov 04, 2010, 18:48:44

It's fine on Opera.

Moonshine · Nov 04, 2010, 19:19:47

Looks like it's just me then!

Thanks for your help, anyway. I'll email support.

Moonshine.

esh · Nov 05, 2010, 08:22:23

IE is extremely picky with RSS feeds

Any unusual characters in it and it goes crazy, which I found out after I coded an RSS feed for something.

Rik · Nov 05, 2010, 10:57:01

That would explain it, esh, as the BT status message was full of odd characters. I think it was written by a Huawei employee.

Moonshine · Nov 05, 2010, 12:40:29

Well, the feed seems to be working now! Perhaps IDNet did something to rectify it, because all is well again!

Rik · Nov 05, 2010, 12:40:42

Bill · Nov 05, 2010, 23:29:33

Looking at the latest set of fault notifications, it seems like IDNet have decided it's taking up too much time to reformat the emails from BT, and are just forwarding them as RSS

I've had fourteen today

Simon · Nov 05, 2010, 23:49:10

Blatant favouritism, Bill!

Bill · Nov 05, 2010, 23:56:53

Six of them (including the "Resolved") were for Otley, they must be feeling really honoured... not!

Rik · Nov 06, 2010, 10:35:47

I think they're trying to automate the system to get information out faster, Bill.

esh · Nov 06, 2010, 11:25:14

I approve of the new information, but I just wonder if in the future you could get the data usage RSS separate from the fault RSS. More info is good, but it's gonna get cluttered real fast!

Rik · Nov 06, 2010, 11:30:24

I'll pass on the suggestion, esh.

Bill · Nov 06, 2010, 11:38:30

It would be handy... I don't know enough about RSS to be sure, but I assume that as they're both from idnet.net the clients can't separate them?

Rik · Nov 06, 2010, 11:50:42

I doubt it.

t22design · Nov 06, 2010, 21:05:50

Yes, the new RSS messages are getting a little bit too much for me also.

It would be great if we could have separate feeds for announcements and usage.

I've experimentally used Yahoo! Pipes (http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/) to filter out the announcements, and just give me the Usage reports, but I don't how secure this is.

Simon · Nov 06, 2010, 21:08:08

T22.

t22design · Nov 06, 2010, 21:13:57

Thanks

I've been a lurking for a while, and idnetters has been very useful during the occasions that BT have been unplugging and deleting things they shouldn't.

Simon · Nov 06, 2010, 21:17:09

Indeed. We try, but they are more trying.

Glenn · Nov 06, 2010, 21:20:39

Steve · Nov 06, 2010, 21:30:26

Steve · Nov 06, 2010, 22:58:54

If I sort by title, current usage is at the top of today's long list which should be ok as long as there are no outages beginning with A or B

mchunt_idnet · Nov 07, 2010, 08:00:17

The RSS page on the customer portal

https://www.idnet.net/secure/portal/rssfeed.jsp

now has a selection of feeds available. (I am also testing some other feed ideas at moment which may officially appear sometime)

Steve · Nov 07, 2010, 08:05:26

Thanks Martin

I've now split mine in to two separate feeds

Ray · Nov 07, 2010, 08:28:56

Thanks, Martin,

Rik · Nov 07, 2010, 10:17:17

IDNet, the listening ISP.

Thanks, Martin.

Bill · Nov 07, 2010, 10:26:24

Ditto, thanks Martin

@ Rik- I've put a post about it in the forum over on tbb.

Rik · Nov 07, 2010, 10:27:44

Thanks, Bill, saves me a trip.

Bill · Nov 08, 2010, 10:41:57

I was beginning to wonder if the new RSS feed for status reports was working as nothing was being picked up... looks like someone at IDNet thought the same thing as this just arrived:

QuoteIDNet are currently experiencing no problems

Rik · Nov 08, 2010, 10:42:43

Bill · Nov 08, 2010, 12:48:51

Only BT could warrant the issuing of a status notice saying that they hadn't seriously broken anything recently... you've gotta love 'em

Rik · Nov 08, 2010, 12:49:39

So true, Bill.

esh · Nov 08, 2010, 21:14:15

Awesome. Victory for RSS! Very useful, thanks to all involved.

t22design · Nov 08, 2010, 22:58:35

Can I just echo the thanks for giving us the choice of RSS feed.

Thanks.

alan · Nov 09, 2010, 12:08:54

When I go to subscribe to announcements only this is what I get..
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<rss version="2.0"><channel><title>IDNet Status Feed</title><link>http://www.idnet.net/</link><description>IDNet Status Feed</description><language>en-gb</language><lastBuildDate>Tue, 09 Nov 2010 12:03:26 +0000</lastBuildDate><copyright>IDNet</copyright><item><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.idnet.net/support/status.jsp?feed=none</guid><title>No Problems</title><description>IDNet are currently experiencing no problems</description></item></channel></rss>
.
I have a Mac with newly installed Chrome.
Any ideas..
Thanks

Gary · Nov 09, 2010, 12:29:20

Quote from: alan on Nov 09, 2010, 12:08:54
When I go to subscribe to announcements only this is what I get..
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<rss version="2.0"><channel><title>IDNet Status Feed</title><link>http://www.idnet.net/</link><description>IDNet Status Feed</description><language>en-gb</language><lastBuildDate>Tue, 09 Nov 2010 12:03:26 +0000</lastBuildDate><copyright>IDNet</copyright><item><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.idnet.net/support/status.jsp?feed=none</guid><title>No Problems</title><description>IDNet are currently experiencing no problems</description></item></channel></rss>
.
I have a Mac with newly installed Chrome.
Any ideas..
Thanks

Only one works for me and that's my personal usage feed, I think something is amiss somewhere maybe?

Ray · Nov 09, 2010, 12:41:55

Quote from: Gary on Nov 09, 2010, 12:29:20
Only one works for me and that's my personal usage feed, I think something is amiss somewhere maybe?

I think you could be right, Gary, I've got mine set up in Outlook and the Status Feed suddenly stopped working yesterday morning, the usage feed works ok.

Rik · Nov 09, 2010, 12:42:54

Other way round for me, guys. Martin is tweaking...

Ray · Nov 09, 2010, 12:44:49

alan · Nov 09, 2010, 15:07:26

mchunt_idnet · Nov 09, 2010, 15:08:41

Chrome users may want to see

http://www.tipsblogger.com/2010/10/rss-feed-extensions-for-google-chrome/

if people are having problems with the feed can you please clear any browser caches and if that fails can you please try validating the feed at http://validator.w3.org/feed/ and let me know the results (feed url and failure message). I have tested all the feeds for my feeds and they validate correctly so should work in all rss readers.

Rik · Nov 09, 2010, 16:18:57

The combined feed gives me:

This feed does not validate.

*

line 13, column 22: XML parsing error: <unknown>:13:34: no element found [help]

<copyright>IDNET 2010</copyright>

The usage gives me:

This feed does not validate.

*

line 13, column 22: XML parsing error: <unknown>:13:34: no element found [help]

<copyright>IDNet 2010</copyright>

The network status feed validates, Martin.

Rik · Nov 09, 2010, 16:22:57

The old combined feed, which is still working returns this, btw:

This feed is valid, but interoperability with the widest range of feed readers could be improved by implementing the following recommendations.

*

line 47, column 3: description should not contain HTML: h2 (10 occurrences) [help]

Ray · Nov 09, 2010, 16:28:23

That's strange, Rik, they all validate for me but with a suggested improvement, the Status one for example: -

Recommendations

This feed is valid, but interoperability with the widest range of feed readers could be improved by implementing the following recommendations.

*

line 2, column 446: Missing atom:link with rel="self" [help]

... iencing no problems</description></item></channel></rss>
^

Source: http://www.idnet.net/statusrss.php

Rik · Nov 09, 2010, 16:36:57

So, is it something to do with the identification key attached to the usage and combined feeds I wonder?

Steve · Nov 09, 2010, 17:07:06

Mine are working fine with Safari.Mail on Mac OS,same recommendation as Ray on status

Bill · Nov 09, 2010, 17:30:32

Mac Mail v4.3, no error messages on either feed.

Rik · Nov 09, 2010, 17:38:18

How about on the validation site, Bill.

Bill · Nov 09, 2010, 17:53:27

Oops, didn't see that

Combined feed:

This feed is valid, but interoperability with the widest range of feed readers could be improved by implementing the following recommendations.
line 47, column 3: description should not contain HTML: h2 (10 occurrences) [help]
]]></description>

Usage feed:

This feed is valid, but interoperability with the widest range of feed readers could be improved by implementing the following recommendations.
line 47, column 3: description should not contain HTML: h2 (5 occurrences) [help]
]]></description>

Status feed:

This feed is valid, but interoperability with the widest range of feed readers could be improved by implementing the following recommendations.

line 2, column 446: Missing atom:link with rel="self" [help]
... iencing no problems</description></item></channel></rss>

I've red-bolded the character that had a circumflex under it, presumably the start of the problem..

Rik · Nov 09, 2010, 17:56:24

Thanks, Bill. The fact that we get different reports from the same source does increasingly make me think it's something to do with the customer ID in the combined and account feeds. Nothing else should change.

Of course, I'm probably completely wrong.

Bill · Nov 09, 2010, 18:06:09

It's all Greek to me... the only thing I know about RSS is what the letters stand for

Rik · Nov 09, 2010, 18:10:12

I thought that would have been all geek to you, Bill.

What I'm getting as is that if my two account-related URLs are failing, but yours are not, while for both of us the network URL, which is universal, works, it makes me wonder what difference could cause the failure, and the only one I can think of is the 'identifier' section of the URL which deals with the account.

Bill · Nov 11, 2010, 15:01:37

Did this get fixed? Just curious.

A difference I've noticed- the old combined feed used to give me status messages that were nicely formatted, just like on the main status page, on the new feed all the EOLs seem to have been stripped out and I just get a wodge of hard-to-read text.

Anyone else, or just me?

Usage feed is fine.

Rik · Nov 11, 2010, 16:15:42

The format is different, Bill. The problems have been fixed for me. I have two logins for two lines, and although the key generated from my usual one appeared to be correct, it failed to authenticate the other line correctly. Logging into that, and getting the feed there, resolved the problem.

Steve · Nov 11, 2010, 16:23:09

I agree with Bill the RSS IDNet status feed is very difficult to read, the use of the return key (carriage return) in a few places would help greatly.

Rik · Nov 12, 2010, 08:25:48

Martin is working on formatting the RSS feed...

Bill · Nov 12, 2010, 10:38:05

Bill · Nov 19, 2010, 14:16:05

Quote from: Rik on Nov 12, 2010, 08:25:48
Martin is working on formatting the RSS feed...

It didn't work

Ray · Nov 19, 2010, 14:44:33

Something's been fixed I've just started getting the RSS Status feeds through in Outlook again.

Rik · Nov 19, 2010, 15:24:51

I'm just trying to get the two feeds rationalised, there's still more in the full customer feed than in the network status only version.

Glenn · Nov 20, 2010, 12:12:06

At 10;22 I got notification that Livingstone Mux is having problems, yet 2 minutes later another RSS update saying "BT have no current incidents"

Rik · Nov 20, 2010, 12:24:54

I've got two on Livingstone, but nothing else, Glenn.

Ray · Nov 20, 2010, 13:20:39

I've only had the 2 Livingstone ones as well, I did get a 'no BT incidents one' yesterday though.

Bill · Nov 20, 2010, 14:00:41

Ignoring a few "No problems at BT" updates at various times, I've had a Livingston report at 10:21, Livingston and Edinburgh at 10:35, then Edinburgh at 11:57, 12:05 and 12:33.

Ten assorted reports yesterday, including 6 re Herriard

edit- no real information in any of them, just a link (given twice!) to a web page with the details.