Afrihost for Gaming?

S

Shanemartin92

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Location
Cape Town
Hi all

I recently moved into a new flat and now in need of getting internet sorted. The main use will be for online gaming (League of Legends [LoL]) and browsing. Unfortunately the land lord does not want us to install a fixed line so we are limited to mobile data.

We are currently using an 8ta sim card with Payasyougo data, this seems to be working alright getting an average ping of 200 on LoL. We using a Huawei B660. We are situated in Mowbray, Southern Suberbs, Cape Town.

I’ve been considering getting an Afrihost sim to use in the same device as the data is much cheaper. My question is: Does anyone have any experience playing LoL with Afrihost, what the ping is like? Is it stable? Any other suggestions for mobile data thats cheap and decent ping?

Thanks
 
I've played WoW using MTN data before - because you'll be using MTN if you use Afrihost - and it was fine. I was using it during the 2010 blackouts when I switched to laptop and 3G to keep up with Raid scheduling.

For the most part I got the same international ping as ADSL with the occasional spike. I'm in Rondebosch, so right next to Mowbray.

I cant give you a comparison, but I can tell you there's nothing wrong with MTN in the area.
 
Basically what Shard said. Afrihost is MTN, so find out how the MTN signal is where you'll be staying.
 
I am on afrihost and use my data for everything. its the best deal around at the moment.

only one problem. if your signal goes haywire there is nothing you can do.

granted in my are we have weak 3g signal to say the least. i have turned off edge on the device, but depending on where I put it I can get 43ms ping or timeouts.
in the office the signal is much more stable and we can without any trouble finish 5gig in 6 hours while downloading torrents, but I have not had the same experience at home.

best advice is check the signal in your area, give it a run for a month see what happens.
let me also point out that at my house I can get 3g. 2 blocks away I cannot even get EDGE I am talking 300 meters difference, simply based on the hill
 
Shanemartin92 said:
Hi all

I recently moved into a new flat and now in need of getting internet sorted. The main use will be for online gaming (League of Legends [LoL]) and browsing. Unfortunately the land lord does not want us to install a fixed line so we are limited to mobile data.

We are currently using an 8ta sim card with Payasyougo data, this seems to be working alright getting an average ping of 200 on LoL. We using a Huawei B660. We are situated in Mowbray, Southern Suberbs, Cape Town.

I’ve been considering getting an Afrihost sim to use in the same device as the data is much cheaper. My question is: Does anyone have any experience playing LoL with Afrihost, what the ping is like? Is it stable? Any other suggestions for mobile data thats cheap and decent ping?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Why don't you buy a prepaid MTN sim and see how it is on that :) Then once its sorted, go ahead with the AH purchase :)
 
Problem with any wireless internet is latency! Depends on the of day u using it, how many users connected to your base station.



I am using Telkom Mobile LTE!

Pinging www.google.com [74.125.233.82] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 74.125.233.82: bytes=32 time=41ms TTL=54
Reply from 74.125.233.82: bytes=32 time=39ms TTL=54
Reply from 74.125.233.82: bytes=32 time=37ms TTL=54
Reply from 74.125.233.82: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=54
Click to expand...

Pinging www.mybroadband.co.za [197.242.89.170] with 32 bytes of d

Reply from 197.242.89.170: bytes=32 time=167ms TTL=47
Reply from 197.242.89.170: bytes=32 time=41ms TTL=47
Reply from 197.242.89.170: bytes=32 time=40ms TTL=47
Reply from 197.242.89.170: bytes=32 time=40ms TTL=47
Click to expand...

Tried to ping other websites but unreachable!


As others have mentioned rather take out the R29 option and try the service before you upgrade to a package that is acceptable.
 
Hi Guys

Thanks for all the feedback!:) I think trying out a MTN sim card sounds like the best idea.
I did see somewhere though that you can try AH and if you aren't happy with it and its within a certain time period, you can cancel the sim card and get your money back??? Anyone know anything about this?

Anyway i think ill try a MTN sim card first and take it from there.

Also, you who are using AH mobile data, you've been generally happy with its performance?
 
If I were you I would leave the MTN sim card entirely and just order an Afrihost sim card. I mean you can cancel it at any time on their website and you can upgrade it at any time.

So get their cheapest offer, have it delivered to you, try it out and if you like it then upgrade it and if you don't, cancel it.
 
Hi guys

So ive placed an order for an Afrihost simcard, starting on the cheapest plan just to see how it goes. Once I've tried it out for a while i'll update you all on how its performing.
 
Shanemartin92 said:
Hi guys

So ive placed an order for an Afrihost simcard, starting on the cheapest plan just to see how it goes. Once I've tried it out for a while i'll update you all on how its performing.
Click to expand...

If you in a LTE covered area maybe you should try getting a LTE device from afrihost. LTE if you have good signal gives WAY better latency hence giving a great gaming experience....
 
Hi all, so i received my simcard today, was very impressed with how efficient they were at processing my application. I raced home excited to try it out, popped it in my router, entered the settings and bang i had internet. All was looking good.. until... i did a speed test.. very disappointing results. Only getting max 1 mbps.. where with 8ta we were getting up to 5mbps. I can handle slow downloads though, what i was really interested was how the ping would be playing online.. Again.. Disappointed. Started out at 240, which is playable, but every 10 seconds would spike to over 1000.. making it absolutely impossible to have a proper game.

The main reason i got the simcard was for gaming purposes (I know mobile data isnt ideal, but i had no choice). It seems like i am now going to have to cancel my card and go back to 8ta. Unless someone could advise to how the ping issue could be helped. @Afriguy or @Afriman Any help you can give me?

Oh and @cavedog, it would be nice to get an LTE device but unfortunately being a student i dont have enough "cash-money's".
 
Hi all

Good news! After fiddling with my router since i got the simcard, i've seemed to be getting playable ping. I'm now getting an average of 220 ping, it does spike to 1500 now and then, but not very often.

I'm not sure what exactly fixed the ping issue but I have now put the router in an elevated position in the room.. not sure if that would make a difference.. I have also set the router to use HSDPA only... My theory with the ping before was that the router was possibly constantly changing from 2G to 3G to find the best signal, resulting in a constant unstable ping.. Just a theory.. who knows.. But lets hope the ping remains where it is..

I will keep you all updated to any changes.
 
Shanemartin92 said:
Hi all

Good news! After fiddling with my router since i got the simcard, i've seemed to be getting playable ping. I'm now getting an average of 220 ping, it does spike to 1500 now and then, but not very often.

I'm not sure what exactly fixed the ping issue but I have now put the router in an elevated position in the room.. not sure if that would make a difference.. I have also set the router to use HSDPA only... My theory with the ping before was that the router was possibly constantly changing from 2G to 3G to find the best signal, resulting in a constant unstable ping.. Just a theory.. who knows.. But lets hope the ping remains where it is..

I will keep you all updated to any changes.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you've got this all waxed. Great to hear it :)
 
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