Afrihost Uncapped ADSL Feedback (Pt3)

[ainsin]

I've been reading a lot of reponses here, and most people seem to hate the shaping. But Afriman seems to be indicating that this testing is having a positive effect on their network, with a lot of people happy with the new shaping (none of them are here) , so I pretty sure the shaping is here to stay.

I definitely get the feeling that Afrihost is trying to get the downloaders off of their home uncapped accounts, and onto capped or business. Its pretty similar to what Mweb did last year with their throttling, but Afrihost are doing it under the guise of 'testing'.

If a lot of people leave the home uncapped for the premium accounts, Afrihost will eventually have to buy more IPC. So I'm not sure if this cost-cutting measure will work in the long run.

 

[AfriMan]

Well the shaping is implemented to the maximum level between those hours...after 10pm it becomes dynamic. If the network load is still high then it IS the reality that you may end up being shaped to the maximum level for 24 hours at a time.

I don't have a problem with testing or anything going on...I DO have a problem with it not being properly communicated to current customers. Leaves a lot to be desired from the Afrihost I signed up with 2 years ago.

We don't intend to misinform our clients, for the moment we're trying to see what changes could be made. IF the changes become permanent, as is or with slight adjustments, then we will make this known and make the required changes to our AUP and product literature.

 

[AfriMan]

I've been reading a lot of reponses here, and most people seem to hate the shaping. But Afriman seems to be indicating that this testing is having a positive effect on their network, with a lot of people happy with the new shaping (none of them are here) , so I pretty sure the shaping is here to stay.

I definitely get the feeling that Afrihost is trying to get the downloaders off of their home uncapped accounts, and onto capped or business. Its pretty similar to what Mweb did last year with their throttling, but Afrihost are doing it under the guise of 'testing'.

If a lot of people leave the home uncapped for the premium accounts, Afrihost will eventually have to buy more IPC. So I'm not sure if this cost-cutting measure will work in the long run.

I think it would be fair to say we do want to define Uncapped in a way that makes sense for the price point and the resources we can allocate to it. This means we have to keep upgrading capacity and then subsidising the additional costs in order to maintain the Uncapped price, which is unsustainable. We'll always leave the choice to our clients (we won't send out letters or anything like that) but we do need to get Uncapped to a stage where it gives excellent realtime performance (which is the main selling point of the product) and still gives a reasonable window for downloads and P2P users. If we achieve that, then it's probably likely that we will implement a form of the current shaping we're using.

 

[SIlvRav]

We don't intend to misinform our clients, for the moment we're trying to see what changes could be made. IF the changes become permanent, as is or with slight adjustments, then we will make this known and make the required changes to our AUP and product literature.

So if AH withhold your salary for 3weeks without giving your a reason, until you query it, then being told we just testing it and once we release your lowered salary we will inform you, you will be fine with that?

 

[Heisenborg]

We don't intend to misinform our clients, for the moment we're trying to see what changes could be made. IF the changes become permanent, as is or with slight adjustments, then we will make this known and make the required changes to our AUP and product literature.

If you were a client of a company like that, would you be happy, honestly?

 

[Orihalcon]

So if AH withhold your salary for 3weeks without giving your a reason, until you query it, then being told we just testing it and once we release your lowered salary we will inform you, you will be fine with that?

Hahahaha. This analogy gave me a good laugh. Just what I needed on this Monday morning

 

[AfriMan]

So if AH withhold your salary for 3weeks without giving your a reason, until you query it, then being told we just testing it and once we release your lowered salary we will inform you, you will be fine with that?

Problem with analogies is that they are often misplaced and tend to be dramatic rather than relevant.

We don't throttle our clients lines, we employ shaping, which an advertised component of the product from the get go. We've altered the method of doing this in an effort to provide a better experience, which I believe is happening to a large extent. Many clients are now getting the realtime experience they expect on priority services like streaming, VoIP, browsing as well as gaming, I believe that is a step in the right direction.

 

[AfriMan]

If you were a client of a company like that, would you be happy, honestly?

I am a client of Afrihost, I use a regular Afrihost DSL account and Mobile account. I get affected by all the policies just the same as our regular clients. I totally understand the argument from both sides, and I believe we are guided by what we feel is best for our clients. As long as that never changes, I think we'll achieve our objectives in the end.

 

[Vorastra]

We don't intend to misinform our clients, for the moment we're trying to see what changes could be made. IF the changes become permanent, as is or with slight adjustments, then we will make this known and make the required changes to our AUP and product literature.

If the way the shaping is employed at the moment stays (weekends are shaped to death), then I can tell you right damn now. You will have a very small home uncapped userbase.

 

[AthenianOwl]

If the way the shaping is employed at the moment stays (weekends are shaped to death), then I can tell you right damn now. You will have a very small home uncapped userbase.

Aye, they have screwed it up big time. It's really stupid to shape Home Uncapped users to death EVERY DAY. Check out Afrihost facebook/twitter account A lot of angry clients are leaving AH Karma!

I'm loving every bit of my new shiny WA Business Uncapped account

 

[marduke]

Aye, they have screwed it up big time. It's really stupid to shape Home Uncapped users to death EVERY DAY. Check out Afrihost facebook/twitter account A lot of angry clients are leaving AH Karma!

I'm loving every bit of my new shiny WA Business Uncapped account

They should rename the Home Uncapped account to Home Streaming-only, oh wait, the streaming sucks too, rather name it the Home Slideshow account...

 

[AthenianOwl]

They should rename the Home Uncapped account to Home Streaming-only, oh wait, the streaming sucks too, rather name it the Home Slideshow account...

Lol Well, to be honest, streaming was not too bad for me on my AH Home Uncapped. It should be renamed to Afrihost Tenement Uncapped account

 

[NightowlZA]

Curious to find out if Diablo 3 is still completely crap on AH 1mb home uncapped? Or have they finally admitted to and/or fixed the false shaping of a gaming service...

Its been a month and they're still "testing"... Just curious to see if they've pulled their #%&! together and gone back to the old AH and i could consider returning or just forget this isp even exists, AH can keep mweb company in the abyss

Cancelled my AH account so cant check myself. Judging by this thread it was a wise choice to leave.

 

[shreez]

I've just signed up for Web Africa Uncapped

 

[longboy]

Guys, I am also a Home Uncapped AH account holder.

Their account is the best compared to the rest of the ISP's that I have tested in various nearby locations for the price. Shaping is minimal during daytime hours, and is often unshaped during the night/early mornings.

If you download http and streaming during the day the speeds are quite acceptable.

Cut them some slack guys. Give them some time since the whole MTN thing blows over, and I believe that we can expect awsesomeness very soon again!

 

[whatwhat]

Guys, I am also a Home Uncapped AH account holder.

Their account is the best compared to the rest of the ISP's that I have tested in various nearby locations for the price. Shaping is minimal during daytime hours, and is often unshaped during the night/early mornings.

If you download http and streaming during the day the speeds are quite acceptable.

Cut them some slack guys. Give them some time since the whole MTN thing blows over, and I believe that we can expect awsesomeness very soon again!

sigh.

You usage patterns differ from all the other people here having issues, so asking them to cut slack is a bit rich. Rather just accept that there are people who are having issues.

 

[shreez]

Guys, I am also a Home Uncapped AH account holder.

Their account is the best compared to the rest of the ISP's that I have tested in various nearby locations for the price. Shaping is minimal during daytime hours, and is often unshaped during the night/early mornings.

If you download http and streaming during the day the speeds are quite acceptable.

Cut them some slack guys. Give them some time since the whole MTN thing blows over, and I believe that we can expect awsesomeness very soon again!

I don't find downloading via HTTP at 20KB/s on a 10Mb/s line "acceptable" at all. Sorry. Not when I'm paying R900 a month for that.

 

[SIlvRav]

Hahahaha. This analogy gave me a good laugh. Just what I needed on this Monday morning

Glad I could be of a service this monday!

Problem with analogies is that they are often misplaced and tend to be dramatic rather than relevant.

We don't throttle our clients lines, we employ shaping, which an advertised component of the product from the get go. We've altered the method of doing this in an effort to provide a better experience, which I believe is happening to a large extent. Many clients are now getting the realtime experience they expect on priority services like streaming, VoIP, browsing as well as gaming, I believe that is a step in the right direction.

Yes.....i wasnt questioning if AH is shaping or throttling, I am question the fact that you havent informed your client base....regardless if its a test or not. If one tends to do something that will directly influence your client base YOU INFORM THEM! Simple company 101.

 

[Orihalcon]

Guys, I am also a Home Uncapped AH account holder.

Their account is the best compared to the rest of the ISP's that I have tested in various nearby locations for the price. Shaping is minimal during daytime hours, and is often unshaped during the night/early mornings.

If you download http and streaming during the day the speeds are quite acceptable.

Cut them some slack guys. Give them some time since the whole MTN thing blows over, and I believe that we can expect awsesomeness very soon again!

Wait wait...shaping is minimal in the day? Enforced shaping at 12.5/6.5 percent between 7am and 10pm is minimal to you?

Damn. I don't want to know your definition of harsh my friend.

 

[shreez]

Wait wait...shaping is minimal in the day? Enforced shaping at 12.5/6.5 percent between 7am and 10pm is minimal to you?

Damn. I don't want to know your definition of harsh my friend.

I think that he believes that it is shaped 12.5% on download and 6.25% on P2P