Afrihost Uncapped ADSL Feedback (Pt3)

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Disappointed. Put in a line speed upgrade 73 hours ago and, despite the email / sms saying they take AT MOST 48 hours, it's still not done. Just a sign of the dropping support levels. Opened a ticket 24 hours ago, but naturally no one has looked at it yet.
 
pedruid said:
You are so right, mine has dropped by half since my reply.
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I'm back to my daily shaping limit of 18.8% and 6.5%.
One would think if the shaping is so dynamic as I was led to believe, you would see various percentages.
All I've seen so far is 75%, 50%, 25% and for the last 10 days 18.8 and 6.5%.

Shouldn't I see that I'm shaped at 99.3% and then maybe 87% and then maybe 95%?

Instead when I'm shaped, it is BOOM!
Kry vir jou 18.8% and 6.5%
 
RoMark said:
I'm back to my daily shaping limit of 18.8% and 6.5%.
One would think if the shaping is so dynamic as I was led to believe, you would see various percentages.
All I've seen so far is 75%, 50%, 25% and for the last 10 days 18.8 and 6.5%.

Shouldn't I see that I'm shaped at 99.3% and then maybe 87% and then maybe 95%?

Instead when I'm shaped, it is BOOM!
Kry vir jou 18.8% and 6.5%
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Oh I had the same issue. Within 5 days of opening my 4mb uncapped account.

I actually appreciate it to an extent.

You get the bandwidth hogs who want to rape their accounts for downloading and then the rest of us suffer.

Also, no other ISP gives all your other services full speed at all times. They throttle you. AH shapes and doesn't throttle.

I can live with having my downloads shaped during the day if I have full access to emails, streaming, browsing etc..

HOWEVER!

What annoyed me was, now I am at home at 3pm, I NEED to download a small ISO or download A LOT of pdfs (Read study from home) and it takes forever. THAT is my only complaint. That when needed to download small files, that is also shaped.

So I complained a few times, I was given free capped data to use on one such occasion where I had necessary downloads, but I struggled downloading my media before 12pm.

So instead of carrying on b*****n like everyone else does, I just upgraded to the business uncapped account. If you expect best speeds and no shaping at all times, then expect to pay for it.

Why will AH give users unshaped, uncapped for a 4mb uncapped account while a 100gb capped account cost the same? It doesn't make sense. So if you want a premium service which is uncapped and has the benefits of a capped account, you will be expected to pay for that. Hence the business account.

So where I would've been a small bandwidth user, I was forced to business because of the day time shaping which prevented me from doing key and necessary downloads for my studies. Am I happy about that? No. Am I happy with the performance from my business package, HELL YES!

So now where I would've averaged 120gb a month, I will now average 400/500gb a month, because why? Because AH forced me to get a business account and for paying so much I will make damn sure I get what I am paying for.


Also, when I call in I get through real quick, and I get great customer service. So not sure why the other's are getting bad service, I guess it is just one of those things..
 
ravingDIODE said:
Oh I had the same issue. Within 5 days of opening my 4mb uncapped account.

I actually appreciate it to an extent.

You get the bandwidth hogs who want to rape their accounts for downloading and then the rest of us suffer.

Also, no other ISP gives all your other services full speed at all times. They throttle you. AH shapes and doesn't throttle.

I can live with having my downloads shaped during the day if I have full access to emails, streaming, browsing etc..

HOWEVER!

What annoyed me was, now I am at home at 3pm, I NEED to download a small ISO or download A LOT of pdfs (Read study from home) and it takes forever. THAT is my only complaint. That when needed to download small files, that is also shaped.

So I complained a few times, I was given free capped data to use on one such occasion where I had necessary downloads, but I struggled downloading my media before 12pm.

So instead of carrying on b*****n like everyone else does, I just upgraded to the business uncapped account. If you expect best speeds and no shaping at all times, then expect to pay for it.

Why will AH give users unshaped, uncapped for a 4mb uncapped account while a 100gb capped account cost the same? It doesn't make sense. So if you want a premium service which is uncapped and has the benefits of a capped account, you will be expected to pay for that. Hence the business account.

So where I would've been a small bandwidth user, I was forced to business because of the day time shaping which prevented me from doing key and necessary downloads for my studies. Am I happy about that? No. Am I happy with the performance from my business package, HELL YES!

So now where I would've averaged 120gb a month, I will now average 400/500gb a month, because why? Because AH forced me to get a business account and for paying so much I will make damn sure I get what I am paying for.


Also, when I call in I get through real quick, and I get great customer service. So not sure why the other's are getting bad service, I guess it is just one of those things..
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I understand all that and in part I agree. However, I schedule most P2P downloads for 00:00 - 06:00.

Yet if I open my eyes and check my client zone, it says 18.8 and 6.5%. I saw those figures at 01:00 in the morning as well.

So I try to accommodate AH in that regard, but they are not doing the same with me.
So now I must adapt my download schedules when I'm not shaped, which rarely happens now a days.

I understand that is more frequent in the South as the North had an IPC upgrade.

However, I'm not paying less than the guys in the North, but are getting a ****tier deal.

So I will keep on harping on this till I am getting a similar service to guys that pay the same.
In regards to the Business acc. If I afford it I would, but not a possibility for me at the moment.
 
:mad:I'm with you. Have tried downloading between 00:00 and 06:00 and show no improvement. Earlier today was the best I've experienced. Now down to 4 kB/s. it's a F**ing joke. So pi**ed off I'm thinking of going back to 2 Meg Mweb Uncapped although I don't know if they are also throttling like Afrihost. Any Mweb users montioring?
 
pedruid said:
:mad:I'm with you. Have tried downloading between 00:00 and 06:00 and show no improvement. Earlier today was the best I've experienced. Now down to 4 kB/s. it's a F**ing joke. So pi**ed off I'm thinking of going back to 2 Meg Mweb Uncapped although I don't know if they are also throttling like Afrihost. Any Mweb users montioring?
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On the 2Mbps Premium you should get about 200GB before severe throlling steps in. Standard account is at about 70GB.

I definitely prefer the AH method. It is not usage based.
We just need more capacity to reduce the almost always constant shaping.

I usually use between 200 - 300GB per month. I'm just use to getting http downloads at full line speed when I need it. P2P goes off after 00:00 for me and it is normally good enough.
 
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So it seems we are all haunted by the same issue.. Their network being "busy" all the time..

I am in CPT, Nothern Suburbs, and they said it is weird that I am getting shaped so much as my area isn't a high usage area. They said they would move me to a different pool of users but no difference.

So in that regards, I understand.

They do have the option in client zone where you can "purchase" minutes and activate full line speeds for a period of time when shaping is applied, but that is AH just sucking more money from us.

The shaping sucks but I know it is difficult to distinguish between p2p downloads and official usage such as downloading a steam game, downloading a necessary iso or downloading a flippen pdf file.

If they get that sorted, I would downgrade again, but alas I don't think AH will do that anytime soon.

Ag, every ISP has their pro's and con's. AH's only con for me is when they shape or WHAT they shape.

I also noticed after midnight still being shaped last week. How "busy" can the network be after hours except for everyone downloading..

I guess this is an endless struggle.

If you can afford it, I rate the business uncapped package as the best to offer in SA. However, one is paying R300 more to get it unshaped. It is a bit steep.


So when is AH dropping their prices like all the other ISPs did a while ago hmmmmmmm..?
 
ravingDIODE said:
So it seems we are all haunted by the same issue.. Their network being "busy" all the time..

I am in CPT, Nothern Suburbs, and they said it is weird that I am getting shaped so much as my area isn't a high usage area. They said they would move me to a different pool of users but no difference.

So in that regards, I understand.

They do have the option in client zone where you can "purchase" minutes and activate full line speeds for a period of time when shaping is applied, but that is AH just sucking more money from us.

The shaping sucks but I know it is difficult to distinguish between p2p downloads and official usage such as downloading a steam game, downloading a necessary iso or downloading a flippen pdf file.

If they get that sorted, I would downgrade again, but alas I don't think AH will do that anytime soon.

Ag, every ISP has their pro's and con's. AH's only con for me is when they shape or WHAT they shape.

I also noticed after midnight still being shaped last week. How "busy" can the network be after hours except for everyone downloading..

I guess this is an endless struggle.

If you can afford it, I rate the business uncapped package as the best to offer in SA. However, one is paying R300 more to get it unshaped. It is a bit steep.


So when is AH dropping their prices like all the other ISPs did a while ago hmmmmmmm..?
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+1
You should claim on double money back guarantee and put that towards a new ISP.
 
Northerner here, joined AH yesterday...The signup was really easy and quick, the speed is also really good apart from adsl congestion. Got around 415 kbps download which is nice. Can't wait to test this account tomorrow when the congestion drops.
 
Does anyone know if Afrihost does trial accounts? I want to try this uncapped account before considering the business one. Currently doing between 250-400gb a month (more on the 250gb side), 10MB account.
 
xrapidx said:
Does anyone know if Afrihost does trial accounts? I want to try this uncapped account before considering the business one. Currently doing between 250-400gb a month (more on the 250gb side), 10MB account.
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I don't think so and they said that the 1GB free capped account pretty much has the same experience as the uncapped business account.
 
I'm actually starting to favour the throttling method. Mention was made of hogs. With "dynamic shaping" if all the hogs are going balls to the wall it affects my downloads etc as we all experience shaping. With throttling caps if they go balls to the wall they reach their limit quicker but it (theoretically) doesn't affect me. I get to use what is mine, they get to use what is theirs.
 
xrapidx said:
Just don't want another month of crap :(
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There have been a couple of complaints regarding the Business accounts, but not a lot afik. The guys generally seem very happy.

Even Home uncapped is good when not shaped.

Shaping is almost a constant if you route through Cape Town.
We waiting for capacity. Things running a lot smoother if you route through the North.

Business account does not have shaping and AH don't care abouth the total bandwidth you use.

They shape Home uncapped on demand vs available bandwidth and not amount of GB downloaded.
 
RoMark said:
True story.
:)


I wish, but I doubt it.
I think the demand is just low enough atm.
The guys were probably having a big party last night and are still recovering down in Cape Town.
As soon as they all wake up, we will be shaped down to the familiar 18.8% and 6.5% figures.

:)
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Lucky.... mine are 12.5% and 6.5% :(
 
kripstoe said:
Hopefully not soon. :)
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Ah so that we don't have too many users? ;)


Hogrod said:
+1
You should claim on double money back guarantee and put that towards a new ISP.
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I did think of it.. since I would be scoring, but I won't be happy with another ISP :/ So pointless lol


deathburst said:
Northerner here, joined AH yesterday...The signup was really easy and quick, the speed is also really good apart from adsl congestion. Got around 415 kbps download which is nice. Can't wait to test this account tomorrow when the congestion drops.
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Sign up is great right!.. I get an average of 430 kbps download.. Really happy.

xrapidx said:
Does anyone know if Afrihost does trial accounts? I want to try this uncapped account before considering the business one. Currently doing between 250-400gb a month (more on the 250gb side), 10MB account.
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If you are going to be using so much data, I would say go straight for the business package.

Also, take it out just for the month. You don't need to give a month's notice to cancel. Take out the standard uncapped, try it. If not happy, upgrade it immediately to business uncapped. Everything is worked out pro-rata. If still not happy, just cancel the service and it will end at the end of the month. Just cancel before the 25th, before the billing cycle starts.

xrapidx said:
Just don't want another month of crap :(
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On the business, I doubt you will. Just remember to turn OFF Protocal Prioritisation in your client zone. Otherwise p2p etc will be 10kbps less. Turn it off and everything flies.
 
Dubes said:
I'm actually starting to favour the throttling method. Mention was made of hogs. With "dynamic shaping" if all the hogs are going balls to the wall it affects my downloads etc as we all experience shaping. With throttling caps if they go balls to the wall they reach their limit quicker but it (theoretically) doesn't affect me. I get to use what is mine, they get to use what is theirs.
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This is what I've been saying all along. When they started this shaping policy (when they moved to MTN), I drop kicked them into touch.
 
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