Afrihost Uncapped ADSL Feedback

[new_in_za2]

Help me out here, because I'm still pretty new to this whole ADSL thing(y) and I'm still learning all the technical jargon and so on. So maybe I'm missing something, but why is it that it seems that Afrihost is the only ISP that's shaping it's customers so heavily when it is not a capacity issue.

Considering that the new IPC node adds more bandwidth, I think what he means is that the current throttling/shaping/whatever you want to call it is still adjusted to the bandwidth they had available previously. ie, they have more capacity, but due to problems with their throttling/shaping/whatever rules, they aren't using all the available capacity yet. That's at least how I understand it.

 

[TestMate]

I'm very happy with the upgrade to the new IPC, getting the service I should have gotten the last few months.

Now I do accept that a disturbance in the force can happen every now and again, but if this service starts to degrade in any way then I will move onto another ISP.

Lucky you.

All I have is no-connectivity-no-internet - at all
because of Telkom (i'm told) who supposedly "fixed" the line yesterday.

From 2mbps to 1mbps to 0mbps in 1 month
now that's what i call "pinning down the problem"
no connection - no internetz problemz right

Oh yes, i forgot how happy i am to get 14% discount off the next month bill. WHAT NEXT MONTH ???

 

[AfriMan]

So if you live outside CT does this above text mean that once the CT IPC has had the shaping rules altered, all users across the country will "go faster"? I just want the straight talk here. What you wrote above can be interpreted in more than one way.

The shaping rules are the same, but will be applied in separate instances at each IPC. It would not make sense to shape all clients nationally, as some regions should get the benefit of lighter demand on the network in their geographic region. Similarly, when the Durban IPC goes live. Durban clients will only contend with other users connecting to that IPC.

 

[AfriMan]

Considering that the new IPC node adds more bandwidth, I think what he means is that the current throttling/shaping/whatever you want to call it is still adjusted to the bandwidth they had available previously. ie, they have more capacity, but due to problems with their throttling/shaping/whatever rules, they aren't using all the available capacity yet. That's at least how I understand it.

That's not the case, we are delivering all the available capacity to users, but we're suspect that shaping on the Cape Town IPC is being inconsistently applied, which causes high contention and slow throughput.

When things are running as they should, our tests should that our throughput performs very well against other ISPs in the region with local IPC. When we can pin down the problems in the policies, all will be as it should be.

So overall bandwidth consumption has already increased dramatically.

 

[AfriMan]

So, erm, Afriman... should I be concerned that the invoice I received this morning in preparation of the next billing run doesn't reflect any discount on it?

The invoice will never reflect the discount, I'm told this is due to accepted accounting practice for tax and audit purposes. A seperate credit note is issued (and should have been mailed to you). You'll also see the full story on your statement.

Check it out and if it's still not right, just drop me a PM

 

[new_in_za2]

That's not the case, we are delivering all the available capacity to users, but we're suspect that shaping on the Cape Town IPC is being inconsistently applied, which causes high contention and slow throughput.

OK, so same thing, except you're allocating too much rather than too little bandwidth for your users

 

[diepeterpan]

That's not the case, we are delivering all the available capacity to users, but we're suspect that shaping on the Cape Town IPC is being inconsistently applied, which causes high contention and slow throughput.

When things are running as they should, our tests should that our throughput performs very well against other ISPs in the region with local IPC. When we can pin down the problems in the policies, all will be as it should be.

So overall bandwidth consumption has already increased dramatically.

AfriMan, do you have an idea when it will be fixed (soon is not an answer ? Seems to be a complicated problem, it existed the whole of yesterday and is still not resolved.

 

[HermanTheGerman]

WOW! Now really WOW! Reading this thread becomes more and more tiresome and sounds more and more like a AH bash fest. Wouldn't it be much more helpful to just post your probs with the connection instead of guessing about AH's policies and business strategies? And stick to the facts please!

The facts are afaik:
- CPT IPC is in place
- Durbs IPC in the making
- we have bandwith galore
- data throughput isn't very good yet
- CPT IPC needs some fine-tuning (as is the logical modus operandi and was to be expected)
- pings are awesome (on our humble SA level)
- AH is on WACS/EASSY with redundancy on SEACOM (which makes AH the SA ISP with the bestest backhaul available)

I think the future looks bright. For all of us who were patient enough to stick with AH during the last couple months. Look at the competition: Axxess, WA, OW, Plugg, Telscum; they all have problems. But AH has different problems, teething problems which, in the long run, will result in the bestest connections available to SAfrican consumers. So our problems are luxury problems while clients of other ISPs have probs ... and no hope for a brighter future. Look at PLuGG for example: they may have their 15 minutes of fame right now but in the end they are stuck with SEACOM. And they are afterall nothing but the consumer division of the pretty much inept IS! You really wanna go that route?

I guess it was a clever move to move away from IS. The future will prove Gian and team right. And now let's think even a bit further: imagine a cable from Africa DIRECTLY to the USA. One day it will happen, I'm pretty confident about that. And which ISP will be among the first to use that route? I bet AH will be one of the first subscribers!

Sometimes it hurts a little to be bleeding edge but at least you know you are the bleeding edge.

 

[AfriMan]

AfriMan, do you have an idea when it will be fixed (soon is not an answer ? Seems to be a complicated problem, it existed the whole of yesterday and is still not resolved.

This is fairly advanced networking issues and it involves developers, network engineers and external experts from SA and overseas. There is some complex machinery involved (though it's not much to look at).

I promise that we're doing everything we can. I'd like to say we're hoping for a solution today (which would be great) but this is not something like flicking a switch or unchecking a box. It requires testing, trial and error and lots of programming until we find the right balance.

 

[jackshiels]

My speeds are back, but now with better ping

 

[Bryn]

I got my 1GB Afrihost account working, but amazingly it was the slower than my 4Mbps Mweb uncapped account. It had 6Mbps maximum line speed available.

 

[Xman]

I recommended Afrihost to a couple of people before the MTN move. After the move I'm hesitant. Too many little issues I never had before the move. Think I replied a 6 to the survey. Technically I can figure things out on my own if I have issues.

Yesterday I started doing some tests at various times to check for possible exchange congestion. Sent tests etc etc to AH support. This morning I got a call from them asking about my "service interruption". Guy had no idea what I logged and didn't have ticket number. Calmly explained that there is no interruption and that I just need my Telkom line/exchange checked.

How can I rate higher than 6?

So, no thumbs up to change from Telkom to AH yet?

 

[kripstoe]

So, no thumbs up to change from Telkom to AH yet?

Ask the guy in the red spandex for a test account.

 

[diepeterpan]

This is fairly advanced networking issues and it involves developers, network engineers and external experts from SA and overseas. There is some complex machinery involved (though it's not much to look at).

I promise that we're doing everything we can. I'd like to say we're hoping for a solution today (which would be great) but this is not something like flicking a switch or unchecking a box. It requires testing, trial and error and lots of programming until we find the right balance.

Thx for the feedback, I notice the http://www.afrihost.com/site/network_status also reflect the problem. Good luck, hope it is fixed soon. I know I wish you a lot of luck, dunno if it helps. I am trying to stay positive and patient, it is difficult at times, but then again, people died in the 1st and 2nd world war

 

[Naks]

What the heck is going on, been having some seriously slow speeds since the weekend, down to less than half of my 4MB line!?







and no reply from their support?

 

[diepeterpan]

Ok, I now had it. Logged a ticked last night with AfriHost about my CT throughput problem on my Business ADSL Account. Guess what, they log a fault on my line with Telkom? Huh, after all the facts for the past two days and the notice on their Network status. Come on, do people speak with each other at AH? My line sync at 5Mbs and I am happy with that, when tested with a capped account I got 5Mbs but my 6Mbs Business ADSL account barely give 2Mbs. Now knowing that fact, why would you say it is a Telkom issue? Aaaaarrrgggh.

Update:
Ok, just phoned their support and explained it them and asked them the close the log to Telkom as this is related to the IPC. Still shows in the clietnzone, maybe some delayed update, I hope. And, I were very polite, prob. not the guy on the support line's fault. But I will wring the idiot who did log it as a Telkom mistake after explaining how it were tested with a capped account and that there were no problem. Now lets wait and see if the IPC throughput improve.

 

[gregmcc]

I think this is a all time low. Current NNTP at 15Kbps out of 4Mbps

 

[diepeterpan]

I think this is a all time low. Current NNTP at 15Kbps out of 4Mbps

Yikes, seems like we are all in the same boat. Sad to say that with a smaller capacity IPC last week the performance were better. Hmmm, less is more. Seems like that is true. Then the opposite, more is less is then also true

 

[JazzeD]

OK my ADSL is also broken now for the first time running 110KB/s on my 2 Mb/s Uncapped line.

 

[kripstoe]

I'll give it a week or so. At the moment after 19h00, I pretty much can only browse using my 4Mb (Capped and Uncapped). Suspect it's exchange related, but not sure as nobody is coming back to me regarding my logged tickets. :wtf: