Afrihost vs OpenWeb

V

VScheepers

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Apr 8, 2013
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151
Hi everyone,

this has possibly been answered before, but I am in a predicament. I cancelled my DSTV so the kids do't have to view the "programming". I signed up for OpenWeb end of last year to stream Netflix and all was well up till about a month ago.

I am currently considering Afrihost, due to extremely slow speeds on the network. As such Youtube does not even load properly on a 4MB uncapped account!

I have had Telkom recreate the port etc. and its still not really usable.

I don't know if I will be jumping from the pan into the fire....

Please could I have some constructive feedback from you.

Thanks.
 
Chevron

Chevron

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VScheepers said:
Hi everyone,

this has possibly been answered before, but I am in a predicament. I cancelled my DSTV so the kids do't have to view the "programming". I signed up for OpenWeb end of last year to stream Netflix and all was well up till about a month ago.

I am currently considering Afrihost, due to extremely slow speeds on the network. As such Youtube does not even load properly on a 4MB uncapped account!

I have had Telkom recreate the port etc. and its still not really usable.

I don't know if I will be jumping from the pan into the fire....

Please could I have some constructive feedback from you.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

What Openweb account do you have?

Gold is on special now:
www.openweb.co.za/special.html
 
DrJohnZoidberg

DrJohnZoidberg

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Get a cheap/free capped account from another ISP and test if it is not your Telkom line at fault before you go through the missions of changing providers.
 
T

Thomas78

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Hi

I am currently comparing Afrihost and Openweb for Netflix and will add my experience:

1. I am using the Openweb Gold package (R650 per month) and Netflix streaming as well as Hulu, internet radio etc. seems to be working fine. Which Openweb package are you using?

2. Afrihost Uncapped (R397 per month) works great for everything but Netflix at the moment. I am using an Apple TV and Netflix automatically adjusts the quality based on the quality of the connection - it ends up donwgrading the streaming quality to the lowest possible (despite other content streaming fine). The Afrihost guys have been very helpful in trying to troubleshoot the problem but the best we could come up with is that the higher latency due the EASSy break is causing this. I will therefore need to wait until EASSy is back up before making a final assessment.
 
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V

VScheepers

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I am currently on the 4Mbps ‘Gamers Delight, Downloaders Right’ – Limited Edition Uncapped ADSL

Thomas78 said:
Hi

I am currently comparing Afrihost and Openweb for Netflix and will add my experience:

1. I am using the Openweb Gold package (R650 per month) and Netflix streaming as well as Hulu, internet radio etc. seems to be working fine. Which Openweb package are you using?

2. Afrihost Uncapped (R397 per month) works great for everything but Netflix at the moment. I am using an Apple TV and Netflix automatically adjusts the quality based on the quality of the connection - it ends up donwgrading the streaming quality to the lowest possible. The Afrihost guys have been very helpful in trying to troubleshoot the problem but the best we could come up with is that the higher latency due the EASSy break is casuing this. I will therefore need to wait until EASSy is back up before making a final assessment.
Click to expand...
 
DrJohnZoidberg

DrJohnZoidberg

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VScheepers said:
Telkom has checked the line and the router is syncing perfectly.
Click to expand...

No, I mean you must check with another account. Telkom cannot reliably check your line, they can check that it is syncing and the line quality but that's about it. A friend of mine is sitting in a similar situation where his line is practically useless, Telkom says everything fine but no matter which ISP he tries they all yield the same results.
 
K

K3NS31

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Apparently Afrihost sucks since they moved to MTN. I never thought much of their network for torrenting when I last tried it back in the day, but that was over 2 years ago.
Just signed up for Openweb Gold myself - still testing though. Really good so far.
 
V

VScheepers

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DrJohnZoidberg said:
No, I mean you must check with another account. Telkom cannot reliably check your line, they can check that it is syncing and the line quality but that's about it. A friend of mine is sitting in a similar situation where his line is practically useless, Telkom says everything fine but no matter which ISP he tries they all yield the same results.
Click to expand...

I'm getting a new router this afternoon to test. I will let you know if this helps!
 
V

VScheepers

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Ok so it seems that the stock router Telkom gave me had issues with the international servers...

Old router:

Test conducted on 10 April 2013 02:36:09 PM

Download Speed: 586 kbps (73.3 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 307 kbps (38.4 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 216 ms

New router

Test conducted on 10 April 2013 03:11:27 PM

Download Speed: 2172 kbps (271.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 335 kbps (41.9 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 242 ms


:D
 
DrJohnZoidberg

DrJohnZoidberg

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VScheepers said:
Ok so it seems that the stock router Telkom gave me had issues with the international servers...

Old router:

Test conducted on 10 April 2013 02:36:09 PM

Download Speed: 586 kbps (73.3 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 307 kbps (38.4 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 216 ms

New router

Test conducted on 10 April 2013 03:11:27 PM

Download Speed: 2172 kbps (271.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 335 kbps (41.9 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 242 ms


:D
Click to expand...

That looks more like it :)
 
H

Hogrod

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I'm using 50gb capped accounts for streaming TV (afrihost/Mweb).
It's the only way to guarantee full service speed, Mweb uncapped just didn't cut it.

I also found 4meg is not fast enough for streaming reliably. So I switched to capped and runnning at 8meg with no issues via TV and Xbox. Hopefully the 50gig will last the month, you may need more depending on how much you watch.

Cost :
Axxess R360 for 4/10meg line rental
Afrihost R399 - 50gig
 
V

VScheepers

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Messages
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For comparison...

Current package: 4mb gamers delight, downloaders right package

Local:

Test conducted on 10 April 2013 07:45:48 PM
Download Speed: 3350 kbps (418.8 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 409 kbps (51.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 37 ms

International:

Test conducted on 10 April 2013 07:46:29 PM
Download Speed: 2511 kbps (313.9 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 388 kbps (48.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 203 ms


4mb gold package

Local:

Test conducted on 10 April 2013 07:50:58 PM
Download Speed: 2852 kbps (356.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 413 kbps (51.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 37 ms

International:

Test conducted on 10 April 2013 07:51:53 PM
Download Speed: 2550 kbps (318.8 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 406 kbps (50.8 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 199 ms
 
I

image132

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I'm with afrihost on 4mb normal uncapped and I'm also having issues with netflix but only netflix. Hulu HD streams fine.

I don't think it's an afrihost issue because when I switch over to my telkom capped account (I have a 10mb line that syncs at 8mb) even that account can't stream netflix HD. Using netlimiter monitor with both accounts I only ever see download speeds of 300 -2000 kb/s.

Something is either up with netflix, EASSy, in my case unotelly or a combination thereof.
 
Bryn

Bryn

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I'm on Afrihost 6Mbps business uncapped and it's glorious. Unshaped 24/7, and for just under R1100 a month!
 
I

image132

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Yeah except you are paying a hell of a lot for that. The only thing afrihost shape is p2p. Http (which as far as I know the streaming uses) is never touched.
 
Bryn

Bryn

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image132 said:
Yeah except you are paying a hell of a lot for that. The only thing afrihost shape is p2p. Http (which as far as I know the streaming uses) is never touched.
Click to expand...

I like P2P, and mine flies. Business accounts are allowed VPN's too. I've seen enough feedback in the Afrihost thread to believe that the difference between the business and regular uncapped accounts is more than just P2P performance.
 
prodigyX

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Guys the HD problem with Netflix is not ISP related, its more app/device related. My Xbox Netflix app struggles to stream HD no matter which ISP I use (on a 10mb line). Hulu always streams 720p just fine for me.

I found the answer: don't use the Xbox (or PC) to stream Netflix if you want HD. Get yourself a WD Live TV Streaming Media Player for R1,000. You won't believe the difference in quality you'll get. For some reason, it outperforms the Xbox app, the PS3 app, Chrome, Apple TV.. pretty much every other device you will try.

I struggled with ISPs, WiFi settings, DNS / proxy settings etc for months until I stumbled across this solution for HD Netflix.

(Tested with 10mb Openweb Gamer King account, Mweb 10mb premium uncapped account & Afrihost unshaped prepaid account - using UnoDNS)
 
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