Crystal Web ADSL performance feedback thread Part 3...

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Jimmy said:
When is the best time of the month to upgrade my speed? My line is with Telkom and my data with CW.
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To upgrade line speed or data package speed?

Data package speed can be upgraded at any time, and Telkom line speed regrades these days, according to their own timeframes provided to us, take anywhere from 1 to 5 days to process. So it's entirely up to you when you wish to upgrade which aspect of your connection. If you upgrade an uncapped account, you only pay the pro-rata difference, and if you upgrade a capped account, you only pay the difference between the two packages...
 
Hi Dj,

is crystal web affected by this seacom outage? i had weird internet issues this morning like not being able to browse lol didnt phase me as i was about to leave for work? Just wanted a headsup if it is affecting us for when i get home it will decide what games i get to play. With internet Black ops 3/ CS:GO. without internet Minecraft lol
 
Stillie said:
Hi Dj,

is crystal web affected by this seacom outage? i had weird internet issues this morning like not being able to browse lol didnt phase me as i was about to leave for work? Just wanted a headsup if it is affecting us for when i get home it will decide what games i get to play. With internet Black ops 3/ CS:GO. without internet Minecraft lol
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Hey Stillie,

Please subscribe to our real-time network notices on our site and you'll get automatic updates to your cell and email if need be. We are marginally affected, but our redundancy is pretty awesome. In JHB you shouldn't have too many issues at all but naturally the other pipes fill up quickly and contention increases on their end which we can't really control.

From what I'm hearing though you may be affected by DNS issues there instead. Always best if a site won't load to switch DNS and reboot the router as well.

One thing I've noticed of late is that many modern routers have great logging functionalities, but the log files are getting huge and causing the router itself to require frequent reboots - noticed this on Netgears, D-Links, and Zyxels we've been testing - the Zyxel suffered from DNS related issues once the log files got too big. Some of them reboot automatically and in fact require new firmware flashes as well. Something to consider in future...
 
DJ... said:
Hey Stillie,

Please subscribe to our real-time network notices on our site and you'll get automatic updates to your cell and email if need be. We are marginally affected, but our redundancy is pretty awesome. In JHB you shouldn't have too many issues at all but naturally the other pipes fill up quickly and contention increases on their end which we can't really control.

From what I'm hearing though you may be affected by DNS issues there instead. Always best if a site won't load to switch DNS and reboot the router as well.

One thing I've noticed of late is that many modern routers have great logging functionalities, but the log files are getting huge and causing the router itself to require frequent reboots - noticed this on Netgears, D-Links, and Zyxels we've been testing - the Zyxel suffered from DNS related issues once the log files got too big. Some of them reboot automatically and in fact require new firmware flashes as well. Something to consider in future...
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thanks a mill!!! will try these options out!!!

Thanks for the amazing help again!!!! loving the internwebs from u guys!
 
So glad there is actual redundancy, completely unaffected by this latest outage ....... unlike that which shall not be named which has customers in the dark all over the place, lol.
 
DJ... said:
To upgrade line speed or data package speed?

Data package speed can be upgraded at any time, and Telkom line speed regrades these days, according to their own timeframes provided to us, take anywhere from 1 to 5 days to process. So it's entirely up to you when you wish to upgrade which aspect of your connection. If you upgrade an uncapped account, you only pay the pro-rata difference, and if you upgrade a capped account, you only pay the difference between the two packages...
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So will there be any downtime during the time it takes to upgrade my line?

Another question - will I pay extra if I upgrade my line mid-month through Telkom?
 
Jimmy said:
So will there be any downtime during the time it takes to upgrade my line?

Another question - will I pay extra if I upgrade my line mid-month through Telkom?
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No downtime, but the second question must be directed at Telkom as we can't speak on their behalf. If your line is managed by us you only pay pro rata for the upgrade, and I believe Telkom operate similarly but it's a question only they can really answer...
 
DJ... said:
You will require an active Telkom DSL line to use our services (for now).
There are no MyBB specials because MyBB will not allow Crystal Web to advertise on their platform. We want to launch specials for MyBB users though, but until we're allowed to do so, they remain an elusive pipedream for you guys and for us...
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Any reason why you would need to go via the myBB site DJ, for specials for myBB Users? Are you guys looking at alternative means if MyBB won't play ball?

Thanks
DJ... said:
I'm talking to the DNS guys at the moment about this as it's related to it. I have a meeting with them later today to discuss further as well, but bottom line, if it continues, as usual, we'll simply do it ourselves as I've also identified DNS errors of late. I know there's a plan to resolve this though but we do have backup plans for everything.

It's not a major problem at the moment, more an annoyance if the DNS has issues on occasion, but it's enough to have me working on it to resolve either way...
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Random question:

My line performs great, but I have an issue with streaming where 85% of the time I cannot get more than 3.5mbps throughput and if I do manage to break that I get 5mbps which is still much less than the 8mbps I should be getting


Regards
 
With streaming it depends entirely on the stream source, and whether the service streaming you the content actually delivers at your said speed. For example Netflix won't deliver content at above around 4.6Mbps unless it's a full HD stream. It physically delivers the content at specific bitrates and therefore doesn't demand full line speed. Some YouTube clips won't require full line speed either. Many also deliver content in short bursts and due to round trip time, and the way IP transit by its nature uses the local machine buffers, it often requires some time to build the buffer up to deliver at faster speeds. This is one pitfall of internationally hosted services that deliver streaming content in bursts.

In short, it's not something your ISP is doing, and in this case knowing how our network treats streaming packets, I can pretty much guarantee that right now. It can be completely normal, and where it's not, is often due to the servers delivering the content either bursting from international destinations, or in the case of these free virus delivering movie and TV show streams, their severs or server bandwidth are overloaded...
 
Hi DJ

Any update on data rollover? I know this was discussed several months before and wondering how its progressing.

Currently I have an account with both Crystalweb and VOX and would really like to get rid of my VOX account and go CrystalWeb only as performance is more stable and support is in a different class. The free NewsServer doesn't hurt either :-)

I need rollover though as my family tends to use more bandwidth during school holidays when much more streaming takes place.
 
DJ... said:
With streaming it depends entirely on the stream source, and whether the service streaming you the content actually delivers at your said speed. For example Netflix won't deliver content at above around 4.6Mbps unless it's a full HD stream. It physically delivers the content at specific bitrates and therefore doesn't demand full line speed. Some YouTube clips won't require full line speed either. Many also deliver content in short bursts and due to round trip time, and the way IP transit by its nature uses the local machine buffers, it often requires some time to build the buffer up to deliver at faster speeds. This is one pitfall of internationally hosted services that deliver streaming content in bursts.

In short, it's not something your ISP is doing, and in this case knowing how our network treats streaming packets, I can pretty much guarantee that right now. It can be completely normal, and where it's not, is often due to the servers delivering the content either bursting from international destinations, or in the case of these free virus delivering movie and TV show streams, their severs or server bandwidth are overloaded...
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Thanks for the feedback DJ, the reason I was asking is because I have noticed a lot of buffering @ 1080P on my 10mbps line which didn't seem right (and more than usual buffering on Twitch)

May have just been a weird night, I will keep monitoring and will let you know if it keeps up.


Regards
 
Emissary_Of_Pain said:
Thanks for the feedback DJ, the reason I was asking is because I have noticed a lot of buffering @ 1080P on my 10mbps line which didn't seem right (and more than usual buffering on Twitch)

May have just been a weird night, I will keep monitoring and will let you know if it keeps up.


Regards
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So with Twitch your line will only consume what the stream itself demands. At source these are often above current DSL standards in SA. YouTube 1080p can buffer on 10Mbps depending on how it's the stream itself was encoded and compressed. Most shouldn't though as people are learning how to do this a bit better...
 
DJ... said:
So with Twitch your line will only consume what the stream itself demands. At source these are often above current DSL standards in SA. YouTube 1080p can buffer on 10Mbps depending on how it's the stream itself was encoded and compressed. Most shouldn't though as people are learning how to do this a bit better...
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Makes sense, thanks very much :)

Was just worried when I was buffering like crazy and it was only showing 3.8mbps throughput
 
Emissary_Of_Pain said:
Makes sense, thanks very much :)

Was just worried when I was buffering like crazy and it was only showing 3.8mbps throughput
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If this is Twitch, I've posted about it before and they have a lot of work on their end to get this service right, especially delivering from international sources. However when this sort of thing happens hop on live chat and walk through some testing with the guys to ascertain what may be happening. In terms of the network, streaming packets are treated like royalty...
 
lestoran said:
Hi DJ

Any update on data rollover? I know this was discussed several months before and wondering how its progressing.

Currently I have an account with both Crystalweb and VOX and would really like to get rid of my VOX account and go CrystalWeb only as performance is more stable and support is in a different class. The free NewsServer doesn't hurt either :-)

I need rollover though as my family tends to use more bandwidth during school holidays when much more streaming takes place.
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It's tough to answer about future plans in depth. In essence it's an announcement of a new product or changes, which we do by formal channels rather than forum posts. We are able to offer hints, and teasers here and there on the forums, which we do, but in terms of solid feedback on this one, the only thing I can say is stay tuned, really, because anything more would amount to a formal announcement which will not happen by forum post...
 
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Hehe.

Well I bet my bottom dollar that once THAT announcement is officially communicated you will have some pretty happy clients :D

Boy oh boy. CW capped awesomeness WITH roll-over? Hell yes.
 
Hi guys

Wasn't really sure where to post this but here goes:

Basically my internet drops very frequently and the only way to bring it back up is to make a call off the landline, have any of you had that issue? My first thought is that this is probably a Telkom issue but we had a technician in the other day and they replaced the phone cable completely.

The disconnects every night are a little annoying because it makes it impossible to make use of the unlimited downloads between midnight and 6am.

Any advice would be much appreciated.
 
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