Crystal Web DSL performance feedback thread Part 4...

standerr said:
The problem for me is that they are doing it based on my usage of free time data. I have more than enough cap left, for which I pay, but cannot use it to its fullest potential.
So basically having free time is causing my normal usage to suffer, and I cannot choose when to use which part.

Then it's better to go for something like an Afrihost unshaped account with Afrihost Plus thrown in there. They supposedly never shape unshaped account, no matter what the usage.
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We're doing what we can on our end to maintain the integrity and longevity of freebies like "Open-Time" on capped products. This is the 1st time we've ever enforced these types of terms so it's not a decision taken arbitrarily on our end. There is however a fine balancing act to be had here when it comes to offering freebies and the commercial end from our side, and I'm always straight-up about that. We're also very open to suggestions from forum members on new products if they're more attractive for you guys. I'd like to find a mechanism to maintain the free Open-Time for you guys as the vast majority of clients get substantial benefits from it, and I believe it is workable as long as we can ensure that these sorts of freebies aren't being manipulated by a few to the detriment of others. Unfortunately, this has happened in recent months by a few people who have some rather malicious intent with their actions, and handling it manually on the network isn't much of an option. In handling it in an automated fashion, we've been able to uncover some of the more criminal acts taking place against us by this group (one of them has made a point of spending time in this thread of late to try to rile other people up), which has helped to facilitate further criminal charges against certain people.

The unfortunate fact is that some people really have caused a major problem and until they're behind bars, we have to ensure that we're able to maintain the integrity of the network for everyone else. Fortunately, following their recent bout of stupidity, we're confident that the process with the prosecutors can soon be wrapped up. We also have the inevitable problem of WISPs buying a R150GB capped account and running it as their primary internet connection, shared amongst their hundreds of clients at a time. This too has been quite heavily abused in the recent months and we have to have mechanisms to identify and curb such actions.

But I'll happily lend my time here to try to avert anyone else who is not hitting wholesale volumes from being impacted, as and where I can.
 
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standerr said:
Shaun the issue here is that your usage email stopped working a while ago and users have no control over what's cooking. I could also not find any info regarding what these thresholds are than i should not go over to avoid this, especially for a xtreme capped account.
My initials communication has been open since last week Wednesday, with no feedback yet (apart from ticket numbers). It's even with legal now. I find the level of feedback given quite pathetic.
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Here's the problem with disclosing specific thresholds: they're not specific. No network operates with the same utilisation at all times. Our pattern recognition identifies without any specific threshold and uses a multitude of variables. Drop me a message by PM and I'll have a look for you. When it comes to communication, I'll check on my end to see why this has taken so long on your end.
 
Crystal Web Management said:
Here's the problem with disclosing specific thresholds: they're not specific. No network operates with the same utilisation at all times. Our pattern recognition identifies without any specific threshold and uses a multitude of variables. Drop me a message by PM and I'll have a look for you. When it comes to communication, I'll check on my end to see why this has taken so long on your end.
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Can't send you a PM.
Crystal Web Management has chosen not to receive private messages or may not be allowed to receive private messages. Therefore you may not send your message to him/her
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Ho3n3r said:
Fair enough. It's nice to see you here anyway, and you've helped me a lot on a personal level with issues before, you know... happened.

I was imploring Support General a mere 20 minutes ago that your management account here becomes more active again, as it certainly helps both sides - you see now how fast us consumers can jump to conclusions, and word-of-mouth has a big influence.

I will, however, follow up my sluggish internet with support, and follow up with you if that doesn't bring any resolution. For some reason it was fine last night, but during the preceding days, it very much wasn't.
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I always enjoyed engaging directly with you guys here. Let me see if I can allocate an hour per day to this and also try to rope some assistance in from some of the other guys where I can.
 
@Crystal Web Management
There is no trial account anymore, or at least I can't find the link anymore and the old link doesn't work. Your free trial launching button on the site redirects to https://crystalweb.co.za/# and clicking free trial next to see pricing just snaps you back to the top of the page.

I also don't receive your usage emails anymore.
 
Well I am happy to see you post here again.

I take serious issue with you saying everything is A-OKAY now on your network.

Case in point the following;

CW
Untitled.png

VoX
Untitled1.png


So no. Things are not looking good at all. Gaming is utter crap right now on your network.

My usage on home capped 150gb so far 146GB - 20GB during peak. 126GB off peak - mostly on weekends streaming in the day.

So what the hell is going on here?
 
no more usage emails, client zone is broken, the "free after hours data" is being taken off your cap data, the customer service is rude & horribe.. slow gaming.. cw not doing to great at the moment ;/
 
thedreams said:
no more usage emails, client zone is broken, the "free after hours data" is being taken off your cap data, the customer service is rude & horribe.. slow gaming.. cw not doing to great at the moment ;/
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I can't say that support has been rude to me in 2 years - maybe dumb as **** a few times, but never rude. Sorry to hear nonetheless.
 
Orihalcon said:
Well I am happy to see you post here again.

I take serious issue with you saying everything is A-OKAY now on your network.

Case in point the following;

CW
View attachment 442600

VoX
View attachment 442602


So no. Things are not looking good at all. Gaming is utter crap right now on your network.

My usage on home capped 150gb so far 146GB - 20GB during peak. 126GB off peak - mostly on weekends streaming in the day.

So what the hell is going on here?
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I also noticed that my pings are a bit lower on a DigiScene trial account last night. Routing issue?
 
Ho3n3r said:
I also noticed that my pings are a bit lower on a DigiScene trial account last night. Routing issue?
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Maybe. Honestly I am not that clued up to do a detailed investigation.

I can however say that the above is not the norm and have only been an issue the last 5 weeks or so. Some nights it is perfect on CW as well. Others - like last night - you get that rubbish.

Streaming and everything else 100% though I will add.
 
thedreams said:
no more usage emails, client zone is broken, the "free after hours data" is being taken off your cap data, the customer service is rude & horribe.. slow gaming.. cw not doing to great at the moment ;/
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This ^. No feedback from CW to clients directly on what the hell is going on. I have to contact them to find out where my usage emails are (only to be told there is a problem and they have no idea when it will be resolved, and this was about 2 weeks ago). And come on here to find out my useless streaming is actually a problem on their side. Anyway, back to Axxess. Don't have the time or money to business with places like this. ISPs are dime a dozen.
 
I've been having several issues on my side as well. During E3, streaming 720p60 was a chore unless it was past 11PM. Streaming Twitch in source was literally impossible. These days, unless I hit the gutter and bandwidth sticks at sub-1Mb/s speeds, I have to pick 1080p instead of 720p to actually utilise my bandwidth and have the buffer run a bit further. It never used to be like this until the last 3-4 months. Even Netflix has its share of problems - one episode I'm streaming at 1080p, the next episode starts at 240p and has to climb up from there slowly. HTTP downloads are fine, the occasional torrent runs fine, but streaming is now sub-par compared to what it used to be.

Even connecting to PSN, and playing games online sees me with higher pings and more frequent disconnects these days. Whether that's CW's fault, or the local exchange becoming overwhelmed, I'm simply not able to dedicate enough time to test everything and figure this out.
 
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Simple question since the management account is now active on here again:

What is causing the 7pm to 11pm drop in downstream performance (less than half line speed on my 4mb line) every evening for so many users here and what it being done to address this issue in particular?

If an alternative account (such as one from AH test side-by-side with CW: https://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showth...ead-Part-4?p=19699168&viewfull=1#post19699168) during this period operates perfectly then surely my line or congestion is not to blame. I am in the EC region and my usage is usually around 200gb/month on the Premium Uncapped option. Your recent maintenance has done nothing to resolve this.
 
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Iwojima said:
Simple question since the management account is now active on here again:

What is causing the 7pm to 11pm drop in downstream performance (less than half line speed on my 4mb line) every evening for so many users here and what it being done to address this issue in particular?

If an alternative account (such as one from AH test side-by-side with CW: https://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showth...ead-Part-4?p=19699168&viewfull=1#post19699168) during this period operates perfectly then surely my line or congestion is not to blame. I am in the EC region and my usage is usually around 200gb/month. Your recent maintenance has done nothing to resolve this.
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Unfortunately I have to agree with this. Gaming during peak times to EU servers are not enjoyable at all with spikes all over the place. I can run tests for you and supply you with whatever data you need to address this issue, but I am sure you can replicate this from your side without much trouble. I would appreciate any feedback regarding this.
 
Ill explain how the ISPs work in SA. They pretty much dont want to spend the correct amount of funds needed to support the clients they have. So what they do, is actively move 'issues' from one user to another. So one day, user x has terrible internet and **** isnt working, this is due to the isp slowing the connection on purpose, in order to now make someones connection who has been bad for a few days, all of a sudden 'fine'.

Its a pretty shaddy practice but there is no way to prove it, and no governmental laws prohibiting it.

Your best bet is getting 2-3 DSL accounts from different ISPS and simply swap when you get ****ed.
 
I got de-prioritised today :(

@Crystal Web Management
If I see out this month with my account de-prioritised, will I be un-de-prioritised next month?
 
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