ISP Comparison.

PJS

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2005
Messages
477
Reaction score
5
Hello,

I am looking for a solution, mostly for browsing and sometimes for streaming Netflix to my Smart Tv. Obviously streaming speeds must be stable and high enough to deal with HD content. My current ISP must be shaping streaming to death as I am not getting Netflix to play continuously. Buffers every minute or two.

Have been looking around and it seems that the cheapest option for me would be to get a unshaped but capped account. Currently looking at 50 GB as this is most likely to be my "average" usage. Picture shows a table with some of the ISP's I am considering. I have a 4 meg line.

Currently it's a choice between Openweb or Afrihost.

Any Netflix Streamers out there with some advice??

Thanks


Comp.JPG
 
Last edited:
What speed is your line?

Edit: Your table is a bit outdated, currently R399 for 100GB at Afrihost.
R285 for 50GB
 
Last edited:
I'm on MWEB Uncapped 1mb and stream Netflix with only occassional buffering (I think the culprit is my Laptop getting virus updates stealing some bandwidth or my wireless dropping because of the ****ty D-Link)
 
I'm on MWEB Uncapped 1mb and stream Netflix with only occassional buffering (I think the culprit is my Laptop getting virus updates stealing some bandwidth or my wireless dropping because of the ****ty D-Link)

Do you stream on your Tv or Laptop? If it's your Laptop you are not streaming HD?
 
Had a look at that but it's shaped.

So?

With Silver you'll hardly ever see it.

You seem to think that all "shaped" accounts are the same. They aren't.

The ISPs all optimize their accounts differently.

Once you try Silver you won't go back to anything else.
 
So?

With Silver you'll hardly ever see it.

You seem to think that all "shaped" accounts are the same. They aren't.

The ISPs all optimize their accounts differently.

Once you try Silver you won't go back to anything else.

Agreed!
 
Hello,

I am looking for a solution, mostly for browsing and sometimes for streaming Netflix to my Smart Tv. Obviously streaming speeds must be stable and high enough to deal with HD content. My current ISP must be shaping streaming to death as I am not getting Netflix to play continuously. Buffers every minute or two.

Have been looking around and it seems that the cheapest option for me would be to get a unshaped but capped account. Currently looking at 50 GB as this is most likely to be my "average" usage. Picture shows a table with some of the ISP's I am considering. I have a 4 meg line.

Currently it's a choice between Openweb or Afrihost.

Any Netflix Streamers out there with some advice??

Thanks


View attachment 47099

Just for interest sake the backbone column needs to be updated. MTN makes use of SAT3 and SAFE with additional capacity on Eassy and Seacom. IS is SAT3 and Seacom and WACS if I am not mistaken.

Anyway to answer your question. I am with Axxess, it is the same company and backbone as Afrihost, and I am on a 10meg uncapped account. I stream Netflix with no problems at all, no paused buffering.
 
So?

With Silver you'll hardly ever see it.

You seem to think that all "shaped" accounts are the same. They aren't.

The ISPs all optimize their accounts differently.

Once you try Silver you won't go back to anything else.

Not entirely true - me thinking that all shaped accounts are the same. I know they are not some are worse than others!! ;)

That's the reason for me asking about other 4 mb line users streaming Netflix. Their experience means more than statements from ISP's and whether it's shaped or no.

My current view is that most unshaped accounts will outperform any shaped account and therefore I am considering a 50 GB Capped Unshaped account.
 
Not entirely true - me thinking that all shaped accounts are the same. I know they are not some are worse than others!! ;)

That's the reason for me asking about other 4 mb line users streaming Netflix. Their experience means more than statements from ISP's and whether it's shaped or no.

My current view is that most unshaped accounts will outperform any shaped account and therefore I am considering a 50 GB Capped Unshaped account.

My point is that it isn't worth the hassle of going capped. Especially since you want to stream.

Check your usage first after a month on a proper uncapped account. I think you'll use closer to 250gigs.
 
My point is that it isn't worth the hassle of going capped. Especially since you want to stream.

Check your usage first after a month on a proper uncapped account. I think you'll use closer to 250gigs.

Point taken. Thanks

Then I will appreciate some feedback from other 4 meg users on their experiance streaming.


Is there an ISP that provides a "semi-shaped" offering ie shaped during business hours and not after hours?
 
Point taken. Thanks

Then I will appreciate some feedback from other 4 meg users on their experiance streaming.


Is there an ISP that provides a "semi-shaped" offering ie shaped during business hours and not after hours?

That's exactly what Silver is and why I recommended it.

;)
 
Well I opened an Web Africa account - unshaped and I am getting decent speeds modem/ router syncing at +- 6megs on a 4 meg line.

All test on computer shows a vast improvement except..... When I stream to my Samsung TV it's pathetic... buffering all the time.

So it's either the TV or the Modem Router.

Suspecting that the wireless speeds is just not enough for HD streaming. I have a Linksys Cisco WAG320N modem/ router.

Any opinion on this? If your opinion is that the modem/ router is not up to the task what modem/ router should I consider? Bearing in mind that I want to connect the TV via wireless and not cable.
 
Hello,

I am looking for a solution, mostly for browsing and sometimes for streaming Netflix to my Smart Tv. Obviously streaming speeds must be stable and high enough to deal with HD content. My current ISP must be shaping streaming to death as I am not getting Netflix to play continuously. Buffers every minute or two.

Have been looking around and it seems that the cheapest option for me would be to get a unshaped but capped account. Currently looking at 50 GB as this is most likely to be my "average" usage. Picture shows a table with some of the ISP's I am considering. I have a 4 meg line.

Currently it's a choice between Openweb or Afrihost.

Any Netflix Streamers out there with some advice??

Thanks


View attachment 47099

Hi We offer 7 day trial accounts.

if you send me your contact number I will arrange for you to be contacted then you can test the account to see if it meets your needs.
 
Hi,

Sorted with powerline adapto, Billion BiPAC P106 R2. Streaming HD and even 3D to my TV without any issues.

Thanks for all the help.

P
 
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X