Shopping for a new ISP

Chevron said:
I probably didn't phrase it properly. But don't you get a say in the internatonal breakout once your packets reach the other side of WACS or do they do that? Surely WACS's internatonal POP has multiple networks that you can connect to? Or in other words, who decides on the routing once the packets reaches WACS?
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That would be the cable operator and they have predefined agreements of their own in place. There are very limited aspects that we can attempt to control. It's fairly prohibitive though. If there's something specific that isn't working correctly we can always look at resolving this by any feasible means, but so far none have been reported. It's fairly unrealistic to expect a local tier 2 or 3 ISP to control or even involve themselves in the peering of all international networks and their associated breakout routes. Even a tier 1 operator may not have the clout to dictate the international breakout but I can't speak on their behalves...
 
Guys my line rental is still with cybersmart. Realistically how long can I expect to wait to have it transferred back to telkom...?
 
Zenbaas said:
Guys my line rental is still with cybersmart. Realistically how long can I expect to wait to have it transferred back to telkom...?
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At max speed it takes 14 days AFAIK. This was with AH and Telkom refunded me as it happened during their billing run.
 
Zenbaas said:
Guys my line rental is still with cybersmart. Realistically how long can I expect to wait to have it transferred back to telkom...?
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2 weeks, but there can always be delays in the process. Then bank on another 2 weeks to move to the new ISP...
 
Hi everyone!

Been reading everyone's comments all across MyBB regarding ISP's for uncapped accounts (problems, which is best, value).

I am hoping that your opinions might be able to sway me one way or the other.
I currently have an Openweb 2 Mbps Gold Uncapped (R360) account on a 4 Mbps line. I have been with them for about 3 years, and have always had amazing after hour and weekend speeds, across the board.
I have been experiencing the atrocious day and "after hour" speeds, for even basic browsing without P2P runnning, for about 2 months now though, and it's making me reconsider. I know what they used to be like, from after 5 pm and weekends - great speed!

Based on many MyBB user's recommendations of Afrihost across the forums, I activated a 4 Mbps Afrihost Uncapped (R397) line yesterday. It would only be pro-rata till the end of the month anyway, so might as well try them. Had amazing speed with everything, even 400 + kB/s P2P yesterday. Then suddenly today, a Shaping Policy: 18.8% Download/ 6.25% P2P kicks in on the account.

I do understand that the Afrihost uncapped network is shaped when there is high usage, but the speeds now for P2P are 11 kB/s! And that after only 5GB of data used since yesterday morning. YouTube and browsing seems fine, very quick. It is now worse than what Openweb was.

Tonight, after testing Openweb again with P2P, NOW it'll run full 200 + kB/s speed! Typical. Which makes me doubt cancelling it.
(Also, Openweb has to be cancelled before the 25th, making the decision "time sensitive". Already have to give a months notice :( )

I am so confused as so what the best course of action will be. Do I cancel Openweb and try Afrihost? And if I'm not happy with Afrihost? 3 people share the ADSL, which makes these slow speeds even more frustrating. And what GB amount "usage" would Afrihost accept in a month? Also, being able to use my 2 Mb to 4 Mb upgraded ADSL line gift from Telkom is great.

Any advice would be great!
 
Jaxxy88 said:
Hi everyone!

Been reading everyone's comments all across MyBB regarding ISP's for uncapped accounts (problems, which is best, value).

I am hoping that your opinions might be able to sway me one way or the other.
I currently have an Openweb 2 Mbps Gold Uncapped (R360) account on a 4 Mbps line. I have been with them for about 3 years, and have always had amazing after hour and weekend speeds, across the board.
I have been experiencing the atrocious day and "after hour" speeds, for even basic browsing without P2P runnning, for about 2 months now though, and it's making me reconsider. I know what they used to be like, from after 5 pm and weekends - great speed!

Based on many MyBB user's recommendations of Afrihost across the forums, I activated a 4 Mbps Afrihost Uncapped (R397) line yesterday. It would only be pro-rata till the end of the month anyway, so might as well try them. Had amazing speed with everything, even 400 + kB/s P2P yesterday. Then suddenly today, a Shaping Policy: 18.8% Download/ 6.25% P2P kicks in on the account.

I do understand that the Afrihost uncapped network is shaped when there is high usage, but the speeds now for P2P are 11 kB/s! And that after only 5GB of data used since yesterday morning. YouTube and browsing seems fine, very quick. It is now worse than what Openweb was.

Tonight, after testing Openweb again with P2P, NOW it'll run full 200 + kB/s speed! Typical. Which makes me doubt cancelling it.
(Also, Openweb has to be cancelled before the 25th, making the decision "time sensitive". Already have to give a months notice :( )

I am so confused as so what the best course of action will be. Do I cancel Openweb and try Afrihost? And if I'm not happy with Afrihost? 3 people share the ADSL, which makes these slow speeds even more frustrating. And what GB amount "usage" would Afrihost accept in a month? Also, being able to use my 2 Mb to 4 Mb upgraded ADSL line gift from Telkom is great.

Any advice would be great!
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Ye, I would stay away from AH and their constant shaping, or anything MTN at the moment unless you consider business.

If you were happy pre-2 months ago with OW, then I would go with Plugg, as they're the consumer division of IS, and will have the same characteristics that you're used to with full speed after 5 and weekends, but you have the star rating to contend with, but at least you can see what it is, unlike OW non-star rated star rated accounts. Also no calendar month cancellation when you want to leave!
 
wingnut771 said:
Ye, I would stay away from AH and their constant shaping, or anything MTN at the moment unless you consider business.

If you were happy pre-2 months ago with OW, then I would go with Plugg, as they're the consumer division of IS, and will have the same characteristics that you're used to with full speed after 5 and weekends, but you have the star rating to contend with, but at least you can see what it is, unlike OW non-star rated star rated accounts. Also no calendar month cancellation when you want to leave!
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I'm also not a fan of AH's uncapped shaping policies, if you go AH uncapped you should do business uncapped but it's crap expensive.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
I'm also not a fan of AH's uncapped shaping policies, if you go AH uncapped you should do business uncapped but it's crap expensive.
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+1 Crap expensive for a home account, dirt cheap compared to "real" business accounts, which might explain the iffy streaming on business.

Having a perfectly usable account when I get home from work is all I need, and Plugg provided that for me like clockwork, and is a true "home" uncapped account.

AH "home" uncapped is more a "youtube/vampire" uncapped account, but like I always say, different strokes for different folks, so one must just look for what works for them. :)

AH (MTN) doesn't work for me.
 
Necuno said:
Define crap expensive and post a comparison.
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10Mbps uncapped for home users should cost people R1,000 and it seems more and more home users are upgrading to business accounts because their regular accounts are constantly shaped into the ground. Just doesn't seem right.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
10Mbps uncapped for home users should cost people R1,000 and it seems more and more home users are upgrading to business accounts because their regular accounts are constantly shaped into the ground. Just doesn't seem right.
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I don't see an example of this crap expansiveness you talk about...

Shall I give it a try?

Lets use mweb and afrihost ;)

Mweb, 4 Mbps premium: R539 pm
Afrihost, 4 Mbps "business": R697 pm

R158 difference... yeah that is crap expensive, but no fictional thresholds :erm:
 
Necuno said:
I don't see an example of this crap expansiveness you talk about...

Shall I give it a try?

Lets use mweb and afrihost ;)

Mweb, 4 Mbps premium: R539 pm
Afrihost, 4 Mbps "business": R697 pm

R158 difference... yeah that is crap expensive, but no fictional thresholds :erm:
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I'm referring to accounts for "home users" here. I'm not comparing business products and never said I was. I said AH business uncapped is crap expensive because it is crap expensive for internet.
 
Necuno said:
I don't see an example of this crap expansiveness you talk about...

Shall I give it a try?

Lets use mweb and afrihost ;)

Mweb, 4 Mbps premium: R539 pm
Afrihost, 4 Mbps "business": R697 pm

R158 difference... yeah that is crap expensive, but no fictional thresholds :erm:
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Plugg 10mb home uncapped R1195.
 
Thanks guys!
Really appreciate your time and knowledge.

So assuming you are mostly against Openweb? Haha.

I was considering the Afrihost 2 MB Business Uncapped as well. Considering that if I can get better line speed and P2P, even though an Afrihost 2Mb business costs similar to 4 Mb normal uncapped line, that'll perhaps provide better overall speed. Which will be better than getting 11kB/s on a 4 Mb uncapped line.

I just haven't been with Afrihost long enough to really judge how they are, so experienced user opinions really help. I do like the Afrihost ClientZone, and the fact that I can easily control my account (Openweb is terrible in that regard).

I see a 4 Mb line with plugg is R395.

hmm...
 
Jaxxy88 said:
Thanks guys!
Really appreciate your time and knowledge.

So assuming you are mostly against Openweb? Haha.

I was considering the Afrihost 2 MB Business Uncapped as well. Considering that if I can get better line speed and P2P, even though an Afrihost 2Mb business costs similar to 4 Mb normal uncapped line, that'll perhaps provide better overall speed. Which will be better than getting 11kB/s on a 4 Mb uncapped line.

I just haven't been with Afrihost long enough to really judge how they are, so experienced user opinions really help. I do like the Afrihost ClientZone, and the fact that I can easily control my account (Openweb is terrible in that regard).

I see a 4 Mb line with plugg is R395.

hmm...
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You have a PM
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
I'm referring to accounts for "home users" here. I'm not comparing business products and never said I was. I said AH business uncapped is crap expensive because it is crap expensive for internet.
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If you say so...
 
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