Web Africa Home Uncapped Feedback

[Webafrica Helper]

I am considering a move from my existing ISP. Was with Axxess 8 years (when they were still on IS backbone), before takeover and they started throttling us to hell and gone, obviously left them. Was very happy with the whole linespeed issue at that time, actually I had better linespeed then at 2mbs than I later had on 4 mbs. WA one of ISP's recommended to me on another thread. Am concerned about the whole management of shaping not being very clear - generally I think it is one of the concerns these days with all the ISP's. I am happy with shaping of downloads/p2p during the day. But I get the idea everything gets throttled if you get to a certain star rating. Earlier in the thread star rating is based on percentage of use of p2p/downloads. Effectively if I understand WA correctly is that if I do MORE streaming and general browsing I will then get better star rating as my percentage of use for p2p will be lower. Alternatively I have looked at capped packages, but in different threads i have read even they get shaped and is not true unshaped. The way they are structured is also not really suitable to me.

Hi Henk,

We do not throttle based on what protocol is used but the amount of data used within a specific period. So if you use 100gb of data by streaming it have the same effect as it was P2P/NNTP. If you want to with uncapped your need to make sure that you choose the correct package to suit your needs and manage the way you use it to get the best out of the service i.e: downloading between 12-6am only so that P2P/NNTP does not affect your rating. You can take a read through our KB article for more info around our Uncapped accounts.

With regards to capped we do not sell unshaped accounts and all capped accounts are subject to our bandwidth priority system. The main protocol that is shaped during business hours is P2P/NNTP but best thing to do is test our capped service out by signing up for the free 2gb account. If you looking for an easy to use service with less self-management then I recommend a capped account.

 

[Webafrica Helper]

Hey guys. I can't decide between the Home or Business package. R400 difference tho, so im kinda leaning towards the home package ☺. Im not a heavy downloader, i average between 100-150gb a month..... suggestions?

Glad to hear you joining us Which size uncapped package are you looking at?

I have to agree with Fulton as well with that amount of data usage I would recommend a capped account.

 

[Webafrica Helper]

oh ok. I was so confused. :wtf:

I'm still in two minds about keeping my UNCAPPED account with WA.

I love the fact that surfing, email and streaming (somewhat) still works whilst in 3 stars.

But my speeds only pick up after 12am during the week, meaning if I want to do some online gaming during the 'peak' period, it's doesn't work very well. I can't play Destiny as I loose connection to the servers. I thought online gaming should still work while on 3 stars. So no gaming during the week PERIOD! Which kinda sucks donkey balls. I thought maybe after 6pm it would improve seeing that most businesses close at 5pm but nothing.

I download around an average of 5GB between 6am and 9am during the week. I queue everything else from 12am to 6am.

I could maybe use under 20GB per weekend.

I have used 84GB since the start of the month. Only opened my account 1 Oct 2014.

Is this normal? Getting speeds of 40kbps on a 4MB line for the whole day until after 12am.

So I need to way my options now and see where to go from here on out.

Hi ghanslo,

Did the speed issues only start once you hit 3 stars? Also hows your exchange and line?

 

[ghanslo]

Hi ghanslo,

Did the speed issues only start once you hit 3 stars? Also hows your exchange and line?

Correct. The account was fine until I hit the 3 star mark. I was hitting 3.41Mbps via speedtest when I tested upon activation.

Tested now and I'm still getting 3.43Mbps. But I have mentioned that surfing, email and streaming are still fine. It's just the online gaming that is a bit of an issue.

P2P, getting speeds of 20Kbps, supposed it's expected for the 3 star rating.

 

[HenkofCamelot]

Hi Henk,

We do not throttle based on what protocol is used but the amount of data used within a specific period. So if you use 100gb of data by streaming it have the same effect as it was P2P/NNTP. If you want to with uncapped your need to make sure that you choose the correct package to suit your needs and manage the way you use it to get the best out of the service i.e: downloading between 12-6am only so that P2P/NNTP does not affect your rating. You can take a read through our KB article for more info around our Uncapped accounts.

With regards to capped we do not sell unshaped accounts and all capped accounts are subject to our bandwidth priority system. The main protocol that is shaped during business hours is P2P/NNTP but best thing to do is test our capped service out by signing up for the free 2gb account. If you looking for an easy to use service with less self-management then I recommend a capped account.

I was looking for your home capped pro packages on your website, cant find them - read some other feedback on other threads as well that your home capped is also slow during day time

 

[Chevron]

Hey guys. I can't decide between the Home or Business package. R400 difference tho, so im kinda leaning towards the home package ☺. Im not a heavy downloader, i average between 100-150gb a month..... suggestions?

If you can schedule a few of those downloads for midnight you won't have any issues on home.

 

[Chevron]

I was looking for your home capped pro packages on your website, cant find them - read some other feedback on other threads as well that your home capped is also slow during day time

It's super easy to upgrade.

Why not just try the free home capped 2GB first to see how it suits you?

 

[AthenianOwl]

Why is Youtube being throttled from 7AM to 5PM every day? My router is DLINK 2750U. ADSL stats looks normal. I'm on WA Business Uncapped. My data usage this month is pretty low when compared to last month. GIVE ME A ****ING BREAK!

 

[AthenianOwl]

What the ****? Everything's alright now on my WA Capped/Afrihost Uncapped accounts Why is my WA Business account broken???

 

[TheV]

What is the state of Web Africa Home Uncapped these days?
I'm looking to move over from a Axxess Business Uncapped account after they changed their ToS.
Specifically with regards to P2P traffic. How much data can I expected on a 2Mb line?

 

[Chevron]

What is the state of Web Africa Home Uncapped these days?
I'm looking to move over from a Axxess Business Uncapped account after they changed their ToS.
Specifically with regards to P2P traffic. How much data can I expected on a 2Mb line?

If you're on home you only really want to download from midnight. If you want to download a lot, rather take business.

 

[wingnut771]

What is the state of Web Africa Home Uncapped these days?
I'm looking to move over from a Axxess Business Uncapped account after they changed their ToS.
Specifically with regards to P2P traffic. How much data can I expected on a 2Mb line?

You can max your line between midnight and 6am with no penalties.

 

[TheV]

If you're on home you only really want to download from midnight. If you want to download a lot, rather take business.

The Web Africa consultant that I spoke to yesterday gave me the impression that P2P traffic is treated the same across the board, the account type (Home or Business) should not make a difference. I say impression, because as expected the information provided to me was very vague.

Is there any more specific information regarding Home Uncapped vs Business Uncapped for P2P traffic?

 

[TheV]

You can max your line between midnight and 6am with no penalties.

Thanks for the info. I'm looking for a service where I can, comfortably, have more than 6 hours of P2P traffic (max) a day though. If I was able to manage higher line speeds 6 hours might be sufficient, but at 2Mb I need more uptime.

 

[wingnut771]

Thanks for the info. I'm looking for a service where I can, comfortably, have more than 6 hours of P2P traffic (max) a day though. If I was able to manage higher line speeds 6 hours might be sufficient, but at 2Mb I need more uptime.

Ye, I have a 4mb line.

Anyway, you can still download after 5pm and get good speed, but then there are penalties and your stars will drop, if below 3 then office hours becomes a pain.

 

[TheV]

Ye, I have a 4mb line.

Anyway, you can still download after 5pm and get good speed, but then there are penalties and your stars will drop, if below 3 then office hours becomes a pain.

Does a low star rating affect all your traffic or only P2P? I'm under the impression its not protocol specific¿

 

[Chevron]

The Web Africa consultant that I spoke to yesterday gave me the impression that P2P traffic is treated the same across the board, the account type (Home or Business) should not make a difference. I say impression, because as expected the information provided to me was very vague.

Is there any more specific information regarding Home Uncapped vs Business Uncapped for P2P traffic?

Business has higher thresholds so you can download more before being shaped.

 

[TheV]

Business has higher thresholds so you can download more before being shaped.

Are these threshold values available somewhere? When deciding to spend double the money I would like to be able to understand how much more I can download for the cost?

 

[wingnut771]

Does a low star rating affect all your traffic or only P2P? I'm under the impression its not protocol specific¿

It's not, well it is a little as in p2p/nntp get affected the most but also http, but only if the network is busy does the star rating apply, so you probably won't even know it over december that you're on 1 star for example as the network is quiet (hence all these free giveaways).

 

[wingnut771]

Are these threshold values available somewhere? When deciding to spend double the money I would like to be able to understand how much more I can download for the cost?

I would rather increase linespeed and make use of overnight window than go business.