geekrebel’s posterous

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

I did some test results today comparing Afrihost (Shaped) vs Cybersmart (Unshaped, sorta)

The comparison is not "fair" in a sense, as Afrihost clearly states that they offer Shaped bandwidth. 

Shaped bandwidth means that "typical" web traffic is prioritzed. (Afrihost calls it "the most important web protocols (e.g. Internet browsing and email)"

What is often not said about Shaped Bandwidth is that it only really helps with cached websites. So you'll be fine when reading CNN.com, but reading your online email or doing online banking is a different story.

Without going into details: If you're running a business that does online email (e.g. Google Apps, Gmail, Hotmail), make use of Web 2.0 applications (Salesforce.com, Highrise, Youtube, Freshbooks) or do VoIP (Skype, NetMeeting, WebEx) you should NOT use shaped bandwidth. Of course you could weigh up the extra minutes wasted against the money saved. (Afrihost offers R29 per GB Shaped bandwidth, compared to Web Africa's superior Unshaped service at R125 per GB!) 

A few months ago, Skyrove signed a deal with Cybersmart that involves getting their bandwidth at preferential prices. They don't classify their bandwidth as "shaped" or "unshaped", as they're not using traditional SAIX bandwidth. 

Here are some test results comparing Skyrove bandwidth (provided by Cybersmart) against Afrihost bandwidth: 

1. Download/Upload Speed Test (Cape Town to Johannesburg)

Cybersmart 

(The above was the slowest result of 3, the fastest was 3.45)

Afrihost

This was result from the first test, which I found a bit puzzling. There is normally no perceivable difference between shaped and Unshaped when doing basic download tests. I did the test 3 more times, and got the following results: 

Test 2 - 0.49 Mb/s down, 0.32 Mb/s up (down even more)

Test 3 - 3.41 Mb/s down, 0.29 Mb/s up (that's better, maybe it was just temporary...)

Test 4 - 0.51 Mb/s down, 0.32 Mb/s up (Nope, down again) 

So it looks pretty erratic! I haven't seen this kind of result before, and didn't test again at a different time period to see if it's a general problem. 

2. Download/Upload Speed Test (Cape Town to London)

Cybersmart

Afrihost

3. Local Ping Test (Cape Town to Johannesburg) - Important for gaming, VOIP 

Cybersmart 

Afrihost

Both ISPs are 'A' graded (excellent), as expected, for local ping. For gaming, it's generally recommended that you have a sub-60ms ping (to the gaming server). Provider the gaming server is in South Africa, you shouldn't have problems using either Afrihost or Cybersmart. 

4. International Ping Test (Cape Town to London)

Cybersmart

Cybersmart comes in as B graded "Very Good". Everything should be fine, but "Some online games may not perform optimally"

Afrihost

Afrihost's Shaped offering gets 'C' graded here. "Acceptable. Your VoIP quality will suffer some, and you will have a disadvantage in online games. Test again to confirm" So basically: Forget about online gaming or having any business teleconference calls via Skype. 

Conclusion

There is a BIG difference between Shaped & Unshaped bandwidth, both as far as speed & price is concerned.Unshaped internet may be more expensive, but if you use it, you'd find that the "experience" of internet browsing is just as good as using it in the US. 

They are so different, in fact, that it should be compulsory for ISPs who provide shaped bandwidth to always append "Shaped" (or even better: "Basic") to the end of their DSL product name, rather than hiding it away in the FAQs. 

Labeling would be a start, but even better would simply be to ban Shaped bandwidth overall. It's a deliberately crippled service and is likely done (by Telkom) in order to overcharge for Unshaped bandwidth.

Notes:

1. DISCLAIMER: I work for Skyrove and Cybersmart is a shareholder. These tests are not independent and weren't peer reviewed (before we have claims of BandwidthGate). Proper testing would involve testing from multiple locations, servers, ISPs, times. 

2. Skyrove does not sell DSL packages, but we use DSL at the vast majority of our WiFi Hotspots.

3. All tests were done around 6 pm on a Sunday. Results will vary during the week during working hours. 

Besides feeling a bit uncomfortable with being called a "hotshot", I think BD's Dave Marrs really captured the Skyrove philosophy very well.  

UPDATE: I received a response from Sasol on the same day at this post. See further below. 

Dear Leonilda, 

Thank you for your time in reading this letter.

While reading SASOL's 300+ page annual reports, I realised that I had
no space to keep the report and didn't know where my nearest paper
recycling bins were.

It then occurred to me that many South Africans frequently visit
petrol stations and that petrol stations would be an ideal location
for recycling bins.

Besides for petrol stations being ubiquitous in SA, they typically
have enough space for recycling bins and would also be a fantastic
location to raise awareness of recycling.

I think such a project could tie in well with Sasol's CSR programs and
would set a positive example for other fuel & chemical companies.

I look forward to your consideration!

Best regards,
Henk Kleynhans

Response from Sasol:

Good morning Mr Kleynhans,

I trust this finds you well!

I received your email via Marsja Hall Green – requesting more information on the recycling project. I’ve included a recent article published on the Bizcommunity website for your easy reference and information. We have had a tremendous response to this initiative and look forward to running full steam ahead with it in future.

Should you require any further information, please don’t hesitate to call and we will gladly assist.

Kind regards

Leonilda Koster
Communications Manager
Sasol Oil

Read the BizCommunity Article. 

That's excellent news!

May I suggest for 2010 that the approach is done the other away
around, perhaps?

Instead of "opting-out" of paper report, people would have to "opt-in"
for a paper report.

That way the default position of SASOL becomes saving paper.

I'd take bets that less than 3200 will insist on receiving the paper copy.

Now, who do I speak to at SASOL regarding a recycling initiative at
petrol stations?

Kind regards,
Henk

On Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 10:54 AM, Hall-Green, Marsja (MM)
wrote:
> Dear Mr Kleynhans
>
> We  have the greatest sympathy with shareholders who do not wish to receive the heavy annual report and, to this end, we sent out a communiqué earlier this year, requesting shareholders to indicate if they wish to receive electronic communications instead.  Out of a possible 15 000 shareholders we received a response from about
> 3 200 people. We were pleased with this result as it also helps us to save a considerable amount of money on printing and postage.
>
> I am not sure why you did not receive this request - that included a pre-paid card - and I will forward your comments to Computershare, Sasol's share registrars who are responsible for these matters.  They will be able to respond more fully.
>
> In terms of JSE listing regulations and our articles of association it was not previously possible to arbitrarily remove people from the mailing lists, but I understand that we now have more flexibility to accommodate requests of this nature.
>
> Shareholders who have elected to receive electronic communications instead of printed material will in future only receive the links to the annual report to which you refer.  I hope you were able to find the user-friendly online report on our website, as opposed to the pdf version.
>
> Kind regards
>
> Marsja Hall-Green
> Manager publications
>
> Group corporate affairs
> Sasol Limited
>
> Tel :  (+27) 11 441 3237
> Fax:  (+27) 11 441 3236
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Henk Kleynhans [mailto:henk@skyrove.com]
> Sent: 19 November 2009 08:33 PM
> To: Hall-Green, Marsja (MM)
> Cc: post@posterous.com
> Subject: Open Letter to Sasol regarding Paper Wastage
>
> Dear Ms Hallgreen,
>
> Thank you for sending me the SASOL annual report which I received as a
> shareholder.
>
> I wish to kindly request that in future you do not send me a hardcopy,
> but rather let me know by email (or a simple postcard, if you have to
> send something by post) where I can download the electronic version,
> which I see is currently available at http://tinyurl.com/sasolreport
>
> The 2 glossy hardcopies I received are more than 300 pages long, are
> unlikely to be read nor recycled. Perhaps SASOL could help to start
> some recycling initiatives? Recycling bins at all petrol stations
> would be a GREAT idea!
>
> Kind regards,
> Henk Kleynhans
>
>
>
> --
> Henk Kleynhans
> CTO & Founder
> Skyrove (Pty) Ltd
> Technology Top 100 - Most Promising Emerging Enterprise 2006
> Tel: +27 (21) 4488843
> Cell: +27 (84) 3073451
> Fax: +27 (86) 6204077
> henk@skyrove.com
> blog: www.geekrebel.com
>
> ------
>
> "A person with ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of
> others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he
> or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or
> she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are
> humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed." -
> Desmond Tutu
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>
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