Web Hosting

[Dehatter]

So this may sound like an ad but it is more of a review.

I have had the template about a year now and many of you know I was with 1and1.

I signed up for the introductory price of $12US for a year, and its been a year so I was about to renew at the current rate of $99US for a year.

I have had nothing but good experience with 1and1 though many of you have not. I just thought $99 for a year was too high and after complaining (several calls) they lowered it to $48 for the year (+15 for the domain=$63 annually).

I then stumbled onto a host called Hostwinds www.hostwinds.com (founded 2010). They quoted me $84.50 for 3 years ($2.35/mo). Included was a 1 yr extension of my domain and site migration for free. No storage limits or bandwidth limits.

Last night my site was migrated to Hostwinds. They took care of everything including moving the database. It took longer than I expected but how fast can you move 80000 files really.

Servers are in the US in Seattle and Dallas, but my load times are less than half of what they were with 1and1. I could not be happier! All I had to do was change the database name (user and password too) in the main setup and they did everything else. I lost 20 minutes of data in the process.''

So, if anyone is looking for a low cost alternative for hosting and are willing to commit to 3 years, it is a pretty good deal.

Happy to answer any questions.

Tom

[andyk1]

Hi Tom

Yes your right in that I am up against a renewal with 1and1 and not really interest in staying with them. Funny you mentioned your new host as I have been looking at them myself. I've been chatting with them and decided to make my move at the beginning of the year.

Let me know how things are going with them as I have plenty of time to look elsewhere if it doesn't work out.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.

Andy

[Dehatter]

Can't say enough good things, so I won't. Just a few.
Database is domain hosted. 60 day money back. Quick response here in NC with the server in Dallas (you will be even quicker where you are). No changes to the template whatsoever. Only change the database options in main setup (I suggest migrating the database yourself first and then you can actually use the hostwinds database while your site stays at 1and1 - lesson learned you could say). unlimited files, bandwidth, subdomains, emails, and storage. 99.999% up-time (the best in the business). Just goto the homepage and their chat will pop up within 3 or 4 minutes. They are very responsive. domain extended for free and transferred for free (do this last as it literally is instantaneous once you select approve at 1and1). There was about a 15 minute delay for me between name-server switch. one bit of notation, the 'root' directory is /public_html/ ... and the best part $2.35 a month if you pick 3 years. I can put you in touch with the COO if you need someone higher up.

ok more than a few.

Tom

[andyk1]

I can put you in touch with the COO if you need someone higher up.

Tom

Hi again Tom, Sure that would be nice. Like I said am making the jump at the beginning of next year. If you want me to mention you as the reason for the move there let me know.

I forgot in last message your link to them is broken but I had already had it about the past week. There pop up chat actually took me less than a min.

Take care.

Andy

[Dehatter]

Thanks. Link fixed.

Tom

[andyk1]

Hi Tom.

You just had to provide the new host with your password to 1and1's site and db file to have them do the auto transfer? do they also do the DNS switch or is that up to you which is a complicated process for the average person if they've never done it before or wait the 24 to 72 hour process.

[Dehatter]

They do the DNS switch too.

Just know that when 1and1 sends you the confirmation request, and you accept it, the move is instant. I waited until they had everything transferred before accepting.

i actually requested the DB moved first and then used the database at hostwinds while 1and1 was the actual site host for over a day.

It's not like the old days. I mean instant.

Tom

[Dehatter]

OK. So the news from Hostwinds is not so good.

After 7 days of perfect sailing, my page did not respond to requests or updates for 22 hours (all data lost).

Something called Entry Processes. They blame this excessive entry process on my 2 little cron jobs.

They attempted very little analysis themselves and did me the favor of running a malware scanner on my files which came up empty.

The end of every answer was to upsell me to a different hosting package.

In the mean time the site settled down and ran for another 2 days perfectly, and then started to spasm again.

A tech told me 'off the record' that there were 59 other sites on my server and more than likely what was happening to me was a result of another site on the server.

BAM - done with that. Never worked so hard to save $20 in my life!

I am now back at Ionos. Where suddenly $48 a year sounds like a great deal. Amazing what a little experience can do for a change of perspective.

Tom

[Johnny]

This is a helpful site when choosing new hosting, they go into a lot of detail about each hosting company they've reviewed.

https://hostingfacts.com

[andyk1]

Hi Johnny!!!

I just checked out your recommendation site and it was very informative. I need to jump ship from 1and1 like tom and need to do it soon. I put it off for a month but I need tom to let me know what problems he had with his migration to his new host.

Andy

[andyk1]

OK. So the news from Hostwinds is not so good.

After 7 days of perfect sailing, my page did not respond to requests or updates for 22 hours (all data lost).

I am now back at Ionos. Where suddenly $48 a year sounds like a great deal. Amazing what a little experience can do for a change of perspective.

Tom

Well I'm glad I re-read the posts here. I was getting ready to migrate my site to them and had a hard time deciding which plan to get and as you said they where constantly up-selling everything. I was going to get there $5.something deal but wanted to wait and see how your site was doing. I do want to move from 1and1 or whatever they changed there name to. I noticed my site has slowed down quite a bit and made no major changed. 1and1 says I have 172,909 files and using 4.44gb. Must be my cam snapshots which is 165,110 files as of now and 3.69gb. Time to trim back a few months I guess. Right now I am paying them $16.99 a month for about the same service you are for much cheaper.

Let me know what plan your on Tom as I need to do some talking to them about lowering my plan. I already know there going to argue about a lower plan but I need to cut back.

Andy

[Johnny]

Hi Andy,

For what it's worth I use a company called Namecheap who only come in at number 19 on the hostingfacts website with two stars. Having said that, I've never had any major issues with them, I have 26 (our of 49) websites hosted with them and countless email accounts all under one package with them called Ultimate 4G for $141.88 per year. I pay a little more to use servers in the UK.

They occasionally remind me that they cannot back up my sites because I have too many files (that's from the Bloomsky images uploaded every five minutes). So I have to go in every now and then and delete them.

When I've had any minor issues they've usually got it sorted within a few hours of getting in touch. Although getting in touch with them via their website is a little convoluted and should be made easier.

I hope you find the right hosting company, it's not easy for any of us to quickly switch from one to another.

John

[andyk1]

Hi Andy,

They occasionally remind me that they cannot back up my sites because I have too many files (that's from the Bloomsky images uploaded every five minutes). So I have to go in every now and then and delete them.

I hope you find the right hosting company, it's not easy for any of us to quickly switch from one to another.

John

Yeah I'm in the same boat needing to delete about 6 months worth of 5 Min snapshot uploads. I haven't tried it but doesn't Jackym's webCam block automatically delete the older files. I was under the assumption that you can delete say the last year or 6 months or even the last 3 months. Correct me if I'm wrong and let me know if this is a manual operation.

I also may have a look at your host as it really doesn't matter where there located.

Am also curious as to what other sites you have if there public or private. You can send me a private message if you wish or just don't mind my curiosity.

Andy

[Johnny]

Hi Andy,

Namecheap are in Phoenix, Arizona, I pay a little extra to use servers based in the UK. The webcam block I'm using has no option to delete older images, neither does the Bloomsky plugin. Here's a few simple sites I've made, some are Wordpress, some are made with my old Serif software, I'm slowly changing them to Wordpress sites, these are all on my hosting package mentioned above with Namecheap:

https://www.petsonfilm.uk
http://www.lucypiper.co.uk
http://www.essexdogacademy.co.uk
http://www.alistairdivall.co.uk
http://www.bennylovesyou.co.uk
http://www.lottiemayor.com
http://www.reg-council-dtbp.uk
http://www.watfordweather.co.uk/indexDesktop.php
http://www.watfordweather.uk/indexDesktop.php

Presently I use FileZilla to access the relevant folders and then mass delete 1000s of .jpgs. I know some of the fellas on the forum have worked out a way of doing this automatically but that's too much for my little rats maze of a brain to handle .

Johnny

[Dehatter]

Andy.

I am on 1&1 Basic - CONTRACT with free performance upgrade to Level 1. <- w/e lol

regular price $99 / year and after speaking with the retention department they dropped it to $48 / year.

Server is overseas so that is why it is slower here in the US, but I presume its faster for you Europeans.

I have never had an issue (other than a split second slower). Ever. So I can't complain. I was trying to save a few bucks, but I am not sure it is possible to run the template on most hosts basic package. The 1&1 (Ionos) basic package is considerably more robust that most other basic packages and I was able to do last year for $12 for the entire year as an introduction. Overall I am pretty happy.

Tom