UK hosting packages.....

KG Gary · 2005-10-25, 11:16 AM

I'm looking for a little guidance with my selection for hosting. I would prefer to use a UK company if possible, but I'm finding that the bandwidth limitations are going to give me an expensive headache!

I plan to be submitting many many freesites to link lists over the coming months, creating my own hub, with the ultimate aim of running my own link list in the future. (It's a full-time job for me - I already spend around 15 hours a day researching, designing my free sites etc).

Originally I was going to use my ISP's hosting - http://www.names.co.uk/hosting_matrix.html but seeing as they charge £0.02 per MB over the 30GB maximum I'd be screwed. I've mailed them asking for some sort of "per GB" deal but without much hope.

I've found http://www.cheap-adult-hosting.co.uk/hosting-plans.htm which seems a lot better, but I'm convinced that somebody can steer me in the right direction!

Hosting outside the UK is definately an option as some of the companies on the GG&J resources page look to be just what I need, but I'd still rather use UK hosting so that I can get to them easily and kick somebody's arse if there's a problem.

Any help or advice appreciated!

KG Gary · 2005-10-25, 02:12 PM

Oh, and I'm happy to pay for a decent service. I don't need a dirt-cheap host, I need a reliable and fast one without being crucified if I go over the monthly limit.

urb · 2005-10-25, 02:29 PM

I have a lot of experience of UK hosts and American hosts.

Please take my advice and do not use a British host.

www.colo-cation.com is a cool American host by the way.

KG Gary · 2005-10-25, 02:37 PM

Thanks for the response, Urb.
Doesn't somebody respected who posts on GG&J run www.colo-cation.com? I'm thinking of running with a nice package from there if I can't find a suitable UK host.

By the way, why not use a UK host? Is it because it's so much more expensive, especially the overage charges. (Best I've found so far is around £5 per GB).

Just curious.

urb · 2005-10-25, 03:30 PM

Reasons not to use a UK host...

1) Price: they generally charge at least double per Gig of transfer.
2) Legality: they don't like the majority of hardcore which falls into a grey area of UK law and varies from host to host.
3) Specification: they are generally not set up to cope with large amounts of traffic unless you are willing to spend a fortune.
4) Tech support: I've dealt with almost all the popular UK hosting companies and the only one with decent tech support is NTT Verio, basically because you are transferred over the Atlantic to their American call centre.
5) Billing: they generally request 12 months payment in advance.

I actually phoned a well known UK host last month for tech support (true story) and they denied that the site was hosted by them. I told them to check whois and they would see the nameservers. Eventually I got transferred to the "Tech Support Team Leader" who informed me that the site was actually hosted by "Network Solutions".

So if the Tech Support Team Leader has no idea that Network Solutions is in fact a domain registrar and doesn't know that NS1: & NS2 = his company, then how the hell are they gonna sort out a problem that I can't handle myself? I gave the poor guy a few tips on how to find and read whois records, and I'm a bloody designer, not a techie.

If you phone a UK host and ask what content they consider legal for them to host... they will just give you the standard answer which is "As long as it is legal under UK law." which tells me nothing, because I'm not honestly sure where the law stands in the UK.

If you ever get listed on The Hun for example, you'll be wanting a host that is robust enough to deal with a real battering, and to be honest www.colo-cation.com is set up specifically to deal with adult traffic and the server stress that it can sometimes bring.

You gotta use the right tool for the job.

I would recommend North Amercian hosts every time.

As for the issue of communication across the Atlantic... there is ICQ and support tickets etc. But I'd rather deal with American tech support and get through to a person who can actually do things to solve any problems, rather than a British person who is just there just to answer the phones and filter calls to delay you and keep the workload down for probably the same number of real tech support staff as you'd get with an American firm.

But if getting a phone answered and shouting at a moron makes you feel better, then knock yourself out.

I actually phoned Blue Gravity once, they answered the phone and sorted out my problem. And it cost me LESS to phone them than it cost me to endlessly phone a British host that was always going down.

KG Gary · 2005-10-25, 03:42 PM

Wow. An excellent post that has made my mind up, urb! Thanks once again!

"As long as it is legal under UK law" was exactly what Namesco said when I asked them about hosting adult content!

Many many thanks. I really appreciate the advice.

chilihost · 2005-10-28, 05:15 PM

You mentioned you are expanding, if you are interested in a dedicated server that is in Europe, we can help you out through our Netherlands site. Check our packages at http://www.chilihost.nl

Of course, if you do not want to get into a full dedicated server yet, we can also setup a virtual plan for you in the USA. If you let me know exactly what you are looking for (bandwidth/month, disk space, etc) then I will give you a special quote. Send this to me via pm, icq 118860760 or sales@chilihost.com

cheers,
Luke

KG Gary · 2005-10-28, 05:46 PM

Thanks for the information, Luke. I'll certainly consider you guys once I've had a good look around your site, but I'll probably be running with a colo-cation package initially.

2005-10-25, 11:16 AM	#1
KG Gary I can now put whatever I want in this space Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: South East UK Posts: 744	UK hosting packages..... I'm looking for a little guidance with my selection for hosting. I would prefer to use a UK company if possible, but I'm finding that the bandwidth limitations are going to give me an expensive headache! I plan to be submitting many many freesites to link lists over the coming months, creating my own hub, with the ultimate aim of running my own link list in the future. (It's a full-time job for me - I already spend around 15 hours a day researching, designing my free sites etc). Originally I was going to use my ISP's hosting - http://www.names.co.uk/hosting_matrix.html but seeing as they charge £0.02 per MB over the 30GB maximum I'd be screwed. I've mailed them asking for some sort of "per GB" deal but without much hope. I've found http://www.cheap-adult-hosting.co.uk/hosting-plans.htm which seems a lot better, but I'm convinced that somebody can steer me in the right direction! Hosting outside the UK is definately an option as some of the companies on the GG&J resources page look to be just what I need, but I'd still rather use UK hosting so that I can get to them easily and kick somebody's arse if there's a problem. Any help or advice appreciated!

2005-10-25, 02:29 PM	#3
urb All the way from Room 101 Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 3,557	I have a lot of experience of UK hosts and American hosts. Please take my advice and do not use a British host. www.colo-cation.com is a cool American host by the way. __________________

2005-10-25, 03:30 PM	#5
urb All the way from Room 101 Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 3,557	Reasons not to use a UK host... 1) Price: they generally charge at least double per Gig of transfer. 2) Legality: they don't like the majority of hardcore which falls into a grey area of UK law and varies from host to host. 3) Specification: they are generally not set up to cope with large amounts of traffic unless you are willing to spend a fortune. 4) Tech support: I've dealt with almost all the popular UK hosting companies and the only one with decent tech support is NTT Verio, basically because you are transferred over the Atlantic to their American call centre. 5) Billing: they generally request 12 months payment in advance. I actually phoned a well known UK host last month for tech support (true story) and they denied that the site was hosted by them. I told them to check whois and they would see the nameservers. Eventually I got transferred to the "Tech Support Team Leader" who informed me that the site was actually hosted by "Network Solutions". So if the Tech Support Team Leader has no idea that Network Solutions is in fact a domain registrar and doesn't know that NS1: & NS2 = his company, then how the hell are they gonna sort out a problem that I can't handle myself? I gave the poor guy a few tips on how to find and read whois records, and I'm a bloody designer, not a techie. If you phone a UK host and ask what content they consider legal for them to host... they will just give you the standard answer which is "As long as it is legal under UK law." which tells me nothing, because I'm not honestly sure where the law stands in the UK. If you ever get listed on The Hun for example, you'll be wanting a host that is robust enough to deal with a real battering, and to be honest www.colo-cation.com is set up specifically to deal with adult traffic and the server stress that it can sometimes bring. You gotta use the right tool for the job. I would recommend North Amercian hosts every time. As for the issue of communication across the Atlantic... there is ICQ and support tickets etc. But I'd rather deal with American tech support and get through to a person who can actually do things to solve any problems, rather than a British person who is just there just to answer the phones and filter calls to delay you and keep the workload down for probably the same number of real tech support staff as you'd get with an American firm. But if getting a phone answered and shouting at a moron makes you feel better, then knock yourself out. I actually phoned Blue Gravity once, they answered the phone and sorted out my problem. And it cost me LESS to phone them than it cost me to endlessly phone a British host that was always going down. __________________

2005-10-28, 05:15 PM	#7
chilihost Look at 'em. Watchin' my TV. Sittin on my couch. You better not be in my ass groove! Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 465	You mentioned you are expanding, if you are interested in a dedicated server that is in Europe, we can help you out through our Netherlands site. Check our packages at http://www.chilihost.nl Of course, if you do not want to get into a full dedicated server yet, we can also setup a virtual plan for you in the USA. If you let me know exactly what you are looking for (bandwidth/month, disk space, etc) then I will give you a special quote. Send this to me via pm, icq 118860760 or sales@chilihost.com cheers, Luke __________________ HunkMoney+BritishBucks+LatinoBucks=50+ gay sites!

2005-10-25, 02:12 PM	#2
KG Gary I can now put whatever I want in this space Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: South East UK Posts: 744	Oh, and I'm happy to pay for a decent service. I don't need a dirt-cheap host, I need a reliable and fast one without being crucified if I go over the monthly limit.

2005-10-25, 02:37 PM	#4
KG Gary I can now put whatever I want in this space Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: South East UK Posts: 744	Thanks for the response, Urb. Doesn't somebody respected who posts on GG&J run www.colo-cation.com? I'm thinking of running with a nice package from there if I can't find a suitable UK host. By the way, why not use a UK host? Is it because it's so much more expensive, especially the overage charges. (Best I've found so far is around £5 per GB). Just curious.

2005-10-25, 03:42 PM	#6
KG Gary I can now put whatever I want in this space Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: South East UK Posts: 744	Wow. An excellent post that has made my mind up, urb! Thanks once again! "As long as it is legal under UK law" was exactly what Namesco said when I asked them about hosting adult content! Many many thanks. I really appreciate the advice.

2005-10-28, 05:46 PM	#8
KG Gary I can now put whatever I want in this space Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: South East UK Posts: 744	Thanks for the information, Luke. I'll certainly consider you guys once I've had a good look around your site, but I'll probably be running with a colo-cation package initially.