GOOD NEWS HiFormance Alternatives

[krzykat]

Yeah - it was really stupid decision to invest 3-years of service with a new under priced service. I guess I learned a lesson learned as I thought all companies are honest.

I also think if I have acted right away, I would have more chance of getting my money back because I realized it this year. As December was my sixth month, I think I would had a better chance.



I spend $30 for about 4-5 months, which is around $7.5. I think I will think this as a life lesson. (Also, it would have cost around $7.5 to host in legit server (like DO) anyways

Yeah, I feel better about signing up originally - paying my money - and just never having the time to play with it. Guess I was out the money no matter what, at least I didn't waste time on their platform LOL

 

[atsak]

Any Luck? Paypal just automatically decline my claim right away. I bought 3 years of service as well ;(
I used my service for 4 month and lost all of my data and money... What should I do?

Nothing yet they're "still investigating"

 

[atsak]

I don't why they would deny your claim. I went through the 2-week waiting process after filing for refund and then they refunded all money. In the initial claim, I showed it as a claim for service and stated that they shut down abruptly and I lost my service and all the work I had done with the server.

Paypal does whatever the hell they feel like. Sometimes it complies with their policies, and sometimes it doesn't.

 

[Eliad]

I have a question regarding cloud platforms. when you install it requires a domain name. do I need to register a domain with a domain register or the cloud platform will do the registration? I cant find the answer when I search on the knowledge base for the cloud platform.

 

[tycho]

I have a question regarding cloud platforms. when you install it requires a domain name. do I need to register a domain with a domain register or the cloud platform will do the registration? I cant find the answer when I search on the knowledge base for the cloud platform.

Are you talking about any one cloud provider in particular? Because in my experience the answer is "it depends." The cloud platform providers I use/have used invariably by default assign some obscure localized-to-their-service domain name, or permit you to use your own domain name that you have independently acquired. I suppose some will manage that acquisition for you -- I used "doteasy" a long time ago and vaguely recall that they would do that, acting as a one-stop-shop.

One easy fix is to use a dynamic DNS provider domain and point it at your cloud VPS IP address. I do that all the time and it works great.

 

[wardmundy]

FYI: Most of the SolusVM-based OpenVZ/VPS offerings prompt for a domain. This would include all of the VPS offerings at LowEndBox.

 

[Eliad]

Are you talking about any one cloud provider in particular? Because in my experience the answer is "it depends." The cloud platform providers I use/have used invariably by default assign some obscure localized-to-their-service domain name, or permit you to use your own domain name that you have independently acquired. I suppose some will manage that acquisition for you -- I used "doteasy" a long time ago and vaguely recall that they would do that, acting as a one-stop-shop.

One easy fix is to use a dynamic DNS provider domain and point it at your cloud VPS IP address. I do that all the time and it works great.

I did not think of using a dynamic DNS provider domain, that will work great indeed.

 

[ajonate]

I have a question regarding cloud platforms. when you install it requires a domain name. do I need to register a domain with a domain register or the cloud platform will do the registration? I cant find the answer when I search on the knowledge base for the cloud platform.

If the $10/year registration fee is that big of a deal to you, simply register a domain name for free at dot.tk. Dot.tk is not only a free domain registrar, they also offer free DNS service. Not bad for free!

I operate a full-service hosting server so I just create a CNAME subdomain record for one of my existing domains in BIND, such as pbx.domain.com, and point the subdomain to the IP address of the asterisk server.

 

[pbxfreeck]

I also have full-service hosting server with free Let's encrypt certificate automatic generated for domains and subdomains. Can someone tell me how to install this Let's encrypt certificates on pbx server on which pointing subdomain.

 

[ajonate]

I also have full-service hosting server with free Let's encrypt certificate automatic generated for domains and subdomains. Can someone tell me how to install this Let's encrypt certificates on pbx server on which pointing subdomain.

As an operator of a full-service hosting server, isn't that the kind of thing you help your clients with?

 

[pbxfreeck]

Uff my english... I'm not operator. I only using webhosting webspace on contabo.com.

 

[ajonate]

Uff my english... I'm not operator. I only using webhosting webspace on contabo.com.

Fair enough. Not knowing the details of your service, it would probably save us both a lot of time if you asked your hosting provider support people for help on that.

 

[pbxfreeck]

Thx. I will ask support.

 

[wardmundy]

Feb. 15 Update: We’re pleased to introduce another great provider, HostFlyte. In the 1GB RAM space, they also offer a $12/yr. OpenVZ platform using coupon: 20OFF. It features 30GB of SSD Storage, 2TB of monthly bandwidth, and a 1Gbit port. And you have a choice of four locations: New York, LA, Dallas, and Chicago. Our Dallas speedtest showed 727 Mbit/sec. download and 778.85 Mbit/sec. Very impressive!

 

[atsak]

Paypal coughed it up last week. I missed the email originally. Only about a month . . .

 

[mardosas]

Feb. 15 Update: We’re pleased to introduce another great provider, HostFlyte. In the 1GB RAM space, they also offer a $12/yr. OpenVZ platform using coupon: 20OFF. It features 30GB of SSD Storage, 2TB of monthly bandwidth, and a 1Gbit port. And you have a choice of four locations: New York, LA, Dallas, and Chicago. Our Dallas speedtest showed 727 Mbit/sec. download and 778.85 Mbit/sec. Very impressive!

Dear Ward,

It’s great you’re looking for best alternatives and this is highly appreciated of course. However, I would appreciate a certain - how to say - minimal standard for a reasonably hosting quality level based on a common sense. SLAs and all the details could be checked in the step two.

Let me please illustrate what I mean: cloud@cost was a disaster. That’s ok; nobody has a fortune teller. A sexy offer found, tested, it’s working so it’s interesting. The best thing what one can do is to share the info.

Hiformance was a last disaster. That’s ok. Nobody has a fortune teller; a good offer which is working... The best thing what one can do is to share the info. That’s clear.

Before hiformance, however, we had the woothosting. I have tried them, too. At that time this was a disaster. Furthermore, I have currently a big pain with the alpharacks because their service is a no go and not usable at all (this is the fourth disaster). Now, you are speaking about the second provider. I didn’t check if this is a bleeding lowendtalk family but their website is a confirmation that they are and this for sure...

Please don’t misunderstand me, I am not criticizing no one. What I want to say is just the following: It just becomes boring to bump into the same issues, especially because this is avoidable. Please let me explain what I mean:

Is it not the high time to say that lowendtalks is a business model which is just not working and therefore nothing to be considered here? You see, you have a big community with a certain experience gained over the years; we have a certain claim for an advancement and a professionality. This means also a certain learning with the time an avoiding to repeat the same mistakes over and over again... This means also a certain experience for a painless hosted pbx servers.

Is it not the time to say that certain offers are below our level of professionality and therefore without any consideration here because this brings just no joy for no one? I wanted just say let’s go step by step up and don’t look down into the bleeding snakes; they just cannot fly...

 

[kenn10]

Dear Ward,

Is it not the time to say that certain offers are below our level of professionality and therefore without any consideration here because this brings just no joy for no one? I wanted just say let’s go step by step up and don’t look down into the bleeding snakes; they just cannot fly...

I believe that @wardmundy makes it clear to this audience that what is being offered by the low end VM tier is "iffy" at best. There is adequate discussion around higher priced options. Many people like to have a cheap sandbox to trial new releases of software or different software such as 3CX or FusionPBX or straight FreePBX. Other members of this audience went into apoplexy at the thought of actually having to pay for a VOIP service when Google Voice through Asterisk was shut down. Ward is simply offering low cost alternatives for those who need them.

I'm grateful that Ward takes the time to look for reasonably dependable, low cost options for people to try. We all know that if we want a hardened, dependable cloud product, we have to look at other providers.

I'd like to see someone make a contribution to this forum on how to set up a Google Cloud instance or an AWS on either of their "free" tiers. Even people on those complain about some issues but you can be reasonably sure that neither company will just shut down overnight.

 

[mbellot]

Dear Ward,
Let me please illustrate what I mean: cloud@cost was a disaster. That’s ok; nobody has a fortune teller. A sexy offer found, tested, it’s working so it’s interesting. The best thing what one can do is to share the info.

Is it not the time to say that certain offers are below our level of professionality and therefore without any consideration here because this brings just no joy for no one?

Everyone has different levels of need. What is "below your level of professionality " may be fine for others. I've been off and on frustrated with CaC, but for the investment it has been well worth it (for me).

Ward is offering options, beyond that it's up to the individual to determine if the cost/benefit ratio suits their needs.

 

[wardmundy]

One thing we've learned about many of our users over the years is that a goodly number of them are cheap thrifty. Not sure how many more disclaimers I can add. There are lots of high-priced options out there if that's your cup of tea. OVH is a good one that is used by 3CX extensively. DigitalOcean and Vultr also have been around for a good long while and cost about $5/month.

We have 5 low-cost options up and running from coast to coast with incrediblebackups shared amongst the sites. All perform as well or better than the high cost alternatives. The odds of all 5 going out of business simultaneously are pretty slim. For our sandbox needs, they are a perfect fit, but... YMMV!

 

[phinphan]

Of course, there is always rentpbx. I am coming up on 8 years with my service working great at $15.00 per month. Of course, that is why my system is ancient and I only lust over all the new builds. Even with my ancient PIAF 2.0.6.4 and Freepbx 2.11.0.43 and Asterisk 11.5.1 it just works. Since I run 3 businesses through that system, with 3 800 numbers, 3 fax numbers, 4 local lines and it costs less than $70 per month total using Vitelity and Voip.ms I justify the cost and the service has been great. AT&T price would be close to $1000 last I checked.

The only real exciting part is using 3cx on a spare pc at my house to interconnect. Once configured it is a fabulous way to call the office and make calls as if I am in the office. It is miles ahead of every other sip client I have tried.