I help to the run the website and event-booking database for a small club. For about 7 years we have used TSOhost who were fine for some time, but a couple of years ago they were absorbed into the GoDaddy empire. Prices went up, service levels went down and we have at least one problem which they seem unable to solve.

Any suggestions for competent web-hosting at a reasonable price, preferably based in the UK or at least Europe? I've had one suggestion of Hostinger who look as if they might be ok.

--
Clive Page

On 29.7.23 2:59 pm, Clive Page wrote:
> I help to the run the website and event-booking database for a small club. For about 7 years we have used TSOhost who were fine for some time, but a couple of years ago they were absorbed into the GoDaddy empire. Prices went up, service levels went down and we have at least one problem which they seem unable to solve.
>
> Any suggestions for competent web-hosting at a reasonable price, preferably based in the UK or at least Europe? I've had one suggestion of Hostinger who look as if they might be ok.
>
>

I used Penguin in Cardiff to host my domains and website for some time
and had no problems at all. Customer service and advice was good.

https://tinyurl.com/29u6gycw

--
Tetbury, Gloucestershire , UK

Licentiae, quam stulti libertatem vocabant - Tacitus

On 29/07/2023 in message <kikkanF81viU1@mid.individual.net> Clive Page
wrote:

>I help to the run the website and event-booking database for a small club.
> For about 7 years we have used TSOhost who were fine for some time, but a couple of years ago they were absorbed into the GoDaddy empire. Prices went up, service levels went down and we have at least one problem which they seem unable to solve.
>
>Any suggestions for competent web-hosting at a reasonable price,
>preferably based in the UK or at least Europe? I've had one suggestion of
>Hostinger who look as if they might be ok.

I use Mythic Beasts:

https://www.mythic-beasts.com/hosting

Been very pleased.

--
Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
If it's not broken, mess around with it until it is

On 29/07/2023 14:59, Clive Page wrote:

> Any suggestions for competent web-hosting at a reasonable price,
> preferably based in the UK or at least Europe?  I've had one suggestion
> of Hostinger who look as if they might be ok.

Krystal are good.
<https://krystal.uk/>

--
Remove the '+' and replace with 'plus' to reply by email

Jeff Gaines <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:
> I use Mythic Beasts:
>
> https://www.mythic-beasts.com/hosting
>
> Been very pleased.

+1

Been with them about 20 years, absolutely no problems, they are always very
helpful.

Theo

On 29/07/2023 14:59, Clive Page wrote:
> I help to the run the website and event-booking database for a small
> club.  For about 7 years we have used TSOhost who were fine for some
> time, but a couple of years ago they were absorbed into the GoDaddy
> empire.  Prices went up, service levels went down and we have at least
> one problem which they seem unable to solve.
>
> Any suggestions for competent web-hosting at a reasonable price,
> preferably based in the UK or at least Europe?  I've had one suggestion
> of Hostinger who look as if they might be ok.
>
>
Why not rent a virtual private server and build your own?
I pay around £72 a year with gigatux.

https://www.gigatux.com/

Enough space for a dozen web servers

Or you can have a simple web server for a couple of folding ones a month.

--
Microsoft : the best reason to go to Linux that ever existed.

On 29 Jul 2023 at 15:27:05 BST, ""Jeff Gaines"" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:

> On 29/07/2023 in message <kikkanF81viU1@mid.individual.net> Clive Page
> wrote:
>
>> I help to the run the website and event-booking database for a small club.
>> For about 7 years we have used TSOhost who were fine for some time, but a
>> couple of years ago they were absorbed into the GoDaddy empire. Prices went
>> up, service levels went down and we have at least one problem which they seem
>> unable to solve.
>>
>> Any suggestions for competent web-hosting at a reasonable price,
>> preferably based in the UK or at least Europe? I've had one suggestion of
>> Hostinger who look as if they might be ok.
>
> I use Mythic Beasts:
>
> https://www.mythic-beasts.com/hosting
>
> Been very pleased.

I recently switched to them on advice from here and they seem a lot better
than what I had before. Meanwhile my wife continues to get Waitrose emails
from JohnLewisBroadband which supposedly terminated all its services at the
end of June. Except now they say it'll be 7th August.

The irritating thing is she has to continue to pick up mails from there,
rather than just stopping doing so, because as long as the server apparently
stays up, anyone who's forgotten that she told them to send her mails to
different address, won't be getting a bounce.

Anyway +1 to MB.

--
HAL 9000: Dave. Put down those Windows disks. Dave. DAVE!

On 29/07/2023 15:27, Jeff Gaines wrote:
> On 29/07/2023 in message <kikkanF81viU1@mid.individual.net> Clive Page
> wrote:
>
>> I help to the run the website and event-booking database for a small
>> club.  For about 7 years we have used TSOhost who were fine for some
>> time, but a couple of years ago they were absorbed into the GoDaddy
>> empire.  Prices went up, service levels went down and we have at least
>> one problem which they seem unable to solve.
>>
>> Any suggestions for competent web-hosting at a reasonable price,
>> preferably based in the UK or at least Europe?  I've had one
>> suggestion of Hostinger who look as if they might be ok.
>
> I use Mythic Beasts:
>
> https://www.mythic-beasts.com/hosting
>
> Been very pleased.
>

I switched the few domains I manage to them when TSOHost became
expensive and have also been very pleased. But I switched them at the
same time to email hosting only so can only vouch for good uptime, good
comms and good prices. May be not so good if you want 24/7 instant
access online support.
--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On 29/07/2023 18:32, Tim Streater wrote:
> On 29 Jul 2023 at 15:27:05 BST, ""Jeff Gaines"" <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:
>
>> On 29/07/2023 in message <kikkanF81viU1@mid.individual.net> Clive Page
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I help to the run the website and event-booking database for a small club.
>>> For about 7 years we have used TSOhost who were fine for some time, but a
>>> couple of years ago they were absorbed into the GoDaddy empire. Prices went
>>> up, service levels went down and we have at least one problem which they seem
>>> unable to solve.
>>>
>>> Any suggestions for competent web-hosting at a reasonable price,
>>> preferably based in the UK or at least Europe? I've had one suggestion of
>>> Hostinger who look as if they might be ok.
>>
>> I use Mythic Beasts:
>>
>> https://www.mythic-beasts.com/hosting
>>
>> Been very pleased.
>
> I recently switched to them on advice from here and they seem a lot better
> than what I had before. Meanwhile my wife continues to get Waitrose emails
> from JohnLewisBroadband which supposedly terminated all its services at the
> end of June. Except now they say it'll be 7th August.
>
> The irritating thing is she has to continue to pick up mails from there,
> rather than just stopping doing so, because as long as the server apparently
> stays up, anyone who's forgotten that she told them to send her mails to
> different address, won't be getting a bounce.
>
> Anyway +1 to MB.
>

Can't she have them automatically forwarded to her new address?

Incidentally, my choir website is hosted by NetNerd, which has always
been ok.
--
Cheers,
Roger

Robin <rbw@outlook.com> wrote:
> On 29/07/2023 15:27, Jeff Gaines wrote:
> > On 29/07/2023 in message <kikkanF81viU1@mid.individual.net> Clive Page
> > wrote:
> >
> >> I help to the run the website and event-booking database for a small
> >> club.  For about 7 years we have used TSOhost who were fine for some
> >> time, but a couple of years ago they were absorbed into the GoDaddy
> >> empire.  Prices went up, service levels went down and we have at least
> >> one problem which they seem unable to solve.
> >>
> >> Any suggestions for competent web-hosting at a reasonable price,
> >> preferably based in the UK or at least Europe?  I've had one
> >> suggestion of Hostinger who look as if they might be ok.
> >
> > I use Mythic Beasts:
> >
> > https://www.mythic-beasts.com/hosting
> >
> > Been very pleased.
> >
>
> I switched the few domains I manage to them when TSOHost became
> expensive and have also been very pleased. But I switched them at the
> same time to email hosting only so can only vouch for good uptime, good
> comms and good prices. May be not so good if you want 24/7 instant
> access online support.

Mythic-Beasts' support is pretty good in my experience. I've not
tried asking questions in the small hours but have always had
satisfactorily quick answers at other times.

Hostinger has been good too.

TsoHost now only have 9-5 weekdays support!

--
Chris Green
·

On 29/07/2023 13:59, Clive Page wrote:
>
> Any suggestions for competent web-hosting at a reasonable price,
> preferably based in the UK or at least Europe?  I've had one suggestion
> of Hostinger who look as if they might be ok.

I've been very happy with https://stablepoint.com/ We switched to them
about 3 years ago after Tsohost deteriorated. I think Stablepoint was
set up by by the guys who ran Tsohost back in the days when they were good.

--
Mike Clarke

Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote:
> Mythic-Beasts' support is pretty good in my experience. I've not
> tried asking questions in the small hours but have always had
> satisfactorily quick answers at other times.

This blog post explains why: no support staff.

https://www.mythic-beasts.com/blog/2022/10/21/the-secret-to-great-technical-support-no-support-staff/

Theo

On 29 Jul 2023 at 22:24:40 BST, Robin wrote:

> On 29/07/2023 15:27, Jeff Gaines wrote:
>> On 29/07/2023 in message <kikkanF81viU1@mid.individual.net> Clive Page
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I help to the run the website and event-booking database for a small
>>> club. For about 7 years we have used TSOhost who were fine for some
>>> time, but a couple of years ago they were absorbed into the GoDaddy
>>> empire. Prices went up, service levels went down and we have at least
>>> one problem which they seem unable to solve.
>>>
>>> Any suggestions for competent web-hosting at a reasonable price,
>>> preferably based in the UK or at least Europe? I've had one
>>> suggestion of Hostinger who look as if they might be ok.
>>
>> I use Mythic Beasts:
>>
>> https://www.mythic-beasts.com/hosting
>>
>> Been very pleased.
>>
>
> I switched the few domains I manage to them when TSOHost became
> expensive and have also been very pleased. But I switched them at the
> same time to email hosting only so can only vouch for good uptime, good
> comms and good prices. May be not so good if you want 24/7 instant
> access online support.

OOI, is the changeover quick/easy? I have a couple of domains that I manage
for others and they won't be too happy with a prolonged downtime . . .

Mythic Beasts looks a fair bit cheaper than my current provider, Heart. No
complaints at all, but I woudn't mind saving some money, and trying out
Wordpress.

--
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK

On 30/07/2023 12:07, RJH wrote:
> On 29 Jul 2023 at 22:24:40 BST, Robin wrote:
>
<snip>
>>
>> I switched the few domains I manage to them when TSOHost became
>> expensive and have also been very pleased. But I switched them at the
>> same time to email hosting only so can only vouch for good uptime, good
>> comms and good prices. May be not so good if you want 24/7 instant
>> access online support.
>
> OOI, is the changeover quick/easy? I have a couple of domains that I manage
> for others and they won't be too happy with a prolonged downtime . . .
>
It was seamless for me following their recommended method

https://www.mythic-beasts.com/support/domains/transfer-no-downtime

but NB I didn't move the websites.

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On 30/07/2023 in message <ua5g98$2u995$1@dont-email.me> RJH wrote:

>Mythic Beasts looks a fair bit cheaper than my current provider, Heart. No
>complaints at all, but I woudn't mind saving some money, and trying out
>Wordpress.

I moved one of my domains from Heart to Mythic beasts as Heart had a spat
with Yahoo and all my emails to Yahoo addresses were returned as spam.

Heart said there was nothing they could do about it.

--
Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
All things being equal, fat people use more soap

RJH <patchmoney@gmx.com> wrote:
> On 29 Jul 2023 at 22:24:40 BST, Robin wrote:
>
> > On 29/07/2023 15:27, Jeff Gaines wrote:
> >> On 29/07/2023 in message <kikkanF81viU1@mid.individual.net> Clive Page
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> I help to the run the website and event-booking database for a small
> >>> club. For about 7 years we have used TSOhost who were fine for some
> >>> time, but a couple of years ago they were absorbed into the GoDaddy
> >>> empire. Prices went up, service levels went down and we have at least
> >>> one problem which they seem unable to solve.
> >>>
> >>> Any suggestions for competent web-hosting at a reasonable price,
> >>> preferably based in the UK or at least Europe? I've had one
> >>> suggestion of Hostinger who look as if they might be ok.
> >>
> >> I use Mythic Beasts:
> >>
> >> https://www.mythic-beasts.com/hosting
> >>
> >> Been very pleased.
> >>
> >
> > I switched the few domains I manage to them when TSOHost became
> > expensive and have also been very pleased. But I switched them at the
> > same time to email hosting only so can only vouch for good uptime, good
> > comms and good prices. May be not so good if you want 24/7 instant
> > access online support.
>
> OOI, is the changeover quick/easy? I have a couple of domains that I manage
> for others and they won't be too happy with a prolonged downtime . . .
>
> Mythic Beasts looks a fair bit cheaper than my current provider, Heart. No
> complaints at all, but I woudn't mind saving some money, and trying out
> Wordpress.
>
Follow the 'how to move a domain and hosting' in the Mythic Beasts
support files and it should be possible to move almost transparently.

--
Chris Green
·

On 30/07/2023 12:07, RJH wrote:
> OOI, is the changeover quick/easy? I have a couple of domains that I manage
> for others and they won't be too happy with a prolonged downtime . . .
>
Te changeover should be seamless.
In technical terms you build the new web servers and test them using
different domain address - so if your old servers are on
www.privatedomain.com you set up www.testing.privatedomain.com and
transfer the old server to that and test it.

when it works, you change its internal name to www.privatedomain.com and
move the DNS records so that www.privatedomain.com points to the newIP

Over a periodi of less than a week all users will pickup the new IP
address and you can decomission the old server

> Mythic Beasts looks a fair bit cheaper than my current provider, Heart. No
> complaints at all, but I woudn't mind saving some money, and trying out
> Wordpress.

Wordpress is a well known attack surface. I'd build your own server if
you have the ability - all these 'hosted' servers are a bit shite,
really. Because the methods of logging into them are well known and
subject to exploits.

--
In todays liberal progressive conflict-free education system, everyone
gets full Marx.

On 30/07/2023 13:18, Jeff Gaines wrote:
> On 30/07/2023 in message <ua5g98$2u995$1@dont-email.me> RJH wrote:
>
>> Mythic Beasts looks a fair bit cheaper than my current provider,
>> Heart. No
>> complaints at all, but I woudn't mind saving some money, and trying out
>> Wordpress.
>
> I moved one of my domains from Heart to Mythic beasts as Heart had a
> spat with Yahoo and all my emails to Yahoo addresses were returned as spam.
>
> Heart said there was nothing they could do about it.
>
They lied of course. I recently had the same. I changed my DNS records
to say 'yes, this IP address is authorised to send email on behalf of
these domains'

Whoever you were using as your DNS provider for your mail domain should
already have done that or notified you how to do it.

--
In todays liberal progressive conflict-free education system, everyone
gets full Marx.

On 31/07/2023 08:37, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>
> Wordpress is a well known attack surface. I'd build your own server if
> you have the ability - all these 'hosted' servers are a bit shite,
> really. Because the methods of logging into them are well known and
> subject to exploits.

And seriously consider installing the free Wordfence security plugin
https://en-gb.wordpress.org/plugins/wordfence/ It provides very
effective protection against hack attacks.

--
Mike Clarke

Mike Clarke <jmc-et@milibyte.co.uk> wrote:
> On 31/07/2023 08:37, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> >
> > Wordpress is a well known attack surface. I'd build your own server if
> > you have the ability - all these 'hosted' servers are a bit shite,
> > really. Because the methods of logging into them are well known and
> > subject to exploits.
>
> And seriously consider installing the free Wordfence security plugin
> https://en-gb.wordpress.org/plugins/wordfence/ It provides very
> effective protection against hack attacks.

Supposedly they are now insisting on a paid licence, according to the
reviews?

Theo

On 29/07/2023 15:59, Clive Page wrote:
> I help to the run the website and event-booking database for a small
> club.  For about 7 years we have used TSOhost who were fine for some
> time, but a couple of years ago they were absorbed into the GoDaddy
> empire.  Prices went up, service levels went down and we have at least
> one problem which they seem unable to solve.
>
> Any suggestions for competent web-hosting at a reasonable price,
> preferably based in the UK or at least Europe?  I've had one suggestion
> of Hostinger who look as if they might be ok.
>
>

I had the same experience with TSOHost. It got worse and worse and they
were unable to upgrade me even. I moved my club and charity sites to
20i.com who provide free hosting to low traffic sites, as many as you
have as long as the domain is registered through them which is a simple
switch. It isn't particularly trumpeted on their site but they do it
alright.

Tim W

On 31/07/2023 12:00, Theo wrote:
> Mike Clarke <jmc-et@milibyte.co.uk> wrote:

[snip]

>> And seriously consider installing the free Wordfence security plugin
>> https://en-gb.wordpress.org/plugins/wordfence/ It provides very
>> effective protection against hack attacks.
>
> Supposedly they are now insisting on a paid licence, according to the
> reviews?

There is a very effective fully featured free version which I've been
using for the last eight years,
https://www.wordfence.com/products/wordfence-free/ and I haven't seen
any sign of it being due to be discontinued.

They also have a paid paid for 'Premium' version with a few extra
features plus various paid for services including cleaning of infected
sites but these are aimed more for larger business users.

--
Mike Clarke

On 2023-07-30, Robin <rbw@outlook.com> wrote:
> On 30/07/2023 12:07, RJH wrote:
>> On 29 Jul 2023 at 22:24:40 BST, Robin wrote:
>>
><snip>
>>>
>>> I switched the few domains I manage to them when TSOHost became
>>> expensive and have also been very pleased. But I switched them at the
>>> same time to email hosting only so can only vouch for good uptime, good
>>> comms and good prices. May be not so good if you want 24/7 instant
>>> access online support.
>>
>> OOI, is the changeover quick/easy? I have a couple of domains that I manage
>> for others and they won't be too happy with a prolonged downtime . . .
>>
> It was seamless for me following their recommended method
>
> https://www.mythic-beasts.com/support/domains/transfer-no-downtime
>
> but NB I didn't move the websites.
>

I have moved 2 domains over to them. I had the same email problem both
times - they needed to clear the DNS caches on one of the servers before
they routed emails correctly. Normally it probably doesn't matter as my
old ISP still routed the emails. With some ISP's that would have taken
days - with mythicbeasts it took minutes!

another MB satisfied customer.

On 31/07/2023 13:00, Theo wrote:
> Mike Clarke <jmc-et@milibyte.co.uk> wrote:
>> On 31/07/2023 08:37, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>>
>>> Wordpress is a well known attack surface. I'd build your own server if
>>> you have the ability - all these 'hosted' servers are a bit shite,
>>> really. Because the methods of logging into them are well known and
>>> subject to exploits.
>>
>> And seriously consider installing the free Wordfence security plugin
>> https://en-gb.wordpress.org/plugins/wordfence/ It provides very
>> effective protection against hack attacks.
>
> Supposedly they are now insisting on a paid licence, according to the
> reviews?
>

Free version
- https://www.wordfence.com/products/wordfence-free/

--
Regards
wasbit

On 29/07/2023 15:45, Alan Lee wrote:
> On 29/07/2023 14:59, Clive Page wrote:
>
>> Any suggestions for competent web-hosting at a reasonable price, preferably based in the UK or at least Europe?  I've had one suggestion of Hostinger who look as if they might be ok.
>
>
> Krystal are good.
> <https://krystal.uk/>

Thanks very much Alan for that suggestion. It does look as they might be a good match to our requirements, and possibly a bit cheaper too.

--
Clive Page