a good web host

[Dark Knights]

Hi there. I'm currently building my first ever website, and wondered if anyone has any recommendations for web hosts?
looking for something quite cheap to begin with as i'm new to this.
it not going to be a large website, but may include several images (and possibly some flash - i wont put much in honestly! ) ;)

cheers

[Connie]

Hi Dark knights and welcome. :hi:

[ihelpyou]

Welcome to the forums dark knights! :hi:

hmm. You have to do research. There are thousands of hosts. Usually cheap is not good, but you can find good deals.

I'd be prepared to spend at least 15 per month. If you plan on selling anything, you must have a good host.

Stay away from hosts who claim to submit to thousands of engines and directories for you. That's a common so-called benefit of hosts who don't have a clue.

[Quadrille]

Also, think about your target audience; if it's very much a 'UK' site, then you'll really need a UK host, and a .co.uk domain name to get the best (but buy the .com as well.

If it's a US or international audience, use the .com (301 the other to it), and hosting could be in the US, which will be significantly cheaper.

[WebSavvy]

Have a look at myacen.com -- they're reasonable, stable, and been around for about 4 or 5 years. I used to have sites hosted with them for a few years before getting my own servers.

[Crooner]

If you are new you may not know that you need to check that check that your web host is compatable for email with your broadband supplier.

I had a nightmare when I switched to AOL with a web host (now Pipex).

AOL does not use post 25 for email.

You will get constantly crashing and bouncing emails.

One blames the other - I dont know who is right and who is wrong but you will end up with something totally useless.

I had to buy another domain and put it on another web host just to use email

I am no technical expert like many here - but I hope this may help.

[Connie]

Crooner I think what AOL means when they say the don't use Port 25 is that they are blocking it in a way That you can't send mail through another mail server. You are forced to send through AOL.

It's not just AOL who is doing this. Most ISPs in the US do it. The reason given is to combat Spam.

Really not that big of a deal. It might be with AOL if they add a tag line onto the bottom of your e-mail, but otherwise someone would never know that the e-mail you sent them was sent through your ISP unless they look at the headers.

There is a workaround to the problem. You can set your e-mail client up to send through port 465 and this will bypass the IPs block on port 25.


Dark Knights I would recommend my web host http://.jaguarpc.com/ . For $9.95 per month you will get great support. You will get more disc space and bandwidth than the average site will ever need.

[WebSavvy]

I have AOL as my ISP and have for 8 years. AOL doesn't use SMTP that's probably the issue.

However, I have webmail on my domain and can send and read email for my domain right through the web interface login. I have access to Horde, Squirrel, and GEOMail.

Most servers that use CPanel and WHM also provide WebMail. All of the accounts at myacen have WebMail and CPanel.

Even on my own server I have CPanel, WHM, and CPanel. Any client I host also has these as well, with the exception of WHM because that's the Admin Panel to administer the server with.

[Crooner]

Ladies you have both gone a bit above my technical knowledge Im affraid.

I wanted and expected to be able to use my email - info@ratpack.biz not 2nsgsuxvb36474@aol or suchlike.

Needless to say you are not told this when you sign up to AOL.

Thankfully I will be leaving soon.

Regarding Connie recommending an American server for Dark Knights website.

There could be "dark nights" if he does not have a .uk domain if hosted outside the uk. (in my experience)

There is a thread on this site regarding the nightmare I endured when Google.com introduced Google.co.uk

My ratpack.biz site with my English web host 1 & 1 turns out to be no such thing despite their address - as their servers are based in Germany.

Result no appearance in Google.co.uk

[nuthin]

Originally posted by savvy1
Have a look at myacen.com -- they're reasonable, stable, and been around for about 4 or 5 years. I used to have sites hosted with them for a few years before getting my own servers.

I have a site hosted with them :)

don't forget when searching for a host to do a search at www.webhostingtalk.com

it's a good place to find non biased reviews and information on alot of web hosting companies, and if your lucky you might even bump into me. :D

[grungee]

Originally posted by Crooner
I wanted and expected to be able to use my email - info@ratpack.biz not 2nsgsuxvb36474@aol or suchlike.

Another problem I am finding these days is that some spam filters block dynamic ip address's in huge blocks, and if you have customers that can be frustrating when you try sending an email and there isp blocks it because you are on a dynamic ip. I had this problem personally with my website and email server which I host myself.

Cheers Tony

[Blue]

Port 26 often works as well.

[kneelsit]

Welcome to the forums Dark Knights :hi:

From my own experience trying to find a good host at the beginning of this year I would make absolutely that first off your server server is located in the U.K.
otherwise Google will probably ignore you as they did me until I woke up and found a good local host. You do not necessarily have to have a Co. uk suffix to your name I don't think - but it is probably not a bad idea - belt and braces approach. :)

[Crooner]

Dear Kneel

No .uk domain with servers based outside the UK = NIL listings on Google.co.uk - there is no probably in my experience !