| Cutting through the fluff. | | | | dreaded ping latency problem which in a nutshell |
| Doing a Google or yahoo search for your next Ventrilo | | | | means the further away from the server the higher |
| host can be very confusing with seemingly every | | | | your ping and reaction time suffers. If your gaming that |
| company shouting the same sales lines - Free setup, | | | | is a problem however unlike game servers Voice |
| free codecs, free support! The important thing to note | | | | servers do not have the same latency type problems. |
| is pretty much every Ventrilo provider will offer the | | | | The only minor difference would be if your 1000's of |
| same thing so you can disregard the tag-lines that try | | | | miles away from your server location. Say, Your |
| to present a better offer then company x. The most | | | | located in UK and your server is in the US. Other then |
| important thing to look for when shopping for your | | | | that you won't have any problem at all. The location |
| Ventrilo server is the following: | | | | game is pure hype. |
| How long has the host been in business? | | | | Bait and Switch |
| You can check using any number of tools on the | | | | Browsing the web today I noticed 8 different Ventrilo |
| internet such as - Just enter the website address in | | | | rental websites advertising unusually low prices |
| the field and check the output. | | | | compared to most other companies. I thought, Wow! |
| Is the provider licensed to sell Ventrilo Servers? | | | | what a great offer until reading the fine print |
| Being a licensed provider for Ventrilo means they are | | | | uncovered the "deal" wasn't as great as first thought. |
| a trusted and secure company. You can check the | | | | The bait and switch is very common in all areas of |
| status of any company at the Ventrilo website under | | | | hosting because the company relies on the buyer to |
| "Hosting/Rent" | | | | not read the fine print and blindly order service only to |
| What's the companies reputation? | | | | find out the great "deal" only lasted long enough to get |
| Doing a simple Google or yahoo search can yield | | | | you to sign up. |
| much information on a company. You should always | | | | One of the scams seen today was the "50% off |
| look at any positive or negative feedback before | | | | deal". Which is only for the first month of service then |
| purchasing. | | | | back to the "Higher then normal" rates. In most cases |
| What about using a Ventrilo reseller? | | | | the company fails to let you know this or buries this |
| Using a reseller for the most part doesn't make sense | | | | information somewhere you wouldn't notice as easily. |
| for many reasons. Resellers are generally | | | | Unless the website clearly states "For the life of the |
| inexperienced at supporting customers, Have been in | | | | account" or something as prominent you should |
| the business only a short time and have nothing to lose | | | | assume the deal isn't a deal. |
| by walking away with your hard earned money and | | | | The Hard Facts |
| historically do just that. | | | | Most ventrilo providers are past game server hosters |
| To be a licensed hoster you have to be selected by | | | | who for various reasons couldn't make it in that field. |
| Ventrilo personally. There is no application process or | | | | Of these providers a vast majority are not licensed |
| any other way to become a partner. Licensed | | | | hosters. |
| Providers must be a registered corporation and | | | | That's generally not a terrible thing but I would feel |
| guarantee revenue will increase every month among | | | | much more comfortable knowing my host has the |
| several other standards. This for the most part | | | | ability to run a successful business. The other odd fact |
| guarantees each licensed hoster is held at a very strict | | | | is many Ventrilo providers get into the voice hosting |
| level and as such provides very high quality voice | | | | market for mostly the same reasons. 9 out of 10 |
| servers with the added protection of knowing they will | | | | ventrilo providers state they moved into this business |
| be in business for many years. The location Game. | | | | to make money without doing much work. |
| We've all seen it before. Company "A" offers 15 | | | | In most cases these providers are past game server |
| locations worldwide! Company "B" offers 22 locations | | | | hosters which is a very technical field to be in. Again, |
| worldwide! So what does this all mean? NOTHING AT | | | | I'm not sure I would want to rent from a Ventrilo host |
| ALL. | | | | who's main motivation is "getting paid". |
| If your a gamer you will have a healthy respect for the | | | | |