StarHub MaxInfinity Fiber Optic - Experience

StarHub MaxInfinity Fiber Optic - Experience / Configuration / FAQ / 1-Stop

My Setup:

Acer TimelineX 3820TG @ i5-520M Notebook with:
Atheros AR8151 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (1000Mbps)
Atheros AR5B93 Wireless Network Adapter (2.4GHz @ 300Mbps B/G/N)

Termination Point (TP) -> Optical Network Terminal (ONT) -> D-Link DVG-N5402SP / Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s -> D-Link DIR-855 / EnGenius ESR9850

D-Link DVG-N5402SP - Product Info
Firmware version: SH_1.00B043

Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s
Firmware version: 22.
Hardware version: B

D-Link DIR-855 - Product Info
Firmware version: 1.23
Hardware version: A2

EnGenius ESR9850 - Product Info
Firmware version: 2.1.0 (Application & Kernel)
Hardware version: 1.0.0

Connection:

(ONT) LAN Port 1 -> (HG256s / DVG-N5402SP) WAN Port
(HG256s / DVG-N5402SP) LAN Port 1 -> (DIR-855) WAN Port or (ESR9850) WAN Port

My Configuration - for beginners, read here for full configuration:

(Huawei RG HG256s) - LAN: 192.168.1.1, DMZ: 192.168.1.2
(D-Link DIR-855) - LAN: 192.168.0.1, WAN IP: 192.168.1.2
(EnGenius ESR9850) - LAN: 192.168.0.1, WAN IP: 192.168.1.2

DHCP LAN: Disabled on Huawei RG HG256s (if you want to connect devices as well on the Huawei RG HG256s, do not disable this)
DMZ: Configure DMZ of your router WAN IP @ 192.168.1.2 in Huawei RG HG256s

Speed Test - Note: 100Mb/s (Megabits) = 12.5MB/s (Megabytes)

MOL Express @ 16Mbps/2Mbps

Motorola SBV5121i -> D-Link DIR-855 Wireless (2.4GHz / 300Mbps)
(PC 2meters away - no line of sight from D-Link DIR-855)

Click to expand...

MaxInfinity Ultimate @ 100Mbps/50Mbps

D-Link DVG-N5402SP Wired (1000Mbps)

D-Link DVG-N5402SP Wireless (2.4GHz / 300Mbps)

Click to expand...

Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s Wired (1000Mbps)

Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s Wireless (2.4GHz / 130Mbps)
(PC directly beside Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s)

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

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Additional Test

Additional Test - Bridge Test

Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s -> D-Link DIR-855 Wired (1000Mbps)

Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s -> D-Link DIR-855 Wireless (2.4GHz / 300Mbps)
(PC directly beside D-Link DIR-855)

Click to expand...

Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s -> EnGenius ESR9850 Wired (1000Mbps)

Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s -> EnGenius ESR9850 Wireless (2.4GHz / 300Mbps)
(PC 6meters away - no line of sight from EnGenius ESR9850)

Click to expand...

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Additional Test - Homeplugs

D-Link DHP-306AV Homeplug - Product Info
Firmware version: 1.01
Hardware version: A1

D-Link DHP-W306AV Homeplug - Product Info
Firmware version: 1.01
Hardware version: A1

Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s -> EnGenius ESR9850 -> D-Link DHP-306AV -> D-Link DHP-W306AV Wired (200Mbps)

Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s -> EnGenius ESR9850 -> D-Link DHP-306AV -> D-Link DHP-W306AV Wireless (2.4GHz / 300Mbps)

Click to expand...

Aztech HL115EP Homeplug - Product Info
Hardware version: 1.0

Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s -> EnGenius ESR9850 -> Aztech HL115EP (500Mbps) -> Aztech HL115EP (500Mbps)

Click to expand...

FAQ

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Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s

How to login into your Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s router?
Open any Internet Browser (IE, Firefox or Chrome) ensure that there are no proxy settings set to it and enter (default: 192.168.1.1)

How to check the firmware version for Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s?
Get into your Huawei's Gateway (default: 192.168.1.1) at Status > Device Information > Locate: Software version

What if the firmware version of my Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s is still on Vxxxxxxxxxxx016?
Restart (simply turn it off wait for 5mins and turn it back on) your Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s and hope for the best else, call up your ISP to get them to push in.

Can i bypass my Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s and seek to use my own router behind the ONT?
1. yes, if you are not on Starhub
2. yes, if you did not sign up for VoIP services
3. if either of the above is a yes then no, you cant make use of your own router without going through the Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s

If my setup is similar to yours (ONT -> Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s -> 3rd party router) what should i do?
First, ask yourself - how do you want to setup the network infrastructure for your home?
For my case is simple, i let my 3rd party router to do all the work and put my Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s both its LAN DHCP & WLAN to disabled. Meaning, you "can't" connect devices there at all. Any devices will be connected solely to my 3rd party router - enable them if you want to make use of your Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s as well.

Can port forwarding still work?
100% working.

Why did i forsake the Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s and decided on another router?
Well... read post #1 results.

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D-Link DVG-N5402SP

How to login into your D-Link DVG-N5402SP router?
Open any Internet Browser (IE, Firefox or Chrome) ensure that there are no proxy settings set to it and enter (default: 192.168.0.1)

How to check the firmware version for D-Link DVG-N5402SP?
Open any Internet Browser (IE, Firefox or Chrome) ensure that there are no proxy settings set to it and enter (default: 192.168.0.1), top right corner

Can i bypass my D-Link DVG-N5402SP and seek to use my own router behind the ONT?
1. yes, if you are not on Starhub
2. yes, if you did not sign up for VoIP services
3. if either of the above is a yes then no, you cant make use of your own router without going through the D-Link DVG-N5402SP

Can port forwarding still work?
100% working (ADVANCED → Firewall and DMZ → Virtual Server)

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Misc

Why did i decided to use Speedtest.net (NewMedia Express host)?
The image is automatically generated compared to Starhub page. But do take note, that the Starhub page is usually more accurate.

How/what does an ONT look like?
This is a ONT: http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6404/dscf2357w.jpg

How does a Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s look like?
This is it: http://www.starhub.com/support/broadband/devicesuserguides/approveddeviceforhomebroadband/fibrecompatible.html

How does a D-Link DVG-N5402SP look like?
This is it: http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/1511/capturerag.jpg

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Verdict:

Initial thoughts on Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s
Pros:
Gateway page very clearcut
Voice supported
don't have to reboot router for any settings done

Cons:
lack of DDNS support (FW v.22 has it call your ISP to get it)
weak wireless range
a basic router for users with low expectations
No logs
USB port only meant for FTP ????
FTP not working..on FW v.16 (FW v.22 it will work)

Initial thoughts on MaxInfinity Ultimate @ 100Mbps
Ping still quite high. Was expecting a single digit ping instead.


My experience with D-Link DVG-N5402SP against Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s
Pros:
longer reach for wireless range and yes, the reach is amazing.
ability to map DHCP IPs based on mac addresses
ability to select 802.11n ONLY
Wireless transfer rate goes as high as 8-9MB/s rate compared to Huawei 5-6MB/s rate
42580 Max Simultaneous Connections!!!
whatever i can do on the Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s, the D-Link DVG-N5402SP can do better.

Cons:
Not at the moment


================================================================


Configuration for basic users (you can change this if necessary):
on 3rd party Router WAN IP:
Static IP
IP Address: 192.168.1.2
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1 (point to Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s gateway IP)
Primary DNS: 192.168.1.1 (point to Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s gateway IP)
MAC address: some router requires this input - enter in accordingly from Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s > Status > Device Information > Device Information > MAC address

on Huawei Voice Home Gateway HG256s:
Basic > LAN > DHCP >
IP Address: 192.168.1.1
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

Advanced > NAT > DMZ >
Host Address: 192.168.1.2 (3rd party Router IP)
DMZ: check/tick

if you are still confused, just configured EVERYTHING the SAME as above and you will not go wrong.

Additional test:

Youtube test:

Click to expand...

Changed speedtest location for Starhub MaxInfinity Subscribers



cant test with Starhub Utilities page

For MaxInfinity, Kindly proceed to here instead: http://broadbandspeedtest.starhub.com/speedtest/ (credits to: blueangels)

You signed for Maxinfinity liao?

liangtam said:

You signed for Maxinfinity liao?

Click to expand...

yup... don't know if its a good thing or not.

Hi...
One noob question...
Can I not use the Fibre-ready Wireless SmartHub from Starhub and connect my own DIR-825 directly to the Optical Network Terminal?

I wanna use back my dual network leh...

Airbrush said:

Hi...
One noob question...
Can I not use the Fibre-ready Wireless SmartHub from Starhub and connect my own DIR-825 directly to the Optical Network Terminal?

I wanna use back my dual network leh...

Click to expand...

No!
*10 char*

liangtam said:

No!
*10 char*

Click to expand...

Crap....
Then it is such a waste...
I just got my DIR-825 and set up my dual network...
Just to go onto the fibre network I have to put to waste my DIR825?!?

Any solution?
What does the gateway does anyway? Is there a log in id and password?
Sorry... I total noob in networking..

Airbrush said:

Crap....
Then it is such a waste...
I just got my DIR-825 and set up my dual network...
Just to go onto the fibre network I have to put to waste my DIR825?!?

Any solution?
What does the gateway does anyway? Is there a log in id and password?
Sorry... I total noob in networking..

Click to expand...

The gateway is a router which is a compulsory equipment for SH fibre..

The only solution is as per MarineX connection setup..

thanks marineX.

bookmarked

Airbrush said:

Crap....
Then it is such a waste...
I just got my DIR-825 and set up my dual network...
Just to go onto the fibre network I have to put to waste my DIR825?!?

Any solution?
What does the gateway does anyway? Is there a log in id and password?
Sorry... I total noob in networking..

Click to expand...

Your dual-band DIR-825 will not be wasted mah.
The Huawei wifi is weak, you can enable the dual-band DIR-825 wifi instead.

nutz1943 said:

Your dual-band DIR-825 will not be wasted mah.
The Huawei wifi is weak, you can enable the dual-band DIR-825 wifi instead.

Click to expand...

Can we disable the Hwawei wifi and everything else and just bypass it... and use the DIR -825 as the main router?

Airbrush said:

Can we disable the Hwawei wifi and everything else and just bypass it... and use the DIR -825 as the main router?

Click to expand...

yes.
10chars

does the HG provided by starhub support ddns / dyndns ?

edit: how to get starhub to upgrade the FW to v.22 ?

nightkids86 said:

does the HG provided by starhub support ddns / dyndns ?

edit: how to get starhub to upgrade the FW to v.22 ?

Click to expand...

Yes, DDNS is supported but noticed that this option only appeared after VoIP is activated.

Initial FW is already at v22.

Yes. Call lor

albertlee said:

Yes, DDNS is supported but noticed that this option only appeared after VoIP is activated.

Initial FW is already at v22.

Click to expand...

ic

thanks for yr info

albertlee said:

Yes, DDNS is supported but noticed that this option only appeared after VoIP is activated.

Initial FW is already at v22.

Click to expand...

This is not true on some cases

MarineX said:

This is not true on some cases

Click to expand...

Which part? Surely those who sign-up with SH will be getting the same hardware rite?