Forced from cable TV to fibre TV by Starhub

[crewcutboy]

The StarHub Go streaming box doesn't support the StarHub Go app. It's probably deliberate because the StarHub Go app's UI/UX is not designed to run on the Android TV OS.

You can only subscribe to the Go packs using the streaming box, which has a smaller subset of channels compared to the app.

If you're fine having those smaller number of channels, then it'll work for you.

I was in the same boat as you. My mother is the only one who was using the cable TV box while I've moved on to streaming services a long time ago.

I really didn't want to switch to fibre TV because it meant having to run additional network lines in my home and I'll end up with a complicated two-ISP setup.

So I forced my mom to bite the bullet and weaned her off the cable box.

I was a StarHub TV "ultimate plan" subscriber. StarHub offered me a ton of freebies to switch to fibre TV - free this free that, discount this and that.

What I did instead was get a StarHub Go streaming box for my mom and subscribed to the basic Family Go pack (which came with a good mix of English and Chinese channels).

I then installed Viu and my mom was shocked to discover she could watch all her favourite Korean shows even before they were broadcast on cable. I also showed her how she could watch some of the Taiwanese shows on YouTube. Again, she was shocked to find out that a programme she was following on StarHub's channel was from the 2016 season, whereas what's online has already progressed far ahead!

I also looked at Singtel Cast as a possible supplement for additional channels but it turned out that I didn't need it.

She's now happy with this and I've successfully yanked her into the new age.

I dumped my cable box and the StarHub staff was stunned that I was rejecting their fibre TV offer. They were in such disbelief that they thought my instructions to cancel was made in error and continued to bill me for the next month (until I called to complain!).

So yes. I urge everyone being offered to transition to fibre TV to think of the long term. Cable/pay TV is dead. Nobody wants stupid settop boxes that are locked to pay TV providers. And linear TV is so passé. You move on to fibre TV now and you're only delaying the inevitable - that it'll become obsolete one day soon (it's already happening in the US).

Those discounts and freebies are also not going to last forever. As the saying goes, if it's too good to be true, it probably is.

And the best part of it all? Even after subscribing to Viu premium, the StarHub Go family pack and whatever else we needed, I still end up paying far less than what I did previously for cable TV.

Additional $6 per set top box? HD upsize? Extra for recording feature?! These are all ways pay TV operators lock you into their ecosystem and make you pay more. No thanks! Time to cut the cord everyone!

 

[havetheveryfun]

The StarHub Go streaming box doesn't support the StarHub Go app. It's probably deliberate because the StarHub Go app's UI/UX is not designed to run on the Android TV OS.

You can only subscribe to the Go packs using the streaming box, which has a smaller subset of channels compared to the app.

If you're fine having those smaller number of channels, then it'll work for you.

I was in the same boat as you. My mother is the only one who was using the cable TV box while I've moved on to streaming services a long time ago.

I really didn't want to switch to fibre TV because it meant having to run additional network lines in my home and I'll end up with a complicated two-ISP setup.

So I forced my mom to bite the bullet and weaned her off the cable box.

I was a StarHub TV "ultimate plan" subscriber. StarHub offered me a ton of freebies to switch to fibre TV - free this free that, discount this and that.

What I did instead was get a StarHub Go streaming box for my mom and subscribed to the basic Family Go pack (which came with a good mix of English and Chinese channels).

I then installed Viu and my mom was shocked to discover she could watch all her favourite Korean shows even before they were broadcast on cable. I also showed her how she could watch some of the Taiwanese shows on YouTube. Again, she was shocked to find out that a programme she was following on StarHub's channel was from the 2016 season, whereas what's online has already progressed far ahead!

I also looked at Singtel Cast as a possible supplement for additional channels but it turned out that I didn't need it.

She's now happy with this and I've successfully yanked her into the new age.

I dumped my cable box and the StarHub staff was stunned that I was rejecting their fibre TV offer. They were in such disbelief that they thought my instructions to cancel was made in error and continued to bill me for the next month (until I called to complain!).

So yes. I urge everyone being offered to transition to fibre TV to think of the long term. Cable/pay TV is dead. Nobody wants stupid settop boxes that are locked to pay TV providers. And linear TV is so passé. You move on to fibre TV now and you're only delaying the inevitable - that it'll become obsolete one day soon (it's already happening in the US).

Those discounts and freebies are also not going to last forever. As the saying goes, if it's too good to be true, it probably is.

And the best part of it all? Even after subscribing to Viu premium, the StarHub Go family pack and whatever else we needed, I still end up paying far less than what I did previously for cable TV.

Additional $6 per set top box? HD upsize? Extra for recording feature?! These are all ways pay TV operators lock you into their ecosystem and make you pay more. No thanks! Time to cut the cord everyone!

the funny thing about this is that the streaming boxes are also offered by the same PayTV providers...

 

[crewcutboy]

the funny thing about this is that the streaming boxes are also offered by the same PayTV providers...

Who obviously know that their jig is up and if they didn't offer an alternative, they'd soon be out of business.

 

[eric3743]

I just have a thought. I am one of those still on cable but had yet to take up Starhub Fibre TV plan. Because I also do not want trunking running to my room.

Does the Starhub Go Streaming Box supports the Starhub Go? And if not I wondered why not? Because it would really solve a lot of the issues for this group of "cannot or do not want trunking" solution for the 2nd STB in the room.

If Starhub Go is supported on the Streaming Box, then we can just get the streaming box for the room and watch our subscribed channels via Starhub Go in the room.

But something tells me that is not possible.

Can be possible but there are limitation on the Streaming Box to watch Starhub Go packs.

But on the other hand it may not be necessary as you can watch Starhub Go channels/packs on computer/phones.
Meaning you can still subscribe to Fibre TV and able to watch selected subscribed channels in the Starhub Go.

By taking the Starhub Go Streaming Box you may have double subscription for those Family pack of Streaming box due to similar or same channels listing (Here!).
Not forgetting Family pack cost $14.90 for 6-months subscription inclusive in the Streaming box $199 and also inclusive 6-months Go Select for current promotion.

Starhub Go Streaming Box is an Android TV box but OEM version.

Limitations:

• No local TV channels since unable to download Toggle App and include others such as Netflix.
  
• The live channels are only those listed here! which are all in the Family pack.
  
• So those live channels in other packs may not be accessible yet until further improvements & features are added.. depend on how long & when.

In conclusion you can avoid to take the 2nd STB (Set top box) and instead rely on Starhub Go to watch.
But the only limitation on this is not all Fibre TV subscribed channels are available in Starhub Go.
Do a comparison by checking those favourite channels are also available in Starhub Go channels for not taking the 2nd STB.
Only missing may be no "show info" in Starhub Go channels/packs.
Finally note that only 1 Hub ID account can be watch at any 1 screen time.

 

[Paul Lee]

I guess another option would be to get the FibreTV for the living room. And the Starhub Go Streaming Box for the room.

Though it sounds a little oxymoron to me actually. Since you end up subscribing 'twice'

Also, the FTA channels is also not available on the Streaming Box, which means you need an additional STB for the FTA channels. *sigh*

Limitations:

• No local TV channels since unable to download Toggle App and include others such as Netflix.
  
• The live channels are only those listed here! which are all in the Family pack.
• So those live channels in other packs may not be accessible yet until further improvements & features are added.. depend on how long & when.

No. Netflix is also currently not supported on the Streaming Box. Amazon Prime and Toggle (as you mentioned) also no available.

 

[eric3743]

I guess another option would be to get the FibreTV for the living room. And the Starhub Go Streaming Box for the room.

Though it sounds a little oxymoron to me actually.

One more thing. The Starhub GO Streaming Box works on wireless right? What about the FTA channels?

Free-To-Air channels as in MediaCorp channels are not available in Starhub Go Streaming Box.

Although FTA channels are available in Toggle App but unable to download to the Streaming Box, including Netflix... for now and not sure when.

Hence only those channels listed in my previous post are there but not FTA channels.

For more info > Starhub Go Streaming Box

And > Starhub Go Streaming Box - Set Up Guide

Note that this Android TV box come with ChromeCast.

 

[antecpro]

Hi,

My parents are only watching TVB Jade shows and local ch8.

Now still with starhub cable. Any recommendations please ?

Thanks !

 

[crewcutboy]

Netflix and Toggle are not available as Android TV OS apps, but there's nothing to stop you from side loading standard Android apps for phones and tablets.

TVB shows are available in the TVB Anywhere app. There's no live streaming, but shows are uploaded in the app within a few hours of broadcast.

MediaCorp Channel 8 please just get a digital tuner box and antenna if you haven't already!

 

[xiaofan]

Netflix and Toggle are not available as Android TV OS apps, but there's nothing to stop you from side loading standard Android apps for phones and tablets.

TVB shows are available in the TVB Anywhere app. There's no live streaming, but shows are uploaded in the app within a few hours of broadcast.

MediaCorp Channel 8 please just get a digital tuner box and antenna if you haven't already!

Just a correction, Netflix is available as an Android TV OS app. In fact official Android TV boxes like Mi Box S supports Netflix 4k.

For Toggle if it is not available in Android TV OS then just use ChromeCast from mobile phone. Official Android TV boxes like Mi Box S has Chromecast capability built-in.

Edit to add：Starhub Go Streaming box is running OEM version of Android TV and lacks the capabilities like Netflix and ChromeCast of official certified Android TV OS device like Mi Box S.

Posted using Huawei P20. HardwareZone Forums app

 

[Paul Lee]

The more I read and found out more about Starhub Fibre TV, the more I'm beginning to wonder if Starhub has placed its bet wrongly on the 'technology horse' vis-à-vis to how they implement it.

SH Fibre TV implementation has so many disadvantages you wondered why SH choose to implement it that way. eg need wired connection to room, Starhub Go not supported on android box, must (or preferable) to have Fibre Internet etc..

In contrast, Singtel TV doesn't have these limitations. I believe they have a wireless bridge solution for the STB in the room, their Singtel TV Go is supported on both android and Apple TV box, you can subscribe to Singtel TV without the corresponding Singtel Fibre.

I know that when MioTV started it was a joke with a lot of issues and problems. But I'm started to think that Singtel TV may be a viable option. The only problem currently is that there isn't a lot of information on Singtel TV website, specifically on the implementation of multiple STB set up or wireless homebridge solution.

This was offered back in 2013 but I cannot find any current information on this now.

 

[Henry Ng]

Just a correction, Netflix is available as an Android TV OS app. In fact official Android TV boxes like Mi Box S supports Netflix 4k.

For Toggle if it is not available in Android TV OS then just use ChromeCast from mobile phone. Official Android TV boxes like Mi Box S has Chromecast capability built-in.

Edit to add：Starhub Go Streaming box is running OEM version of Android TV and lacks the capabilities like Netflix and ChromeCast of official certified Android TV OS device like Mi Box S.

Posted using Huawei P20. HardwareZone Forums app

Not right.
Starhub streaming box do have chromecast.

 

[xiaofan]

Not right.
Starhub streaming box do have chromecast.

Oh that would be good. Then there is an option to use ChromeCast from the phone for apps supporting Chromecast, including Netflix, adrama, plex, etc

https://store.google.com/product/chromecast_apps

 

[htngwilliam]

I read that the StarHub streaming box is sluggish in terms of performance hence I think I won’t want to go for it

If Singtel go tv app can install on Apple TV and android tv, I think maybe a more meaningful solution. Can we subscribe to Singtel go tv without any fiber tv subscription?

 

[Paul Lee]

If Singtel go tv app can install on Apple TV and android tv, I think maybe a more meaningful solution. Can we subscribe to Singtel go tv without any fiber tv subscription?

No you can't. Like Starhub Go, you need to subscribe to Fibre TV package to watch the available channels on the Singtel TV Go platform.

Dun want to go off-topic too much.

Singtel TV Go FAQ

 

[Henry Ng]

No you can't. Like Starhub Go, you need to subscribe to Fibre TV package to watch the available channels on the Singtel TV Go platform.

Dun want to go off-topic too much.

Singtel TV Go FAQ

Not correct. Starhub GO has two type. What is said is one type where you have fibre Tv and Starhub GO and the other type is just subscribe the Starhub GO pack like Starhub GO select $9.90/mth and you can watch it with the app and cast it to your chromecast on your TV. For Singtel GO it is not possible and you need to have fibre TV.

 

[Paul Lee]

I know what you mean. You talking about the Streaming Box but I was talking about Starhub Go to watch your Cable/FibreTV subscribed channels.

This is yet another stupid reason on the part of Starhub to call everything Starhub Go. It's so confusing for everyone.

They should have come up with another name when they launched Streaming Box.

 

[tomicaguy]

I saw the Go Streaming Box has an option for no contract at $199 one time charge. I don't wish to subscribe to Starhub broadband.

1) Does this mean I own the box after paying the $199?
2) Based on earlier posts, I gather I can install Viu on it and have to further subscribe Viu Premium.

 

[Henry Ng]

I saw the Go Streaming Box has an option for no contract at $199 one time charge. I don't wish to subscribe to Starhub broadband.

1) Does this mean I own the box after paying the $199?
2) Based on earlier posts, I gather I can install Viu on it and have to further subscribe Viu Premium.

I have the box in one of my bedroom.
1) Yes it is yours after paying $199.
2) No VIU app in their play store. Got Adrama and Tudi app. I am using Adrama most of the time. Adrama is quite good and has Korean drama too. It has built-in chromecast so you can cast from phone to TV.

 

[Paul Lee]

I saw the Go Streaming Box has an option for no contract at $199 one time charge. I don't wish to subscribe to Starhub broadband.

1) Does this mean I own the box after paying the $199?
2) Based on earlier posts, I gather I can install Viu on it and have to further subscribe Viu Premium.

Are you planning on subscribing to the Starhub TV Go pack?

If not, why would you even consider this option? Based on my limited understanding, there are better Android TV sets on the market like the Mi Box S that probably has more apps support.

Is Viu not supported on other Android TV sets?

 

[Paul Lee]

2) No VIU app in their play store. Got Adrama and Tudi app. I am using Adrama most of the time. Adrama is quite good and has Korean drama too. It has built-in chromecast so you can cast from phone to TV.

No VIU? But in an earlier post , bro crewcutboy says he installed it on the Starhub Streaming Box for her mum?