Replace home broadband with mobile plan?

[keenklee]

4g+ usually

IMHO.
I slowly moving from 4G to 5G. I just want to say my Heya 4G after auto port to Singtel Hi ! seems no longer operating at a fast speed.

 

[helloicanseeu]

Savings $9.20 - not much vs M1 $29.90 2.5Gbps fibre

Used to pay 30 for M1 fbb and 7 for zero1 4g
37*12=440?
Now pay 21 monthly for both
21x12=252?
Got to buy tplink 5g router upfront for around 180
Breaks even in 12months? More data incoming in future?
Suits bbfa only....
Checked my bb usage before this, hardly broke 1t per month usage.

 

[Cyber_Ghost]

FR on subject thread :

After nearly two months (31 days in January and 20 in February) of using a mobile plan SIM card with a router for my home internet, I’m really pleased with the results.

I haven’t had any lag or buffering on my TV, laptop, or phone while watching YouTube, Netflix, MeWatch, browsing the web, or streaming live stock prices all at once.

I typically use around 10GB of data daily, so a 400GB SIM plan easily covers my needs. With current ISP deals, it would cost about $10 per month without a contract, compared to $30 per month for fixed broadband with a 24-month commitment.

Hope this post helps others who are still undecided about the feasibility of using a mobile plan instead of FBB for home internet.

Happy surfing and Happy New Year.

 

[Cyber_Ghost]

Savings $9.20 - not much vs M1 $29.90 2.5Gbps fibre

Yes, to many the savings might seem small, but remember this important point: you’re not locked into a 24-month contract, and you can also use the SIM card for overseas roaming.

 

[keenklee]

FR on subject thread :

After nearly two months (31 days in January and 20 in February) of using a mobile plan SIM card with a router for my home internet, I’m really pleased with the results.

I haven’t had any lag or buffering on my TV, laptop, or phone while watching YouTube, Netflix, MeWatch, browsing the web, or streaming live stock prices all at once.

I typically use around 10GB of data daily, so a 400GB SIM plan easily covers my needs. With current ISP deals, it would cost about $10 per month without a contract, compared to $30 per month for fixed broadband with a 24-month commitment.

Hope this post helps others who are still undecided about the feasibility of using a mobile plan instead of FBB for home internet.

Happy surfing and Happy New Year.

IMHO.
Please know that this is not a good representation.
I have ran 4G and 5G mobile broadband setup with multiple routers for much longer and at 2 different locations - it depends on needs, locality and telco.

Please do your due diligence using tools e.g. speedtest.

 

[keenklee]

Used to pay 30 for M1 fbb and 7 for zero1 4g
37*12=440?
Now pay 21 monthly for both
21x12=252?
Got to buy tplink 5g router upfront for around 180
Breaks even in 12months? More data incoming in future?
Suits bbfa only....
Checked my bb usage before this, hardly broke 1t per month usage.

IMHO.
Use GL.inet router via USB tethering lagi cheaper.
For all you know, your existing fbb router already support USB tethering.

 

[helloicanseeu]

IMHO.
Use GL.inet router via USB tethering lagi cheaper.
For all you know, your existing fbb router already support USB tethering.

But got multiple devices leh, so better get router to manage traffic, don't trust portable devices as tethering backend

 

[eauyong]

FR on subject thread :

After nearly two months (31 days in January and 20 in February) of using a mobile plan SIM card with a router for my home internet, I’m really pleased with the results.

I haven’t had any lag or buffering on my TV, laptop, or phone while watching YouTube, Netflix, MeWatch, browsing the web, or streaming live stock prices all at once.

I typically use around 10GB of data daily, so a 400GB SIM plan easily covers my needs. With current ISP deals, it would cost about $10 per month without a contract, compared to $30 per month for fixed broadband with a 24-month commitment.

Hope this post helps others who are still undecided about the feasibility of using a mobile plan instead of FBB for home internet.

Happy surfing and Happy New Year.

Any disconnections?

 

[Cyber_Ghost]

Any disconnections?

so far no.

I’ve tried 4 SIM cards from different ISPs: Maxx and Circles.Life (both M1), Simba (TPG), ZYM (Singtel), and Eight (SH). All worked perfectly, even the Simba SIM that some people complain about was totally fine.

DISCLAINER

My post is based entirely on my own experience of just watching TV and surfing the internet, never playing games, so I’m not sure if it’s good enough for gamers.

 

[helloicanseeu]

Any disconnections?

peaks hours, fibre may be slightly better? that is possible esp if u play live service games.

 

[helloicanseeu]

so far no.

I’ve tried 4 SIM cards from different ISPs: Maxx and Circles.Life (both M1), Simba (TPG), ZYM (Singtel), and Eight (SH). All worked perfectly, even the Simba SIM that some people complain about was totally fine.

DISCLAINER

My post is based entirely on my own experience of just watching TV and surfing the internet, never playing games, so I’m not sure if it’s good enough for gamers.

simba base stations are congested during peak hours in my site ... there is noticeable delays even in yt loading

 

[keenklee]

But got multiple devices leh, so better get router to manage traffic, don't trust portable devices as tethering backend

IMHO.
Eh... tethering via USB also managed through the router.

 

[helloicanseeu]

i think hardware is different in those portables and 5g routers ... else why the router so big and the portable so small?

 

[helloicanseeu]

q: is there any difference in reception between 5g routers and 5g portable routers

Yes — there can be differences in reception performance between a standard (big) 5G router and a portable 5G router, but it depends on several factors. Here’s a clear explanation:

1. Antenna Size & Gain

Big 5G Routers

Often have larger internal antennas or even external antennas.

More antenna elements can improve reception and signal stability, especially indoors or in areas with weaker network coverage.

Better antenna gain means they can pick up signal more reliably.

Portable 5G Routers / Hotspots

Designed to be compact and battery-powered.

Antennas are smaller and usually internal.

Smaller antennas generally have lower gain, which can mean slightly weaker reception than larger routers, especially at the cell edge.

Takeaway: Larger routers can get better 5G reception because of better antennas, but it’s not always a huge difference.

2. MIMO Antenna Support


MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) antennas improve signal quality and speed by using multiple antenna paths.

Big 5G Routers: Often support 4x4 MIMO or even higher configurations → better performance in challenging signal areas.

Portable 5G Routers: Usually support fewer MIMO paths (e.g., 2x2), meaning potentially less


still deem the 5g router to be a better investment ... for sacrificing fibre bb

 

[OutBreak]

Yes, to many the savings might seem small, but remember this important point: you’re not locked into a 24-month contract, and you can also use the SIM card for overseas roaming.

You also don't need to pay money for NLT.

 

[keenklee]

q: is there any difference in reception between 5g routers and 5g portable routers

Yes — there can be differences in reception performance between a standard (big) 5G router and a portable 5G router, but it depends on several factors. Here’s a clear explanation:

1. Antenna Size & Gain

Big 5G Routers

Often have larger internal antennas or even external antennas.

More antenna elements can improve reception and signal stability, especially indoors or in areas with weaker network coverage.

Better antenna gain means they can pick up signal more reliably.

Portable 5G Routers / Hotspots

Designed to be compact and battery-powered.

Antennas are smaller and usually internal.

Smaller antennas generally have lower gain, which can mean slightly weaker reception than larger routers, especially at the cell edge.

Takeaway: Larger routers can get better 5G reception because of better antennas, but it’s not always a huge difference.

2. MIMO Antenna Support


MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) antennas improve signal quality and speed by using multiple antenna paths.

Big 5G Routers: Often support 4x4 MIMO or even higher configurations → better performance in challenging signal areas.

Portable 5G Routers: Usually support fewer MIMO paths (e.g., 2x2), meaning potentially less


still deem the 5g router to be a better investment ... for sacrificing fibre bb

IMHO.
Different purpose. The constrain is battery life.
You can use a portable router at home but not vice versa.
Also the needs.
Fibre broadband is one time effort. Mobile broadband - the amount of effort to put into it, must be worth the while. I went into mobile broadband as a hobby. Thinking back, it was probably 6 years ago.

P.S. Actually, possible to bring the home router out. I am working on a setup to do just that.

 

[hokkienang88]

FR on subject thread :

After nearly two months (31 days in January and 20 in February) of using a mobile plan SIM card with a router for my home internet, I’m really pleased with the results.

I haven’t had any lag or buffering on my TV, laptop, or phone while watching YouTube, Netflix, MeWatch, browsing the web, or streaming live stock prices all at once.

I typically use around 10GB of data daily, so a 400GB SIM plan easily covers my needs. With current ISP deals, it would cost about $10 per month without a contract, compared to $30 per month for fixed broadband with a 24-month commitment.

Hope this post helps others who are still undecided about the feasibility of using a mobile plan instead of FBB for home internet.

Happy surfing and Happy New Year.

Hi, may i know you using tp-link deco x50-5g?

Is this router able to connect to multiple devices like Google TV & CCTV?

Thanks you in advance.

 

[keenklee]

Hi, may i know you using tp-link deco x50-5g?

Is this router able to connect to multiple devices like Google TV & CCTV?

Thanks you in advance.

IMHO.
I running a pair of x50-5G using Circle.Life 1TB.
The performance is not very fantastic - maybe around 300 Mbps during to the my place location.
For more than a month, this mesh is support my entire IoT - 3 cameras, smart lights and smart plugs.
All I can say it is quite stable.
P.S. The 3 cameras not using cloud storage.

I have not tested connecting my Samsung Smart TV but it should be ok.
P.S. My SmartTV is on Singtel Fiber Broadband and recently, it can be not-so-responsive as I would like it to be.
I see if i got time to connect the TV to the x50-5g wireless.

 

[Cyber_Ghost]

Hi, may i know you using tp-link deco x50-5g?

Is this router able to connect to multiple devices like Google TV & CCTV?

Thanks you in advance.

Yes I’m using the Deco X50-5G router with a mobile SIM card for my home internet.

It’s just me and my wife using the Wi-Fi for browsing and watching TV no gaming or CCTV. So far, streaming dramas and surfing the web have been smooth with no lag or buffering.

I’m just not sure if CCTV or other IoT devices would work well under this setup.

 

[Cyber_Ghost]

Yesterday morning, I called Circles.Life to terminate my mobile line and received a confirmation email stating it would be terminated on 28 Feb.

Strangely, later in the evening, I received another email saying my data roaming add-on had been activated and that I would be billed for it.

Looks like the people in that Reddit post about Circles.Life’s tactics were right.

EDIT :

just received an email from Circles.life after more than three back-and-forth exchanges (all their replies unrelated to my query on the $21/month data roaming add-on). It’s finally resolved, no charges will be imposed since I had already terminated my line.