My experience with router overseas.

[revhappy]

I lived in Singapore for 16 years on an employment pass and last month relocated back to India for good.

I wanted to share my experience about wifi routers in Singapore vs India.

In SG, I rented a 5i corner house and the wifi signal wouldn't reach my master bedroom. So I had to use a wireless repeater.

But in India we live in a landed house and we got a cheap dual band router provided by the telco and the range is so good. It not only covers the entire house, but also the signal reaches the floor above without any degradation of signal quality.

I wonder are router sold in SG restricted in range? Or is it because too much of congestion in SG homes?

 

[xonix]

Google " Wi-Fi vs Reinforce Concrete Walls "

 

[TanKianW]

Not sure which part of India you are in.

In Singapore, everyone in your neighborhood "shouting" wifi signal with transmit power set to max, so your router naturally cannot hear. With more on mesh unit like numerous talkative neighbours at close proximity, it only makes it worse.

Go kampong shout when everything is quiet. Your router can hear from miles away.​

 

[pwongkk]

Google " Wi-Fi vs Reinforce Concrete Walls "

Not only that, in high density sg and blocks so closely packed together, every unit turns on their WiFi, the entire airwave is so congested as compared to landed houses.

 

[abstrax]

Not only that, in high density sg and blocks so closely packed together, every unit turns on their WiFi, the entire airwave is so congested as compared to landed houses.

Thats y i only use wired connection for stablility.....
Or the router must beside the PC for reliable connection

 

[bert64]

I lived in Singapore for 16 years on an employment pass and last month relocated back to India for good.

I wanted to share my experience about wifi routers in Singapore vs India.

In SG, I rented a 5i corner house and the wifi signal wouldn't reach my master bedroom. So I had to use a wireless repeater.

But in India we live in a landed house and we got a cheap dual band router provided by the telco and the range is so good. It not only covers the entire house, but also the signal reaches the floor above without any degradation of signal quality.

I wonder are router sold in SG restricted in range? Or is it because too much of congestion in SG homes?

It will likely be a combination of how the building is constructed, plus severe congestion of the wifi bands.
You see exactly the same situation in the US, if you're in a rural or suburban area the properties are well spaced out then wifi works very well even with the cheap equipment provided by the telco.

When you're in an apartment block and you have multiple neighbors within range there is a lot of congestion and interference, especially when there are devices using older standards. Users then buy equipment which transmits at higher power, or buy repeaters (which generate even more interference especially if they use wireless backhaul). This ends up with a constant escalation of "shouting louder", and everyone only considering their own needs and paying no consideration to the effect they have on neighbors.

People have done trials in the desert where they got a wifi signal usable over hundreds of miles (see the defcon wifi range challenges)

 

[pwongkk]

Thats y i only use wired connection for stablility.....
Or the router must beside the PC for reliable connection

Same here, made it a point to run the cables during my reno.

My WiFi only for hp and office laptop.

 

[abstrax]

Same here, made it a point to run the cables during my reno.

My WiFi only for hp and office laptop.

During reno, I use Cat6 for 10Gbps network.

 

[bert64]

Same here, made it a point to run the cables during my reno.

My WiFi only for hp and office laptop.

Exactly this... Always use wired if you can. Wireless is only for cases when you can't use wires, like mobile devices or for temporary use until you can get proper wiring installed.

 

[Techcome2011]

Interesting point. In Singapore, many routers have their transmit power limited due to regulatory constraints, and the high density of housing (especially in HDBs and condos) leads to significant Wi-Fi interference from neighboring units. That’s often why signal strength drops in rooms further away, especially if there are multiple concrete walls in between.

 

[acpower2025]

Exactly this... Always use wired if you can. Wireless is only for cases when you can't use wires, like mobile devices or for temporary use until you can get proper wiring installed.

Cannot agree more on this. Wired is the most reliable connection even if its old tech.
However some people just don't like wires/cables, that's why there are these "wireless" stuffs...

 

[hellhole]

I lived in Singapore for 16 years on an employment pass and last month relocated back to India for good.

I wanted to share my experience about wifi routers in Singapore vs India.

In SG, I rented a 5i corner house and the wifi signal wouldn't reach my master bedroom. So I had to use a wireless repeater.

But in India we live in a landed house and we got a cheap dual band router provided by the telco and the range is so good. It not only covers the entire house, but also the signal reaches the floor above without any degradation of signal quality.

I wonder are router sold in SG restricted in range? Or is it because too much of congestion in SG homes?

check your landed bro... make sure its still stand well

edit: actually... maybe not.. as HDB for sure need more structure... as its going to be much taller..

 

[still-here]

I lived in Singapore for 16 years on an employment pass and last month relocated back to India for good.

I wanted to share my experience about wifi routers in Singapore vs India.

In SG, I rented a 5i corner house and the wifi signal wouldn't reach my master bedroom. So I had to use a wireless repeater.

But in India we live in a landed house and we got a cheap dual band router provided by the telco and the range is so good. It not only covers the entire house, but also the signal reaches the floor above without any degradation of signal quality.

I wonder are router sold in SG restricted in range? Or is it because too much of congestion in SG homes?

Left for good? No intention of coming back?

 

[revhappy]

Left for good? No intention of coming back?

Nope, my work pass has been cancelled. I can't even visit now, without applying for a tourist visa.

 

[still-here]

Nope, my work pass has been cancelled. I can't even visit now, without applying for a tourist visa.

So, India the final destination or a stop-gap before the next jump?

 

[SkyShroud]

Yes, wifi congestion. Apartments will have wifi signal from top bottom and sides. Landed wifi signal only you. Two signal of same frequency will clash with each other thus lower the range which is why it is recommended to use different frequency but there is only that many frequencies thus it still gonna clash.

Furthermore, not only router uses wifi, keyboard and gamepad too can use their own wifi which then add to the congestion. You may ask why they don't use Bluetooth, wifi is faster than Bluetooth.

 

[revhappy]

So, India the final destination or a stop-gap before the next jump?

I am retired already, lah. I am 45 now and I always wanted to become financially independent and not have to go to work.

I hated going to office and sitting 9-5. I am really thankful to Singapore that the SGD earnings and savings goes a long way in India.

My salary was 10k+ but we led a frugal lifestyle in SG, rented HDB and took MRT. Always saved 50% of my salary.

Now I don't need to answer to any boss. I can do this only in India.

 

[still-here]

I am retired already, lah. I am 45 now and I always wanted to become financially independent and not have to go to work.

I hated going to office and sitting 9-5. I am really thankful to Singapore that the SGD earnings and savings goes a long way in India.

My salary was 10k+ but we led a frugal lifestyle in SG, rented HDB and took MRT. Always saved 50% of my salary.

Now I don't need to answer to any boss. I can do this only in India.

Retired@45? Awesome! Would like to discuss further but don't have the minimum post count. Do drop me a message if could spare some time.
Which part of India are you in?

 

[BradenHeat]

No wonder our boomers are so happy

I wanted to share my experience about wifi routers in Singapore vs India.

In SG, I rented a 5i corner house and the wifi signal wouldn't reach my master bedroom. So I had to use a wireless repeater.

But in India we live in a landed house and we got a cheap dual band router provided by the telco and the range is so good. It not only covers the entire house, but also the signal reaches the floor above without any degradation of signal quality.

I wonder are router sold in SG restricted in range? Or is it because too much of congestion in SG homes?

I am retired already, lah. I am 45 now and I always wanted to become financially independent and not have to go to work.

I hated going to office and sitting 9-5. I am really thankful to Singapore that the SGD earnings and savings goes a long way in India.

My salary was 10k+ but we led a frugal lifestyle in SG, rented HDB and took MRT. Always saved 50% of my salary.

Now I don't need to answer to any boss. I can do this only in India.

 

[revhappy]

Retired@45? Awesome! Would like to discuss further but don't have the minimum post count. Do drop me a message if could spare some time.
Which part of India are you in?

Bangalore.