Network dilemma on Starhub TV+

[LobsterX]

You may not need the homeplug, the second unit near your door should be able to do the job. I do not think you need so much bandwidth for Starhub TV+. Singtel's Aztech is a very old router so may be signal not so good.

My TV isn't at my door...

I intend for the 2nd Nokia beacon to be in my room.

And I intend to keep the current homeplug config for the current and upcoming starhub TV.

 

[xiaofan]

I ust realised there is a different between TL SG105 and TL SG105E....
Which one should I have gotten in this case.... Jialat.

Just the cheaper one, TL-SG105.

As replied in the Starhub IPTV switched network thread.

Starhub TV+ Box is totally different. It does not use ONT 2. So no need VLAN to have mixed Internet + TV. So yes you can use the cheaper dumb switch TL-SG105, no need to use the smart switch TL-SG105E with VLAN.

 

[Henry Ng]

I also just recontract to their homehub on fibre TV last friday, as my elderly dad is the one watching TV at home... i cant risk the unstable TV+...

Good to hear that they still allow fibre TV sign up.

 

[Henry Ng]

My TV isn't at my door...

I intend for the 2nd Nokia beacon to be in my room.

And I intend to keep the current homeplug config for the current and upcoming starhub TV.

Actually do not need to put in your room, just put it quite near your room door will do the job. Do not need so much bandwidth even if you are working from home. Most office VPN is about maximum 25 Mbps only. I think Starhub TV+ maximum about 15 Mbps should be ok to watch as it is just 1080i video streaming.

 

[parchiao]

I am curious about what you are all talking about.

I am planning to switch over from Singtel to StarHub vis Homehub+. It sounds like you are all saying there is a problem watching free to air MediaCorp channels using StarHub.

I am sure I have misread. Can we watch free to air channels via Homehub+?

 

[Jamesky]

You can only watch free to air.. or free to view channels if you use Nokia beacon 1 as your main router connected to your ONT.

 

[xiaofan]

I am curious about what you are all talking about.

I am planning to switch over from Singtel to StarHub vis Homehub+. It sounds like you are all saying there is a problem watching free to air MediaCorp channels using StarHub.

I am sure I have misread. Can we watch free to air channels via Homehub+?

New Homehub+ comes with TV+ pass so you have to use the new Starhub TV+ box.
https://www.starhub.com/personal/bundles/homehub-plus/1gbps.html

For the new TV+ box, you have to use the new Nokia Beacon 1 router for now to watch MediaCorp free to air channels. They will give free Nokia Beacon 1. You need to check whether they give one unit free or two units free.

https://www.starhub.com/personal/tvplus/box.html
To enjoy free-to-air channels on your StarHub TV+ box, sign up for StarHub Broadband with StarHub Smart WiFi.

 

[Henry Ng]

New Homehub+ comes with TV+ pass so you have to use the new Starhub TV+ box.
https://www.starhub.com/personal/bundles/homehub-plus/1gbps.html

For the new TV+ box, you have to use the new Nokia Beacon 1 router for now to watch MediaCorp free to air channels. They will give free Nokia Beacon 1. You need to check whether they give one unit free or two units free.

https://www.starhub.com/personal/tvplus/box.html
To enjoy free-to-air channels on your StarHub TV+ box, sign up for StarHub Broadband with StarHub Smart WiFi.

For Homehub+, they are giving out 2 units now.

 

[LobsterX]

Actually do not need to put in your room, just put it quite near your room door will do the job. Do not need so much bandwidth even if you are working from home. Most office VPN is about maximum 25 Mbps only. I think Starhub TV+ maximum about 15 Mbps should be ok to watch as it is just 1080i video streaming.

My FTP/ONT & current router[and where the incomming nokia beacon will be] location is 1m away from my bedroom door.
But from experience when i was with Singtel using Aztech router, the wifi is so damm weak that [if you section my room into 4 square parts] the square part my door is will get decent wifi(2-3 bars out of 4). my head of my bed is located in the next sqaure. wifi signal is 1bar 0 if my phone is in the middle of my bed. this is because if by line of sight, wifi signal had to passthru 1 wooden door, 2 right angled walls and a mirrored cupboard to get into my room.

the other half of the room has ZERO wifi signal, can't even pickup SSID.

so beause of this, i intend to put the 2nd unit at my door where "2-3bars our of 4" wifi is.

 

[Omnia1]

For Homehub+, they are giving out 2 units now.

Yes, I got two units of Nokia Beacon when I recontracted for TV and WiFi recently.

My first Nokia Beacon is in the study where my fibre point ends. The second is in my Living room, two walls away. The Nokia Beacon app indicates my second Beacon to have a "Strong Connection". Starhub TV+ works fine in the Living except for the occasional stutter and squeal. Have to see whether this improves over time.

Fortunately, I have two WiFi service providers for my home - one from M1 connected to Asus ZenWiFi 6 mesh routers, and the Starhub one. The ZenWifi routers have dedicated wireless backhaul, and are expectedly MUCH faster than the Beacons based on Speedtest.

The Beacons are also really short of ethernet ports.Currently, I already use up all three ethernet ports on my ZenWifi router - for my Desktop PC, Printer and Phillips Hue Hub. I would be upset if I was forced to use Beacons for my primary WiFi network. Fortunately, the Starhub network is only a seconday/backup network.

The main inconvenience so far is that I can't chromecast content from my phones/tablets to the Starhub Android TV boxes, as my devices will be on the primary M1 network and not the Starhub one. I will still have to use my existing Chromecast dongles, until such time Starhub allows their Android TV boxes to use Asus routers for TCS Free-To-Air channels (if ever).

First world problems ... lol

Sent from Tab S6 using GAGT

 

[ChinTuaKi]

For Homehub+, they are giving out 2 units now.

Yes, I got two units of Nokia Beacon when I recontracted for TV and WiFi recently.

My first Nokia Beacon is in the study where my fibre point ends. The second is in my Living room, two walls away. The Nokia Beacon app indicates my second Beacon to have a "Strong Connection". Starhub TV+ works fine in the Living except for the occasional stutter and squeal. Have to see whether this improves over time.

Fortunately, I have two WiFi service providers for my home - one from M1 connected to Asus ZenWiFi 6 mesh routers, and the Starhub one. The ZenWifi routers have dedicated wireless backhaul, and are expectedly MUCH faster than the Beacons based on Speedtest.

The Beacons are also really short of ethernet ports.Currently, I already use up all three ethernet ports on my ZenWifi router - for my Desktop PC, Printer and Phillips Hue Hub. I would be upset if I was forced to use Beacons for my primary WiFi network. Fortunately, the Starhub network is only a seconday/backup network.

The main inconvenience so far is that I can't chromecast content from my phones/tablets to the Starhub Android TV boxes, as my devices will be on the primary M1 network and not the Starhub one. I will still have to use my existing Chromecast dongles, until such time Starhub allows their Android TV boxes to use Asus routers for TCS Free-To-Air channels (if ever).

First world problems ... lol

Sent from Tab S6 using GAGT

2 free units for Homehub + 1 Gbps?

or for the 2 Gbps plan?

 

[ChinTuaKi]

nearly recontracted to the Homehub + 1G plan yesterday as my contract ends in late nov.

But at the very last moment, decided to wait till contract ends to see if there will be better promo by then.

And then i stumbled upon this thread and learnt that to watch free-to-air channel, i need their SMART WIFI????? that's a bummer...

but i just discovered a solution to it....MEWATCH....although it lags the actual free to air channels by around 5 secs to 1 min.....but still better than switching over the Nokia BEacon 1....as i am very happy with my current set up using Linksys EA8100

 

[ChinTuaKi]

After hearing "horror" comments above, I think I will re-contract my current Fiber-TV using the fiber STB...

Was quoted $79.90/mth for recontract:
- 2 passes
- Netflix
- 4 mths free
- 2 x Nokia Becons

At least no messy changes to FTA channels which is a plus for elderly at home.

hi, how did you managed to get the 4 mths free?

Did you ask them explicitly for "any promos" for recontract?

Or they just offer it to you?

 

[007Mi6]

hi, how did you managed to get the 4 mths free?

Did you ask them explicitly for "any promos" for recontract?

Or they just offer it to you?

Call in to sales department to request for old plan to recontract

 

[xiaofan]

Yes, I got two units of Nokia Beacon when I recontracted for TV and WiFi recently.

My first Nokia Beacon is in the study where my fibre point ends. The second is in my Living room, two walls away. The Nokia Beacon app indicates my second Beacon to have a "Strong Connection". Starhub TV+ works fine in the Living except for the occasional stutter and squeal. Have to see whether this improves over time.

Fortunately, I have two WiFi service providers for my home - one from M1 connected to Asus ZenWiFi 6 mesh routers, and the Starhub one. The ZenWifi routers have dedicated wireless backhaul, and are expectedly MUCH faster than the Beacons based on Speedtest.

The Beacons are also really short of ethernet ports.Currently, I already use up all three ethernet ports on my ZenWifi router - for my Desktop PC, Printer and Phillips Hue Hub. I would be upset if I was forced to use Beacons for my primary WiFi network. Fortunately, the Starhub network is only a seconday/backup network.

The main inconvenience so far is that I can't chromecast content from my phones/tablets to the Starhub Android TV boxes, as my devices will be on the primary M1 network and not the Starhub one. I will still have to use my existing Chromecast dongles, until such time Starhub allows their Android TV boxes to use Asus routers for TCS Free-To-Air channels (if ever).

First world problems ... lol

Sent from Tab S6 using GAGT

Haha, really first world problem.

Have you tried to use the Dual WAN load balancing function of the Zen WiFi XT8? Maybe in that way you can have a common network for your Starhub and M1 and then Chromecast is okay.

But then again you may not have access the MediaCorp GTA channels since you are not using the Nokia Beacon 1.

 

[LobsterX]

nearly recontracted to the Homehub + 1G plan yesterday as my contract ends in late nov.

But at the very last moment, decided to wait till contract ends to see if there will be better promo by then.

And then i stumbled upon this thread and learnt that to watch free-to-air channel, i need their SMART WIFI????? that's a bummer...

but i just discovered a solution to it....MEWATCH....although it lags the actual free to air channels by around 5 secs to 1 min.....but still better than switching over the Nokia BEacon 1....as i am very happy with my current set up using Linksys EA8100

I like the EA8100 that i got when i switched from singtel and their Aztech equipment. Linksys can reach into and beyond my room and out to the common corridoor to the lift lobby. lol.

hi, how did you managed to get the 4 mths free?

Did you ask them explicitly for "any promos" for recontract?

Or they just offer it to you?

my mum recontracted the startub TV (with the 1Gbps internet) and got offered the following
- Free first 4 months
- 2x Nokia Beacon 1
- Allegedly free 1 pass so it's a 1+1 deal [think is they ********. 1 pass for that price is ridiculous]
- Free netflix [part of subscription]
- Sales guy say i can keep the EA8100 [gonna guard it like a fly when the technician comes to install things for the recontract]

Haha, really first world problem.

Have you tried to use the Dual WAN load balancing function of the Zen WiFi XT8? Maybe in that way you can have a common network for your Starhub and M1 and then Chromecast is okay.

But then again you may not have access the MediaCorp GTA channels since you are not using the Nokia Beacon 1.

lol..... was about to suggest to "kiap" the 2 networks together to make chromecast work... hee hee

 

[xiaofan]

nearly recontracted to the Homehub + 1G plan yesterday as my contract ends in late nov.

But at the very last moment, decided to wait till contract ends to see if there will be better promo by then.

And then i stumbled upon this thread and learnt that to watch free-to-air channel, i need their SMART WIFI????? that's a bummer...

but i just discovered a solution to it....MEWATCH....although it lags the actual free to air channels by around 5 secs to 1 min.....but still better than switching over the Nokia BEacon 1....as i am very happy with my current set up using Linksys EA8100

Other than meWatch, another solution is to use DVB-T2 tuner and antenna. They are pretty cheap and quality is supposed to be better than Starhub TV+ box.

 

[Omnia1]

2 free units for Homehub + 1 Gbps?

or for the 2 Gbps plan?

I got 2 free Beacon units for a 1Gbps plan. The tele-marketer also offered 4 months free subscription, free Netflix for 2 years (port my existing Netflix account over), free HBO for 1 year. I hope I got the details right . Have not gotten the first bill under the new contract.

Agree that the use of the Nokia Beacon to watch free-to-air channels would be a deal breaker for many.

Previously, Toggle (now known as MeWatch) did not allow the streaming of some Hollywood movies even if you were a paid subscriber. Things like news, TCS' own shows etc were fine. Not sure whether this is still the case. Having to cast MeWatch onto my TV was also a bother.

Sent from Tab S6 using GAGT

 

[Omnia1]

Haha, really first world problem.

Have you tried to use the Dual WAN load balancing function of the Zen WiFi XT8? Maybe in that way you can have a common network for your Starhub and M1 and then Chromecast is okay.

But then again you may not have access the MediaCorp GTA channels since you are not using the Nokia Beacon 1.

Yes, the obstacle is the TCS free-to-air channels. Once Starhub allows the use of other routers (not just their Nokia Beacons), I'll immediately move all to my primary Asus ZenWiFi network. But I'm not hopeful that will ever come to pass.

Sent from Tab S6 using GAGT

 

[ChinTuaKi]

Call in to sales department to request for old plan to recontract

I just used the Live Chat....the CSO only offer me 1 month free.