Network dilemma on Starhub TV+

[ezhikaie47]

You can ditch the Nokia router and use your own AX router as the main router.

If you use the Starhub TV+ box, the only missing thing is MediaCorp channels. However you can use a few workaround.

1) If you have TV with DVB-T2 tuner, just buy the antenna. Quality should be better than Starhub TV+ box.

2) meWatch now supports Android TV OS directly without the need of casting. Try to install it from the Play Store. I tried it with my Mi Box S and it works.

3) In case Starhub blocks the meWach app (unlikely), you can still cast to TV from your mobile phone. Starhub TV+ box supports Google Chromecast function.

Nice, I just installed meWatch on Starhub TV+ box. Look like I no longer need to switch to DVB-T2 tuner or have another router to watch MediaCorp channels.

 

[xiaofan]

Nice, I just installed meWatch on Starhub TV+ box. Look like I no longer need to switch to DVB-T2 tuner or have another router to watch MediaCorp channels.

Thanks for the confirmation. So indeed this is a good option for those who can use meWatch to watch MediaCorp FTA channels. meWatch also has VOD function.

 

[ezhikaie47]

I would like to add that Starhub TV+ is now a much improved and stable platform, compared to what I went through when I first got in Dec 2020.
I noticed there were a number of firmware/software updates since there to now.
With meWatch make available on android TV, it basically remove the problem that bugs Starhub TV+ when it was first introduce last year

 

[xiaofan]

So the situation is better now. In case people are having problems with Nokia Beacon 1 and do not want to use the Nokia Beacon 1 but still want to have access to MediaCorp FTA channels with the Starhub TV+ box, then there are a few solutions.

A few solutions.
1) If the family members are okay with meWatch, just install meWatch on the Starhub TV+ box.
2) If 1 is not possible, use EA7500 V2 or EA8100 if it is possible to use Ethernet connection to Starhub TV+ box
3) If both 1 and 2 are not possible (you have beter router but old folks do not like meWatch), then get a DVB-T2 tuner box + antenna. Many new TVs already have DVB-T2 tuner box built-in, so just need to buy the antenna.

I believe in the future, Starhub may support more routers as well.

 

[mimimipo]

Hi
Currently, I am using EA8100 and I am planning to buy RT-AX86U as the current wifi signal is not strong enough. If I want to change to AX86U but still have FTA channel on starhub tv+, is it I can only use AX86U as an access point connected to EA8100? And if yes, does it affect the signal strength?

 

[Henry Ng]

I would like to add that Starhub TV+ is now a much improved and stable platform, compared to what I went through when I first got in Dec 2020.
I noticed there were a number of firmware/software updates since there to now.
With meWatch make available on android TV, it basically remove the problem that bugs Starhub TV+ when it was first introduce last year

Last Night at about 9pm Starhub TV+ did you noticed it was down? My first generation Starhub black box can not watch.

 

[xiaofan]

Hi
Currently, I am using EA8100 and I am planning to buy RT-AX86U as the current wifi signal is not strong enough. If I want to change to AX86U but still have FTA channel on starhub tv+, is it I can only use AX86U as an access point connected to EA8100? And if yes, does it affect the signal strength?

Your EA8100 has to be the main router.

As for the RT-AX86U, it is better to set up as AP and that will not affect signal strength.

You can also configure RT-AX86U as router mode which will result in Double NAT. Double NAT does not affect normal interney browsing but may affect things like gaming.

 

[seowbin]

After fiddling with it this afternoon, finally managed to make my AX router as primary router and make the Nokia becon as secondary router (just for Mediacock channels/IPTV stream ) only. My parents watch channel 8 and U all those on the same android box. Suffered for half a year or so, finally decided to do something about it.

Point noted (a bit technical) :
1) Starfug uses vlan trunking , same as Sinktel
From Nokia Becon, you can observe that it uses native VLAN (no tag) to receive Internet IP (aka Public IP) and vlan 1091 for IPTV (static IP assignment from TR069 profile i supposed)

2) When you connect this starfug connection to a switch, both my AX router and Nokia Beacon received a public IP but only my AX router is able to surf Internet.

Initially, I thought that without TR-069 (those auto-provisioning crap) , NAT is not enabled. Till i finally used the nokia GUI to ping the internet. Ping is not working.

3) When Nokia Becon doesn't have an internet connection, Channel 8 and U continue to work. Therefore, i confirm the idea of transporting VLAN 1091 to Nokia Becon will work.

4) To overcome the limitation on point 2 (i'm not interested to get 2 IP address from starfug anyway) . I issued a LAN IP from my main AX router to nokia Becon.

Finally, it works.


How to do it
1) Get a "managed" switch that supports VLAN tagging,

First create vlan 1091 and other VLAN such as VLAN 10 and VLAN 99 in my example.

2) By default, in most switch, VLAN 1 is untagged.
Starfug Internet - VLAN 10 (You can assign your favourite number). Usually, we avoid using VLAN 1 in the networking world
Starfug IPTV - VLAN 1091
Your LAN segment (ie: 192.168.99.x/24 - which is ) - VLAN99 (any number you like)


Port 1 (To Starhub ONT) - Set it to trunk mode. Ensure VLAN 10 packets are passed as untagged. VLAN 1091 are tagged

Port 2 (To your ATAS internet router/more technological advanced router ) - Set it to an access port, VLAN 10.
This will allow your ATAS router to get a Public IP from Starfug

Port 3 (To the silly Nokia Beacon) - Set it as trunk mode, passed VLAN99 is untagged and VLAN 1091 as tagged.

This will allow your Nokia Beacon to get a LAN IP from your Atas Router and make the Android Box happy. Able to visit Netflix , get IP streaming over Internet from Starfug and those "fiber only channels"

Only no idea how long it will last. Hopefully is forever.

so far so good, except on day 1 the streaming sort of disrupted a few times but after that, no issue.

 

[Henry Ng]

Your EA8100 has to be the main router.

As for the RT-AX86U, it is better to set up as AP and that will not affect signal strength.

You can also configure RT-AX86U as router mode which will result in Double NAT. Double NAT does not affect normal interney browsing but may affect things like gaming.

Actually EA8100 is quite ok.

 

[nicholas_ong]

Is VLAN 1091 still useable? I tried via my Huawei AX3 but apparently the STB appeared unconnected the moment I set it up.

 

[xiaofan]

Is VLAN 1091 still useable? I tried via my Huawei AX3 but apparently the STB appeared unconnected the moment I set it up.

Which Huawei AX3?

The China version (AX3 Pro or AX3) does not really support VLAN properly. The IPTV function there is specific to the China IPTV.

The global version has SingTel VLAN profile built-in but I am not so sure if it allows you to support the use case of Starhub TV+ box. Same for the Asus, TP-Link, Netgear, etc. So far other than Starhub supported router like Nokia Beacon 1, Linksys EA7500 v2 and EA8100 v1, other routers are not supported.

You need a managed switch or a smart switch, with VLAN functions, if you want to follow the setup of brother seowbin. Even in his setup, Nokia Beacon 1 is still used, but not as the main router.

 

[nicholas_ong]

Which Huawei AX3?

The China version (AX3 Pro or AX3) does not really support VLAN properly. The IPTV function there is specific to the China IPTV.

The global version has SingTel VLAN profile built-in but I am not so sure if it allows you to support the use case of Starhub TV+ box. Same for the Asus, TP-Link, Netgear, etc. So far other than Starhub supported router like Nokia Beacon 1, Linksys EA7500 v2 and EA8100 v1, other routers are not supported.

You need a managed switch or a smart switch, with VLAN functions, if you want to follow the setup of brother seowbin. Even in his setup, Nokia Beacon 1 is still used, but not as the main router.

I'm using the global version and yeap, I saw the Singtel profile but the customized profile didn't seemed to work.

Like what you all mentioned, needs the specified setup, probably some mac filtering is in place to ensure only certain brands are used. LOL

I will look at optimizing my setup to include the designated brands.

 

[Henry Ng]

I think that one not me..

I do not have the issue with the signal.. It seems the android box spec is not that great..

Thanks.. will try to search for memory cleaner in google apps store.

The sad thing is Starhub price went up and now very expensive. Just English Entertainment Pass with Homehub+ 1G is $79.90.

 

[nicholas_ong]

The sad thing is Starhub price went up and now very expensive. Just English Entertainment Pass with Homehub+ 1G is $79.90.

You can get the plan with Netflix if you haven't had a subscription.

https://www.starhub.com/personal/bundles/homehub-plus/1gbps.html

 

[OdualO]

Is there any new method that we can use to solve the issue of FTA channel? Have 2 network ports near my TV and the router is at another location in the hse.

Not exactly network savvy, So if I want to wired both my TV and the set-top box (The wifi from Nokia keep stuttering the TV programs) , do I need to route another connection directly to my TV using a different LAN port on my router?

The other 2 methods are just too complicated for my old folks and end up I am always getting call from them to help them when they want to switch between FTA channel or TV+.

Called starhub, they are not exactly helpful at all. Now considering asking them to return back to the old set up since I am not using Disney+

 

[xiaofan]

Is there any new method that we can use to solve the issue of FTA channel? Have 2 network ports near my TV and the router is at another location in the hse.

Not exactly network savvy, So if I want to wired both my TV and the set-top box (The wifi from Nokia keep stuttering the TV programs) , do I need to route another connection directly to my TV using a different LAN port on my router?

Since you have two LAN ports in the TV console area, you can add one EA7500 v2 in the DB box (S$10 from Carsousell) or Linksys EA8100 (If you have existing Starhub issued router, then no need to buy). You can also get another Nokia Beacon 1 for around S$40 to form mesh.
1) ONT -- Linksys EA7500 v2 -- Living room LAN port 1 -- Starhub TV+ Box
2) ONT -- Linksys EA7500 v2 -- Living room LAN port 2 -- new Nokia Beacon 1 (part of mesh)
3) ONT -- Linksys EA7500 v2 -- Room LAN port -- existing Nokia Beacon 1 (change to AP mode)

This method will also work for those who have only one LAN port in the living room TV console area.
1) ONT -- Linksys EA7500 v2 -- Living room LAN port 1 -- Starhub TV+ Box + new Nokia Beacon 1 (part of mesh)
2) ONT -- Linksys EA7500 v2 -- Room LAN port -- existing Nokia Beacon 1 (change to AP mode)

Another possibility is to use another Nokia Beacon 1 and one TP-Link Dumb Switch (TP-Link TL-SG105), only for those with two LAN ports in the living room.
1) ONT -- Living room LAN port 1 -- new Nokia Beacon 1 -- Starhub TV+ Box
2) new Nokia Beacon 1 -- Living room LAN port 2 -- TL-SG105 in DB Box
3) TL-SG105 in DB Box --Room LAN port -- existing Nokia Beacon 1 (change to AP mode)

 

[xiaofan]

This method will also work for those who have only one LAN port in the living room TV console area.
1) ONT -- Linksys EA7500 v2 -- Living room LAN port 1 -- Starhub TV+ Box + new Nokia Beacon 1 (part of mesh)
2) ONT -- Linksys EA7500 v2 -- Room LAN port -- existing Nokia Beacon 1 (change to AP mode)

I will recommend this for those who do not have high requirements for the main router but with LAN ports in the rooms. You can totally ditch the Nokia Beacon 1 as well if you want to use better mesh solutions. Just an example, you can use two Asus RT-AX55 units (around S$110 from Carousell).

1) ONT -- Linksys EA7500 v2 -- Living room LAN port 1 -- Starhub TV+ Box + Asus RT-AX55 (part of AImesh, in AP mode)
2) ONT -- Linksys EA7500 v2 -- Room LAN port -- Asus RT-AX55 (part of AImesh)

For those who do not have LAN ports in the rooms, I will suggest to go with Linksys MX4200.

For those who are not using Starhub Fibre Internet service but yet using Starhub TV+ Box, no choice you have to use meWatch or DVB-T2 tuner/antenna solution.

 

[LooniLuna]

After fiddling with it this afternoon, finally managed to make my AX router as primary router and make the Nokia becon as secondary router (just for Mediacock channels/IPTV stream ) only. My parents watch channel 8 and U all those on the same android box. Suffered for half a year or so, finally decided to do something about it.

Point noted (a bit technical) :
1) Starfug uses vlan trunking , same as Sinktel
From Nokia Becon, you can observe that it uses native VLAN (no tag) to receive Internet IP (aka Public IP) and vlan 1091 for IPTV (static IP assignment from TR069 profile i supposed)

2) When you connect this starfug connection to a switch, both my AX router and Nokia Beacon received a public IP but only my AX router is able to surf Internet.

Initially, I thought that without TR-069 (those auto-provisioning crap) , NAT is not enabled. Till i finally used the nokia GUI to ping the internet. Ping is not working.

3) When Nokia Becon doesn't have an internet connection, Channel 8 and U continue to work. Therefore, i confirm the idea of transporting VLAN 1091 to Nokia Becon will work.

4) To overcome the limitation on point 2 (i'm not interested to get 2 IP address from starfug anyway) . I issued a LAN IP from my main AX router to nokia Becon.

Finally, it works.


How to do it
1) Get a "managed" switch that supports VLAN tagging,

First create vlan 1091 and other VLAN such as VLAN 10 and VLAN 99 in my example.

2) By default, in most switch, VLAN 1 is untagged.
Starfug Internet - VLAN 10 (You can assign your favourite number). Usually, we avoid using VLAN 1 in the networking world
Starfug IPTV - VLAN 1091
Your LAN segment (ie: 192.168.99.x/24 - which is ) - VLAN99 (any number you like)


Port 1 (To Starhub ONT) - Set it to trunk mode. Ensure VLAN 10 packets are passed as untagged. VLAN 1091 are tagged

Port 2 (To your ATAS internet router/more technological advanced router ) - Set it to an access port, VLAN 10.
This will allow your ATAS router to get a Public IP from Starfug

Port 3 (To the silly Nokia Beacon) - Set it as trunk mode, passed VLAN99 is untagged and VLAN 1091 as tagged.

This will allow your Nokia Beacon to get a LAN IP from your Atas Router and make the Android Box happy. Able to visit Netflix , get IP streaming over Internet from Starfug and those "fiber only channels"

Only no idea how long it will last. Hopefully is forever.

Is there any update on if this method still works?

I would like to use another router as my primary router however of course doing so would remove FTA channels.

I can’t use the other methods of DVB-T2 or meWatch as it would be too much of a headache for the elderly at home having to switch between MediaCorp FTA and paid channels.

 

[seowbin]

it works well so far

 

[ALacs]

actually, i have the initial same issue with TS....needed the TV+ boxes in my living room and 1 bedroom for my folks and the nokia beacon wifi also like crap....am looking for a solution to resetup my home network lan/wifi. i have cat6 cable from my switchbox/ont to all my room too. does anyone know of a good router with more than 4 LAN ports, with smaller footprint (like 8 lan ports, <20cm depth) that can serve IP TV (without using nokia beacons)

basically i am trying to
- ONT to this new router
- router LAN to all my other 4 rooms rooms, and living room
- my living room likely need another switch or router(bridge) to my TV+ , soundbar, TV . i plan to use IPTV option if available on this new router
- my master bedroom will need to serve another TV+ box
- other 3 rooms like LAN
- wifi just need normal performance. mesh will be great i can have but not essential

headache siah. wife wants to watch free to air and TVB, otherwise i don't need the silly TV+ . i have shortlisted linksys MR9600, asus ax88u and one more TP-link model, but the asus and TP link ones are damn big