New HDB BTO Flat - How do you connect your Home Fiber Network

[loganrunning]

OH. I'm already using Whizcomms and they gave me a ONR. I assumed that I can just connect it to my AX86U via LAN1 Port and it will work. Did you mean I was wrong.

firstly, what is your current setup? is it setup as ONR or ONT? do you have your computers directly wired up to the ONR? if wireless, what are you using to broadcast the signal?

If i missed it, my apologies.

If your ONR is the router, then you can either use the AX86U as an AP (set it in AP mode), or as a router - this creates what is called "double NAT". generally does not cause a problem except for some games. Personally, after using singtel, I didn't like the way they "managed" my network, hence my use of double NAT.

for most people though, using the ONR as the router, is ok. their needs are straightforward and their needs are met. But, as you get more advanced, you will find it limiting. that's where you prefer an ONT with your own router.

In AP mode, the ONR does the actual routing, and the AX86U is just broadcasting the wireless signal. If well positioned, you will get the coverage, but you lose a lot of functionality and power.

If you want your ONR bridged, you can bring it down and they will do it FOC, or arrange for their tech to do it on-site (there is a charge though).

 

[DarthGW]

anybody has a network contractor who can do cat 6a?

 

[yiptw89]

Hi all, I am moving to resale flat and I'm planning for my internet needs. The previous owner did not have any structured network cabling in the unit. As I will be doing renovation and I intend to do a lay proper network cabling.

Currently, I owned a 2 units (1 main + 1 satellite) mesh wifi from Netgear (Orbi RBK20). Will any gurus help to give ideas on where should I placed my mesh unit? Do I need to purchase additional nodes to increase my wifi coverage?

Below is my floor plan. The red star is the location of the fibre point.

Thank you.

 

[Apex]

Hi all, I am moving to resale flat and I'm planning for my internet needs. The previous owner did not have any structured network cabling in the unit. As I will be doing renovation and I intend to do a lay proper network cabling.

Currently, I owned a 2 units (1 main + 1 satellite) mesh wifi from Netgear (Orbi RBK20). Will any gurus help to give ideas on where should I placed my mesh unit? Do I need to purchase additional nodes to increase my wifi coverage?

Below is my floor plan. The red star is the location of the fibre point.

Thank you.

Your layout look sees like one router in the living room can provide coverage to the house (except the 2 toilet).

I will install 1 in Living room and in Main bedroom.

Living room - Cover BD3 and future room
Main room - Cover RM2, toilet and kitchen.

That my POV.

 

[comcrepe]

Prosperous day to all Sensei's here.

I've tried to dive through all the posts and ended up confusing myself about getting ax55u and mesh and backhauls.

Can I please get abit of advice on how I can set up my network so that my wife will be happy?

New BTO so there are 5 LAN points already set up in the house (Labelled 1 to 5 in image)

I do regular zoom calls at the wired desktop point and my wife will gaming in the study as well.

Need decent connection for the wifi in the kitchen and the bedroom for casual surfing.

I'm going with whizcomms 1 gbs no frills plan.

One of my friends was sharing that I can get a ax86u (really expensive T.T) and place it at Point 3 saying that it will be enough for to ensure my rooms all get a decent WIFI connection. Is that right?

Or is there any other alternatives?

Much thanks!

Can consider TP Link Deco X60.
Value for money since you have LAN points at all the key areas to do wired backhaul.

I have 3 X60s setup at my place. Wifi is a bit weak in the master bedroom balcony. Weak as in it buffers when I double tap to fastword youtube or netflix. It's not a bad buffer but there is buffering.

Wife asked me to fix it. Told her that I'll need to buy one more X60 for the bedroom since I have the main Deco in the storeroom, satellites in the living room, and in the home office.

Since it's ugly to have a router in the bedroom, the need to fix it became don't really need a strong signal in the balcony since seldom there. Conversation over.

 

[gregory_choo]

Can consider TP Link Deco X60.
Value for money since you have LAN points at all the key areas to do wired backhaul.

I have 3 X60s setup at my place. Wifi is a bit weak in the master bedroom balcony. Weak as in it buffers when I double tap to fastword youtube or netflix. It's not a bad buffer but there is buffering.

Wife asked me to fix it. Told her that I'll need to buy one more X60 for the bedroom since I have the main Deco in the storeroom, satellites in the living room, and in the home office.

Since it's ugly to have a router in the bedroom, the need to fix it became don't really need a strong signal in the balcony since seldom there. Conversation over.

if you have lan points in key areas to do wired backhual, don't have to buy triband mesh. Dualband will do.

Price is about 1/2, and it is really value for money.

 

[jase07]

Hi All, helping a friend to ask. Friend bought a resale flat and going to move in soon. The flat does not have any network cabling only for 1, from fiber point to lan point in living room.

Currently considering to sign up with starhub 1 gbps plan that comes with the 2 units of Smart Wifi units. Planning to place 1 unit of the Nokia beacon 1 at the living room and the 2nd unit at bedroom 3.

Friend is wondering if the above plan will work or if the gurus here will any suggestions.

Friend is open to recommendations and suggestions to make the whole flat covered with good wifi signal. No preference of which ISP to go with. Hopefully the suggestion will be budget friendly.

Below is the floor plan of the unit. Fiber point is marked in blue and there is a single lan point marked in green.

Thank you in advance.

 

[loganrunning]

Hi All, helping a friend to ask. Friend bought a resale flat and going to move in soon. The flat does not have any network cabling only for 1, from fiber point to lan point in living room.

Currently considering to sign up with starhub 1 gbps plan that comes with the 2 units of Smart Wifi units. Planning to place 1 unit of the Nokia beacon 1 at the living room and the 2nd unit at bedroom 3.

Friend is wondering if the above plan will work or if the gurus here will any suggestions.

Friend is open to recommendations and suggestions to make the whole flat covered with good wifi signal. No preference of which ISP to go with. Hopefully the suggestion will be budget friendly.

Below is the floor plan of the unit. Fiber point is marked in blue and there is a single lan point marked in green.

Thank you in advance.

don't make the decision based on the "free" routers, make it on the network performance and whether it meets your needs eg you need a public IP address etc.

suggest you search the starhub threads on user inputs on the nokia router.

 

[jase07]

don't make the decision based on the "free" routers, make it on the network performance and whether it meets your needs eg you need a public IP address etc.

suggest you search the starhub threads on user inputs on the nokia router.

Alright thanks! anyway why do you need a public Ip address? Curious.

 

[loganrunning]

Alright thanks! anyway why do you need a public Ip address? Curious.

if you are just doing normal surfing, it doesn't matter.

if you want to do more like run your own VPN server, seedbox etc, then you either can't (search for CGNAT) or have to pay for a static address.

to be fair, SH does provide a public IP address.

Other considerations are throttling, routing (affects "snappiness" of loading), and more.

if you want access to their media content, it's a valid choice as ISP.
if you do go with them, can use their router for free to air channels (there are workarounds otherwise, many threads here do document these). in terms of router and mesh performance, you would be better served by better routers.

as a rough indicator, the selling price of a new, unopened bundled aka "free" router on carousell is an indication of how the market views it. eg, compare nokia beacon vs RT-AX55U (bundled with m1).


you may want to browse this thread: Singapore ISP Comparisons

 

[jase07]

if you are just doing normal surfing, it doesn't matter.

if you want to do more like run your own VPN server, seedbox etc, then you either can't (search for CGNAT) or have to pay for a static address.

to be fair, SH does provide a public IP address.

Other considerations are throttling, routing (affects "snappiness" of loading), and more.

if you want access to their media content, it's a valid choice as ISP.
if you do go with them, can use their router for free to air channels (there are workarounds otherwise, many threads here do document these). in terms of router and mesh performance, you would be better served by better routers.

as a rough indicator, the selling price of a new, unopened bundled aka "free" router on carousell is an indication of how the market views it. eg, compare nokia beacon vs RT-AX55U (bundled with m1).


you may want to browse this thread: Singapore ISP Comparisons

thanks for the explanation! will read the thread. i was looking at carousell and sure enough there are quite a lot ppl selling it off, even for RT-AX55U, there are quite a few.

 

[loganrunning]

thanks for the explanation! will read the thread. i was looking at carousell and sure enough there are quite a lot ppl selling it off, even for RT-AX55U, there are quite a few.

yup, sellers looking to defray total cost of subscription, if they do not need their bundled routers. my point is, the m1 bundled router sells for more, but the subscription is less, so, just for this one aspect, it gives more value (assuming you do not need the starhub media content).

that said, the RT-AX55U is a decent entry-level router, and can be converted into a mesh node using the built-in Asus router firmware.

 

[gregory_choo]

Hi All, helping a friend to ask. Friend bought a resale flat and going to move in soon. The flat does not have any network cabling only for 1, from fiber point to lan point in living room.

Currently considering to sign up with starhub 1 gbps plan that comes with the 2 units of Smart Wifi units. Planning to place 1 unit of the Nokia beacon 1 at the living room and the 2nd unit at bedroom 3.

Friend is wondering if the above plan will work or if the gurus here will any suggestions.

Friend is open to recommendations and suggestions to make the whole flat covered with good wifi signal. No preference of which ISP to go with. Hopefully the suggestion will be budget friendly.

Below is the floor plan of the unit. Fiber point is marked in blue and there is a single lan point marked in green.

Thank you in advance.

the better way is to install LAN points in every room.

if not, use wifi mesh with wireless backhual. if you need more than 2 nodes, then it is better to get tri-band mesh wifi , else the speed will be much lower at the node further away.

since your friend already own 2 nokia mesh nodes, no harm to set it up as planned. if the speed is not good enough, put the 2nd node at the corridor just outside MBR/BR3, that should be the best location for this particular layout. if it is not possible, then can try BR2.

nokia mesh is not as good compared to other brand, but since the flat is not big, 2 nodes should be able to provide good coverage.

 

[jase07]

the better way is to install LAN points in every room.

if not, use wifi mesh with wireless backhual. if you need more than 2 nodes, then it is better to get tri-band mesh wifi , else the speed will be much lower at the node further away.

since your friend already own 2 nokia mesh nodes, no harm to set it up as planned. if the speed is not good enough, put the 2nd node at the corridor just outside MBR/BR3, that should be the best location for this particular layout. if it is not possible, then can try BR2.

nokia mesh is not as good compared to other brand, but since the flat is not big, 2 nodes should be able to provide good coverage.

Hi, thanks for your reply. No my friend has not signed up with any isp yet, just considering to sign up with starhub because they are giving the smart wifi units with the contract. So thinking maybe the 2 units might be enough to cover the whole flat. Can only go with wireless backhaul since no other lan points.

 

[harocarlos]

Hi, this is my current home layout. Looking at upgrading my Singtel AirTies placed at Mesh 1 and Mesh 2 locations.

1. Is it true that the Singtel ONR can be used on its own to split into the various CAT6 points around my home?
2. If the number of ports on the Singtel ONR is insufficient, I can connect it to an unmanaged switch to split them up?
3. When I use the CAT6 LAN connection at Mesh 1 and Mesh 2, the mesh network will be via wired backhaul?
4. Is the Asus Zenwifi XT8 mesh router overkill for my use case?

 

[gregory_choo]

Hi, thanks for your reply. No my friend has not signed up with any isp yet, just considering to sign up with starhub because they are giving the smart wifi units with the contract. So thinking maybe the 2 units might be enough to cover the whole flat. Can only go with wireless backhaul since no other lan points.

in this case, do not sign up to get the 2 nokia units. the plan will be expensive if 2 units are given "free".

starhub/m1 has cheaper 500Mbps plan, about $30 per month. these are the best plan if you can only employ wireless backhual. one simple reason is it is very hard to get more than 500Mbps from the 2nd or 3rd node.

buy a set of good triband wifi mesh network with 2-3 nodes. place the node in living room, bedroom2 and master bedroom.

 

[Slavor]

Hi everyone, would like to seek your advice on the two set up I have in mind for my upcoming 5 room BTO, where my wife and I are likely to be working from home most of the time.

Equipment:
I’m likely to go with M1 1GBPS plan, and I see that they offer the Asus RT-AX55 at no extra cost, or if I want to top up I can get the Asus zenwifi XD6 2 pack for $11 a month. However for future proofing I also don’t mind getting the Asus XT8 2 pack separately via Amazon.

Proposal 1 (more expensive):
Go with the M1 Asus RT-AX55 and Asus XT8. I will place the AX-55 at the TP/Modem and turn off wifi. I will place the XT8 at LAN port 1 and 2 to maximise coverage, and both will have ethernet backhaul. Equipment cost should be about $590 for the XT8.

Proposal 2 (more affordable):
Go with Zenwifi XD 6. I will place one at the TP/Modem and the other at LAN port 2 for maximum coverage, and as a result both will have ethernet backhaul. Equipment cost should be about $264 for the Zenwifi.

Questions:
- Do you think proposal 1 is overkill for my usage? My biggest concern is proposal 2 not being able to cover areas like the living room, kitchen, bedroom 3 and toilet 2 as there being several walls between the XD6 inside the DB closet.
- Just to confirm, a router must be placed at the modem with the TP and turn off wifi to utilise ethernet backhaul correct? Cannot just connect modem to the LAN ports inside the DB?

Thank you!

Hi everyone, an update since my last post: I’ve managed to find an unopened Linksys AC2600 router (EA8100-AH). I’m thinking of modifying my initial proposal 1 as follows:

Place the Linksys router at TP/Modem and turn off wifi. Get the Asus XD6 instead and place at LAN ports 1 and 2, and both will connect to each other via ethernet backhaul.

What do you guys think of this? And may I confirm that I can get my XD6 to connect via ethernet backhaul even with a Linksys connected at the TP/Modem?

 

[loganrunning]

Hi everyone, an update since my last post: I’ve managed to find an unopened Linksys AC2600 router (EA8100-AH). I’m thinking of modifying my initial proposal 1 as follows:

Place the Linksys router at TP/Modem and turn off wifi. Get the Asus XD6 instead and place at LAN ports 1 and 2, and both will connect to each other via ethernet backhaul.

What do you guys think of this? And may I confirm that I can get my XD6 to connect via ethernet backhaul even with a Linksys connected at the TP/Modem?

it should work - XD6 supports both eithernet and wireless backhaul. but with the Linksys as the router, you will either have to run the XD6 as AP, or have double NAT (not a major problem except for some unique cases).

 

[loganrunning]

extract from XD6 manual on operation mode and backhaul options:

https://www.manualslib.es/manual/543227/Asus-Zenwifi-Xd6.html?page=7


XD6 quick start manual

 

[gregory_choo]

Hi, this is my current home layout. Looking at upgrading my Singtel AirTies placed at Mesh 1 and Mesh 2 locations.

1. Is it true that the Singtel ONR can be used on its own to split into the various CAT6 points around my home?
2. If the number of ports on the Singtel ONR is insufficient, I can connect it to an unmanaged switch to split them up?
3. When I use the CAT6 LAN connection at Mesh 1 and Mesh 2, the mesh network will be via wired backhaul?
4. Is the Asus Zenwifi XT8 mesh router overkill for my use case?

1. yes
2. yes, but the mio tv box has to be connected to onr directly.
3. yes.
4. may be. If I were you, I will buy dualband sets, like ax68u instead, since wired backhaul will be used.