Singtel Mesh Router

[Advancer]

Thanks for the detailed reply, i am not sure why i have the AC plus router in place right now with the wifi disabled. hahaha.
But once i get hold of the new router, i will try your suggestion 1.
Plus i think my first RT-AX55 is running in router mode.

Come to think of it I think I had left the singtel AC router there because I used to have it connected to a singtel tv box too.
After I unsubscribed from singtel tv, I actually forgot to remove the AC router and left it there since 3 years ago. Damn, what a waste of electricity.

 

[ch4dd4]

Option 3-1: single TP-Link Archer AX72
A simple upgrade below S$100 -- you can get TP-Link Archer AX72 (AX5400 rated), BNIB from Carousell at around S$80 to S$90 (dumped by M1 users).

Then replace your Singtel Mesh Extender 1 with the TP-Link Archer AX72. It should be able to sort out wireless access issue for your Laptop 1 and 2.

I will still recommend to add a switch in Bedroom 3 for your PC and Laptop 1. Wired connection is always better when it is possible. TP-Link TL-SG105 is below S$30.

You can then put the Singtel Mesh Extender 1 in Bedroom 2 if needed.

You can try to set up TP-Link Archer AX72 in AP mode and then using the same SSID and password as your Singtel Mesh Extender. Then you check whether if your mobile device is having issues in BR3/BR2/MBR or not. If not then that is good. If there is an issue then you have to use a different SSID.

Option 3-2: 2 units of Asus RT-AX55
For mesh solution, based on your lower budget of around S$200, you can get two units of RT-AX55 from Carousell (around S$70 to S$80, dumped by M1 users). That should give you better roaming performance. You can start from two units, replacing the two Singtel Mesh Extenders. Single unit of RT-AX55 is not as powerful as TP-Link Archer AX72 but two units will give you the benefits of forming a mesh (AImesh) for better roaming performance.

Option 3-3: 2 units of TP-Link Archer AX73
Edit to add: now TP-Link Archer AX72 is able to support EasyMesh (mesh with itself), so you can get another Archer AX72 and put it inside either BR2 or BR3. In this case you can get rid of two Singtel Mesh Extenders.

Reference:
https://www.tp-link.com/sg/support/faq/3529/

Update: I went with the switch solution in bedroom 3 and now my laptop and pc in the bedroom 3 have no issues. Ty again xiaofan!

 

[alexzooiam]

hi guys,

I have a project that needs to test a new Singtel mesh router AP5690W and connecting to a Starhub ONT.
May I know if can this be done? As i tried it seem cannot. As i cant even find this router in the device WIFI list.

Also, when I switched on this mesh router without connecting to any ONT, i also cant find this router in the device WIFI list? Do you what is blocking that?

thanks

 

[xiaofan]

hi guys,

I have a project that needs to test a new Singtel mesh router AP5690W and connecting to a Starhub ONT.
May I know if can this be done? As i tried it seem cannot. As i cant even find this router in the device WIFI list.

Also, when I switched on this mesh router without connecting to any ONT, i also cant find this router in the device WIFI list? Do you what is blocking that?

thanks

Singtel Askey AP5690W is not a router, it can only be used as an AP or mesh node. You have to connect it behind a router.

Also Singtel issued router can not be connected to Starhub ONT either as they have Singtel VLAN built-in which can not be disabled.

https://www.singtel.com/personal/support/broadband/routers-ont

1) Mesh node or AP only, not a router

Askey AP5100W WiFi Mesh
Singtel Mesh Extender
Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender (WE620242-ST)
WI-FI 6 MESH AP5690W

--> need to be behind a router (function as an AP or mesh node) for other ISPs including Starhub

2) Router for Singtel ONT users, can be used as an AP for other ISPs.
They have built-in Singtel VLAN function which can not be disabled. Therefore they can not be used by other ISPs as main router but they can automatically function as AP when connected to another router

Singtel AC Plus
Singtel AC Elite (AC1900)
Singtel Mesh Router
WI-FI 6 ROUTER RT5703W

--> need to be behind a router (function as an AP) for other ISPs including Starhub

3) Router for Singtel ONT users, useless for other ISPs
AirTies Air 4960R

--> router for Singtel ONT users; reported to be not functioning as an AP, useless for other ISPs

 

[nothopingtogether]

hi, i currently have this setup:

Level 1: Singtel Mesh Router
Level 2: Singtel Wifi Mesh Extender (black circular) -not working, orange light
Level 3: Singtel Wifi Mesh Extender (black circular) - Working, blue light
Level 4: Singtel Wifi Mesh Extender (black circular) - Working, blue light

From my level 2 rooms, wifi signal is alright.

Do i need the wifi mesh extender on level 2? Or can I return it? The field engineer told us it still helps to 'receive' wifi signals from the other mesh extenders? But when I pm the customer service they say no.

thx

 

[xiaofan]

hi, i currently have this setup:

Level 1: Singtel Mesh Router
Level 2: Singtel Wifi Mesh Extender (black circular) -not working, orange light
Level 3: Singtel Wifi Mesh Extender (black circular) - Working, blue light
Level 4: Singtel Wifi Mesh Extender (black circular) - Working, blue light

From my level 2 rooms, wifi signal is alright.

Do i need the wifi mesh extender on level 2? Or can I return it? The field engineer told us it still helps to 'receive' wifi signals from the other mesh extenders? But when I pm the customer service they say no.

thx

For the level 2 Singtel Mesh Extender, is it flashing amber? If that is the case, it is not pairing properly with the main Singtel Mesh Router. As for whether you need it or not, just turn it off to see if your level 3/4 Singtel Mesh Extender are still working or not and if you see reduced speed in level 3/4.

In any case, if you can get a replacement of the Level 2 unit free of charge from Singapore (if you are still within contract), you should contact Singtel to try to get a free replacement.

Reference:
https://www.singtel.com/content/dam/singtel/personal/support/broadband/broadband-troubleshooting/singtelmeshextender/Singtel Mesh Extender.pdf

So you do not have LAN ports in the levels and have to use wireless backhaul, right? Does the setup work fine for you even though it is not a good mesh solution for multi-storey home like yours?

For your use case (multi-storey home without LAN ports in the rooms), usually you want to use tri-band AX mesh solution which is not cheap. Singtel recommends Netgear Orbi RBK754. But Singtel's 2Gbps plan is using Singtel ONR and a bit wasted for the expensive RBK754.
https://www.singtel.com/personal/products-services/broadband/homepriority

It is proabably much better you can engage Netgear Singapore if you are keen to upgrade. The cost will be S$11178 (promotion price). They offer free pre-sales consultant and paid on-site installation service at a very reasonable charget at S$84 (promotional price, U.P. S$120)
https://netgearstore.sg/products/orbi-rbk754-ax4200-tri-band-4-pack-wifi-6-mesh-system
https://netgearstore.sg/pages/installation-support

For reference, Starhub also recommends tri-band AX solution for multi-storey home (3 or more units of Linksys MX4200 Velop).
https://www.starhub.com/personal/broadband/routers.html

 

[nothopingtogether]

For the level 2 Singtel Mesh Extender, is it flashing amber? If that is the case, it is not pairing properly with the main Singtel Mesh Router. As for whether you need it or not, just turn it off to see if your level 3/4 Singtel Mesh Extender are still working or not and if you see reduced speed in level 3/4.

In any case, if you can get a replacement of the Level 2 unit free of charge from Singapore (if you are still within contract), you should contact Singtel to try to get a free replacement.

So you do not have LAN ports in the levels and have to use wireless backhaul, right? Does the setup work fine for you even though it is not a good mesh solution for multi-storey home like yours?

Reference:
https://www.singtel.com/content/dam/singtel/personal/support/broadband/broadband-troubleshooting/singtelmeshextender/Singtel Mesh Extender.pdf

sorry, actually the main context is, each of these levels the wifi mesh extenders are connected via data points (the ethernet/ lan wall socket). Only the one on level 2 isn't working. But level 2 is relatively not heavy users, so we were thinking to basically remove the need for wifi extender mesh on level 2 altogether. Wifi signals are totally fine on that level.

Edit: its not flashing amber, just orange. field engineer said its the wall data point faulty issue, but in the end we feel we don't really need that at 10/ mth + $108 cost for technician to repair the wall socket for data point.

 

[xiaofan]

sorry, actually the main context is, each of these levels the wifi mesh extenders are connected via data points (the ethernet/ lan wall socket). Only the one on level 2 isn't working. But level 2 is relatively not heavy users, so we were thinking to basically remove the need for wifi extender mesh on level 2 altogether. Wifi signals are totally fine on that level.

I see. In that case, you do not need the level 2 unit. Just remove it.

But if you can, get a free replacement from Singtel.

 

[nothopingtogether]

I see. In that case, you do not need the level 2 unit. Just remove it.

But if you can, get a free replacement from Singtel.

got it, thanks so much for your help! contacted them and they are coming tomorrow to retrieve the 3rd wifi mesh at no additional cost.

 

[nothopingtogether]

I see. In that case, you do not need the level 2 unit. Just remove it.

But if you can, get a free replacement from Singtel.

Hi xiaofan sorry to bother you, in the event the wifi mesh is poor again (after returning the 3rd wifi mesh for second floor), do you think its possible to use another brand's router/ wifi mesh/ wifi extender in place of the one by singtel?

Edit: Previously on level 2, the other room there is AP-connected Xiami router (xiaomi-r3p) + xiaomi wifi extenders in each level's room. Was thinking if we can still stick to that.

Also, saw you recommended tl-sg105 for direct device connection, I assume you mean AP/ wall datapoint -> tl-sg105 -> Wifi Mesh extender + Computer ethernet ya?

 

[xiaofan]

Hi xiaofan sorry to bother you, in the event the wifi mesh is poor again (after returning the 3rd wifi mesh for second floor), do you think its possible to use another brand's router/ wifi mesh/ wifi extender in place of the one by singtel?

Edit: Previously on level 2, the other room there is AP-connected Xiami router (xiaomi-r3p) + xiaomi wifi extenders in each level's room. Was thinking if we can still stick to that.

Also, saw you recommended tl-sg105 for direct device connection, I assume you mean AP/ wall datapoint -> tl-sg105 -> Wifi Mesh extender + Computer ethernet ya?

Can you share the floor plan with details of the LAN ports location?

Yes there are many brands out there from Asus, Netgear and TP-Link. What is your budget?
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/how-to-choose-a-mesh-router.6452151/

 

[nothopingtogether]

Can you share the floor plan with details of the LAN ports location?

Yes there are many brands out there from Asus, Netgear and TP-Link. What is your budget?
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/how-to-choose-a-mesh-router.6452151/

basically its level 1 ONR router singtel hg8240t5,
level 2 previously xiaomi-r3p (one room - data point working) -> other room (the one where wifi mesh extender failed connection) previously basic wifi extender non-ap/ datapoint connected
level 3 AP wifi black round mesh extender (previously xiaomi router/ wifi extender AP connected)
level 4 AP wifi black round mesh extender (previously tl-sg105 10/100mbps for levels 3 and 4 home cam system - now removed).

Budget no restriction but level 3 is bedroom + study, level 4 is another study

Don't have floor plans as i'm current not at there. basically now the only issue is level 2 wifi signal not good, wondering if can use any of the xiaomi devices we have to enable the wifi signal to be stronger in level 2 room(s), otherwise any that will work with the above ONR ST router/ wifi mesh

 

[xiaofan]

basically its level 1 ONR router singtel hg8240t5,
level 2 previously xiaomi-r3p (one room - data point working) -> other room (the one where wifi mesh extender failed connection) previously basic wifi extender non-ap/ datapoint connected
level 3 AP wifi black round mesh extender (previously xiaomi router/ wifi extender AP connected)
level 4 AP wifi black round mesh extender (previously tl-sg105 10/100mbps for levels 3 and 4 home cam system - now removed).

Budget no restriction but level 3 is bedroom + study, level 4 is another study

Don't have floor plans as i'm current not at there. basically now the only issue is level 2 wifi signal not good, wondering if can use any of the xiaomi devices we have to enable the wifi signal to be stronger in level 2 room(s), otherwise any that will work with the above ONR ST router/ wifi mesh

The easiest solution is still to get a Singtel Mesh Extender. It is quite cheap from Carousell at around S$20 (used) to S$40 (BNIB). This is considering that you are using ONR and you already have two units of working Singtel Mesh Extender.

Main router -- Singtel ONR
Level 1: Singtel Mesh Router
Level 2: Singtel Wifi Mesh Extender (black circular) -not working, orange light --> get a new one
Level 3: Singtel Wifi Mesh Extender (black circular) - Working, blue light
Level 4: Singtel Wifi Mesh Extender (black circular) - Working, blue light

But if you want to upgrade, you can replace all of them with better mesh solution, for example, you can go with Asus AIMesh solution like the following. RT-AX3000P can be quite cheap from Carousell at around S$80. But you can also use better ones like TUF-AX4200/RT-AX82U/TUF-AX5400/TUF-AX6000 fo the nodes depending on your budget.

Main router -- Singtel ONR
Level 1: RT-AX3000P
Level 2: RT-AX3000P
Level 3: TUF-AX4200 or RT-AX82U (it seems you need better coverage for this level)
Level 4: RT-AX3000P

 

[xiaofan]

I have not used Singtel Mesh Router for a while. Today I log in with the router and it in fact asked me to change the default password. Looks like the firmware was upgraded.

Router mode -- Web UI access issue when in router mode (connected to the ONT)
AP mode -- no issue with Web UI access (connected to another router)

System Information

Model Singtel Mesh Router
Serial Number J200423xxxxxx
Software Version v5.02.00 build08f
Release Date May. 19, 2022


OOkla Speed Test

 

[xiaofan]

I have not used Singtel Mesh Router for a while. Today I log in with the router and it in fact asked me to change the default password. Looks like the firmware was upgraded.

Router mode -- Web UI access issue when in router mode (connected to the ONT)
AP mode -- no issue with Web UI access (connected to another router)

System Information

Model Singtel Mesh Router
Serial Number J200423xxxxxx
Software Version v5.02.00 build08f
Release Date May. 19, 2022

Something is very wrong in router mode (connected to the Singtel ONT) -- my laptop got a public IPv4 address.

Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx%22
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 121.7.21.1xx
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.254.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 121.7.21.254

 

[jess_sy]

I have not used Singtel Mesh Router for a while. Today I log in with the router and it in fact asked me to change the default password. Looks like the firmware was upgraded.

Router mode -- Web UI access issue when in router mode (connected to the ONT)
AP mode -- no issue with Web UI access (connected to another router)

System Information

Model Singtel Mesh Router
Serial Number J200423xxxxxx
Software Version v5.02.00 build08f
Release Date May. 19, 2022


OOkla Speed Test

How do they usually update? I am still on v5.00.00 build09a

 

[xiaofan]

How do they usually update? I am still on v5.00.00 build09a

Automatical update through the network.

 

[mingsect]

I have not used Singtel Mesh Router for a while. Today I log in with the router and it in fact asked me to change the default password. Looks like the firmware was upgraded.

Router mode -- Web UI access issue when in router mode (connected to the ONT)
AP mode -- no issue with Web UI access (connected to another router)

System Information

Model Singtel Mesh Router
Serial Number J200423xxxxxx
Software Version v5.02.00 build08f
Release Date May. 19, 2022


OOkla Speed Test

hmm...
tot latest is build 9 for singtel mesh router ?

 

[xiaofan]

hmm...
tot latest is build 9 for singtel mesh router ?

Good to know that. As mentioned, I had not used Singtel Mesh Router for quite a while. Even if I used it previously, I only use it as an AP and not using it as a router. So it could be I need to connect it longer to the ONT (as a router) to upgrade to the latest FW.

In any case, I am not really going to use it as I have better router/AP available. This was just an experiment.

 

[teosamuel4]

Good to know that. As mentioned, I had not used Singtel Mesh Router for quite a while. Even if I used it previously, I only use it as an AP and not using it as a router. So it could be I need to connect it longer to the ONT (as a router) to upgrade to the latest FW.

In any case, I am not really going to use it as I have better router/AP available. This was just an experiment.

Hi Xiaofan, I have currently using the singtel mesh router. But I am trying to stream from my PC to my handheld and the image is quite choppy. Seems like the wifi is the limiting factor. PC is plugged into LAN in the bedroom 1 and I am facing choppiness in the living room (where the router is) and in master bedroom (where another mesh router is placed). Can the choppiness be fixed if I change to a consumer-grade router?

I've read online that people with <50mb/s download/upload is able to stream smoothly, but I am getting 300 down/ 250 up on my devices but still encounter choppiness.