Starhub TV+ Recontract

[wolnavi]

Hi, I was recently contacted by Starhub to recontract my TV and was told that I’ll need to switch to the TV+ variant as the Fibre TV has been discontinued and would be unable to keep the existing Fibre TV if I wish to recontract. So I recontracted but am awaiting the installation of the TV+ box

So far I have been reading here and found that we would need to use the Nokia Beacon 2 router if we want to continue watching Mediacorp channels on the TV+ box

My question is why can’t we just connect the TV+ to port 2 of the ONT to maintain the Mediacorp channels as per the previous way like the Fibre TV? Thanks

 

[Chester Lee]

Hi Guru's, need to pick the brains of experienced personnel here. I am shifting into my resale 5rm soon. Due to elderly requirements I will need to have the Cantonese and TVB channels. As she switches from living room to bedroom, I will be having the TV Box installed at the living room and going with browser/cast options for them to watch from their bedroom room.

Strongly considering the 10gbps wifi 7 to future proof my house, this would leave me with either Singtel or Starhub. Having read really bad reviews with the network installation and TV Box issues, is it better to go with Singtel instead?

Thanks everyone in advance for the advices.

 

[froztheart]

Just want to double confirm, do you have Starhub TV+ Pro box or Starhub TV+ Box?

Are you able to have multiple audio tracks? Are you able to switch subtitle languages? Do you have situations when some program is not available?

The difference list below is quite similar to my experience of using Singtel TV Box (VLAN, Singtel Fibre, all program available, some programs have multiple audio tracks) compared to using meWatch (occcasionally the program is not available because of rights issue).

Free-to-air channel viewing experience	New	Previous
Broadband and Router Requirements	Any Internet service provider and no router restriction	StarHub Fibre Broadband with Smart WiFi / Smart WiFi MX2 / Smart WiFi Pro router or wired connection to the Linksys EA8100 / EA7500 router
Programme availability	Most except some programmes without Internet streaming rights	All
Channel loading time	Varies based on your Internet connectivity	Shorter
Multiple audio tracks	No, default audio track*	Yes, supported
Switch subtitle languages	No, default subtitle track*	Yes, supported

*Note: based on content availability from source

I'm with a Starhub Tv+ box, the white one. Not the one with the B&O.
And using MR with Asus AX11000 router.

No multiple audio tracks/subtitles.
Haven't face any problems with programs available.

 

[Henry Ng]

Just want to double confirm, do you have Starhub TV+ Pro box or Starhub TV+ Box?

Are you able to have multiple audio tracks? Are you able to switch subtitle languages? Do you have situations when some program is not available?

The difference list below is quite similar to my experience of using Singtel TV Box (VLAN, Singtel Fibre, all program available, some programs have multiple audio tracks) compared to using meWatch (occcasionally the program is not available because of rights issue).

Free-to-air channel viewing experience	New	Previous
Broadband and Router Requirements	Any Internet service provider and no router restriction	StarHub Fibre Broadband with Smart WiFi / Smart WiFi MX2 / Smart WiFi Pro router or wired connection to the Linksys EA8100 / EA7500 router
Programme availability	Most except some programmes without Internet streaming rights	All
Channel loading time	Varies based on your Internet connectivity	Shorter
Multiple audio tracks	No, default audio track*	Yes, supported
Switch subtitle languages	No, default subtitle track*	Yes, supported

*Note: based on content availability from source

No such issue at all for both white and Pro box la.

 

[HiHelloBye]

Hi Guru's, need to pick the brains of experienced personnel here. I am shifting into my resale 5rm soon. Due to elderly requirements I will need to have the Cantonese and TVB channels. As she switches from living room to bedroom, I will be having the TV Box installed at the living room and going with browser/cast options for them to watch from their bedroom room.

Strongly considering the 10gbps wifi 7 to future proof my house, this would leave me with either Singtel or Starhub. Having read really bad reviews with the network installation and TV Box issues, is it better to go with Singtel instead?

Thanks everyone in advance for the advices.

no such issues, unless if you're really so concern about speed not reaching 10Gbps

nonetheless, if you want 10Gbps + Entertainment, Starhub is the way to go...

 

[xiaofan]

No such issue at all for both white and Pro box la.

Have you ever tried yourself without using Starhub issued router? I do not seem to see you use any 3rd party router.

 

[Henry Ng]

Have you ever tried yourself without using Starhub issued router? I do not seem to see you use any 3rd party router.

Anyone can subscribe to this TV service and there are so many people i know using it including my other family member. Actually, SH doing very well for their TV but lousy tech support and their ads over doing it.

 

[Chester Lee]

Anyone can subscribe to this TV service and there are so many people i know using it including my other family member. Actually, SH doing very well for their TV but lousy tech support and their ads over doing it.

Hi Henry, do you face any lags or over the top advertisement as commented by many on Facebook? With all the bundle SH is including, its very difficult to just exclude them from my consideration

Separately are you also using SH wifi? Have them been stable?

 

[Chester Lee]

no such issues, unless if you're really so concern about speed not reaching 10Gbps

nonetheless, if you want 10Gbps + Entertainment, Starhub is the way to go...

Thank you, yes their bundle are hard to pass up, speed wise according to opensignal, SH seems to rank the highest on a number of parameters. So not much issues on the quality of their network

That said, their starhub TV box does scare me. The number of comments calling out the poor setup box left me deciding between SH or Singtel

 

[HiHelloBye]

Hi Henry, do you face any lags or over the top advertisement as commented by many on Facebook? With all the bundle SH is including, its very difficult to just exclude them from my consideration

Separately are you also using SH wifi? Have them been stable?

i'm using the TV+ (white box) and experience no significant lags. please don't expect this average Android box to perform like some i7-CPU computer...

in terms of Ads, i can say that it doesn't appear so frequent unlike last time...
no doubt Starhub kena many complaints by consumers

 

[Chester Lee]

i'm using the TV+ (white box) and experience no significant lags. please don't expect this average Android box to perform like some i7-CPU computer...

in terms of Ads, i can say that it doesn't appear so frequent unlike last time...
no doubt Starhub kena many complaints by consumers

I see, SH recommending the black box. Nice to hear the ads is not alot. So far how has your experience been? Any showstopper?

 

[Henry Ng]

I see, SH recommending the black box. Nice to hear the ads is not alot. So far how has your experience been? Any showstopper?

Actually their Homehub+ Ultra Speed do come with lots of TV contents including Netflix Premium. Also got sports channels. Black box got speakers so it is like a sound bar but not a sound bar.

 

[limcc]

I'm using the TV+ Pro blackbox and I have never expect it to perform like high performing computer. But decoding video is a piece of cake for any decent CPU/SOC in 2020s and we have 10Gbps local internet connection...not gonna cary on. It is a FACT that Starhub TV box is becoming ever more laggy compare to the last generation, this isn't some rocket science that require supercomputer. I think SH is becoming more and more greedy, they skim on the hardware but want to charge premium, $5/month for the basic white box is $120 after 2 years, cheap? fine, the black box is $15/month, you do the calculation, and we can't even buy them, the more we stay, the exp the box will get.

The black box comes with the so call "B&O" sound, but it sound worst than any decent TV speaker. I can't figure why would a home TV box even needs an internal speaker? If I leave the box remains on thru out the night, that damn thing will update itself and switch back to internal speaker--overwrite my setting of thru HDMI--and make LOUD sound in the middle of the night. If you want to know Just how SUCKy can a TV box get, try the TV+ Pro.

Maybe I got a lemon or two, cause both Black and White had the same issue of PLB010 when thru MR connection and the black box would not connect to wifi + the sound overwrite issue.

Not arguing, just reporting my OWN experience.

 

[Henry Ng]

I'm using the TV+ Pro blackbox and I have never expect it to perform like high performing computer. But decoding video is a piece of cake for any decent CPU/SOC in 2020s and we have 10Gbps local internet connection...not gonna cary on. It is a FACT that Starhub TV box is becoming ever more laggy compare to the last generation, this isn't some rocket science that require supercomputer. I think SH is becoming more and more greedy, they skim on the hardware but want to charge premium, $5/month for the basic white box is $120 after 2 years, cheap? fine, the black box is $15/month, you do the calculation, and we can't even buy them, the more we stay, the exp the box will get.

The black box comes with the so call "B&O" sound, but it sound worst than any decent TV speaker. I can't figure why would a home TV box even needs an internal speaker? If I leave the box remains on thru out the night, that damn thing will update itself and switch back to internal speaker--overwrite my setting of thru HDMI--and make LOUD sound in the middle of the night. If you want to know Just how SUCKy can a TV box get, try the TV+ Pro.

Maybe I got a lemon or two, cause both Black and White had the same issue of PLB010 when thru MR connection and the black box would not connect to wifi + the sound overwrite issue.

Not arguing, just reporting my OWN experience.

For Homehub Ultra Speed the price is including the TV+ Pro box. Honestly in this first world country nothing is cheap so you can not expect any thing to be cheap. If want to be cheap then do not use pay TV and just watch free to air channels. In fact most people got good and expensive 4k or 8k TV so even watch free to air channels also can be very expensive if your TV is a 8k OLED. I think we must compare an apple with an apple. You may be new or got a lemon set. I am also using this box and it has digital surround sound. Do you know how to listen to music? I even use the radio app on this TV box to listen to music and i think it is quite ok. There are also some UHD TV contents available too via Netflix premium and Disney+ Premium and Prime video. Over all, the new TV+ box is better than the old fibre TV box for sure. Users can watch Premier at a lower price compared to Fibre TV box. The box allow flexible adding and removing of app available in the Play store and this is not possible for the old Fibre TV box. Any one can sign up the TV service and you need not be a Starhub internet user. During Fibre TV time, I must pay extra $20+/mth for a second TV box to watch in my room. Now just use a chromecast for my second TV and I can watch without paying extra to SH.

 

[Henry Ng]

limcc, honestly just drink a cup of coffee (coffe Latte) in the morning may cost you about $7+ so such Pay TV is consider ok. For Homehub Ultra Speed, there is no rental fee for the TV+ Pro box. You can change the box or just return the box to SH and use a chromecast or use a Samsung Smart TV to watch or a google TV instead. Such TV box give you cheaper option especially if you have 2 to 3 TV like me. Premier Pack on Fibre TV is $66/mth while it is free for Homehub Ultra Speed user. If you are to use your TV time to go out for shopping or movies or drink beer at a bar, then you will notice that it will be more expensive.

 

[Henry Ng]

Hi Henry, do you face any lags or over the top advertisement as commented by many on Facebook? With all the bundle SH is including, its very difficult to just exclude them from my consideration

Separately are you also using SH wifi? Have them been stable?

Yes it is OK. No issue at all.

 

[darkarn]

Now is my family's turn to recontract. Internet is still under Starhub but I am doing direct ONT to my pfSense router then to network switch with VLAN support, then to computers and Orbi mesh APs, while fiber TV right now is done from ONT to Ethernet over Coaxial. I still have my Starhub-issued Linksys router as a backup as well

Do I need to change the network setup to accomodate for the new white TV+ box? I will need this box to be able to watch free-to-air channels alongside the paid channels and Netflix and it will be situated in a room away from the fiber point (and therefore ONT and the main network stack) but does have an Orbi mesh AP nearby. I am mentally prepared to follow through the VLAN instructions if need be but I will prefer to avoid double NAT

(yes I did consult the documents here and on Starhub's website but they are quite paradoixical regarding my use case)

 

[darkarn]

Got the box yesterday, still unable to watch FTA channels as of now due to PLB010

 

[Henry Ng]

Got the box yesterday, still unable to watch FTA channels as of now due to PLB010

download mewatch to watch free to air la.

 

[darkarn]

download mewatch to watch free to air la.

It's an option that I am ok with but my family would be asking why are we having to do the workaround when this service is promised to us in the first place then?

 

[HiHelloBye]

Got the box yesterday, still unable to watch FTA channels as of now due to PLB010

can try to connect your TV box directly from the ONT?