Best Package?

ComingSoon · Post by **ComingSoon** » Wed, 12 Sep 2012 4:21 pm

Hi,

I've looked at the sites for Singtel, M1 and Starhub and they've left me with far more questions than answers. I'm wondering if anyone on the forum has any suggestions about the best package or company for our needs.

Here's the deal:

We don't know where we will be living yet, if that makes a difference. I'm looking to get the fastest desktop internet possible (for gaming). We don't need cable TV or a telephone line. We'll probably get a smart phone and / or a mobile computing device so we'll need wifi for both of those. Can the mobile device (tablet or ultrabook) be tethered to the smart phone?

Obviously one objective is to keep costs as low as possible. If we can tether the tablet or ultrabook to the phone with a fixed maximum monthly payment, then that would be ideal.

Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions I'd be keen to hear them.

Thanks in advance!

zzm9980 · Post by **zzm9980** » Wed, 12 Sep 2012 5:06 pm

If your location has fiber, you want: http://www.super.net.sg/
Singtel and Starhub both force all HTTP/HTTPS connections through web caches, causing various annoyances.

For mobile, Singtel or Starhub. I've had better luck with Singtel, but they're both pretty terrible for mobile data. Expect lots of sporadic outages from their networks being over capacity. Singtel (and I assume Starhub) offers something called multisim, which lets you share your data plan and SMSs across multiple devices. Each additional sim is S$10 a month. You can also rotate your phone number around by dialing a code on the device. Of course, you could always tether to your phone for free if it supports that.

Oh, and M1 is even worse than Singtel and Starhub. Welcome to third-world telecom. Actually, that's too kind as many third world neighbors have better mobile telecom than Singapore.

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Wed, 12 Sep 2012 5:55 pm

Starhub cable broadband packages include a modem which has wireless built into it... signal strength is comparable to the two TP Link routers I have in my house.

You also get a "free" broadband (ie - 3G) dongle modem for your laptop when on the go. I've generally been pleased with the performance, although it sucks in some places.

I did not go with the package, mainly because Singtel TV offerings suck. My view is that Starhub for broadband cable services in the home, with "free" dongle (unlimited usage), plus a Singtel account for phone (and yes, the phone can be used as a modem for the mobile device) is the best way to go.

zzm9980 · Post by **zzm9980** » Wed, 12 Sep 2012 8:34 pm

Oh, if you can't get fiber, then go with Starhub cable. The only alternative with be some flavor of DSL, and the latency will be terrible for gaming. Even Starhub cable won't be great though...

ahkiatt · Post by **ahkiatt** » Thu, 13 Sep 2012 6:58 pm

Personally, I've been using Starhub for over 8 years and I have not had any major issues. I hear people complain when they use Singtel's broadband and M1 apparently has a lot of hidden costs because they rent equipment from Starhub and if you damage anything at all you're going to have to pay a good amount of money.

I work in this industry and if you have any questions at all or need me to recommend you a package, drop me an email at {sanitized by Moderator}

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Thu, 13 Sep 2012 6:59 pm

ahkiatt wrote:Personally, I've been using Starhub for over 8 years and I have not had any major issues. I hear people complain when they use Singtel's broadband and M1 apparently has a lot of hidden costs because they rent equipment from Starhub and if you damage anything at all you're going to have to pay a good amount of money.

I work in this industry and if you have any questions at all or need me to recommend you a package, drop me an email at {sanitized by Moderator}

The recommendations of first time posters are highly suspect, as there is no way to know if they are simply spammers. Further more, ahkiatt, why not just post your recommendations for all the world to see?

TIC - TOC - TIC - TOC

ahkiatt · Post by **ahkiatt** » Thu, 13 Sep 2012 7:29 pm

If you go to the websites and compare the prices and discounts over a 24 month contract. I'd strongly recommend Starhub. 16mbps at $44.95(before discount, $38.95 after) a month as compared to Singtel's 44.90 for 10mpbs and M1's $40.60 for 10 as well. You do the math.

As I said before, you can choose to contact me for more information and I can hook you up. Or you can go to the shop, I just happened to see your post while surfing the web and I thought I could help.

Edit: M1 and Starhub do not come with wireless routers at that price but Singtel does. All three come with 24 month contracts and routers can be purchased at 76 dollars or if you have your own, even better. If you calculate it, the discounts over the twenty four months cover the cost of the router, and then some.

Post by **x9200** » Thu, 13 Sep 2012 7:43 pm

If what you say is true and you really want to help people and not just fish for clients you can respond to questions (if any) on this forum. Please refrain from posting your contact information.

Moderator

ComingSoon · Post by **ComingSoon** » Fri, 14 Sep 2012 11:58 am

Strong Eagle wrote:Starhub cable broadband packages include a modem which has wireless built into it... You also get a "free" broadband (ie - 3G) dongle modem for your laptop when on the go. I've generally been pleased with the performance, although it sucks in some places.

Hi SE, zzm9980, and everyone that replied.

Thanks so much for your thoughts. You've given me a lot to think about.

I'm not sure if this makes sense or not, but I might try getting a fiber service like the one zzm9980 suggested for home use, and then getting a smart phone with unlimited wifi separately. If that's possible then I can probably just tether the ipad or laptop to the phone.

Once again - thanks. And if any other suggestions come to mind, please shout out!

ahkiatt · Post by **ahkiatt** » Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:02 am

Fibre broadband is still in its infancy stages in Singapore and I strongly recommend you stick to a strong cable broadband(approx 100mbps). If you sign fibre, your ping will be low but overseas download/upload speeds can get ridiculously low. Look at local forums and you'll see many locals complaining and contracts are generally in two year blocks.

Get a 4G phone, the 4G network here will roll out in 2013. Check out with Singtel/Starhub on how the plans will change before you make your decision on what post paid plan to sign.

zzm9980 · Post by **zzm9980** » Mon, 17 Sep 2012 9:29 am

ahkiatt wrote:Fibre broadband is still in its infancy stages in Singapore and I strongly recommend you stick to a strong cable broadband(approx 100mbps). If you sign fibre, your ping will be low but overseas download/upload speeds can get ridiculously low. Look at local forums and you'll see many locals complaining and contracts are generally in two year blocks.

My MIO (dsl based) package has the same over-seas speed restrictions. Since Starhub's cable network will use the same backbone out of Singapore as the others, you're going to have the same problem with any of them. Besides, for gaming (as OP said he does), low latency is much more important. Waiting an extra hour or three for a download won't kill you, but a high latency will

jcrflint · Post by **jcrflint** » Wed, 24 Oct 2012 1:02 pm

does Singapore have any other providers? other than Singtel starhu and m1? We received a brochure from this company viewqwest. anyone has used them? are they an isp or are they some sort of a company who are reselling singtel or starhu?

please help.
by the way i was quoted for $99 for 100mbps and the sales person said it is by copper wire?
Have no idea what is the difference..

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Wed, 24 Oct 2012 1:22 pm

MyRepublic as noted above.

The problem with all these 100 Mps ratings is that they are 'on the island' speeds only. You will never achieve anything near this speed if you are accessing servers not on the island.

Two reasons. First, this kind of bandwidth generally is being supplied/purchased by the providers. Second, everything that comes into the island flows through government routers so that "offending" material can be censored.

tonycur · Post by **tonycur** » Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:36 am

I've had a recommendation from a techy here at work to go with M1 100mps fibre - $39.95 on a 2 year contract.

Does anyone have any experience with M1's 100mps service that they wish to share?

curiousgeorge · Post by **curiousgeorge** » Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:22 pm

ahkiatt wrote:Fibre broadband is still in its infancy stages in Singapore and I strongly recommend you stick to a strong cable broadband(approx 100mbps). If you sign fibre, your ping will be low but overseas download/upload speeds can get ridiculously low. Look at local forums and you'll see many locals complaining and contracts are generally in two year blocks.

Get a 4G phone, the 4G network here will roll out in 2013. Check out with Singtel/Starhub on how the plans will change before you make your decision on what post paid plan to sign.

Nonsense.

Sure, go do your homework in the forums on hardwareszone.com.sg

But I switched from Starhub cable 100mps (ridiculously expensive, about $100+?) to MyRepublic 100mbps fibre at $69 per month for their gaming service. This offers prioritised traffic and ultra-low pings to game servers (about 7ms to SG servers).

I couldn't be happier with MyRepublic and their customer service is waaaaaaaaaaaay better than Starhub.

And MyRepublic offers a rolling contract (no commitment) or 1yr contracts...try that with starhub or singtel!

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