The date is 23 July 2006. My Starhub Maxonline 6500 contract will be over in a week or two. With nothing better to do, I have decided to check out the current price plans and promotions offered by our local ISP. Being a kiasu user, I will not want to waste my contract on useless or cheap freebies. So here is the my personal review of the current broadband plans as of now.
Please bear in mind that this is from my point of view, which is that I already have a Maxonline 6500 contract and I want to get the best deal. Since I will be using the assumption that I will want the digital voice service, I will need to buy the digital voice modem. I already have a router, as I need to split my connection 3 ways.
So, in order to find the best bang per buck, here is my extensive review of the current promotions. If you want to know more, read on. I had always been wondering how they arrive at the value of the bundle offered, seems like it’s mostly hot air. Here is the result of 4.5 hours of research on a hot and humid Sunday.
- Starhub Maxonline 4000 (256Kbps upload) - $58.80 /mth
a) Samsung Home Theatre Promotion (2 yrs contract)
| Digital voice enabled cable modem | - $115.50 |
| Digital voice activation | - $42 |
| Samsung Home Theatre System | + $349 |
| Re-contract Robinsons shopping voucher | + $100 |
| Hubber bonus subscription reduction | + $88 |
| Total | $379.50 |
Actual cost per month over 2 years = $42.98 ($58.80 - $379.50 / 24)
* Free activation worth $31.50 for new users.
b) Digital voice home networking kit promotion (1.5 yrs contract)
| Digital voice enabled cable modem | - $115.50 |
| Digital voice activation | - $42 |
| Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router | + $130 / $132 ( Bell ) |
| Linksys Wireless-G USB / PCMIA Adapter | Bundled with router |
| Total | - $25.50 |
Actual cost per month over 1.5 years = $60.27 ($58.80 - $25.50 / 18)
* New users will need to pay $31.50 for activation charge
c) Digital Linksys Wireless Gateway Promotion (2 yrs contract)
| Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Modem Router | + $180 (estimated) |
| Linksys Wireless-G USB / PCMIA Adapter | + $65 (estimated) |
| Total | $245 |
Actual cost per month over 2 years = $48.59 ($58.80 - $245 / 24)
* New users will need to pay $31.50 for activation charge
- Starhub Maxonline 6500 (384Kbps upload) - $79.80 /mth
a) Samsung Home Theatre Promotion (2 yrs contract)
| Digital voice enabled cable modem | - $115.50 |
| Digital voice activation | - $42 |
| Samsung Home Theatre System | + $349 |
| 10% Off Monthly subscription | + $191.52 ($7.98/mth) |
| Re-contract Robinsons shopping voucher | + $100 |
| Hubber bonus subscription reduction | + $88 |
| SafeSurf | + $0 |
| Total | $571.02 |
Actual cost per month over 2 years = $56 ($79.80 - $571.02 / 24)
* Free activation worth $31.50 for new users.
b) Xbox 360 Core System Promotion (2 yrs contract)
| Digital voice enabled cable modem | - $115.50 |
| Digital voice activation | - $42 |
| Xbox 360 Core System | + $480 (estimate) |
| Xbox 360 64MB Memory unit | + $50 (estimate) |
| 12 months Xbox Live Starter Kit | + $80 (estimate) |
| 10% Off Monthly subscription | + $191.52 ($7.98/mth) |
| Hubber bonus football cooler | + $99 |
| SafeSurf | + $0 |
| Total | $743.02 |
Actual cost per month over 2 years = $48.84 ($79.80 - $743.02 / 24)
* Free activation worth $31.50 for new users.
c) Digital voice home networking kit promotion (2 yrs contract)
| Digital voice enabled cable modem | - $115.50 |
| Digital voice activation | - $42 |
| Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router | + $130 / $132 ( Bell ) |
| Linksys Wireless-G USB / PCMIA Adapter | Bundled with router |
| 15% Off Monthly subscription | + $287.28 ($11.97/mth) |
| Total | $261.78 |
Actual cost per month over 2 years = $68.89 ($79.80 - $261.78 / 24)
* New users will need to pay $31.50 for activation charge
d) Digital Linksys Wireless Gateway Promotion (2 yrs contract)
| Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Modem Router | + $180 (estimated) |
| Linksys Wireless-G USB / PCMIA Adapter | + $65 (estimated) |
| 10% Off Monthly subscription | + $191.52 ($7.98/mth) |
| Total | $436.52 |
Actual cost per month over 2 years = $61.61 ($79.80 - $436.52 / 24)
* New users will need to pay $31.50 for activation charge
* Free installation for existing customer
- Starhub Maxonline Ultimate (1000Kbps upload) - $121.80 /mth (2 yrs contract)
a) Samsung Home Theatre Promotion
| Digital voice enabled cable modem | - $115.50 |
| Digital voice activation | - $42 |
| Samsung Home Theatre System | + $349 |
| 10% Off Monthly subscription | + $292.32 ($12.18/mth) |
| Re-contract Robinsons shopping voucher | + $100 |
| Hubber bonus subscription reduction | + $88 |
| SafeSurf | + $0 |
| iView | + $0 |
| Total | $713.82 |
Actual cost per month over 2 years = $92.06 ($121.80 - $713.82 / 24)
* Free activation worth $31.50 for new users.
b) Xbox 360 Core System Promotion
Digital voice enabled cable modem | - $115.50 |
| Digital voice activation | - $42 |
| Xbox 360 Core System | + $480 (estimate) |
| Xbox 360 64MB Memory unit | + $50 (estimate) |
| 12 months Xbox Live Starter Kit | + $80 (estimate) |
| 10% Off Monthly subscription | + $292.32 ($12.18/mth) |
| Hubber bonus football cooler | + $99 |
| SafeSurf | + $0 |
| iView | + $0 |
| Total | $843.82 |
Actual cost per month over 2 years = $80.34 ($121.80 - $843.82 / 24)
* Free activation worth $31.50 for new users.
c) Digital voice home networking kit promotion (2 yrs contract)
| Digital voice enabled cable modem | - $115.50 |
| Digital voice activation | - $42 |
| Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router | + $130 / $132 ( Bell ) |
| Linksys Wireless-G USB / PCMIA Adapter | Bundled with router |
| 15% Off Monthly subscription | + $438.48 ($18.27/mth) |
| Total | $412.98 |
Actual cost per month over 2 years = $104.59 ($121.80 - $412.98 / 24)
* New users will need to pay $31.50 for activation charge
d) Digital Linksys Wireless Gateway Promotion (2 yrs contract)
| Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Modem Router | + $180 (estimated) |
| Linksys Wireless-G USB / PCMIA Adapter | + $65 (estimated) |
| 10% Off Monthly subscription | + $292.32 ($12.18/mth) |
| Total | $537.32 |
Actual cost per month over 2 years = $99.41 ($121.80 - $537.32 / 24)
* New users will need to pay $31.50 for activation charge
* Free installation for existing customer
- Singtel 1500k ADSL Unlimited (3 yrs contract)
| ADSL2+ Ethernet Modem | + $75 (estimated) |
| Acer SA85 Desktop | + $1058 |
| Registration | - $42 |
| Total | $1091 |
Actual cost per month over 3 years = $27.69 ($58 - $1091 / 36)
* Add $88 to upgrade to ADSL2+ Wireless modem router
3500k - Actual cost per month over 2 yrs = $83.90 ($83.90 - $1091 / 24)
- Singtel 3500k/10Mbps/25Mbps ADSL Unlimited (2 yrs contract)
| ADSL2+ Wireless modem router | + $170 (estimated) |
| Acer SA85 Desktop | + $1058 |
| Registration | - $42 |
| Total | $1186 |
3500k - Actual cost per mth over 2 yrs = $34.48 ($83.90 - $1186 / 24)
10Mbps - Actual cost per mth over 2 yrs = $38.58 ($88 - $1186 / 24)
25Mbps - Actual cost per mth over 2 yrs = $52.98 ($102.40 - $1186 / 24)
- Pacnet 512k ADSL Unlimited(2 yrs contract)
| Aztech 600 EW Wireless Modem Router | + $170 (estimated) |
| 3 months mail guard | + $0 |
| 120 SkypeOut | + $7.20 ($0.06 per minute) |
| Registration | - $41.95 |
| Total | $131.25 |
Actual cost per month over 2 yrs = $39.53 ($45 - $131.25 / 24)
Conclusion
After analyzing the data from above, here are the results…
1. Starhub Maxonline
The Maxonline 6500 – Xbox 360 promotion offers the best value. Although it’s only a Xbox 360 Core, you get a 64mb memory card to save your data as compensation. However, there are no games or game discounts attached. So you get a Xbox 360 … and that’s it. Stay away from the wireless router and gateway promotions if you can help it, as they have very bad value.
By taking into account that you may not want the Xbox 360, the next best thing will be Samsung Home Theater promotion.
The Maxonline Ultimate is way to pricey. It is unlikely that I can use that much bandwidth at all. So all the Maxonline ultimate plans are struck off the eligible list.
2. Singnet Broadband
The sweet spot seems to be the 10Mbps plan. It makes the 1500k and 3500k plan looks really sorry. However, the promotions are pretty bad if you do not want the Acer desktop. It’s a low-mid range machine with a pathetic 15” LCD which must be upgraded to 17” LCD. The 256mb of DDR is a mistake. My recommendation is to add another 1GB DDR ASAP. Considering a DIY version of the Acer desktop will be priced at only about $900, I will not consider Singnet Broadband for my upgrade.
3. Pacnet
This is the worst of the lot. The 512 ADSL plan cost more than the Singnet counterpart. The Singnet Broadband 10Mbps works out to be similarly priced with you consider the Acer desktop promotion If I just need a basic unlimited ADSL access, I will rather go for the Singnet broadband 1500k.
I did not bother to check out the cable modem service from Pacnet. The prices are pretty close to the Starhub’s counterpart. However, there are no freebies, promotions, or any mention of a free cable modem. The only upside is that there is only a year’s contract with the plans. But why would you sign up for a year and get nothing at all at the same price ?
Verdict
I am seriously considering the Maxonine 6500 – Xbox 360 and the Maxonline 6500 Samsung home theater promotion. I wish the HP PDA phone promotion was continued though.
However, I don't really want a Xbox 360, a Samsung home threater system or a Acer PC. I already got a router, so the networking bundles are pretty pointless. The Pacnet promotions are really hopeless. This sucks. I can't wait for better promotions to come along, probably at Sept or Dec during one of those computer "shows" where they fight tooth and nail for new signups.
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