Personal
Business
  • Developers
  • | About StarHub
  • search icon

Mobile Value-added Services

Home Zone

  1. What is Home Zone?
    Home Zone is a StarHub service that allows StarHub 3G post-paid subscribers to make free local voice calls, video calls and send SMS from home.
  2. How does it work?
    The Home Zone service uses femtocell technology, a portable cellular access point that connects to your wireless router at home and uses the MaxOnline broadband network to carry the mobile traffic. Within the coverage area, your StarHub 3G and 3.5G phones will connect to the femtocell when making calls or performing other services.
  3. What type of mobile usage is supported in the Home Zone?
    Home Zone should support all 3G mobile usage. All outgoing local Voice calls, Video calls and SMS will be free while, MMS, Downloads, Surfing and other GPRS activities will be charged based on standard published rates.
  4. What is a whitelist?
    Whitelist is a list of StarHub postpaid mobile numbers assigned (up to 4 per Home Zone Access Point) to enjoy the free local voice calls made in the Home Zone area.
  5. How many mobile numbers can I key into the whitelist?
    You can include up to 4 StarHub Mobile numbers (including your main mobile number). To add mobile number/s into the whitelist, please call 1633.
  6. Can I change the whitelist?
    Yes. You can call our hotline 1633 to change your whitelist.
  7. How many times can I change my whitelist?
    You can change your whitelist as and when you need to.
  8. Are there any charges for changing the whitelist?
    No. There are no charges for making changes to your whitelist.
  9. Which models of mobile phones are supported by Home Zone?
    Home Zone product is intended to support most 3G mobile phones (with StarHub Mobile voice plans) and routers.  The following is the list of compatible mobile phones and routers:

    Compatible 3G mobile phones
    • Apple - iPhone 3G
    • HTC - Diamond, Touch, Touch Diamond, Touch Pro 
    • LG - KF700, KS20, KT520, KT610, KU800, KU990, Secret 
    • Motorola - K3, Razr2 V9, V6 
    • MWG - Atom V 
    • Nokia - 3120, 6110, 6120, 6500C, 6600S, 6680, 8800, E51, E61, E65, E71, N73, N78, N80, N81, N82, N85, N95, N96 
    • Samsung - F330, G810, i550, i600, i780, i900, InnovZ8, SGH-F500, SGH-P960, SGH-I450, U700, U900, Z720 
    • Sony Ericsson - C702, C902, G900, K600i, K660, K810i, K850i, T650i, W660, W760, W910, W980 
    Routers tested for compatibility
    • Belkin - P5612akE
    • D-Link - DI-624 
    • Linksys - SWRT54G, WRT54GL, WRT54G, WRT54GC & WCG200 v2 
    • SMC - SMCWBR14S-N2 
    • ZyXEL - P-320e
  10. Are there any requirements to use the Home Zone?
    You will need to have a 3G SIM/USIM card with a StarHub Mobile 3G Voice plan, a 3G mobile phone , a MaxOnline broadband service (recommended with MaxOnline Express plan and above), and an available port on your router to connect to the Home Zone Access Point.
  11. What is the minimum subscription period?
    Minimum subscription for Home Zone service is 3 months. Home Zone Access Point will be loaned to you at no cost during this period.
  12. Are there any other activation charges?
    No. There are no other activation charges.
  13. How is the quality of voice call on Home Zone?
    Generally, voice & video calls on Home Zone are comparable in terms of quality to the normal calls made from the GSM network. However, please do note that the voice quality depends on the internet traffic volume via the MaxOnline broadband network.
  14. Will my mobile call be transferred from GSM network to Home Zone when I enter my Home Zone area?
    No, your mobile call will remain on the GSM network. To enjoy the free voice call, you will need to re-establish your call within Home Zone.
  15. How do I know that I am in Home Zone when making a call?
    When you are within Home Zone coverage, you will hear a pre-recorded voice message “You’re on the Home Zone service” when you make an outgoing call. Certain mobile phones may display “StarHub Home Zone”, “SGP-06” or 52506” on the LCD screen.
  16. What happens if I did not hear any pre-recorded message when I make an outgoing call?
    If you did not hear any pre-recorded message for outgoing call, you are not connected to Home Zone. You can get connected to the Home Zone only if your mobile handset is within the coverage area. Please try to move nearer to the Home Zone Access Point and retry.  If you still cannot connect to the Home Zone even if you are less than 3m away and in direct line of sight, please check to make sure your Home Zone device is connected and working properly - you should see LAN LED displaying solid green. If the LAN LED is not green, please reset the Home Zone Access Point by turning off and on. If you still can’t connect after reset, please call 1633.
  17. Do I receive notification for Video Call & SMS?
    There are no notifications for Video Call or SMS. To ensure you are within Home Zone coverage, please make a Voice Call first to hear the notification and subsequently make a Video Call or SMS.
  18. What is the coverage area and limitations?
    Generally, the coverage area radius for the Home Zone is around 15 meters (roughly the end-to-end distance in a HDB 5-room flat). The connectivity will be most ideal if the distance between the mobile handset and the Home Zone Access Point is within a 5 metre radius.

    The diagram below shows the Home Zone Access Point signal strength measured in the typical HDB 5-Room flat where the Home Zone Access Point is placed in the living room. It shows some signal degradation at certain locations e.g. when the mobile handset is trying to access the Home Zone Access Point from one of the bedrooms. The walls between the Home Zone Access Point and mobile handsets cause the signal strength to reduce.

    Signal Interference
    Your mobile handset will continuously scan for mobile channel frequencies. It will generally log on to the dominant signal for the best reception.

    When trying to access near an opening of the house, say a window, the signal strength can also degrade as there may be interference from an external mobile base station.

    If your home location is nearer to a mobile base station, it is possible that your Home Zone coverage area will decrease.

    Note: If you have two Home Zone Access Points placed within close proximity of each other, the signal from one Home Zone Access Point can also affect the signal from the other, resulting in a reduced coverage area.
/content/support/mobile/faq/valueaddedservices/homezone/jcr:content/par/image/file

  1. I am within the coverage area, but I still find it hard to get connected to the Home Zone, why is this so?
    The coverage area of 15m radius is a general guideline. There are many factors which affects the connectivity of your mobile phone to the Home Zone Access Point.

    Some of these factors include:
    • Proximity of another Home Zone Access Point
    • Proximity of mobile cellular base stations
    • Very close proximity of other electronic devices (eg wireless routers)
    • Objects blocking the line-of-sight between the mobile handset and the Home Zone Access Point (eg walls)
    • Wrong placement of the Home Zone Access Point (eg Access Point not placed in an up-right manner)
  2. Can my Home Zone work on other operators?
    No, Home Zone is a StarHub service offered exclusively to StarHub Mobile subscribers only.
  3. Can I get discount for IDD calls within Home Zone?
    No. IDD calls made within Home Zone do not enjoy further discounts
  4. Will my IDD calls also enjoy free local outgoing airtime?
    No. Home Zone’s free outgoing call is strictly offered to local mobile calls only. There will be local airtime charges for all IDD calls made.
  5. Can I call another party who is with other mobile and/or residential service operators?
    Yes. Within Home Zone coverage, you can make outgoing calls and receive incoming calls from non-StarHub subscribers or local residential/public phones. However, please note that free outgoing calls are only applicable to StarHub customers who initiate the calls from the Home Zone network.
  6. Can prepaid customers benefit from the Home Zone discounted rate?
    No. This Home Zone service is only available to Mobile post-paid 3G voice plans.
  7. Is it complicated to set-up the Home Zone?
    No. It’s a simple plug & play device which you can plug into an available port on your existing router.
  8. How many devices can Home Zone support at one time?
    Home Zone can support up to 4 mobile devices (or usage types) simultaneously. This means that four parties can perform four different activities on their mobile devices in a Home Zone area at the same time. To illustrate, party A is holding a multi-party call conference, party B is making an outgoing call, party C is using GPRS to download data and party D is replying to text messages. However, since the 4 mobile phones are making use of the same MaxOnline internet connection, heavy usage of the mobile phones, perhaps together with other internet activity from PCs, may affect the quality of the calls. If usersrequire frequent simultaneous heavy usage of Home Zone and PC accessing the same MaxOnline service , StarHub would recommend that a higher MaxOnline subscription plan (e.g. MaxOnline Premium or Ultimate)
  9. Can I concurrently use my MaxOnline Service when all the 4 mobile devices are connected to Home Zone?
    Yes. While using your Home Zone, you can still use your MaxOnline for normal surfing on Internet. However, heavy internet activity may affect voice quality or internet speeds.
  10. Can I reject Home Zone connection?
    No. Once you are within Home Zone range, your mobile line will automatically connect to the Home Zone network. To disconnect from the Home Zone network, please switch the network settings on your phone from 3G to 2G GSM manually. Alternatively, you can power off your Home Zone Access Point.
  11. Can I still continue to use my Home Zone service if there is a blackout?
    No, you cannot. Home Zone service uses electricity from your residence. When there is an electrical failure, Home Zone service will not be available as your cable modem, router and the Home Zone Access Point would be down as well. In this instance, any mobile call you make, will be routed back to the mobile network and you will not enjoy free outgoing calls.
  12. Can I install my Home Zone in the office?
    This Home Zone service is limited to residential homes at this point in time.  The Home Zone is only allowed in residential service addresses only.
  13. Will the discounted rates apply to all mobile plans?
    Discounted rates are only applicable for 3G voice plans.
  14. Will the Mobile 3G network or MaxOnline maintenance/outage affect my Home Zone?
    Mobile 3G network or MaxOnline maintenances and outages will affect Home Zone connection. However, StarHub will schedule most of these maintenances during off peak hours to minimize disruption to customers.
  15. Will I experience any downtime for my Home Zone?
    There may be temporary downtimes when StarHub maintains and upgrades the Home Zone network and firmware. StarHub will schedule most of these maintenance and upgrade sessions during off peak hours to minimize disruption to customers.
  16. Will the Voice call / Video call / SMS in Home Zone usage utilize my free bundled SMS or airtime entitlement base on my mobile plan package?
    No, the Voice call, Video call & SMS in Home Zone are completely free, and will not be taken from your free bundled SMS or airtime entitlement.
  17. If I require technical assistance, what can I do?
    You may call 1633, and select mobile for assistance.
  18. Can I plug the Home Zone Access Point to a SingTel or Pacnet Broadband connection?
    No. This Home Zone service is meant for StarHub customers only, hence you must connect the Home Zone Access Point to a StarHub MaxOnline subscription.
  19. If my MaxOnline service is terminated, can I still use the Home Zone?
    No. Without the MaxOnline service, your Home Zone service will not work. If you have another MaxOnline service running in your home with the same service address as your mobile account, you may register that MaxOnline service for Home Zone use. If there isn’t any other MaxOnline service to use, you are encouraged to terminate your Home Zone VAS as well as monthly subscription charges would still be incurred.
  20. Can I continue to use my MaxOnline service when I am using the Home Zone?
    Yes, you can continue to use your MaxOnline to surf Internet, play online games or use Digital Voice Home services when you are using the Home Zone service. However, heavy usage of the internet may affect voice quality or internet speeds.
  21. Will my Home Zone usage be reflected in my itemised bill if I have already subscribed to Itemized Billing service?
    No. Home Zone usage will only appear in the summary page of your bill.
  22. My Home Zone Access Point gets very hot when I switch it on. Is this normal?
    It is normal for Home Zone Access Point to generate heat during operation. You should, however, place your Home Zone Access Point in the upright position or hung on a wall, so that the heat can be properly dissipated. You can also place it at a well-ventilated space to further cool the unit.
  23. Will there be an impact on my Internet speed / call quality if I am using the Internet and there are 4 persons using the Home Zone simultaneously?
    The MaxOnline service should be able to support 4 voice calls via Home Zone and normal Internet surfing. However, heavy usage of internet may affect voice quality and internet speeds.
  24. Will my call quality be affected if I am using an application that uses a lot of bandwidth? (e.g. Peer-to-Peer/Gaming)
    Yes, if you are using an application that demands a lot of bandwidth, your call quality may be affected. In this instance, you would need to adjust your application usage to improve your call experience. Alternatively, you can choose to upgrade your MaxOnline subscription to higher plans that provides higher bandwidth.
  25. Can I use Digital Voice Travel or Digital Voice Home at the same time with Home Zone?
    Yes. You should be able to use Digital Voice Travel or Digital Voice Home with Home Zone service at the same time.
  26. Can I bring my Home Zone Access Point to another location, e.g. my friend’s place to use the service?
    No, the Home Zone Access Point can only be used at the registered service address at all times.
  27. I encountered some intermittent voice quality issues like garbled/muffled voice. Is there anything wrong with my Home Zone?
    Please try to reset your Home Zone Access Point by powering on and off. If you still encounter the same problem, please call 1633.
  28. My mobile phone cannot log onto the Home Zone network when I am near to the Access Point. What do I need to do?
    You need to ensure that you are using a 3G phone model which had been tested by StarHub, and that your mobile number is listed in the whitelist. If the problem persists, please call 1633 for assistance.
  29. My Home Zone seems to be disconnected and my mobile phone can’t log on to it. What should I do?
    Please reboot the Home Zone Access Point by switching it off and on again and check to make sure the power supply, Ethernet cables connecting to the Home Zone and router are properly connected. If problem persists, please restart the MaxOnline Modem and also the router. The Home Zone should be working again. If the problem persists, please call 1633.
  30. Why does my handphone battery drain faster when I am within the Home Zone service area?
    Home Zone will periodically check for your handphone to ensure it remains on Home Zone so that you can continue to enjoy free outgoing call. These checks may drain your battery just a little faster and it will not cause any other problem. If you encounter excessive battery drainage, please call 1633 for assistance.
  31. I suspect that my Home Zone Access Point is faulty. Can I request for an exchange?
    Please contact us on our hotline 1633 or visit our service centre at VivoCity for technical assistance. Our consultants will troubleshoot the fault you encountered and arrange for an exchange if necessary.
  32. Can I use Digital Voice Home or Digital Voice Global service at the same time with Home Zone?
    Yes. You are able to use Digital Voice Home or Digital Voice Global service with Home Zone service at the same time, provided you are using the supported hardware.

    The following hardwares do not support the usage of Digital Voice Home or Digital Voice Global service with Home Zone at the same time-:

    1. D-Link DCM235 cable modem
    2. Terayon TJ110 cable modem
    3. Terayon TJ210 cable modem

    The following hardware supports the usage of Digital Voice Home or Digital Voice Global service with Home Zone at the same time, but is limited to the usage of only 1 Digital Voice Home or Digital Voice Global line on the same hardware-:

    1. Samsung SCM140U cable modem
    2. Hubstation (DCI62SHB)
    3. Hubstation HD (DCI82SHB)
    4. Motorola SB3100 cable modem
    5. Motorola SB4100 cable modem
    6. Motorola SB4200 cable modem
    7. Motorola SB5100 cable modem
    8. Motorola SBV4200 voice-enabled cable modem
    9. Motorola SBG1000 cable modem
    10. Linksys Wireless Cable Gateway (WCG200v1)

    The following hardware supports the usage of Digital Voice Home or Digital Voice Global service with Home Zone at the same time, and supports the usage of 2 Digital Voice Home or Digital Voice Global lines on the same hardware-:

    1. D-Link DCM202 cable modem
    2. D-Link DCM604 integrated wireless voice modem
    3. Scientific Atlanta DPX213 voice-enabled cable modem
    4. Linksys Wireless Cable Gateway (WCG200v2)
    5. Motorola SB5101 cable modem
    6. Motorola SB6100 cable modem
    7. Motorola SB6120 cable modem
    8. Motorola SBV5120 voice-enabled cable modem
    9. Motorola SBV5121 voice-enabled cable modem

 

You are in:

StarHub >  Support  >  Mobile  >  FAQs  >  Mobile Value-added Services  >  Home Zone

Support

Rewards
Contact Us| Careers| Sitemap | Advertisers| Terms & Conditions| Legal & Privacy Statement| Copyright Act Notification| Contractor's Corner
Best viewed with IE 8.0 © Copyright StarHub 2012. All rights reserved