topic Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc in Everything else

Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

JMFD — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 18:35:36 GMT

Hi folks,

Like many I've spotted on the forum, I'm looking at moving to FTTP, but have a non-standard house layout and want to figure out the best way forward before pushing the go button.

(Our exchange is FTTP priority, so I'm being pushed by my current provider to swap, though I actually want to move to Plusnet which has better deals and customer service)

FTTC comes in from telegraph pole, through an upstairs bedroom and along the skirting board and through a hole into our home office. I'm hoping we can follow the same path for FTTP, but as it will involve moving a lot of furniture before we start, I'd like to know the odds!

The bedroom in question doesn't have power along the exterior wall, neither does our downstairs.

Ideal world would be for the cable to go straight into the office, but I think that would involve a lot of exterior cabling based on where the telegraph pole is.

Any suggestions (other than be sure we have good biscuits for the engineer :)) ? If I do make an order but openreach can't do anything amenable, can I refuse/cancel?

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

jab1 — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 18:43:51 GMT

@JMFD First - the cable from the pole to your property will have to enter at, or very close to ground-level - the way the exterior/interior cables are spliced dictate that. Do you have a power source downstairs on the wall where the cable will therefore enter?

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

bmc — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 19:48:42 GMT

@JMFD

There is some lee way in where the ONT is situated but as stated by @jab1 the fibre cable first has to be brought down to ground level to what's known as a CSP (Consumer Splice Point). From there it becomes a matter of the desirable over the possible.

The ONT is usually on the inside wall of where the CSP is but doesn't have to be. The lack of a power socket for the ONT could complicate matters - or focus the installers mind on where to put the ONT.

Unfortunately it's often the case you don't find out until the day of install when you speak to the engineer and agree a route / location. Have a good think about all the possible locations so you have an idea of what's possible on the day.

Also consider the router is attached to the ONT by ethernet cable so can go anywhere you're happy to run said cable. Might take a bit of time / cost but you should be able to have the router in your desired location no matter where the ONT is.

Brian

Edit : The cable can be taken back upstairs after the CSP if required and it's possible they might consider taking it round the corner of the property but it's not as flexible as copper cable so would "stick out" on the corner.

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

jab1 — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 19:50:40 GMT

Wherever the ONT is - it has to be within 1m of a power socket, the cable is that length - and pre-terminated.

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

JMFD — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 19:57:42 GMT

Thanks all, just to confirm there are no power sockets on the ground floor near the telegraph pole "corner" of the house, or in fact any on the ground floor near the wall facing the street. Im hoping this would mean an upstairs install is more likely prioritised.

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

jab1 — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:00:36 GMT

Then, @JMFD - you have a problem. There is no way of extending the pre-terminated cable. Where is the nearest ground-floor socket? They cannot do an 'upstairs' installation, as they cannot splice the cable at height.

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

RobPN — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:02:29 GMT

@jab1 @bmc

Sorry, but I disagree with the pair of you.

Provided the OR installer is willing to cooperate, the cable does not have to be brought down to ground level or enter the building at ground level - overhead feeds offer more options in this respect IMO.

The cable could be brought through a wall into an upstairs room and the CSP fitted internally.

As I've mentioned before, my own cable enters my house under the eaves and runs through the loft and beyond through a self-installed conduit to an internally fitted CSP.

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

jab1 — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:05:47 GMT

@RobPN AIUI, your installation is a very old one - was the power cable (for the ONT) pre-terminated?

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

RobPN — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:14:10 GMT

@jab1 wrote:

.. was the power cable (for the ONT) pre-terminated?

I'm not sure what you're getting at @jab1

Aren't all the power cables pre-terminated - presuming you mean the DC one from the wall wart?

In case the DC cable needs to be extended (in the absence of a nearby mains outlet) - this thread deals with that.

Edit: Apparently mains extension cables have been acceptable.

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

jab1 — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:12:05 GMT

@JMFD On the OR page - either https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL , or https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome , is your instal quoted as a one or two stage (KCI2) job?

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

JMFD — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:21:31 GMT

It'd listed as a one stage job.

Nearest socket closest to the front of the house is inside a fitted unit 3m and a door away. Running an extension from there to somewhere I don't want the installation in the first place is not desirable!
.

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

jab1 — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:19:30 GMT

OK - in that case, have a good read of the topic posted by @RobPN -sounds like that may be the way you will have to go, or similar.

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

bmc — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:33:17 GMT

There must be different lengths of pre connected cable for the ONT as OR state they'll run the for up to 10 meters inside the houde - but not through walls. I may be wrong.

I'm reasonably certain that it's been spoken about in the past where the cable comes down to the CSP and then gets taken back up the wall to the first floor for the ONT.

As to power, extensions can be used though in the longet term you'd probably want to get someone in to put a power socket where required.

Brian

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

jab1 — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:36:50 GMT

@bmc The cable I was talking about is the one from the power socket to the ONT - not the internal fibre cable itself.

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

bmc — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:54:03 GMT

@JMFD

Just a quick thought before I do to bed.

Would it be possible to install some ducting in the loft and take it external at either end - one where the cable arrives at the house and the other near where you want the router. Put a draw rope in so the installer can pull the fibre cable through to the other side of the house and then down to ground level for the CSP. The cable then comes back up to the first floor before coming in for the ONT.

As I said, just a thought.

Brian

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

RobPN — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 21:40:26 GMT

@bmc wrote:

I'm reasonably certain that it's been spoken about in the past where the cable comes down to the CSP and then gets taken back up the wall to the first floor for the ONT.

@bmc

That might be considered the 'generic' method, but other options are available which have also been spoken about. As stated, a cooperative installer helps, and AFAIK, most are.

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

bmc — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 10:52:06 GMT

@JMFD

To add from my post last night.

As @RobPN said, most installers are cooperative and will work with you to achieve your desired location if it's possible. However, you just don't know until the day of install what can be done.

With regard to the loft, another option is to put the CSP and (probably) the ONT in the loft. This would require the loft to be floored, have easy access and power available. If the ONT is in the loft, you would then be responsible for running an ethernet cable to your desired location.

You need to think about all the possible locations so you'e in a position to talk to the installer on the day having thought about each possibility.

Brian

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

JMFD — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 10:55:56 GMT

Thanks all
The loft is boarded, and does have power. so that is another option.
I've lot to think about before pushing the go button - thank you for all of your advice.

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

rflitcroft — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 22:36:10 GMT

It's possible to power the ONT using power-over-ethernet (PoE).
Openreach won't want to know, but if you rigged up a temporary extension socket for the install, you could always change it later.

Re: Moving to FTTP - concerns around position of router etc

markhawkin — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 11:11:07 GMT

@JMFD The key thing is to get the ONT and the incoming fibre somewhere you will be happy long term. Two potentially good locations are a cupboard under stairs or a garage if they have or can have power..

It then becomes a problem of getting a network cable between there and where you actually want the service (and that's the customer's problem not the installers).

If you can get it all prepared and (as far as you can) tested before hand then you stand a chance of a job you will be happy with.

Typically phone lines have been in the same place for a long time and incoming fibres will be similar so think hard!