topic Re: FTTP install without grey box in Full Fibre

FTTP install without grey box

Bella123 — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:30:16 GMT

I was speaking to an Openreach guy and was querying about the grey box.

He told me they dont always fit the grey box and can take the cable straight to ONT

In the case of an existing duct from pole to existing telephone point, the new fibre cable can be pulled in directly without any need for the grey box.

Re: FTTP install without grey box

MisterW — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:36:27 GMT

I don't think so!

The internal fibre is pre-terminatef with a plug to fit the ONT. The 'free' end of that must then be spliced to the external fibre at the CSP ( grey box )

AFAIK it's not possible to fit a plug to the external fibre to allow it to connect to the ONT

Re: FTTP install without grey box

jab1 — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:36:26 GMT

@Bella123 I think the guy was telling you porkies - the FTTP uses totally different technology and cabling - and does require a CSP (outsisde grey box).

Re: FTTP install without grey box

bmc — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:39:04 GMT

@Bella123

That was how they did my install - back in late 2017. This was before they introduced the grey box for outside.

Brian

Re: FTTP install without grey box

rbz5416 — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:40:05 GMT

There is a smaller internal CSP that can be used, maybe that's what he meant. But AFAIK, there's no way to request one, just pot luck as to whether the installer has one onboard & is willing to fit it.

Re: FTTP install without grey box

Bella123 — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:45:21 GMT

When i was questioning him about fitting the grey box he said 'we're supposed to but dont sometimes' like in the case of underground duct going directly to phone socket, how can they mount an external box in that case without digging outside to find the duct.

I think they use something called a field fit connector to connect the black wire to ONT

Re: FTTP install without grey box

jab1 — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:49:48 GMT

They know where the duct is - otherwise how did they route the copper cable. IIRC, they don't, and haven't for many years, use 'field-fit' connections.

Re: FTTP install without grey box

Bella123 — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 18:35:25 GMT

They may know where it is but they wont be digging up the driveway!

Re: FTTP install without grey box

Bella123 — Sun, 11 May 2025 07:23:12 GMT

Just coming back here to update.

The Openreach guy wasn't telling porkies and just one box used in the FTTP install. No grey box outside either.

The fibre cable is connected directly into the ONT,

Re: FTTP install without grey box

RobPN — Sun, 11 May 2025 08:11:13 GMT

@Bella123

So can we see a photo of the ONT then please?

Re: FTTP install without grey box

Bella123 — Sun, 11 May 2025 09:05:42 GMT

The ONT is in the enclosure.

Re: FTTP install without grey box

bmc — Sun, 11 May 2025 12:01:02 GMT

@Bella123

Good to hear the install went OK. Is the ONT in your desired location?

Were the pictures taken before an etherent cable was connected for the router? I'm guessing the two cables shown are the incoming fibre cable and the power supply. Though having said that the incoming fibre could be behind the ONT itself.

Brian

Re: FTTP install without grey box

MisterW — Sun, 11 May 2025 12:28:20 GMT

Were the pictures taken before an etherent cable was connected for the router?

Not from what I can see. The black cable is the Ethernet. The fibre is the one pre-terminated with the green plug.

The excess fibre is coiled up, where it goes from the ONT is not obvious. All the visible fibre is internal type, so it must be spliced somewhere to the external fibre ?

Re: FTTP install without grey box

RobPN — Sun, 11 May 2025 12:35:33 GMT

Agreed @MisterW

I recall for a short period OR used a method without a CSP whereby the black outer sheath of the fixed length incoming (pre-plugged) cable was stripped back to reveal a white internal cable, but I didn't think that method was still used, so if it's not been done that way I wonder where the splice is?

Re: FTTP install without grey box

bmc — Sun, 11 May 2025 12:39:30 GMT

@MisterW

I'm thinking the incoming fibre is hidden by the ONT. It would have been stripped back to the fibre sheath at the wall and then fused to the pre-terminated Green Plug. The excess cable is then coiled up as can be seen in the pricture.

Brian

Re: FTTP install without grey box

Bella123 — Sun, 11 May 2025 12:44:45 GMT

Yes, that's the way it was done.

The black fibre cable comes in via rear entry, connected to underground duct back to the pole.

The black fibre was stripped back and the green connection plug fitted to the inner white core.

No other splice.

He told me thes type of boxes are like hens teeth atm, and on back order.

Re: FTTP install without grey box

Bella123 — Sun, 11 May 2025 12:50:04 GMT

Yes, the ONT is fitted over the existing telephone point backbox.

The black fibre comes in the rear, stripped back to white inner core and green plug fitted to it

Re: FTTP install without grey box

MisterW — Sun, 11 May 2025 13:01:57 GMT

stripped back to white inner core and green plug fitted to it

I wasn't aware they could fit the green plug on-site. Obviously they can...

Re: FTTP install without grey box

bmc — Sun, 11 May 2025 13:14:13 GMT

@MisterW

I believe the technical term for the Green Plug may be "Pigs Tail" - it'll come pre-attached to a metre (at least) of cable.

It then gets fused to the incoming fibre cable. The only difference to the Grey Box method is the fusing is done indoors and not outside.

Brian

Re: FTTP install without grey box

Bella123 — Sun, 11 May 2025 13:34:28 GMT

That's correct, he showed me tthe green plug initially pre attached to a black cable in a packet.

Said he had to remove it from that and attach it to fhe white core.

There was some sort of equipment to do this fusion.