Openreach full fibre install help with ethernet run

[#1]

Hi all

FTTP install booked for a couple of weeks time. BT Broadband checker confirms FTTP is served via ducting to the property. Current master socket is in the hall at the entry point of the current copper wire, without mains. The existing ADSL line is routed over/around a door and through into a cupboard in another room with mains (my "server room" with router, ethernet switch and many connected network devices).

I'm going to bet that placing the ONT in the server room won't be possible because of the tight turns that the fibre cable would need to take along the route from external box into the house and beyond. It is possible that power to the ONT could be routed along the path that the current phone line takes (which will obviously be removed) through the adjoining kitchen. So the ONT could replace the current master socket, just leaving the issue of routing a Cat6 in place of the current ADSL cable. 

Questions:

Can people confirm that the ONT is powered by a fairly small cable (e.g. 12v) that would be easy to route through existing holes to a neighbouring room?

If the power cable isn't long enough is the OR engineer likely to be able to lengthen it?

Is the OR engineer likely to be able to supply a length of Cat6 for the internal run - probably 5-10m with all the up and down around the door?

If not, assuming I supply Cat6 and it gets routed through during install (should be easy, pulled through by existing ADSL as it gets removed), will the OR engineer be happy and able to terminate the cables to plugs?

Grateful for any advice and experiences

[#2]

@medward2 

Some answers.

There is some leeway as to where the ONT is sited. As it must be near a power source (or where one can be installed) the engineer will look at possible locations while discussing the install with you prior to doing any work. For example, they might be able to route the fibre cable externally to bring it in at your "server" room - assuming it's got an external wall.

The power cable is one or two meters long - end of story unless you go looking online.

The engineer will not supply ethernet cables.

Brian

[#3]

The engineer will not supply ethernet cables.

or terminate any that you may supply

[#4]

Thanks both

The server room (basically a cupboard under the stairs) doesn't have an external wall so a direct route from outside to the ONT  won't be possible.

There is a cupboard elsewhere in the hall with an external wall and mains, but this would be on the other side of the front door from the current master socket, so presumably would need some external routing of the fibre away from the current entry point (and end of the external conduit) and also make the internal run of Cat6 to server room longer and more tortuous.

I suspect somehow extending the power cable to position the ONT at the current master socket location will be the least bad solution. Useful to know I'll have to sort the internal ethernet run to the router myself.

[#5]

@medward2 

I used one of these  to extend the DC cable. The ONT is just above the skirting board with power strip being round 5 meters away. The LAN to WAN cable is also a 5 metre cat6 cable and runs to the shelf where the router is located. My router and ONT share the same power source. 

I used cable trunking bought from wickes to protect the cables.

Maybe PoE (power over ethernet) is also an option, but I haven't looked into that.

Edit: My server room a shelf in a coat cupboard, the shelf is above the door frame. It houses the ONT, Router,  a VPN server and NAS drive based on raspberry pi.

[#6]

---

@medward2 wrote:

I suspect somehow extending the power cable to position the ONT at the current master socket location will be the least bad solution. Useful to know I'll have to sort the internal ethernet run to the router myself.

---

The ONT power cable (1m) is not extendable itself - it has moulded connections (power and input).

[#7 · Accepted solution]

@medward2 

Anything after the Master Socket is "yours" so the phone cable to your server room can be removed - no matter what. When you say it goes over / around a door is this an external door? If it is, is there space for the CSP (external box) to be situated on the other side of the door before the phone cable goes through the wall to the cupboard.

The engineer will work with you if possible and they will run internal fibre to the ONT but generally speaking they don't drill through walls (apart from the original entry point). However, you already have a hole available with the phone cable.

This is my incoming fibre cable (when the picture gets released).

So, it may just be possible to get to the cupboard depending on the layout of your house.

Unfortunately you won't find out until the day of install.

Brian

[#8]

Moderator's note:
Thread moved from Full Fibre to Everything Else

[#9]

Thanks all

@bmc no, internal door. But looking at your photo I'm thinking that incoming fibre cable *might* be small and flexible enough to follow the route of the current ADSL cable into the server room.

@Dan_the_Van thanks - that looks like it would be suitable if I did end up needing to extend the power cable to the ONT as it looks like it comes as a plug moulded unit.

So I'm thinking the request to the OR engineer will be:

1st preference = route the incoming fibre to replace the existing ADSL cable over the door, through the wall and into the server room where the ONT can be installed with power and easy WAN connection to the router etc.

2nd preference = ONT placed where the current master socket is, meaning I'd need to extend both the power cable (via a 2.1mm cable extension from amazon) and replace the current ADSL cable with some Cat6 that I supply and terminate myself...

Thanks again to all!

[#10]

Oop - forgot to ask - can I ask the OR engineer to remove the master socket and wire to the outside wall if it means they can use the existing hole for fibre and avoid drilling a new one?

[#11]

The existing service isnt ceased until the FTTP install is marked as complete and working.

So they tend not to remove the existing cable, in case the FTTP install goes pear-shaped and leaves you with no service. 

[#12]

Ah OK fair enough. Hopefully they can shove the new fibre through the existing hole though to avoid a slightly unnecessary additional hole in my house!

[#13]

@medward2 

You can but ask about disconnecting the incoming copper cable.

The problem with using the existing entry point is that without a MS in place there's a dirty big hole in the wall. If the engineer is amenable to disconnecting the copper cable you could offer to cut a notch in the MS "box" so the fibre cable can exit downwards. You'd then just need to get a blank face plate for the box (or get one in advance "just in case").

You could also get (but not put in place) cable ducting to go round the door and along the wall. If the engineer is happy, you could fix it in place while they do the external work. The alternative is the fibre is stapled to the skirting board / door frame. As I recall they are happy to run 10mtrs indoors.

Brian

[#14]

Hopefully they can shove the new fibre through the existing hole though to avoid a slightly unnecessary additional hole in my house!

Unlikely I'm afraid. The fibre cable is supported in the wall by a plastic tube with an internal end cap (the picture of which is in @bmc  s post above ). The hole must be exactly the correct diameter to take the tube and even if it was, I'm not sure it would be possible to insert the tube with an existing cable present.

[#15]

Many years ago, I got a length of fibre from the OR engineer. I got a brilliant cabling expert (an alarm installer) to run the cable very easily and discreetly from the external location for the CSP to the internal location for the ONT. The OR engineer returned later and hooked up the two ends of the fibre cable. 

This may no longer be possible, especially if they now require that cable inside the house run in protective tubes, but it might be worth asking.