Where is PlusNet ‘Help & Support’?

[#1]

@baldrick

Our copper line runs between two mature trees and twigs, rather than branches, would obscures line of site between the pole and the fixing point for the copper cable on the house wall. This is the shortest distance between the pole and the house, but it is some way from where we would wish to have the ONT sited indoors, Assuming that OpenReach must have clear line of sight and won’t do the pruning, I can do it.

[#2]

@TonyN 

When the fibre backbone is being installed the engineers always check (if possible) the route to a property. If they spot anything they list it as a potential problem. As already stated, it may or may not be an actual problem. You'll find out on the day.

If the tress are on your land then's there's nothing to stop you doing a bit pf pruning in advance.

There is some leeway as to where the ONT goes. You discuss it on the day with the engineer. It can be a case of the desirable against the possible.

If you can't get the ONT where you want you can always consider moving it yourself. Have a look at

https://www.premitel.uk/consultancy/expert-advice/how-to-relocate-the-ont-fibre-termination-point/

Brian

[#3]

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@TonyN wrote:

Our copper line runs between two mature trees and twigs, rather than branches, would obscures line of site between the pole and the fixing point for the copper cable on the house wall. This is the shortest distance between the pole and the house, but it is some way from where we would wish to have the ONT sited indoors, 

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The internal ONT doesn't need to be located next to the external CSP. An optical cable can, if necessary, be run externally some distance from the latter before entering the property.

[#4]

@bmc

That helpful link puts another piece in the jigsaw, but is this possible too?

The present setup is:

Our copper phone cable comes in at a point that is central to the house. It is where our phone has always been (BT white box). This is about 30 feet from the obvious fixing point for any incoming cable on the exterior wall. It is a large, rambling, stone-built, old farmhouse.

Our office (with two desktops) is at one end of the house with the router outside the office door. This is connected to the BT white box (splitter) with a 50ft phone extension cable. The PCs connect to the router by wi-fi.

An extender, sited close to the centre of the house, is used to give overall wi-fi coverage.

This may not be clever or pretty, but it does work.

When we get FF, is there any reason why I should not keep the same layout by replacing the phone extension cable with a 50ft Ethernet cable?

Given the thickness of stone walls etc, there may not be much choice about where the ONT goes.

[#5]

@pvmb

Thanks. Obviously it will be worth listening to any suggestions that the engineer might make on the day.

[#6]

@TonyN 

Given the Router is connected via ethernet cable to the ONT you can do whatever you like internally if you're happy running cables. WiFi can be sorted by running an ethernet cable to a WiFi Access Point (WAP) or points.

Brian

[#7]

@bmc

No real problem with the cable as it will just replace an existing one, but will there be a performance penalty doing it this way? It almost seems too easy.

[#8]

No real problem with the cable as it will just replace an existing one, but will there be a performance penalty doing it this way? It almost seems too easy.

@TonyN as long as the (ethernet) cable is Cat5e or better, then No. Cat5e will support 1Gb up to 100m

[#9]

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@bmc wrote:

... WiFi can be sorted by running an ethernet cable to a WiFi Access Point (WAP) or points.

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@TonyN wrote:

... but will there be a performance penalty doing it this way?

@TonyN 

Performance should be better.

The Plusnet Hub Two is the old "WiFi 5" standard, and you are stuck sharing the same SSID on 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.

Having distributed WAPs, you should be able to use different SSIDs, choose different WiFI channels, use wider channel bandwidths, and split the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, to suit your new ethernet connected wireless arrangement.

If you chose more up to date WAPs that perhaps support "WiFi 6" then the wireless link speed should be faster than what the Plusnet Hub Two can do (assuming that your WiFi connected devices are capable of "WiFi 6" or above)

[#10]

@MisterW

Reassuring' and will order accordingly, thanks

@bmc

Noted, thanks.

@ExForce9

Will have to mug what you’re suggesting up, but it sounds very useful if I can  get my head round the technicalities!

[#11]

@ExForce9 

Using wider channel bandwidths on 2.4GHz band can be counter productive as it increases the instances of overlapping channels. Fine if you live in the Essex countryside with no close neighbours, but not if you have anyone close.

If a WiFi analyser shows no or weak 2.4GHz networks close by then it would be safe to increase the bandwidth.

[#12]

One last question on this now very bulky, but much appreciated, thread.

At message 34 I explained the I want to run a 20m Ethernet cable (must be Cat5e) from the ONT at the centre of the house to the router to be situated by the distant office where our desktops are. That idea seems to be OK.

However, I want to keep our cordless phone base unit at the centre of the house for obvious reasons. I have ordered a Coldstream HT801 ATA as suggested.

I attach a sketch showing what I have in mind to do, but I know nothing about Ethernet as I have always relied on wi-fi.

Will this be practical? Or, given that I will have both the TP Link VR2100 I’m using at the moment and a new Hub2 from PlusNet, is there a better way?

[#13]

@Dan_the_Van

As we have only one neighbour, about 100 yards away, and then none for half a mile, I assume from what you say I'm in the clear with this one.

[#14]

@TonyN 

Assuming that by Modem you mean router then this will work fine.

You could reconfigure one of your spare routers as a wireless access point if you don’t have a bespoke unit.

Edit

Whilst you have called it an Extender, because you show it connected to an Ethernet switch I assume that you really mean a wireless access point. not a WiFi extender.

[#15]

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@TonyN wrote:

I attach a sketch showing what I have in mind to do

@TonyN 

Yes your diagram looks fine.

However you might want to change some labels so that you get the terminology correct for your own understanding, for when you are shopping for parts, and when you are trying to describe to someone else what you are intending.

If you change the following words, your diagram will be less ambiguous -

MODEM  >  Router

SPLITTER  >  Switch   (or more specifically "Unmanaged switch")

EXTENDER  > Wireless Access Point