Connecting full fibre ONT to router

Pat38493

Sorry if this is too much of a technical question for these forums, but is it correct to understand that the cable from the BT Openreach ONT to the main router is a standard Ethernet cable with standard connectors?

Various leaflets talk about the “red” cable, but my understanding is that it’s basically just an ether net cable?

If I am correct, this means that I can install a cable run from the ONT to anywhere in my house, and the “main” router can be in that location, even if it’s at the other end of the house (as long as I don’t exceed 100m of cable run)?

iniltous

You are correct , in fact in many new builds the developer has the ONT position in an ‘cupboard’ and an Ethernet patch panel arrangement so the router can be (for example) in the living room , the ‘red’ plug etc is to try any make connections foolproof, red plug into red socket etc , but that’s something of a throwback anyway 

Peter999_2

Yes, it is just a normal ethernet cable and can be run anywhere you want in the house.      Even the 100M limit can be easily bypassed by using a network switch which regenerates the signal.   

Mine was a horrible purple cable from the ONT so I just changed it to a white CAT5E cable.      Obviously, as speeds get faster and faster you would have to uprate the cable to CAT6, CAT7, CAT8 etc.

AndyPK

I used a CAT6a cable to try and future proof that potential bottle neck.

The OR guide says use CAT6* 

Pat38493

AndyPK said:

I used a CAT6a cable to try and future proof that potential bottle neck.

The OR guide says use CAT6* 

Yes this is what I will request when I get quotes

QrizB

My internal network infrastructure is still all Cat 5 and 100Mbit switches; if we ever get FTP I might have to replace it!

EssexExile

I just had fibre installed to my new home today, the installer, Shaun, working for MJ Quinn, working for Openreach, told me my network cable, that I brought from my previous house that had fibre, wouldn't work as it "wouldn't let enough light through".

iniltous

EssexExile said:

I just had fibre installed to my new home today, the installer, Shaun, working for MJ Quinn, working for Openreach, told me my network cable, that I brought from my previous house that had fibre, wouldn't work as it "wouldn't let enough light through".

What ??…. from the ONT to the router is a copper Ethernet cable not optical, the cable to the ONT to the OLT /Headend is optical , and you don’t provide any of that yourself, any optical cables you connect your own equipment with after the router, if that’s what you mean ,  are your own responsibility, but it’s BS to say they wouldn’t let enough light through, 

onomatopoeia99

QrizB said:

My internal network infrastructure is still all Cat 5 and 100Mbit switches; if we ever get FTP I might have to replace it!

Mine is cat5a which supports gigabit over my domestic lengths, even with the CCA cable I originally bought when money was tight when I first wired it. The newer circuits I've put in to the garden office have been external grade pure copper cat6. Bought a couple of gigabit switches as well, though my upstream is only 80Mbps as still FTTC and likely to remain that way for years. Still, I'm ready to go if they ever get round to FTTP on my exchange.

Pat38493

EssexExile said:

I just had fibre installed to my new home today, the installer, Shaun, working for MJ Quinn, working for Openreach, told me my network cable, that I brought from my previous house that had fibre, wouldn't work as it "wouldn't let enough light through".

I just got mine activated today - the installer seemed most surprised that I knew what an "ONT" was - he said most people are clueless.  He also replaced the entire ONT even though it had just been the power supply that was missing originally and I replaced with a 3rd party one.  He was also pretty chuffed that Plusnet had sent him out for this and it turned out to be a 10 minute job.

The other random odd thing that happened is that Plusnet sent me 2 routers in the same pack - the normal Plusnet one and an EE Smart Hub PLUS!  Plusnet support did not have a clue how this happened and said it must be a mistake.

EssexExile

iniltous said:

EssexExile said:

I just had fibre installed to my new home today, the installer, Shaun, working for MJ Quinn, working for Openreach, told me my network cable, that I brought from my previous house that had fibre, wouldn't work as it "wouldn't let enough light through".

What ??…. from the ONT to the router is a copper Ethernet cable not optical, the cable to the ONT to the OLT /Headend is optical , and you don’t provide any of that yourself, any optical cables you connect your own equipment with after the router, if that’s what you mean ,  are your own responsibility, but it’s BS to say they wouldn’t let enough light through, 

About 40 years ago I used to work in telecoms, my last job was training people about fibreoptics. I don't know whether Shaun was totally ignorant or whether he thought I was totally ignorant!