This topic

FTTH with a master socket upstairs

Pblive — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 22:16:40 GMT

Didn’t really think about this and I’ve searched for an answer but nothing seems to be exactly the same as my situation and with my install now just weeks away...

So I’ve had my master socket upstairs at the back of the house since I had ISDN then ADSL then Infinity.

I understand BT will install an ONT and will probably want to install it near enough to the front door where the nearest wall socket/phone socket is but I’m not sure how I can then get all my equipment (8+) currently connected to Ethernet in that upstairs room still connected to the hub.

None of the information on the site seems to be that clear on how the connection works once it gets through the front door.

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

licquorice — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 07:04:02 GMT

The ONT is just a modem, simply run an Ethernet cable from the ONT to where the hub is situated.

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

Pblive — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 07:45:00 GMT

That's what I was afraid of. Running an ethernet cable from one side of the house to the other, up the stairs and through a wall is probably a little too much for me (besides, it would need a huge cable) plus what happens to the old master socket upstairs.

Actually, what I assume is a copper cable has been already run around the house in order to do this for the current setup but that was thinner and easier to get around a door frame and on the skirting board of the stairs.

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

licquorice — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 08:30:26 GMT

Cat5e cable isn't huge, it's not much thicker than the existing phone cable.

Voice service is provided in one of 3 ways.

1. your existing copper cable remains and nothing changes, the fibre is provided separately.

2. The new cable to provide FTTP is a combined fibre and copper cable, the fibre terminates on the ONT, the copper on the master socket co located with the ONT.

3. Your voice service is provided by digital voice via the fibre, no copper connection.

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

Checked2013 — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 09:36:47 GMT

As it has not been posted how the master socket upstairs is wired in, it's hard to say for sure if it won't be installed in the same place. For instance if the fibre is coming from a pole (rather than underground) then it may be possible to have installed in the same place.

If on the other hand if the fibre is routed underground then it depends if the conduit has been routed at the front or back of the property. Either way, without knowing the full details of your current setup it's difficult to give an answer, as I do know that some installs have taken place on the 1st Floor of houses (in certain circumstances).

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

sjanes — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 09:40:48 GMT

if it is for a phone line, wouldn't a wireless DEC phone do the job? also, if you need a wired internet connection upstairs you can get powerline adapters which are good

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

licquorice — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 09:44:48 GMT

@Checked2013 The OP states in message 3 that a copper cable connects his master socket to the incoming cable.

However I agree the installation will be very dependent on how the fibre will be delivered and layout of house.

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

Pblive — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 09:44:16 GMT

No, It's for the Smart Hub 2, so would need the Cat5a cable, which is a pain because it would require some DIY.

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

licquorice — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 09:46:39 GMT

You could use powerline adaptors between the ONT and Hub but speed may suffer.

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

Pblive — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 09:49:21 GMT

Yeah, I already use powerline from upstairs study where the current master socket is to the lounge and my kids room and it's not 100% reliable. It would also require splitting out to a hub (which I have) to supply at least 4 things I need connected to ethernet. So running a cable is the most reliable way, by the sound of it, though the wife won't be happy with that. It would need to run around the frame of the front door and toilet door, up the stairs, through a wall and into the study.

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

Checked2013 — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 09:54:17 GMT

One solution would be to get in a network installer/Electrician. It may be more expensive solution, but if you get someone who knows what they are doing, then all the wiring can be hidden in the walls instead of being routed around door frames.

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

Pblive — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 09:54:57 GMT

@Checked2013 Current copper and new fibre are underground coming in through the front (fibre already coiled up outside ready for the work to be done).

Master socket added in 2000 (just after we moved in) to the study which is at the top back of the house and it looks as if the BT engineer used copper cable from the socket next to the front door and pinned it around our front door and up the stairs, drilling it through the wall to create the master socket on the other side.

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

Pblive — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 09:56:54 GMT

Electrician would be good but sadly out of my price range (of zero pounds!) at this point in time so any solution would be DIY. But something to bear in mind for the future.

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

Checked2013 — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 09:59:03 GMT

Sounds like my solution suggested in message 11 is the way to go then

Edit: It may not be as expensive as you think

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

licquorice — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 10:29:10 GMT

@Pblive wrote:

Yeah, I already use powerline from upstairs study where the current master socket is to the lounge and my kids room and it's not 100% reliable. It would also require splitting out to a hub (which I have) to supply at least 4 things I need connected to ethernet. So running a cable is the most reliable way, by the sound of it, though the wife won't be happy with that. It would need to run around the frame of the front door and toilet door, up the stairs, through a wall and into the study.

If you are currently using powerline adaptors, you won't be able to use them to connect from ONT to WAN port of hub as well as using them to connect devices to hub LAN ports.

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 10:50:58 GMT

Practice may possibly have changed since my FTTP install years ago but, for what it's worth:-

It started out with OR coming out to survey the job, then, at a later date (we weren't in but luckily didn't need to be) they installed the fibre to a new external junction box. We then had another OR guy come round who asked us where we wanted the ONT and ran the fibre, external to the property, to where we wanted it and fitted it in our preferred place.

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

Pblive — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 11:28:55 GMT

@Anonymous I think Coronavirus may have changed at least some of it.

So far:

Booked for the work to be completed beginning of July

Someone has already come around to feed the FO cable to the front of the house where it currently sits in a loop outside.

BT initially said they will just come on that date and fix everything up and may not even have to come in the house (which sounds doubtful if they have to fit an ONT).

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

Pblive — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 11:30:17 GMT

Sorry, by hub I mean an Ethernet Hub rather than the BT Smart Hub

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

Pblive — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 15:29:53 GMT

Thanks for all the insight so far.

Latest is a text from Openreach with a video showing that they will not be installing extensions or other sockets due to Coronavirus.

So I'm fine with installing the ONT box by the front door where my first phone socket is and working from there myself, possibly resigned to having the Smart Hub there and use powerline and a gigabyte POE hub I have lying around for wired connections in the study.

The only outstanding question is whether they can do this if my current master socket is wired upstairs (as below) with a cable running up the stairs. Is that just taken off the main line by the front door and does it matter in terms of where they need to install the ONT?

Re: FTTH with a master socket upstairs

pippincp — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 15:52:00 GMT

The chances are that your present copper line will remain for phone calls for now. As for the siting of the ONT, speak to the engineer when he turns up. They do try to place the ONT where the customer wants it but there could be good reason why it can't be done. If you don't ask, you'll never know.