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FFTP Internal House Cables can it use Cat6 instead of Optical?

mully1999 — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 16:03:44 GMT

Hi,

We recently renovated and ran Cat6 throughout. Our phone cable gets converted to Cat6 at the point of entry inside our property in the roof space. This is fed down through the house to the ground floor and into the BT hub which is in a room that is fairly inaccessible to outside walls.

I am wondering if the Full Fibre installation internally in our home can utilise the existing Cat6 cable as I can't see any non destructive way to run optical fibre given the different floor levels and room locations and I'm really not willing to upset all the new plastering etc or run cables along outside walls as we've just managed to get away from all that.

The external connection is no issue as there is a pole right beside us that it comes from I am not sure if we need our external telephone line or if it can be removed as we do not use a landline.

Thanks in advance,

Re: FFTP Internal House Cables can it use Cat6 instead of Optical?

imjolly — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 16:17:55 GMT

the optical fibre cable only connects to the ONT and that connects by ethernet to WAN port on hub you can then normal ethernet to remaining ports on hub and then to your devices/outlets

Re: FFTP Internal House Cables can it use Cat6 instead of Optical?

licquorice — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 16:22:11 GMT

The fibre cable terminates on an Optical modem (ONT) from whence it is converted to an Ethernet output which connects to the Router (Hub). It depends where the optical cable is expected to enter the house and where the ONT is expected to be sited. I would be surprised if Openreach will install the ONT in the roof space. It will need a power supply in any case.

Re: FFTP Internal House Cables can it use Cat6 instead of Optical?

mully1999 — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 16:44:32 GMT

Good points thanks 🙂

There are power sockets in the space so no issue there.

I was wondering if we installed the ONT downstairs by the existing master socket then used optical / ethernet convertors to run it via existing cat6 from the roof space entry point to the ONT if that might be another possible solution?

Re: FFTP Internal House Cables can it use Cat6 instead of Optical?

imjolly — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 16:48:01 GMT

The openreach fibre cable connects to the ONT. everything after that is Ethernet cabling - Ethernet to hub from ONT then Ethernet from hub round your home if that is what you want

Re: FFTP Internal House Cables can it use Cat6 instead of Optical?

mully1999 — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 16:47:55 GMT

I understand that, using convertors that would still be the case only the transport medium is changed.

Re: FFTP Internal House Cables can it use Cat6 instead of Optical?

licquorice — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 16:49:49 GMT

The ONT is directly connected to the external incoming fibre. From there it is Ethernet, there is no need for any optical convertors.

You will not have access to the optical signal.

Re: FFTP Internal House Cables can it use Cat6 instead of Optical?

mully1999 — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 16:59:12 GMT

Thanks for the replies I may be misunderstanding.

I know convertors are not required in the standard install, but in this case to make use of the existing cable in place and not have to do anything destructive, I am wondering if a solution like this is an option, if ONT boxes are not placeable in a roof space (although the roof space is more of a converted bedroom really).

take the external incoming optical fibre (assuming this is a standard optic fibre cable) in roofspace ->

put into convertor that sends signal on ethernet cat 6 ->

send signal down existing roofspace Cat6 cabling (data rates are more than enough and distance is short <10 metres) ->

convert back to optical in downstairs (inacessible room) _>

plug into ONT box

Re: FFTP Internal House Cables can it use Cat6 instead of Optical?

licquorice — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 17:05:36 GMT

You missed the part where I said that you will not have access to the fibre.

Openreach will not allow the customer access to the incoming fibre before it terminates on the ONT.

Re: FFTP Internal House Cables can it use Cat6 instead of Optical?

imjolly — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 17:07:03 GMT

The incoming optical cable will only be connected to the ONT as already posted

Re: FFTP Internal House Cables can it use Cat6 instead of Optical?

mully1999 — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 17:10:15 GMT

Ok so no access to the signal to use convertors or anything like that. Its maybe something that will evolve as a lot of houses now are just wired for data with Cat6 or higher, some way to tap into that without having to run new cabling seems reasonable.

Thanks for the info, I will enjoy my Fibre to Cabinet implementation for the foreseeable.

Re: FFTP Internal House Cables can it use Cat6 instead of Optical?

mully1999 — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 17:11:52 GMT

TBH that didn't really contribute to the conversation, but thanks for taking the time.

Re: FFTP Internal House Cables can it use Cat6 instead of Optical?

licquorice — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 17:15:34 GMT

Most new build houses are wired for data from the site of the ONT.

Re: FFTP Internal House Cables can it use Cat6 instead of Optical?

pippincp — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 18:31:19 GMT

Simple solution as you have CAT 6 for the master socket.

Disconnect phone line in roof space.

Have ONT sited near to the master socket.

Change master socket faceplate for RJ45 faceplate.

In roof space fit RJ45 to CAT6 phoneline.

Site hub in roof space cconnect to internal sockets.

Connect CAT6 phoneline to WAN port.

Connect ONT to RJ45 mastersocket with flylead.

Job done.

Re: FFTP Internal House Cables can it use Cat6 instead of Optical?

mully1999 — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 18:59:27 GMT

New builds yes but this one is 120 years old...