This topic

FTTP - repurpose master socket?

Timply101 — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 18:17:45 GMT

Hi All, I'm a BT customer and I'm after a bit of advice prior to having FTTP installed early in the new year.

My master socket is located in my hall next to the front door, usefully no where near a power outlet. My living room and home office is located on the 1st floor where the router is currently located.

I'd prefer to have the new Fibre cable and modem located in the hall where the master socket located to keep things neat but wondered what my options could be to move the router upstairs so I can connect an ethernet switch etc.

I wondered if I could repurpose the master socket as an ethernet socket having confirmed that the internal cabling is cat5e and configure extension sockets upstairs as ethernet sockets also?

Failing this I would either need to run new cat5e cable from the modem along skirting boards which I'd rather not do or keep the router in the hall and forego connecting devices using a cable.

Re: FTTP - repurpose master socket?

imjolly — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 18:25:30 GMT

If you are getting FTTP then you can select a better location not necessarily near the existing master which is no longer used and see if the openreach installer is able to fit the fibre modem ONT where you prefer. You then connect hub to the ONT. Are you retaining ability to make landline calls and therefore changing to digital voice?

Re: FTTP - repurpose master socket?

Timply101 — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 18:33:48 GMT

Yes retaining voice calls. So will need to connect my home phone to the hub also.

I have thought about moving the ONT upstairs to either the living room or home office but didn't particularly want to run long lengths of cable up the outside of the house, although just for aesthetic reasons.

I've also heard that it depends on the installer also where some are less willing than others to install in a new location away from where the line currently enters the property.

Re: FTTP - repurpose master socket?

licquorice — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 18:40:02 GMT

If you have cat5e cabling, you can re-use it for whatever purpose you like.

You will need power sockets for ONT and router however.

Re: FTTP - repurpose master socket?

countrypaul — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 19:13:17 GMT

Not sure if you are aware, but the cable from the ONT to the Router is just a normal ethernet cable, so if you are repurposing the cat5 from the master socket you could easily have the ONT near the front door and the Router elsewhere - subject to power provision. The ONT will need a power socket and the router will also need power.

Re: FTTP - repurpose master socket?

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 19:32:12 GMT

Repurposing the master socket is possible but maybe impractical. Does an extension run directly from the master socket to where you want the router, or does it go via other extensions? Gigabit ethernet requires all eight wires in a cat5 cable to be connected. At best, an extension socket will have a maximum of six, likely only two or three. So at every extension between the master socket & the desired location, the extra connections will have to be made. The more of these there are, the more scope for signal degradation.

But the biggest issue, as has already been said, is that you say there's no power in the hall to supply the ONT anyway.

Re: FTTP - repurpose master socket?

pippincp — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 19:51:23 GMT

As @licquorice has stated the CAT 5e internal cable can be repurposed however the OP wants. The first thing would be to provide an ethernet socket to provide the connection for the ONT. Then you have to consider that copper telephont extentions only use 2 wires within the cable, daisy chained to provided extension sockets. There is no function within the Mater socket for 8 wires to be used.

Then the OP needs to ensure that his extension socket where he needs the service in the next in line and again converterted to an ethernet socket using all 8 wires. Any and all sockets inbetween need to be converted to passthroughs with all 8 wires.

It can be done but IMHO it is easier just to have the ONT installed where it will be of most use.

Re: FTTP - repurpose master socket?

Timply101 — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 19:50:54 GMT

If I had to, I could get power to the master socket location by running a 2 gang extension lead and make it as neat as I can, tacking along the skirting board etc so that is less of an issue.

The internal cable from the master socket to the next extension on the 1st floor has 4 twisted pairs of which only the blue and white and blue wires are currently used. This is probably where I would locate the hub so would be a straight uninterrupted run.

Re: FTTP - repurpose master socket?

pippincp — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 19:59:22 GMT

As I said (or tried to), you would have to disconnect the extention cable from the master socket and connect to an ethernet socket then convert the extention socket to an ethernet one..

Re: FTTP - repurpose master socket?

countrypaul — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 20:05:29 GMT

If you only intend to have the ONT downstairs then rather than use a 2 way mains extension lead you might be able to use a 5.5mmx2.1mm 12v extension lead (as used for CCTV?) -depending on distance, which might look a lot neater if you have to fasten it to the skirting.

Re: FTTP - repurpose master socket?

Timply101 — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 20:10:18 GMT

Great, thanks for the advice. I suppose I asked more than anything as openreach don't like customers fiddling with the master socket and have heard a few stories of penalties and high costs for a "repair"

I suppose if they left the copper cable in place and I moved house and the next owner didn't want broadband but just a phone line then I would have to put it all back before I moved out?

Re: FTTP - repurpose master socket?

pippincp — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 20:19:35 GMT

No, Openreach only provide copper service up to the Master socket and no further. FTTP is supplied to the ONT and no further. That is why I said you need to disconnect the extension wire from the Master socket and connect to an ethernet socket instead.

By 2025 there will no longer be a copper phone service.

Re: FTTP - repurpose master socket?

Timply101 — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 10:04:07 GMT

Do openreach put a limit on length of external fibre cable before it enters the property? Current copper line enters by the front door but living room at the rear of the property on the 1st floor which would require a run of 12m+, maybe closer to 15m to include down the side of the house and up the wall.

Re: FTTP - repurpose master socket?

Starman — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 10:32:52 GMT

My understanding is the total run of internal grade cable can be up to 30m on a standard install in theory but it will be very dependant on the installers willingness especially if they are a contactor as they typically have 4 or 5 installs per day.

My own experience was I had to make it as easy as possible for him to gain the route I wanted (his first preference was install in the kitchen) in that I drilled all of the holes and cleared the route to allow him to thread the fibre and clip it on my skirting (personally it sags in places due to limited cable clips being used).

Re: FTTP - repurpose master socket?

Timply101 — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 10:38:04 GMT

I already have a hole drilled through the wall of my property where a disused sky cable currently sits but more than enough room to fit a fibre cable, the ONT would then be placed almost immediately the other side of the hole so very little internal cable required.

Re: FTTP - repurpose master socket?

Anonymous — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 10:43:28 GMT

Openreach offer ISPs a standard or premium installation. I'm guessing most opt for standard. While a length of external cable isn't specified for this, the premium option says they'll install more than 15m if required. So the inference would be that a standard install is up to 15m of external cable.

https://www.openreach.co.uk/cpportal/products/fibre-broadband/installation-options