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What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

wes2 — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 12:06:21 GMT

I am refurbishing my house and want to prepare a fiber connection coming in from the street to a specific room in the house (office). In this office location, I house the modem and distribute the network to every room. As I know this will be about more than 15M away from where old broadband comes out of the ground and there are no electric points near the front door, and I just do not want any visible cables in my hall, I am looking to know what cable I can run from my office to where Openreach would pop their cable out of the ground. Most straightforward in my mind is to use the same fiber cable that Openreach will use for their ultra-fast fiber so they can connect their cable with my cable. I can't contact Openreach as there line is closed, there is no mail address and their website only has a chatbot that won't answer my question XD. Does anyone know which one this is so I get the right one set in my walls and ceilings? alternative methods are also welcome.

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

jac_95 — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 12:27:00 GMT

Probably better to run some conduit that they can fit a conectorised fibre cable

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

pippincp — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 13:02:14 GMT

Don't forget the drawstring. The internal fibre will be connectorised E-Z bend cable.

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

wes2 — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 13:11:33 GMT

connectorised E-Z bend cable is that universal or is there a specific one that is required?

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

wes2 — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 13:15:15 GMT

Was thinking of doing this with a conduit and string on both ends, but I am a bit worried that the route will have too many ups and downs and left and right bends (not too sharp) and at some point build up too much resistance to be pulled further.

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

iniltous — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 13:21:00 GMT

Search EZ Bend optical cable SC/APC , but obviously it’s entirely possible that anything you supply and install yourself may not be used by the Openreach installer , even if it’s a cable that OR would use themselves, plenty find their way onto auction sites , installing it yourself you may damage it , or introduce bends that make the cable unusable ( optical cables don’t like tight bends ) , but you won’t know if it’s any good until the installation is attempted.
if you do go down this router , obviously the end with the connector is the ONT end , and leave sufficient cable at the end where the CSP will be sited , for the installer to introduce and splice .

I would post a link , but that’s not allowed, it took a few seconds to find one, prices ( and cable lengths ) vary

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

wes2 — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 09:14:09 GMT

Ok I think of the next alternative way, to avoid problems with a fiber cable I can't test before openreach would connect up in 1 or 3 years.
I make a eternet wall socket close where the future fiber enters the house at (the ONT box) and a CAT cable running from there to the office terminating in another wall socket. That way I should be able to plug my modem in the office wall socket. I am able to test my CAT cables so that would give me some confidence everything should work in the future.
Would a CAT6 be sufficient or would it be recommended to go CAT7 or even 8 for this run?
Also electrical question, the ONT requires power but I do not have sockets at the front. Is it ok to spur off lights to create a new socket?

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

yorkspark — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 09:37:04 GMT

@wes2wrote:
Ok I think of the next alternative way, to avoid problems with a fiber cable I can't test before openreach would connect up in 1 or 3 years.
I make a eternet wall socket close where the future fiber enters the house at (the ONT box) and a CAT cable running from there to the office terminating in another wall socket. That way I should be able to plug my modem in the office wall socket. I am able to test my CAT cables so that would give me some confidence everything should work in the future.
Would a CAT6 be sufficient or would it be recommended to go CAT7 or even 8 for this run? Nothing wrong with a cat5e, it will do 1gb for approx 90metres

Also electrical question, the ONT requires power but I do not have sockets at the front. Is it ok to spur off lights to create a new socket? Surely if your refurbing the property, a socket can be installed off the socket circuit, assuming it has rcd/rcbo protection? If you do use the light circuit for the socket, that will also need rcd/rcbo protection.

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

pippincp — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 12:48:31 GMT

@wes2 Running a 13 amp socket from a lighting circuit would result in your house insurance being null and void as no electrician would issue an elecrical safety certificate. The only allowable socker is a 5 amp 3 round pin one. Why not have the ONT placed where there is a socket available and run the ethernet cable from there?

As said CAT 5e is more than adequate for a 1Gb connection, use a higher spec if you wish to future proof.

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

wes2 — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 13:43:14 GMT

@pippincp because there is no electric socket at the front where the internet would likely enter the house. I would rather have the ONT in the office next to the modem but that would require walls and ceiling to be reopened once Openreach comes to connect in the future or have the fiber already in place which one is very disruptive and the other is a bit of a gamble not being able to test the cable. Would the 5 amp 3 round pin support the ONT or would I need to get the fuse box opened and run another power cable (more money XD)?

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

wes2 — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 13:49:36 GMT

@yorkspark It could, just looking for easier options that minimize cost and disruption. The house has been rewired already so was hoping it wouldn't require another heavy run through the house. We just never thought about the need for an ONT that needed electricity so didn't ad power sockets to this part of the house when we had the best opportunity in hindsight.

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

pippincp — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 15:55:03 GMT

@wes2 Why not have the ONT placed where there is a socket available and run the ethernet cable from there?

The ONT does not have to be placed where the fibre rises from the ducting, only the external CSP. From the the fibre can be run externall to an outside wall with power available.

Yes, a 5 amp socket will support the ONT but I cannot see any case where the engineer would take the time to cut off the 13 amp socket and fit a 5 amp plug for you.

Having assited an electrician for may years I fail to see the difference between running a 5 amp socket from the lighting serial main and a spur from the 13 amp socket ring main.

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

wes2 — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 18:09:22 GMT

@pippincp Again there is no electric socket at the front of the house, only light. To get to an existing socket, the cable would need to run over the roof, which is just ugly in my mind. That's why I was originally interested of running the fiber cable myself through the house where I need my modem. Somehow a socket will need to be created. That would in my case mean reopening finished bits for a new chase also from the other side of the house to bring a socket over (as my electrics is not in a ring I guess a new cable has to come straight from the fuse box) or making a spur from something that is closer aka the lights. I wouldn't expect an openreach engineer to do this, frankly I don't want them to as I want to have it decorated in between of now and connection date and not do it again, hence I will get someone else to prep it if that is not a DIY thing.

Best thing would still be running the fiber through the house, but I need to be sure before closing it all up that the cable is in a good working state, which I can't test prior connection.

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

pippincp — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 20:19:05 GMT

Wait, you've had it rewired and the sockets aren't on a ring main? Which cowboys did that? Do you have a valid safety certificate registered with the local authority (normally done by the electrician)? As regards having to go over the roof, forget it I have never heard anything so rediculous.

If the front is a flat roof it is not insurmountable and can be done with minimal damage. I know as I've had to run new cables through a flat roof and repaired the damage afterwards,run cables behind coving etc.

You don't need the ONT installed at the front of the property, you are making a mountain out of a molehill.

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

wes2 — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 21:38:48 GMT

So what would you suggest how all thing come together?

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

stevebrass — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 22:29:34 GMT

You can't reasonably expect people on this forum to give you advice on electrical wiring. You need to ask a qualified electrician to sort out the best way to get power to where you want. The 18th edition of the Wiring Regulations are detailed for a reason - safety - so you need somebody who knows them and works within them.

As to where you want it - you say that based on the layout of the house there is only one feasible place for the ONT so that's where the power would need to go.

By all means install ethernet cable from the ONT location to the study to link the ONT with the router.

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

pippincp — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 11:12:51 GMT

@wes2 I would suggest you ask the install engineer to place the ONT where there is a power supply.

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

connchri — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 19:11:40 GMT

I've just came across this thread, looking for pretty much the same info as yourself to move the ONT - I have a fibre splicer and once I find the correct fibre, I'll extend the entry point myself.

In regard to the electrical advice you've been given so far - I can assist, as I'm actually qualified. Albeit, if you are not competent, get an electrician in.

In regard to ring mains, and 'serial' circuits - this is incorrect terminology - it's ring final circuits or radial final circuits. Ring mains are use by DSO's and up (DSO's being the new name for DNO's) - they are not found in houses.

You can spur of a light circuit perfectly fine - the breaker will likely be rated at 6 amps for a light circuit, it is therefore not possible to overload the 1.5mm T&E circuit. The safety concern here is if you trip the breaker and end up in the dark - so to ensure that doesn't happen you use a fused connection unit (spur) with a 3 Amp fuse (the idea being you'll blow the fuse to the socket before you trip the light circuit breaker). That will be more than enough for your ONT, which will use a fraction of an Amp.

So, I know I'm late to the party here, but I thought I'd reply should someone else be in the same boat.

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

36ULW — Sat, 19 Aug 2023 14:08:58 GMT

They use Dexgreen Inside Out Fibre Cable.

Comes in pre terminated lengths of 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50m.

Unsure if you could buy them individually directly from Dexgreen. Most likely need to buy one from a Distributor/Seller.

https://dexgreen.com/blogs/dexgreen-news/inside-outside-cable

Re: What fiber cable does Openreach use? Running home network refurbishment

mikemod — Sat, 19 Aug 2023 15:24:12 GMT

I am currently powering my ONT via POE and using a POE splitter to supply the 12v Power so didn't need a socket.

TP-Link TL-PoE10r Gigabite PoE Splitter, only compatible with IEEE 802.3af devices, not compatible with 802.3at

The main reason for doing this was to use my UPS, which is 20M away in another part of the house.

Do Openreach insist on a power socket beside the ONT?