This topic

ONT install questions/viability

friscokid — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 09:17:10 GMT

Hi there am looking to get fibre installed.

We have our current modem/router and NAS under the stairs in cupboard. We had an aborted install when I wasn’t home. Engineer arrived, said they couldn’t put the ONT anywhere near where we need it, and that cables wouldn’t bend, etc.

I’ve had a good search around the forums so I think I understand the limits of what is possible.

Here are my questions and what I think are the options:

- We currently have (unused) coax cable running into that cupboard from an external front wall, this seems like the ’easist’ solution — install the ONT where the coax is, and get a set of Moca 3.0 converters (one to convert coax into ethernet to plug into the ONT, and the other end to connect to the modem/router. I have concerns as I’m not seeing much on the forums here when searching Moca and would like an opinion here please especially if there will be possible performance issues as this is the start of the whole network.

- Or, we have someone come in and run ethernet under the house, following the coax that we already have installed

- Or, we have someone run fibre into the cupboard and relocate the ONT into the cupboard (we have power in there) assume this is less desirable than running the ethernet due to cost and no real upsides in performance....

Is it truly a non-starter to have the installer run the fibre cable from the external access point into the house and into the cupboard? My research here indicates this is possible but because cable is expensive they won’t do it. Is that accurate?

Finally I read one post here where someone was able to determine before the engineer arrived if the cable to house would be from pole or underground, how can I find this out?

Many thanks in advance!

Re: ONT install questions/viability

licquorice — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 10:18:59 GMT

@friscokid wrote:

- We currently have (unused) coax cable running into that cupboard from an external front wall, this seems like the ’easist’ solution — install the ONT where the coax is, and get a set of Moca 3.0 converters (one to convert coax into ethernet to plug into the ONT, and the other end to connect to the modem/router. I have concerns as I’m not seeing much on the forums here when searching Moca and would like an opinion here please especially if there will be possible performance issues as this is the start of the whole network.

That would appear to be an option, Moca 3.0 is 10Gbs capable

- Or, we have someone come in and run ethernet under the house, following the coax that we already have installed

Also an option, you need to price that versus Moca adapters

- Or, we have someone run fibre into the cupboard and relocate the ONT into the cupboard (we have power in there) assume this is less desirable than running the ethernet due to cost and no real upsides in performance....

Not an option, unacceptable to Openreach

Is it truly a non-starter to have the installer run the fibre cable from the external access point into the house and into the cupboard? My research here indicates this is possible but because cable is expensive they won’t do it. Is that accurate?

Finally I read one post here where someone was able to determine before the engineer arrived if the cable to house would be from pole or underground, how can I find this out?

Enter your details in the checker, https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL it will indicate method. It will almost certainly be the same as your current copper connection.

Many thanks in advance!

Re: ONT install questions/viability

friscokid — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 10:54:35 GMT

Thanks much appreciate the quick reply. If anyone out there has practical experience using Moca converters would love to hear....

Re: ONT install questions/viability

WSH — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 11:59:06 GMT

No experience with MOCA converters but I would query what the coax is? How old is the cable? Is it an old Virgin cable or old TV aerial? Although both coax, they are different impedances. I’d want to know a lot more about the cable before I committed to that, if I were you.

As Virgin used to use coax, you may find it useful to pick-brains on the Virgin forum.

Re: ONT install questions/viability

friscokid — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 12:04:27 GMT

Hi thanks for the reply and great point. Yes Virgin was the supplier, but my builders installed the internal coax so would need to have a look.

One hiccup already seeing is that the MOCA adaptors out there still seem to be the 2.5 standard, not the 3.0 (yet).... So based on the cost of the good versions of those and figuring the 3.0 tech will be more expensive, seems like re-cabling with ethernet is going to make the most sense...

Re: ONT install questions/viability

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 09:57:52 GMT

@friscokid

"So based on the cost of the good versions of those and figuring the 3.0 tech will be more expensive, seems like re-cabling with ethernet is going to make the most sense... "

I would add to that, the fact that by definition the MOCA adapters are "active" - which means that they use power and have electronics inside. Anything active can fail.

In contract, an ethernet cable is "passive" - it has no electronics and uses no power itself - so much less likely to go wrong.

Given the choice between using active equipment and a passive cable, all other things being equal, I would choose a cable every time.

This doesn't just apply to ethernet, it applies equally to HDMI etc.

Re: ONT install questions/viability

friscokid — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 09:59:51 GMT

v good point @Anonymous thank you