This topic

Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

BMD10 — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 08:39:34 GMT

I'm wanting to switch to fibre optic but I don't want to move my Home Hub 2 because I have an Ethernet cable wired from it to my PC and I would have to re-route that and other wire connections from solar panels data readings and stuff. To compound problems Wi-Fi transmission through the walls in my house is a 4-letter word and I may get further problems from the Powerwall data feed signal from that.

Is it possible during Openreach installation of fibre to have the fibre terminate at a 'wall box' with fibre input and ADSL RJ11-RJ output cable going to a Homehub 2 located 5-6m away?

Homehub 2 inputs

https://www.bt.com/help/broadband/learn-about-the-ports-on-your-bt-hub

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

imjolly — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 09:03:47 GMT

can you enter your phone number or address and post results including the notes which are attached. this will show what is available and how fibre is likely to be installed

how does your existing phone line enter your home - underground or OH from pole?

https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

WSH — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 09:32:18 GMT

By "wall box" I assume you mean the ONT, Optical Network Terminal, where the fibre terminates. If so, the output to the router is cat 5e ethernet with RJ45 plugs, not RJ11 phone cable. This means you could theoretically have up to 100m between them.

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

iniltous — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 09:44:20 GMT

If the ONT can be located near the phone socket that the router is currently connected to , then your router connects to the ONT , instead of the phone socket , the ONT needs power ( so it needs to be near a power outlet ) and close enough to the place where the external cable attaches to your property , so that the installer can cable from there to the of the phone socket socket .

The installer will try and locate ( within reason ) the ONT where you want it , unless there is a reason it can’t be practically done , like you live in a terrace property, served from the front and you want the ONT at the rear , and there is no external ‘cable on wall’ option to wire to get from the front to the back , two items are provided a CSP external where the external fibre cable is spliced to the internal fibre cable , and the ONT an internal powered device that the internal fibre connects , and where you connect your router

If where you want the ONT ( next to the phone socket ) has no power outlets , an extension cable can be used but obviously you may want to get a more permanent power outlet provided, or you can provide your own Ethernet cable from the likely most practical position of the ONT to where your router is .

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

BMD10 — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 18:40:49 GMT

My existing phone line comes in off a pole. Sadly my phone number won't work on that site for some reason.

What is an ONT? Is the ONT connected via cable? I was thinking of placing this ONT (assuming that's where the fibre comes in) at the top of a wall, the lead could reach down to a power socket near there. Can I then have an ordinary ADSL cable from there to the Home Hub 2 with RJ11 on both ends?

I see the ONT is a new modem, I do not really want that. What I want is the fibre to come in and link to some kind of simple adapter box, where I can have fibre in and ADSL cable out, so that I can run a bendable ADSL cable from this point to my current router. Basically I want to convent the cable from fibre optics to ADSL after it comes in to solve the bending issues. I could put in this cable myself pre-installation, so that it's ready to go. It's a real shame we can't actually ask Openreach directly about this kind of stuff, because the BT salespeople selling the packages just go on about speed and haven't got a clue about installation or what they're selling in the slightest.

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

imjolly — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 18:31:51 GMT

Then as I posted try your address

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

BMD10 — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 18:45:19 GMT

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

iniltous — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 19:08:00 GMT

You don’t seem to have much idea what getting FTTP from Openreach entails , this link shows the installation of OR FTTP , it’s the same regardless of ISP , so it’s irrelevant that it’s not BT , it’s exactly the same process .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2W8S_l8b0c

TBH , you have a somewhat strange set of requirements, if what’s shown on this video is not what you want , it’s best not to order , basically the ONT replaces the phone socket as the point where the router is connected , your statement that you don’t want an ONT shows you don’t appreciate how the service works , and IMHO its a little off to criticise the BT customer service representatives lack of understanding given your own , pretty clear misapprehensions.

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

licquorice — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 19:01:42 GMT

You are entirely misunderstanding how fibre provision is achieved.

The fibre enters the house and terminates in the ONT (optical modem). The output of the ONT is Ethernet which is a direct replacement of your DSL cable effectively. It is just standard cat 5e cable.

The ONT and your router can be up to 100 metres apart.

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

BMD10 — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 09:15:59 GMT

I'm not really supposed to understand how it works. I'm not the one selling it. Last time someone came out to do it I had to cancel because they didn't want to put it where the current phone socket was, they wanted to put it up on a wall in the longer, and that causes absolute hell for me as regards the rest of the connections in my house. They said it can't go to the current position because of 'the bends'.

Thanks for the link BTW.🙂

At 1:40, I'd like to go through options before the day rather than on the day, that's the problem.

Having watched the video, is the case that the fibre links to this 'ONT', which plugs into a power socket and connects to my Home Hub 2 with an Ethernet Cable with RJ45 at both ends? Can this cable be 5-6m long? Does the phone still link to the Hub? Is there a wiring schematic anywhere?

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

BMD10 — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 09:22:23 GMT

Hi, so I can have the ONT in the next room plugged into a power socket and have a Cat 5 (RJ45 Connector) from there to my Home Hub 2 which remains connected to everything was normal. My Home Hub 2 has an RJ11 Broadband input, do I cannect to there still or one of the other ports?

https://www.bt.com/help/broadband/learn-about-the-ports-on-your-bt-hub

Is PORT 1 RJ45 connection?

https://www.bt.com/help/broadband/whats-an-openreach-modem-ont

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

ptrduffy — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 12:31:26 GMT

Having watched the video, is the case that the fibre links to this 'ONT', which plugs into a power socket and connects to my Home Hub 2 with an Ethernet Cable with RJ45 at both ends?

Yes

Can this cable be 5-6m long?

Yes (up to 100m)

Does the phone still link to the Hub?

Your phone will plug into a socket on the back of the Hub (assuming you're moving to Digital Voice).

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

ptrduffy — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 12:33:18 GMT

Hi, so I can have the ONT in the next room plugged into a power socket and have a Cat 5 (RJ45 Connector) from there to my Home Hub 2 which remains connected to everything was normal.

Yes

My Home Hub 2 has an RJ11 Broadband input, do I cannect to there still or one of the other ports?

One of the other ports (specifcally LAN 4)

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

WSH — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 12:36:54 GMT

I'd refer you back to my reply in message 3.

The ONT is effectively an optical modem. Full fibre won't work without it. It requires power and so must be close to a power point. Fibre optic cable cannot cope with tight bends. Those two factors may limit where they can put it.

The ONT connects to your router via an ethernet cat 5e cable with RJ45 plugs. It plugs into LAN port 4 on the Smart Hub 2, which is configured to act as a port specifically for that connection. RJ11 cables are no longer involved. The spec. for ethernet is that it should be able to travel up to 100m between devices, so potentially you could have 100m between the ONT and your router.

Your phone, (or your extensions), plugs into a socket on the back of the Smart Hub 2 using a standard phone plug, (a BT 431A plug).

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

BMD10 — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:01:27 GMT

So LAN port 4 is number 4 of the yellow ones (right) here? And I just leave the broadband input (grey - left) empty? Phone stays plugged into green input yes? How long is the Cat 5e RJ45 cable that comes with the ONT?

https://www.bt.com/help/broadband/learn-about-the-ports-on-your-bt-hub

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

licquorice — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:01:10 GMT

Yes

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

BMD10 — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:21:52 GMT

One last question, will it still work with a Cat 6a cable? E.g. this: Digoloan Ethernet Cable 10m, Cat 6/Cat6a High Speed PoE Internet Lan Cable, Gigabit 500MHz

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

licquorice — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:13:20 GMT

Yes, but please delete the link as it breaches forum rules.

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

WSH — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:24:47 GMT

The ethernet cable supplied is just shy of 2m. I've not had chance to check the power lead but people on here have suggested anywhere between 0.5 and 1.5m. Cat 5e, 6, 6A, 7 and 8 will all work fine but performance-wise 7 and 8 are way over the top. A bit like buying a Ferrari just to do the weekly shop.

I seem to recall you saying you wanted the ONT at the top of the wall. Just so you are aware, there are lights on the box so it may be a bit obvious at the top of a wall.

Edit: And while I think about it, the last 6A I encountered was considerably thicker than 5e and 6. About the diameter of 13A mains flex, in fact.

Re: Fibre to Homehub 2 installation question.

BMD10 — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 08:43:18 GMT

If it put it down low though, the incoming fibre from pole would also have to come in low and block garden path though.

I realise that, even Cat 6a is over the top but I thought I may as well future proof a bit and it's the same price anyway. Will the thickness actually pose a problem wrt plugging in though, I should be okay routing it.