Do you have to use BT Smart Hub 2 with BT Full Fibre?

[Chris101]

Hi All,

Openreach have finally rolled out full fibre ( 900 mbps) to our street and now looking at moving on from old 74 mbps FTTC via BT.

A few years ago I replaced the old BT Hub that ran with the original whole home discs with a Draytek Vigor and Asus Zenwifi 6e Pro ET home mesh set up ( big old house) and it has worked seamlessly since, especially since I added ethernet backhaul. 

Getting FTTP means Openreach would replace their Master Socket 5C with a new fibre ONT.

Two questions:

Q1 Can I keep the Asus set up and not use the BT Smart Hub2  ?  Note we no longer use voice (digital or copper)  just our mobiles. 

Q2 The current Openreach Master Socket is on our first floor, with cables hanging to pole in street.  How do the optical fibre runs usually work? Asking as in Conservation area with additional conditions on anything that impacts street view, so cables running from ground level up side of building are problematic

Thanks in advance 

[imjolly]

as you do not have DV then you can continue to use your own equipment.  the fibre cable will normally follow the existing copper cable if the is currently supplied from pole.  openreach will not be replacing the existing master socket as ONT may be connected at a different location depending where fibre enters your home.  If current cable attaches to your home at roof level that a cable will ned to run down wall to ground level the CSP will be sited

there are numerous posts on forum similar to yours for reference

[iniltous]

If you don’t have or want Digital Voice , then it’s not a requirement to use the BT SH2 , as far as your existing equipment being compatible, you would need to do your own research or someone more ‘au fait’ may confirm its compatibility …it needs to have a LAN port to connect to the ONT , so if it doesn’t then it’s definitely not compatible.
If you are served overhead , the fibre cable will almost certainly come from the same pole , and attach to the building using the existing bracket ….the ONT , within reason (time and practicality limits ) can be where you want it , if that’s close to the existing copper master socket (which becomes redundant) that’s probably fine unless that’s impractical,  for example like a flat roof has to be accessed, (working in a flat roof is not normally allowed) … these things are usually discussed on the appointment date, if agreement can’t be reached regarding the ONT location and cable route to it, the  installation is ‘paused’ and you cancel the order with your provider

[licquorice]

@iniltous it needs a WAN port, not a LAN port to connect to the ONT.

[iniltous]

Silly me , yep , meant a WAN port

[Chris101]

Thanks. The Asus can go up to 2.5 gb from ISP into its WAN port so 900 mbps via BT Openreach not going to be an issue!

[Chris101]

Thanks. I did see a few posts here on BT Forum and on others - understandably no one splicing fibre at height off a ladder, hence various descriptions of routing from where CSP located to ONT, which granted might be at a new location.

Many moons ago the BT engineer moving us from old PSTN2 service managed cable run from pole through external wall to the attic ( boarded and with power etc) and down to Master Socket just below on 1st Floor  which of course kept it simple and was very quick. 

Regardless, will have the chocolate biscuits and tea / coffee at the ready 👍