Forum Discussion

monkey44's avatar
monkey44
Nomad II
Apr 10, 2021

Fiber Optic

If our service company installs new Fiber Optic wiring to our home will we need to rewire the interior in order to gain any benefit from the Fiber Optic. My thoughts are the upgraded signal ends at the service box, attached outside on an exterior wall.

The interior wiring is standard home cable service. And, includes cable wiring inside the RV as well. Which I installed a few years ago for regular Cable.

Seems to me we'd have to install new wiring into the service boxes inside as well. So, it's like rewiring the home interior, and also new wire to the RV port, and inside the RV to the TV connections in order for that upgrade to actually upgrade the electronic units.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    They should run Fiber-Optic to an interface box.. From there out you either run CAT 5 or 6 (i'd run 6) or Wi-Fi... Same as you are running now.

    The only things that will need to be redone and you may be able to get them to set it up so you don't have to do that.

    You may need to scan for Wi-Fi access points and select your new one and enter a new SSID.

    You may find your IP-addresses have changed.

    Now for Television.. (if they stream both TV and Internet over the fiber) I'm not sure how that works. if they convert to NTSC or QAM and feed your house with RF from a micro transmitter in the box or if they put fiber to HDMI set top boxes on every TV in which case fiber lines will need to be run.

    I simply do not know.
  • You're gonna love that. FO is the most blazing fast internet I've ever had. Fiber to a box outside, then Cat5 to computer.
  • 2oldman wrote:
    You're gonna love that. FO is the most blazing fast internet I've ever had. Fiber to a box outside, then Cat5 to computer.


    Do I run Cat5 inside my home if the service company does not. I guess my question is mainly, I need it - no matter who runs it. IF the service company does not, then I do it or I don't truly have the upgrade???
  • You will need CAT 5E cable if running a wired network to each device. Plain CAT 5 will work, but bog down if used to stream over 1gb over a short time.

    If you have the proper fiber router from the cable company then all you need to make sure is you have a wifi router that can handle 1gb network that is connected to it. If it's an all in one unit, then you only need at least the 5e cable to anything you have coming in or out of the main router.

    If you still have an old wifi that only handles 100mbps connected to that fiber router, then anything connecting to that wifi will only be 100mbps at best.

    Good luck! Mitch
  • monkey44 wrote:
    Do I run Cat5 inside my home if the service company does not.
    That's how mine worked. The FO ran to a box on the outside of house, then the only choice I had was the snap-in connectors.
  • I have fiber to the house. Verizon ran a cat5 wire to my router. The tvs are run off of the same coax as they always have been. The smart TV's and computers and cell phones run wireless off of the router.

    You should not have to run the cat 5 unless you want it on the opposite end of the house from where the service company's equipment is mounted. Then you might have to provide the wiring.

    Some companies use fiber to the curb and I am not sure what they run from the street to the house.

    Either way you will love the quality of the product.
  • you can have fiber direct to a modem in your house that connects to a router...or you can have fiber that goes through a converter outside the house then through traditional coax to a regular cable modem/router inside. I have the latter with Cox and it works great.
  • monkey44 wrote:
    2oldman wrote:
    You're gonna love that. FO is the most blazing fast internet I've ever had. Fiber to a box outside, then Cat5 to computer.


    Do I run Cat5 inside my home if the service company does not. I guess my question is mainly, I need it - no matter who runs it. IF the service company does not, then I do it or I don't truly have the upgrade???
    Get the service and see what speed they promise and what you get.
    Then decide best value with what upgrades.
  • Simple answer: NO!

    More in depth:
    ISP/SP (Service Provider) supply/install ONT (Optical Network Terminal) box needs power & earth ground. Also keep in mind your landline (POTS) feeds from ONT as well. All ISP/SP ONT boxes offer coax (TV) and an RJ-45 (WAN Port to Firewall/Router)

    If possible, provide a fiber path into your garage (Cleaner install). If you're not into DIY call an electrician with network cabling experience.

    Yes, you can have fiber (Patch cord) from ONT connecting what's called Pro-Sumer product like Netgate 2100 pfSense firewall/router running snort pfblocker, Suricata. (Guessing it's not something you need).
  • The original cable box is on the garage wall, outside. So, I'm sure the installer will use it again. I can punch a hole right there, and be in my garage. Can then route anything I need into the attic and then anywhere in any wall in the house.

    I'm DIY, person - but my daughter's husband is an electrician - so I can get his help when the times comes.

    My main question was - do I need something more inside the house - so I can ask if that is part of the service install, if not, then I'll just do it.

    From what I understand here, it probably needs some upgrades inside, so will see what the service installer does as his part. Then I will know. Once they finish, if no work is included inside, then I will add whatever cables I need. Thanks for the advice guys ... M 44 :)

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