Reroute fible cable in house

[#1]

@pgorst 

As you and some others have pointed out, the CSP and ONT are not necessarily placed close together.

When I had my FTTP installed (indoor CSP with conduit between the two) I asked the OR installer for the excess 25 metres of fibre to be coiled up and left under the floorboards  which he was quite happy to do.  I explained to him that that would enable the ONT to be easily moved in the future if I ever wished to do so, just by installing another conduit and pulling the fibre through.

So I'd suggest your proposal of unclipping the cable and rerouting it yourself would be possible, providing, as you say, you don't damage it in the process, paying particular attention to protecting the plug on the end from dust and scratches.

Good luck!

[#2 · Accepted solution]

@pgorst you can get diy ONT relocation kits https://www.premitel.uk/consultancy/expert-advice/how-to-relocate-the-ont-fibre-termination-point/

[#3]

Thanks @RobPN   I might just give this a go.  

And good planning in advance with getting some extra cable coiled up - I should have asked for a bit extra!  🙂

[#4]

Thanks @MisterW   This is very interesting!  

[#5]

I was also interested to read of these extension kits, especially the smaller diameter of the fibre when compared with Ethernet cable. I then realised that when routing through walls etc, the ready terminated optical 'plugs' will need a much larger clearance hole than is required by Ethernet cable, so any advantage is immediately lost.

[#6]

@Baldrick1 yes, I guess it's true that the plug on the end is always going to be larger than the cable diameter, but so is the case for any cable type really, e.g. Cat6 ethernet - the RJ45 is wider diameter... e.g. a 240v cable - the plug on the end is much much wider.  The difference though is that most other cable types can have the termination plug fitted after cable installation.  I wonder if a fibre termination tool (and/or DIY knowledge) will ever be viable.

In my scenaio, the width of the plug is negligable (probably <10mm), and so within accepable tolerance for holes to be drilled where I need them.

[#7]

@pgorst 

But where is the advantage? As you say, with copper cable it easy to terminate the cable after installation. I have no idea how easy it is to terminate fibre these days, I did witness it many years ago and it involved special tools, much care with fibre offcuts as they had to be treated as ‘sharps’ and polishing the cut ends.

Leaving the ONT where it is and using Ethernet cable will do exactly the same job and is much cheaper. The only advantage that I can see with moving the ONT is with picking the mains up at the new location.

[#8]

@pgorst @Baldrick1 

I believe that's why they want to place the CSP at low level outside the house....  the inside cable is pre-terminated with a plug which stay inside and plugs into the ONT, the other end isn't terminated and goes into the CSP where it is joined/spliced to the overhead or underground cable.  It is a special splice tool that is used and I believe it is pretty expensive.

As I understand it the outside cable has a plug that connects to the CBT on the pole (or underground) on one end and is cut down to length at the CSP... spare cable is coiled and left in the CSP in case the cables need to be rejoined...  same with the inside to outside cable.

AIUI fiddling with the joints, and even the plugs, is error prone and best avoided if possible due to the possible ingress of dust and dirt to the optical connection.  If you use the extension kits be sure to keep the connections as clean as possible.  -- sorry it is just what I have read and not really from personal experience.

[#9]

@Baldrick1 

I believe the OP isn't actually talking about moving the ONT but the route of the fibre from the CSP to the ONT.

As to holes in the wall, you can get wall plates that have "brushes" to cover unslightly large holes but easily take a pre fitted cable plug. Not the neatest solution but better than having a hole visible.

Brian

[#10]

@Baldrick1  I have routers connected by single mode fibre with SFP modules, the terminations will pretty easily pass through a 10mm hole which is not  a massive size.