Full Fibre Installation & Ethernet Extension

[#1]

I currently have standard fibre & landline connection with Plusnet. I have an ethernet extension cable going from the box where the landline comes in and this runs to the building at the bottom of my garden. 

I'm due to have full fibre installed in a few weeks and I understand that this will need a new hole drilling into the house and a new box installed. Will it still be possible to run an ethernet extension from this new box? If so, is the engineer likely to attach it for me? If not, what re my alternative options? Digging up the existing ethernet cable from the garden would be most inconvenient!

Thanks!

[#2]

@fats1979 

I have an ethernet extension cable going from the box where the landline comes in and this runs to the building at the bottom of my garden. 

Not quite sure what you mean here, where is your router situated ?

I understand that this will need a new hole drilling into the house and a new box installed. 

The new box ( the ONT ) will need to be within 1m of a mains socket. The ONT has an ethernet connection to the router so it's possible to use an extension cable but it's needs to be Cat5e or better, otherwise you will limit the speed to < 100Mb.

[#3]

@MisterW Thanks for your reply!

My main router is siutated next to the box where the landline comes into the house. It is also next to a mains socket so no problem when this is replaced by the ONT. 

I had an extension wired into the existing box by an electrician and the ethernet cable runs down the garden and into a building there, where it's connected to another router acting as an access point. My question is, will I be able to replicate this set-up?

[#4]

@fats1979

I had an extension wired into the existing box by an electrician and the ethernet cable runs down the garden and into a building there, where it's connected to another router acting as an access point. My question is, will I be able to replicate this set-up?

That's still confusing me, if the ethernet cable is connected to a LAN port on the router then yes. you can just connect it to the new router. Beware though, the new router only has 3 LAN ports.

If the wiring is an extension to the telephone connection ( I don't see how it can be if the other router is acting an an access point ), then it's not going to work.

Maybe a photo would make it absolutely clear what sockets and connections you have ?

[#5 · Accepted solution]

@fats1979 

I'm confused as well but I assume the ethernet cable is connected to your current router. If so, you would simply connect the cable to the new router. With FTTP routers are connected via ethenet cable so you have a choice as to where they go so long as you're willing to run cable to the FTTP Optical Network Terminator (ONT).

A good engineer will also work with you (where possible) to site the ONT in a suitable location.

Brian

[#6]

OK, my fault! I have just been to check and he has actually fitted a new box next to the telephone connection. This contains the cable which extends out to the garden and is connected to the main router with a small piece of ethernet cable. 

So it sounds like I just repeat this i.e. connect my extention box to one of the LAN ports in the new router. 

Thanks for you help!

[#7]

@fats1979 I have just been to check and he has actually fitted a new box next to the telephone connection

That makes sense now. I have exactly the same set up, but my extension is from the front of the house to the back. I had it put in under the floor when the house was being rewired.

Do you know what category cable was used ? If it wasn't Cat5e or better , then you will be limited on speed via the extension to < 100Mb. If you've ordered 74Mb Full Fibre then it won't be a problem, but if it's anything faster , then you won't be able to achieve full speed via the extension.

[#8]

I'm not sure what category cable was used and with hindsight, I should have specified. I could find out but <100mb for the outside building is more than sufficient. 

[#9]

@fats1979  if you really want to test what the extension is capable of then you could use https://iperf.fr/

Assuming your current routers have gigabit capable LAN ports, then you would need two machines each with a gigabit NIC. Run an iperf server on a machine connected to the main router and a client connected to the router outside.