ONT or modem - which is it?

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › ONT or modem - which is it?

Greenshire

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#318070 12-Dec-2024 12:49

I have just had a very confusing conversation with ONE NZ Chat (Human chat) trying to find out if we have the right connection to get ONENZSmart WIFI https://one.nz/broadband/ so that we can have a MESH system. I asked if our connection was correct for the DECO modem on the plan or whether we needed an ONT. I sent a photo of our current connection and the guy said it was an ONT but I always thought it was a modem. I have attached pictures.

Thanks for your help

ascroft

395 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3319540 12-Dec-2024 12:56

Looks like an old style HFC cable connection?

ONTs are for fibre connections and doesn't look to me like you have this.

common sense is not very common

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
13729 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3319546 12-Dec-2024 13:07

CSR is confused :D

Long as you have network ports spare on the back of that unit, you can add any form of wifi you want to it. If it has no spare ports (so single ethernet port), then you'd need a switch first. Modem -> Switch -> Wifi

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree - kiwiblast.co.nz - Lego and more

Support Kiwi music! The People Black Smoke Trigger Like A Storm Devilskin

NZ GEEKS Discord______________________________

robjg63

4091 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#3319547 12-Dec-2024 13:13

ascroft:

Looks like an old style HFC cable connection?

ONTs are for fibre connections and doesn't look to me like you have this.

As above...

Not a Fibre ONT box - that black cable with SERIES written on it does not look like a fibre cable.

Assuming you can pick it up and look on the back, does it have a make/model sticker on it?

Are you specifically wanting to know whether you have fibre, or are you actually wondering if you can connect your Mesh router into your current internet connection?

I should think you probably can connect an ethernet cable from one of the ports on that grey box to the first Mesh router.

At a guess, you could use the port where the yellow ethernet cable is plugged in. Where does that currently head off to in your house?

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Spyware

3736 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#3319549 12-Dec-2024 13:15

Cable modem currently connects to Voda Ultra Hub by the looks of it.

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.

Rickles

2914 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3319550 12-Dec-2024 13:17

Yep, that's the Technicolor HFC 'modem'.

Greenshire

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3319565 12-Dec-2024 14:22

Thanks for all your replies. So, the ONENZ customer service agent was incorrect. I am wondering if I can connect a MESH router to the modem (or router). The yellow cable goes to the router, which has one spare LAN port. Would I connect the MESH router to the router or the modem?

We still have a landline (elderly parents) so need to maintain that capability.

MurrayM

2449 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3319582 12-Dec-2024 15:10

If you're on the old HFC cable system (eg you're not on fibre) then One NZ won't sell you their SmartWiFi.

Their terms say:

SmartWiFi is available as an add-on to the following broadband plans:
1. For $5 per month on a 12 month term with Fibre Starter, Fibre Everyday or Fibre Max; or
2. For $0 per month on a 12 month term with 5G Unlimited Wireless Broadband and 4G Unlimited Wireless Broadband.

Tradepub

Free professional, reference and technical white papers (affiliate link).

Greenshire

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3319603 12-Dec-2024 15:48

Thanks, that is very helpful. I had assumed we were on fibre! Presumably, if I bought the mESH units there is nothing preventing me from setting up them myself?

nitro

647 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3319606 12-Dec-2024 15:56

it's just they're own people getting confused with HFC - Hybrid Fibre Coax. :D

ascroft

395 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3319672 12-Dec-2024 17:44

Can you check if Fibre is available at your address and get that, and then get the mesh?

common sense is not very common

quickymart

13785 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#3319695 12-Dec-2024 18:54

Greenshire:

Thanks for all your replies. So, the ONENZ customer service agent was incorrect.

nitro:

it's just they're own people getting confused with HFC - Hybrid Fibre Coax. :D

What a surprise 🙄 at least they didn't ask you to call Chorus to figure it out, I guess.

Might be time to upgrade to fibre with a free install?

Aaron2222

216 posts

Master Geek

#3319747 12-Dec-2024 20:59

Greenshire:

I had assumed we were on fibre!

Wasn't sold to you as "FibreX" was it?

Greenshire

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3319754 12-Dec-2024 21:53

Hi,

No, it wasn't sold to us as fibreX (as far as I can remember). Unfortunately, the upgrade to get a smart wifi modem is above our budget, so will probably go back to using a WIFI extender.

Thanks everyone for all your help.

Rickles

2914 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3319842 13-Dec-2024 08:43

You still need the UltaHub to maintain the 'landline' telephone, but any mesh units could be connected to it ... just turn off wifi on the UntraHub and use smart mesh units?

MurrayM

2449 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3319879 13-Dec-2024 11:22

Greenshire:

Thanks, that is very helpful. I had assumed we were on fibre! Presumably, if I bought the mESH units there is nothing preventing me from setting up them myself?

Yes you could just buy the units and set them up yourself. A few months ago I switched to One's SmartWiFi. I was already on fibre but an older plan and they had to move me to one of their new plans (which costs me a bit more each month). Getting the Deco units for $5 each per month for 12 months worked out much cheaper than me just buying them outright (about half the retail price). I replaced my old Ultra Hub router with one of the units in my office and put the other unit in the living room and saw an immediate improvement in WiFi strength/speeds. We don't have a landline so that wasn't a consideration for us.