Wiring - maintain landline use in the house.

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rayonline

1734 posts

Uber Geek

#115719 4-Apr-2013 13:36

Hi, we are looking at getting UFB for our place as we are coming off a contract soon.

First off is 4 weeks enough time for a install?

We can get UFB. I have been advised that Chorus would do the install and unplug the line off the copper, the modem/router can be placed in the lounge upstairs, sweet. To maintain use of our landlines - all the phone jacks look the same as in the bedrooms those RJ11 boxes if I'm not mistaken. In the past when the Chorus guy came in to do checks they opened up a plate in the garage. So to maintain use of landlines is it simply just plugging a cable from the lounge's RJ11 or is there more work involved? Any idea what I am looking at?

Currently looking at the Telecom UFB connection which they provide copper for the meantime before the fibre switchover for voice services or one of the other ISPs if the work isn't too extensive.

Thanks.

gustov

197 posts

Master Geek

#793190 4-Apr-2013 13:52

I had identical questions to yours before we had fibre installed last July 2012. If you read my write-up it will probably answer your questions:

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=135&topicid=106897

When the installation takes place is by agreement between you and the installer, mine was done six days after applying. If at all possible try and be home so you can direct the installers where you want the ETP and ONT, and deal with any unexpected issues. Allow a full day for the install.

Keep your copper line cables and just have the installer hook it into the ONT for the VOIP telephone service so you don't have to change any of your existing phones, wall sockets, etc.

rayonline

1734 posts

Uber Geek

#793259 4-Apr-2013 14:58

Thanks for the write up :)

So the installation to you were free? That included the works to get the landlines working?

How much work was it - as I understand from the ONT POTS1 to the ETP outside, was there a need to adjust the wirings or install ATAs also?

You mentioned that ONT to your modem/router are they two different things? I read that ONT is the modem, and you need a router for wireless yeah what about just ethernet? Could you just plug a laptop into the ONT?

gustov

197 posts

Master Geek

#793280 4-Apr-2013 15:30

Yes, everything was free. The free install offer concluded at the end of 2012 but the uptake of UFB by those with access to it was so poor the Government really needed to do something to encourage more sign ups, so the free offer remains in place.

The install is BIG job! I'm technically inclined and estimated it would take half a day at most, but two installers were here from 8am to 6:30pm. You want them at your place as early in the day as possible because if there is a commissioning problem that occurs late in the day (say 5:30pm onwards) the installers are on your premises but the people they need to talk to at Chorus to check settings, have gone home for the day!

The installers had no problem with connecting up the existing copper phone network to the ONT, remember the fibre being laid is actually comprised of two fibre cables and two pairs of copper cable, so at the ONT end they simply use one pair of the copper cables, plug it into the POTS1 socket, and from the ETP (where the other end of th copper is) they ran a short 3 metre copper cable up to the old existing external entry point to connect up to the existing copper telephone service

Yes, I think you are correct about being able to plug your laptop directly into the ONT because when my UFB went offline for 20 minutes a few months ago my ISP wanted me to plug the laptop straight into the ONT to check that I did not have an internal cable fault. The internet came back online before I needed to do this, so I didn't bother trying. What I was given was a Linksys E900 wirless four port router. It's input connection is an RJ46 socket (like all routers).

If you have specific requirements, like wanting your existing phones to remain on their copper network, then I would encourage you to be at home during the install to manage everything. Our installers were very obliging, and even at my request they happily ran a CAT5 from the ONT under the floor to our office, so the router was located in the office and not stuck behind the TV with the ONT. Bribe them with chocolate biscuits if necessary.