Confusing Fibre/Wifi setup. Please help clarify.

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Confusing Fibre/Wifi setup. Please help clarify.

ModelCitizen

7 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#323859 27-Jan-2026 08:59

Please someone help me understand why the need of two wifi routers here. I recently moved into a house with this setup. It works but I would like less clutter and not have two wifi devices if not necessary.

The Chorus ONT despite (seemingly) being a wifi router itself doesn't broadcast wifi but is obviously required to accept the incoming fibre. Is this a normal looking setup? I am new to fibre.

Many thanks for reading.

RunningMan

9184 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4833

#3456287 27-Jan-2026 09:07

Yes, that's totally normal.

WiFi from the ONT is a discontinued service quite some time ago.

Dynamic

4015 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1849

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3456290 27-Jan-2026 09:14

Yes, agreed this is normal. The ONT converts the fibre cable to an ethernet cable that you can use for your own router and basically it does nothing more.

I understand there was a plan originally for the ONT devices to also be used as a wireless router as well. That would have meant a basic household had only one device (a combo ONT and Wi-Fi router) instead of two (the ONT and a separate Wi-Fi router) but for some reason this approach never got widespread adoption and was cancelled.

I'd put the ONT back onto its wall bracket and fold the antenna down.

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

CYaBro

4708 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1182

ID Verified

Trusted

#3456347 27-Jan-2026 09:58

Yea that Chorus ONT should be sitting on the wall bracket, with the Moving House sticker on it, then you can fold the antenna down.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Goosey

3012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 866

Subscriber

#3456392 27-Jan-2026 12:48

Your biggest problem is the way the cat cable all comes out the wall. I suspect the designer thought there would be a cabinet or whatever going here to house the patch panel and devices.

appears to be poorly designed cable run or was installed this way for a specific purpose that doesn’t fit the normal way things are done.

Is this inside the house or in the garage?