location of ONT, PSU/battery, Router, STB, phone adapter
new_customer
Enthusiast - Level 1

I am intending to convert from TimeWarner cable TV/internet and regular landline phone to FIOS triple essentials.  A couple weeks ago an installer came to string the fiber from the pole to the roof eve.  I talked to him and understood that the ONT would go under the eve near where the existing phone lightning surge arrestor and TV/internet cable splitter are now located.  Outputs from the ONT would connect directly into the phone wires, the TV cable, and the cable to the computer (modem) router which are all grouped right there under the eve.  The only additional wiring would need to be from the PSU/battery to the ONT.

A different installer came to my house yesterday to put in the FIOS equipment and make the connections.  He said he needed to put the ONT within 12 ft of the electric utility meter and run his own grounding wire to the ONT because the existing grounding wire for the existing surge arrestor and CableTV was too long (it is about 30 ft).  He said the existing grounding wire did not comply with newer changes to building code.  I won't argue with that, but it caused a problem because he wanted to also put the PSU/battery near the ONT.  The only nearby AC outlet was thru the wall into the formal living room where the PSU/battery would be located.  Wife, and I, rejected that.  The installers only alternative proposal was to have me, at my expense, hire an electrician to mount an exterior weatherproof box near the AC meter and run conduit/wires from the breaker/meter box to this new box.  The new box needs to be large enough to contain an AC outlet and the PSU/battery (14" x 10" x 3.5").  I estimate this would be a several hundred $$ expense, which I really don't care to spend.  Also, the location of this box on the outside wall is in direct afternoon sun where temperatures would get very hot.  This is not good for the PSU electronics nor for the battery (which I understand is my problem to replace when it fails).

So, my questions are: 

   What is the maximum distance allowable between the ONT and the PSU/battery?

   What type of wiring (gauge, voltage rating, number of conductors, etc) is needed to connect the ONT to the PSU/battery?

There is an indoor broom closet about 18 ft from the utility meter.  If the PSU/battery is put in this closet, it would be easy to run low voltage wires thru the attic and thru the outside wall to the ONT under the eve near the AC meter.  If the installer did not sign-up to do attic wiring then I would be willing to do this myself.  It sure beats hiring an electrician to install an outdoor box.  The outdoor box would probably also need a building permit, whereas the low voltage wiring would not.

The above described trouble also got me thinking about other installation issues:

How does the phone wiring get 48Vdc bias?  Does this come from the PSU/battery via the ONT, and delivered to tip-ring wiring out of the ONT?

Does the TV signal come out of the ONT, via coax cable and connect directly into the RG59 house cabling and splitters from multiple TVs?

A SetTopBox goes at the other end of this coax, near the main TV in the family room, right?  Does the STB also need a cat5 cable to it?

Do I need to rent another STB at the TV in the bedroom?  I've heard that there are simple converter boxes that let you use the TV's own tuner to select channel.  True?

Does the STB have an output for FM radio antenna connection, or do I get the music channels directly from the STB via audio band RCA cables?

Does computer (internet data) connect to the ONT or to the STB?  This is cat5, right?  Internet used to travel via coax from the eve to a cable modem in the home office.  Will the installer replace that coax with cat5?

Does the new FIOS router have at least 3 RJ45 ports (for other computers, X-box/Playstation) as well as wireless for laptops?

Can the new FIOS router also act as a hub for home network data/printer sharing?

Are there interconnect diagrams available anywhere on the Verizon website (or other sites) that can  help me understand?

Thanks in advance to anyone that can answer any of my questions.

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Re: location of ONT, PSU/battery, Router, STB, phone adapter
BrianMcD
Specialist - Level 1

The above described trouble also got me thinking about other installation issues:

How does the phone wiring get 48Vdc bias?  Does this come from the PSU/battery via the ONT, and delivered to tip-ring wiring out of the ONT?

Does the TV signal come out of the ONT, via coax cable and connect directly into the RG59 house cabling and splitters from multiple TVs?

A SetTopBox goes at the other end of this coax, near the main TV in the family room, right?  Does the STB also need a cat5 cable to it?

Do I need to rent another STB at the TV in the bedroom?  I've heard that there are simple converter boxes that let you use the TV's own tuner to select channel.  True?

Does the STB have an output for FM radio antenna connection, or do I get the music channels directly from the STB via audio band RCA cables?

Does computer (internet data) connect to the ONT or to the STB?  This is cat5, right?  Internet used to travel via coax from the eve to a cable modem in the home office.  Will the installer replace that coax with cat5?

Does the new FIOS router have at least 3 RJ45 ports (for other computers, X-box/Playstation) as well as wireless for laptops?

Can the new FIOS router also act as a hub for home network data/printer sharing?

Are there interconnect diagrams available anywhere on the Verizon website (or other sites) that can  help me understand?

Thanks in advance to anyone that can answer any of my questions.


  • FIOS provides phone service by providing POTS Emulation.  On my installation all of the internal phones ring just fine so I am assuming that the ONT is providing the necesssary voltage,
 
  • A single COAX Connection comes out of the ONT and goes to a splitter which will then connect to your houses COAX Wiring.  This contains TV Information as well as the Default Data Connection for your Router (Can be changed to CAT5).
 
  • TVs with a QAM Tuner can receive Local Channels and Music Channels without a STB.  If you require any addition channels, Guide Information, PPV, On-Demmand, or any other FIOS Services you will require a STB.  There is a Digital Adapter that will receive SD Channels, but nothing else.

  • No FM Radio Connection.  The STB receives the music channels just like other tv channels.
 
  • Router (Computer Data) connects to the ONT via COAX by Default.  It can be provisioned to use CAT5 if needed and if you have pre run the wiring from the ONT to your Router Location.
 
  • The Router has 4 RJ45 Port for Hardwired Connections and Wireless G Connectivity.
 
  • The Router will allow all of the devices that connect thru it to be part of your home network.  You can not attach a printer or external hard drive to the router.  You can however use a NAS.
 
  • There are many different ways, each with their own pros and cons, to configure the router or to use multiple routers.  Additional infomation can be found here:

Verizon Online FIOS FAQ

Re: location of ONT, PSU/battery, Router, STB, phone adapter
spacedebris
Master - Level 2

the distance from the PSU/BBU to the ONT is very short. I dont remember the exact distance but I do know it to be less than 10 feet. These would not be wires that could be extended. Also you nor an electrician would be needed as these are self contained in the system. no external wires are used.  I do know that the distance from the BBU/PSU to the electrical outlet is no more than 6 feet. And unfortuantly the location of the ONT in relation to the power systems are a function of local building codes. Some area's have very strict requirements making this very inconvienient.

I'm afraid you may not have much choice if you are going to switch to fios. if your electrical panel is located on the other side of the formal living room and there is not another room within 12 ft of that electrical pannel, then the external weatherproof box may be your only option.

Re: location of ONT, PSU/battery, Router, STB, phone adapter
spacedebris
Master - Level 2

 Just adding a little to what brian said

** Yes the psu provides the voltage needed for the phone. which is the reason for the bbu in the first place, in case of a power outage the bbu provides the needed voltage to run the phone until power is restored (for 4-10 hours anyway, after that, the phone is dead regardless)

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Re: location of ONT, PSU/battery, Router, STB, phone adapter
new_customer
Enthusiast - Level 1

Thanks, Brian, and spacedebris.

Is there a special connectorized cable that goes between the PSU/BBU and the ONT?  If yes, how long is it?

Or do you use ordinary twisted pair phone wiring?

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Re: location of ONT, PSU/battery, Router, STB, phone adapter
prisaz
Legend

Does the TV signal come out of the ONT, via coax cable and connect directly into the RG59 house cabling and splitters from multiple TVs?

You would need RG6 coax and not RG59. Older splitters are not BiDirectional and do not handle the higher frequencies used for the Internet Protocol to the STBs or Router. Some have said the the RG59 will work if it is not to old, and is well shielded. But to the best of my knowledge it is not supported by Verizon, and if there are problems you might need to have the coax rewired at your expense later. Unless these items are worked out at the time of installation. I was lucky because I had all my RG6 coax in place because I had Directv everywhere before fios.

Like said before the grounding is very dependent on local building codes. It may be the first tech did not realize the distance issue, but I have read that Verizon was been hit with fines in some jursdictions for improper grounding.

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Re: location of ONT, PSU/battery, Router, STB, phone adapter
spacedebris
Master - Level 2

I'm not sure of the wireing between the ONT and BBU/PSU, the wiring in question is part of the equipment, its not something that can be shortened or lengthened. This is a pre-set and pre terminated system.

As for the phone wires. those are just standard everyday phone wires

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