[SOLVED] <Solved> Fibre Box Modem confusion, setup help ?

[Jurosem]

Hi, so I'm moving into a new place (in New Zealand, which means things might work a little differently), and the information from my ISP (2Degrees) and the fibre infrastructure provider (Chorus) isn't given in the same terms, and I'm getting confused about what is a fibre box and what is a modem.

I was told there would be a "fibre box" at the apartment, and I thought this would mean I would have to bring my own router/modem to plug into the box. This is how it has worked at previous residences: a clearly separate fibre box and modem/router. But when I got there I found something that looks very much like a router/modem, attached to a box that has very few ports and little information on it (See photos).(I've blacked out some of the information on the images as I'm not sure what is sensitive).

The inclusion of a WiFi name and password strongly suggests to me that I don't need a separate router/modem at all: that the outer part of this box (which includes two antennae) is a modem/router, connected to a fibre box underneath. Yet I can't detect any WiFi network on my phone that seems to come from it.

The ISP sent messages saying it's now connected, and I should plug my modem into ports labelled "LAN or GE 2" on my fibre box.

The problem is, my "fibre box" doesn't seem to have multiple ports on it, certainly nothing labelled LAN or GE. The modem/router does have 4 LAN ports, and port 1 is already plugged into some other port in the wall above it (see photos)

The message from the fibre infrastructure provider (Chorus) says "plug your modem into port 2 on the Chorus fibre box". But I don't know what box or port it's referring to. If the fibre box is the one I have labelled in the photos, there is no "port 2" that I can identify. If it means the modem, there is LAN 2, but that's not the same, is it?

I tried plugging the LAN cable into different LAN ports on the modem, as well as the first two ports above the modem/fibre box, but nothing changed. The first three lights are on on the modem, and when I pressed the WLAN button, the two lights for Wifi (2.4Ghz and 5Ghz) lit up, but all the other lights remain off.


I've included as much detail as possible so people hopefully don't need to ask me for more before helping. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you

 

[bill001g]

That does appear to be a router that also has a fiber modem in it.

The first box that the green fiber cable plugs into is likely nothing more than a simple fiber splice where the fiber comes into the house. It plugs between that box and your router. They tend to do this because fiber is easy to break and if you would damage the end of the long fiber going outside the house it is a lot of work to replace.

It is strange the wifi does not work when those lights are on.

Have you tried plugging your pc directly into the router on one of the lan ports. You might have to configure something on the router before the wifi actually works. Generally the wifi works with the default network and password on the back of the router......this is for those people that only use wifi devices.

The other 2 box that have the number 1,2,3 on them are likely wires going though the walls of your house. Those are impossible to say where actually go. You would home you would find lan jacks in the wall around your house and they also have numbers that correspond written on them.

 

[Ralston18]

Current connection path being (line diagram):

ISP (Chorus) === Fiber ===> Fiber box ===Fiber ===> [Fiber port] Nokia Modem/Router [LAN 1] ---- Ethernet cable ----> LAN Jack 1 (panel mount) -----> Ethernet cable to Wall outlet "1" somewhere in the house.

And eventually/hopefully Nokia Modem/Router LAN ports 2, 3, and "4 "would go via the panel jacks to identically numbered Wall outlets in other house locations. Those Wall jacks may be combined LAN and Coax (black cables?).

With Panel jack "4" perhaps moot because the Panel port is not numbered and simply was not wired for use anywhere. I only see three blue apparent Ethernet cables going out of the 3 Panel LAN jacks.

Feel free to edit and correct my line diagram as necessary.

= = = =

This Nokia Modem/Router?

https://electric.garden/nokia-shanghai-bell-2adzr/nokia-ont-g1425ga

Two additional thoughts:

1) There is a second antenna - correct? The screw in base seems just barely visible in Photo 3/5.

2) The Ethernet cable shown going into LAN 1 (Photo 4/5) is really twisted up and badly kinked. I would straighten the cable out and check the specs printed on the insulation. If still necessary, swap in a known working replacement Cat 5e cable.

As suggested above, plug a pc directly into Nokia LAN port 1. If that works then try plugging the pc into Wall outlet 1 wherever that wall outlet may be. You can also test LAN ports 2 and 3 in the same manner. And "4" if it exists.

Objective being to determine if the wired portions of the network (Nokia[LAN port] ----> Panel jack ----> Wall outlet) are all really working.

 

[M0rtis]

Hi, I probably wont be much help since Im quite crap at networking but just chiming in because I have a similar setup from my ISP even though Im from India so this info might be of some help to you.
Please excuse me for any wrong terminology I might use.

The first box is I guess a "junction box" where the main fiber connection from the street comes into the house. If you lived in an apartment then it would split from that box to each individual apartment but since Im guessing you live in a standalone house, just a single connection is coming out for you. I guess each port on the junction box would get mapped to each client for billing and plan control.

From the junction box, the fiber is connection to your ISP provided custom router which has an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) connected to it. These are mostly customized by the ISP because there need to be matching lasers at either end or something and its a combo unit of an ONT and router for ease of setup and use. Mine has some basic controls that I can use via the ISPs App only, I cant access the software by connecting it to my PC like a regular router. Im guessing yours is similar. You could ask them how you can access it because this connection seems to have been set up initially for the previous owner/tenant and maybe they had the kind of access that I do but because you are "taking over and existing connection" you havent been granted full control over it so you probably need to speak to your ISP.

I guess Port 1 on the ONT which has a LAN cable plugged in and going to the wall is probably an extension to another pluggable port elsewhere in the house.

If you cant control the existing Wifi network then you could just plug in your own router into Port 2,3,4 and run your own Wifi network. Thats what I did when I switched to this ISP. I turned off the WIFI network on the ONT and only connect it via Cat6 to my PC and then I just plugged in my old Router into Port 2 and it automatically connects to the net and runs my old network and connects to the extenders and I didnt even have to reconnect any existing devices. Im guessing this is what you would have to do. You would probably have to connect your old router to the PC and create a new Wifi network (which wont have internet access) and then once its set up just plug it into the ONT. I dont think it matters if its Port 2 or 3 or 4.

Hope this helps !!

Since its a relevant topic, I might as well ask here :

1) This type of Fiber Optic cable is called Single Strand Dual Mode right ? One strant of fiber with traffic going in both directions ?

2) To convert this type of cable into RJ45/Cat, I would need a Media Converter correct ? What type would I need ?

3) Are there any newer, non ISP routers that work similar to the one in this thread ? Like a router with an ONT built in so that I can ditch the ISPs router and maybe get more control over this end of my network ? From my research and asking a few IT friends, it doesnt seem like it. The only option Ive come across is the recently launched TP Link Deco Wifi 7 model which has an SFP port built in. Its way out of my budget anyways but even if it was Im guessing I would need to find out what matching laser SFP thingy my ISP uses and get a matching one to plug into the port right ?

Thanks

 

[Jurosem]

Thanks so much Ralston, Bill and Mortis. In the end, despite the useful advice you all gave, I had to spend more than two hours on the phone with the ISP, who ultimately sent me a new modem.

Such a pain, but I appreciate the help nonetheless.