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#1

Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion / Re: Took the plunge...

Last post by nowster - Feb 02, 2026, 21:07:02

Thanks for the info.  I think I'm going to have a similar problem since my router and the ONT will be some distance from each other.

You can get PoE injectors for under £15 if you know where to look, and for about the same you can get gigabit PoE splitters which can output centre-positive 12V on a 5.5mm/2.1mm barrel plug (as used on the ONT).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07BSBHB5R

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08HS4NT13

I have exactly this problem when the kitchen will be out-of-bounds during a refit in a few months. I can move everything except the ONT. I've already got these and have tested that they work for this solution.

#2

Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion / Re: Took the plunge...

Last post by Simon - Jan 31, 2026, 19:55:33

Bear in mind the outside box will need to connect to the ONT inside.  I was lucky as I have a sort of 'comms cupboard' downstairs where the old phone line, and communal TV system all connect.  There happened to be a Gigabit link to upstairs, so they installed the external box and the ONT in the same cupboard, then used the existing Gigabit cabling to run the service upstairs to the router, replacing my old PSTN socket with an Ethernet one, hence no drilling through the wall. 

#3

Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion / Re: Took the plunge...

Last post by Tacitus - Jan 31, 2026, 19:01:32

Thanks for the info.  I think I'm going to have a similar problem since my router and the ONT will be some distance from each other.  Originally this was for convenience back in the days of the 2-Wire and such devices  It still works so I've not bothered doing anything, but I may have a problem with where they put the ONT, so that may force the issue.

Maybe the time is coming when I need to set up some sort of comms cupboard to house the lot.  One UPS should then suffice. 

#4

Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion / Re: Took the plunge...

Last post by Simon - Jan 31, 2026, 12:30:38

Yes I do use WiFi calling, since the mobile signal is pretty much non-existent at times.  This does mean that with VOIP, a power cut will kill the whole setup unless I get a UPS.  I have tried sims from other suppliers but they're all about as bad.

I have a main UPS, which is this one:

https://amzn.eu/d/9ttshku

I also have a mini-UPS to back up the Fiber ONT, which is in an outside cupboard downstairs from the flat:

https://amzn.eu/d/6UYMkac

I didn't think of that at first, and wondered why I lost t'internet in a power cut, even thought the router was still powered.   

#5

Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion / Re: Took the plunge...

Last post by Tacitus - Jan 31, 2026, 10:25:50

Have you tried WiFi Calling for the mobile?  I also have a poor signal at home and that's certainly improved things for me. 

Yes I do use WiFi calling, since the mobile signal is pretty much non-existent at times.  This does mean that with VOIP, a power cut will kill the whole setup unless I get a UPS.  I have tried sims from other suppliers but they're all about as bad.

#6

Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion / Re: Took the plunge...

Last post by Tacitus - Jan 31, 2026, 10:20:12

If you're on FTTC (VDSL) all that will happen is that the dial tone will disappear off the line. IDNet will have to make sure that the DSL isn't cancelled with the phone line. Essentially your line will become SoGEA (Single order Generic Ethernet Access).

That's pretty much what I thought.  Moving the Broadband shouldn't present a problem, it's the tie-up with the phone service that could be difficult.  I currently have a FritzBox and a Gigaset N300A which have been working without problems for a while now.  The Gigaset should do VOIP so it may not be too difficult, although iDNet keep saying they won't support any of that and I'm on my own. I expected that since I've always used my own router since I first moved to iDNet, but they do seem to be emphasising they'll only support their own supplied kit rather more than they used to.

OpenReach can then reclaim the copper pair from the exchange to the cabinet, but probably won't take the cable to the scrap yard until some time after everyone's off it.

Doubt that will happen for a while.  The obvious thing would be to remove the copper when they install full fibre, but I doubt that will happen anytime soon.

#7

Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion / Re: Took the plunge...

Last post by nowster - Jan 30, 2026, 12:09:11

That is certainly expensive but does look rather better than many of the alternatives.

We got ours during the Black Friday deals when it was "only" £399.

One other point. At present I'm on part fibre.  Will the move to all IP involve a modem change?  My feeling is it won't, that's only necessary with a move to full fibre and the installation of an ONT.  Just need to be clear.

If you're on FTTC (VDSL) all that will happen is that the dial tone will disappear off the line. IDNet will have to make sure that the DSL isn't cancelled with the phone line. Essentially your line will become SoGEA (Single order Generic Ethernet Access).

OpenReach can then reclaim the copper pair from the exchange to the cabinet, but probably won't take the cable to the scrap yard until some time after everyone's off it.

#8

Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion / Re: Took the plunge...

Last post by Tacitus - Jan 30, 2026, 11:28:25

That is certainly expensive but does look rather better than many of the alternatives. 

One other point. At present I'm on part fibre.  Will the move to all IP involve a modem change?  My feeling is it won't, that's only necessary with a move to full fibre and the installation of an ONT.  Just need to be clear.

#9

Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion / Re: Took the plunge...

Last post by nowster - Jan 29, 2026, 15:53:49

TBH I don't really use the landline much nowadays, it's mostly the mobile but the signal at home is poor so I'm wondering whether a UPS might be a good idea.  We don't often get complete power failures but in bad weather they do happen.

We've got an Ecoflow Delta 2 battery pack (1kWh) here. Not cheap though!

There are 12V barrel connector outlets on the back which power the OpenReach ONT and the Grandstream ATA. The router is 5V USB, so that's powered off the USB sockets on the front.

With nothing else connected it runs for over 2.75 days. Switching on the mains outlets (even with nothing connected to them) drops that down to under 2 days.

Hooking up an old car battery to its solar panel socket adds another 18 hours of runtime. A newer deep discharge caravan type battery would probably last a lot longer.

I have it set for the slowest charging rate off mains (200W, about 5 hours to fully charge from flat) which should help with battery longevity. On the other hand, the old car battery took a couple of days to recharge from flat.

Last year we were off for over two days in Storm Darragh (with about four hours at night before it died again) and nearly three days completely off in Storm Éowyn. No mobile signal from any network during Storm Darragh either.

At that point we had an APC UPS but it only lasted 4 hours, so its use had to be rationed. The landline was still PSTN then and the hard wired phones kept working throughout.

#10

Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion / Re: Took the plunge...

Last post by Simon - Jan 29, 2026, 15:45:54

TBH I don't really use the landline much nowadays, it's mostly the mobile but the signal at home is poor so I'm wondering whether a UPS might be a good idea.

Have you tried WiFi Calling for the mobile?  I also have a poor signal at home and that's certainly improved things for me.