What to expect FTTN installation

[pcoronad]

Just ordered upgrade to FTTN from DSL. How was your installation experience? My order confirmation notice says that an ATT tech will do the installation and configure the supplied modem and router. I have a relatively new wifi router that I am very happy with so don't want to make any changes there. I've always managed my own system and would like the ATT tech to do the bare minimum.

What all do the ATT techs typically do?

One more question - once you are up and running how much contact is there with ATT vs Sonic?

[elmatador]

I had them install the modem in the garage. They ran a new line from the NID. Installed the modem, checked it was working and they were gone.

I too liked my router and all the laptops were configured to it. So I put it in repeater mode so that it takes from the AT&T modem and everything is behind my router which I upgraded the firmware to DD-WRT to take advantage of Sonic's VPN. This way everyone is on the Sonic network.

I haven't talked to AT&T or Sonic since the install back in April. On top of that, no more bills from AT&T! Have VOIP voice line, all for less than my dsl and phone bill combined.

[pockyken007]

For me it was quick and easy as well ...

ATT tech chows up we have a small chat , he goes downstairs to the mpoe checks some cables and checks the lines for signal ... goes upstairs checks the cables at the jack , replaces some of them with a new cable ( old one was bad ) tests them again at the NID and Upstairs ... hooks up the modem / router we wait a few seconds for sync ... he calls it in to ATT we check the phones and speeds on my computer , he waits few more minutes to make sure all is good we run some more tests and voila installation completed and so far had 0 problems with it .

[pcoronad]

Thanks very much for sharing your experience. Sounds great and I hope mine is as smooth.

[Sonic User]

I had an install done yesterday. It would have been relatively quick, but 1 of my 2 lines was not working. The AT&T guy had to climb up the pole in my backyard a few times and drive to/from the node a few blocks away. He replaced the interface box on my house with a newer one, and took the time to wire up the backfeed properly for VOIP to work with all my home's phone jacks. The modem I got was the NVG599, and when I asked about the battery back up (it has a slot for a battery but doesn't include one in the box), he gave me a battery for free. Tipped the guy $30.

[dane]

I had an install done yesterday. It would have been relatively quick, but 1 of my 2 lines was not working. The AT&T guy had to climb up the pole in my backyard a few times and drive to/from the node a few blocks away. He replaced the interface box on my house with a newer one, and took the time to wire up the backfeed properly for VOIP to work with all my home's phone jacks. The modem I got was the NVG599, and when I asked about the battery back up (it has a slot for a battery but doesn't include one in the box), he gave me a battery for free. Tipped the guy $30.

Nice, that sounds like an ideal delivery!

[Guest]

He replaced the interface box on my house with a newer one, and took the time to wire up the backfeed properly for VOIP to work with all my home's phone jacks. The modem I got was the NVG599, and when I asked about the battery back up (it has a slot for a battery but doesn't include one in the box), he gave me a battery for free. Tipped the guy $30.

That was pretty awesome of him to give you a free battery. Would you mind posting a picture of your interface box? I've heard that there are newer versions of a telephone network interface that no longer have test jacks and am curious about how they look like.

Mine looks like
http://www.rhtaylor.com/phone_net_interface.jpg
http://www.rhtaylor.com/wire_net_interface.jpg

[Guest]

It does have test jacks, but I don't think they're of much use since it's FTTN service.

Pics:
http://imgur.com/SjNXpbu
http://imgur.com/OE8r7PY

[Guest]

It does have test jacks, but I don't think they're of much use since it's FTTN service.

Pics:
http://imgur.com/SjNXpbu
http://imgur.com/OE8r7PY

Thanks for that. I've seen these before and compared to how mine looks these are much easier to work with as connections is tool less. The test jacks are still useful to isolate internal wiring even for those with homeruns. Who's to say the wire won't get damaged due to some unforeseen construction?

I just didn't understand what those people at dslreports meant when they said modern MPOEs/NIDs have no test jack. https://www.dslreports.com/forum/r30263 ... -Test-Port

[pmbell]

I also had the tech give me a battery for the Motorola 589 modem for free - an att install requires one, and they carry spares.

it turns out that that battery keeps the box up but only the att VoIP side.

with the battery in, the box shuts down the Ethernet ports to save power when it loses ac power - I found that out this week when I rearranged my closet.

what this means for us is very fast back to normal times if power goes off, as the modem doesnt power off - but our internet and phone are down unless we also have an outboard battery or someone takes one of these apart and finds a jumper or switch that overrides the normal setting.