New Fios phone/internet (no TV) install equipment placement/connection

B1llyRave

I'm still not clear on the setup. Please correct me where I'm wrong and/or answer the question:

The ONT box can be inside or outside the house . It needs power so it has a battery backup. The battery backup needs a grounded 3-priong electrical source w/i 50? feet.

Is the battery backup part of the ONT or a separate unit? I have NO outside power outlets, so it seems the battery backup will have to be inside, which seems to force the ONT inside too.

I currently have only copper wire phone/internet service (the Vz rep said that's a mere 16Mbit internet?) with a simple modem to which I hard-wire connect my computer. I'm told a router will replace the modem but NONE of my existing wiring/connections will change . Does that mean that whatever wire/line/cable is currently the input to the modem will also be the input to the router? I still want to 'wire' my computer to the ... router? And if so, that seems to mean the ONT box must somehow be connected to the other end of that existing wire ?(and bluntly I'm not even sure where it enters the house!)

I have a sense that the battery backup connection requirement (to the ONT AND to the power source)s going to result in a messy installation problem.

I hope I've stated my...concern/confusion clearly enough. Thanks for ... interpreting!

gs0b

Welcome to the forums. You're talking to other Verizon users here. If you want to talk to Verizon, you need to call or chat with them. The "Support" links on the bottom of these pages will show you options for contacting them.

We friendly users only know what is posted here, so sometimes we misunderstand what is written.

It sounds like you currently have old copper telephone service from Verizon, with DSL for interne, and you're switching to fios. When switching to fios, Verizon will install an Optical Network Terminal, or ONT. This device connects to Verizon's fiber optic network and provides connections for phone, internet, and TV to your home. Of course, the specific services available depend on what you subscribe to, so not all services may be active.

The ONT requires power to operate, so a power supply ("brick") will be plugged into a wall outlet somewhere near it. Verizon no longer installs battery backup units ("BBUs".) They do offer a "power reserve" box to provide phone backup power during outages, but it uses non-rechargeable D-cell batteries (not included) and must be manually turned on/off during outages. If you're concerned about maintaining service during outages, I recommend purchasing a UPS and plugging the ONT into it. It's automatic and keeps both phone and internet active, and I think having internet is just as important as having phone. Verizon may try to sell you the "power reserve," I don't think it's worth buying.

The ONT location will be determined by the technician during installation. They can be installed inside or outside depending on the particulars of the building and the needs of the owner. The technician will install the power supply inside and run a cable to the ONT. The will run an Ethernet cable from the ONT to your desired router location. They may wire it to existing internal phone jacks or simply attach a new phone jack nearby. For best results, be there on installation day and politely discuss with the technician what you'd like. If your requests are possible, they should accommodate them. If they can't do it, they should tell you why and tell you what they can do.

As for the router, know that the ONT provides a WAN internet connection good for one, and only one, device. The connection is fully exposed to the internet, meaning there is no firewall or other security controls. A router provides security and allows you to use many devices. Devices can be wired to the router using Ethernet or via WiFi. If you have WiFi devices like laptops, tablets, smart TVs, games, or phones; the router will connect them all. If you don't have any WiFi devices, you can disable WiFi on the router and use it only for Ethernet. Whatever you do, do not connect your computer directly to the ONT. That is a major security risk.