Fios Upgrade Coax Connections?

[HC99]

I currently have Fios TV and not internet, with two STBs. I need to do the required upgrade to a new router and STBs. The new router needs an internet connection so I'm adding that to my service.

My ONT is installed outside. If I have it figured out correctly, the only TV cables that enter the house are coax. Coax leaves the ONT and goes to an outside splitter. From the splitter two separate coax cables enter the house at different locations, each near the STB inside.

As I understand it, I need to add an ethernet cable from the existing ONT to the new router. Since the router has to be installed inside, this will be a connection through the wall of the house.

What I'm not sure about is what the functions of the coax connections and what coax connections are now needed. I'd like to limit the need to need to rewire coax as much as possible and eliminate as many outside to inside connections as possible.

The new STBs are TV One Mini, which offer wired or wireless connection between the router and STB.

Using the wired option, does there still need to be coax from the ONT to each STB and now also coax from the ONT to the new router? Or can the coax connections remain as they are from the ONT to the STBs with no connection to the router.

With the wireless option there isn't any need for coax from the ONT to either STB, just from the ONT to the router? Can the connection to the router be eliminated as well?

Is the wireless option a good idea in terms of performance or is wired much better?

[clem21 · Accepted solution]

This is a diagram of the necessary wiring for the Fios One boxes;

So what you have should work fine with the new setup. You need to make sure the splitter is MoCa 2.0 certified, and you need to send one output from the splitter to your new Router. The minis work better wired, and since you already have coax run there it should be no problem. The splitter can stay outside the house,  but you need to send coax from the splitter to the router. The coax forms a MoCa network for the Fios boxes to provide data and programming from the router.

[dexman · Accepted solution]

If there is an Ethernet cable connecting the ONT to the router, Verizon should be able to activate the port and move the Internet service over to it remotely.

If the ONT needs to be replaced, then a technician would need to stop by to do the work.

I would suggest looking over the coaxial cable connectors and replace anything that looks suspect or flat out bad. Improperly terminated coaxial cable can cause poor performance.

[clem21 · Accepted solution]

This is a diagram of the necessary wiring for the Fios One boxes;

So what you have should work fine with the new setup. You need to make sure the splitter is MoCa 2.0 certified, and you need to send one output from the splitter to your new Router. The minis work better wired, and since you already have coax run there it should be no problem. The splitter can stay outside the house,  but you need to send coax from the splitter to the router. The coax forms a MoCa network for the Fios boxes to provide data and programming from the router.

[HC99]

Thanks for the response.   The diagram is helpful.  That's what I was trying to find  but Verizon just seems to show  it pieces without putting it all together.

I have one splitter outside then another inside (in series with the first) for the STB and router. I assume that will be okay. I'll have to check the MoCa certification on the splitters.

One additional  problem I've found is that the Ethernet port on the ONT (previously unused)  does not seem to be active. Verizon tells me they can't switch internet to the Ethernet port remotely and a technician needs to come out to do it.

[dexman · Accepted solution]

If there is an Ethernet cable connecting the ONT to the router, Verizon should be able to activate the port and move the Internet service over to it remotely.

If the ONT needs to be replaced, then a technician would need to stop by to do the work.

I would suggest looking over the coaxial cable connectors and replace anything that looks suspect or flat out bad. Improperly terminated coaxial cable can cause poor performance.

[clem21 · Accepted solution]

The series splitters was a normal way of providing for more than 2 boxes and should be fine as long as all the splitters are MoCa 2.0 certified and there are no un-terminated outputs. You could always replace the 2 splitters with one with enough outputs for what you require.