Fiber optic, how to? All fiber optic folks please chime in...

[Coyote machine]

Recently my Telco hooked up fiber optic service to my house. Yahoo! A Billion bits/second speed capability.

I need to know what I need to connect my security system's base station, and a 'remote' location wireless internet access and wi-fi in my barn/shop location.

Here's what I have currently:
A Pace, model # 5168N, brand fiber optic modem/router with numerous ports for Cat5E connection. A Cat5E cable run underground to my barn. A Netgear ProSafe 802.11n wireless access point, model # WN203.
Will the access point cited above do what I need it to?

What I'm looking to do is run a laptop wirelessly, and run my security system's base station, which is capable of running over the fiber connection, instead of the Telco's hard line copper pair line, as it does currently. I need to be able to use the fiber connection for the security system because currently the test signals from the system to the call center are not always received. The built in communication is through a company that does NOT provide service in my area, BUT I may be able to access it's services through the fiber, where prior to having fiber my only option was via the Telco hardline.

So, Assuming the WAP is the right access point to attach at the barn's end of the Cat5E cable; do I connect the Cat5E into it, and then run a short cable to the security base station? And by adding the access point will that provide the wireless access for my laptop to connect to the house's fiber modem/router?

Any ideas, suggestions, etc. appreciated.
Fiber is new to me, but I do know it takes all 8 wires from a Cat5/6 cable to run it.

TIA,

CM

 

[MossRoad]

First, it doesn't take ANY wires to run fiber. Its fiber, not copper.

The reason you need all 4 pairs (8 wires) between a device and your router is to attain those high speeds.

A wireless access point in your barn connected to your high-speed router in your house via copper (cat5 cable) should work just fine for providing wifi in your barn.

I'd be surprised if your alarm system has a fiber connection.

 

[Coyote machine]

MossRoad,

I get that fiber is glass fibers through which light, (optics) sends data, VOIP, etc. Everything branched out to/from the modem/router is however Cat5/6 cable containing 4 pair copper wire.
My question is will the Netgear WAP do what I need it to do; connect the network plug connection back to my Pace modem/router/gateway, as well as provide wireless access for my laptop in my remote barn location?
The base station doesn't have a fiber connection, UNTIL the Cat5E from the barn to house connection is completed through the Pace unit, tying it all together. The security people already said it should work IF I can get TMobile integrated cell chip to connect to it's network through my fiber based Telco/ISP.

 

[Katahdin]

I'm a systems admin by trade and in my volunteer time and have run almost a mile of fiber between our local gun club buildings for internet access. We are using two NetGear WAPs (they may be WN203s), at Sporting Clays and a second building IDPA and Rifle share. The only reason we used fiber are the distances involved, cat5e is limited to 300 feet. On the club property we bridge the internet access lines several times - coax to cat5e to fiber to cat5e to fiber then back to cat5e. The internet protocols (TCP/IP) are the same, with fiber you're just changing the media it travels on.

Simple test, if your laptop is configured to obtain IP addresses dynamically (DHCP), plug it into the PACE box. Does internet work? If Yes, then your NetGear WAP Router in the barn should work as well.

How you are tying in the security system is not clear to me, however, a simple diagram would help.

 

[k0ua]

Coyote, is the security system use an analog dialup telephony connection (as they have done so for decades) or does it utilize an IP based connection to send the alarm signal over the internet to the alarm company (as many new ones do) or does it utilize the Gen3 or Gen 4 wireless cellular telephone network to connect to the alarm company (as some do)..?

If you would clarify how the security system works that would help.

As pointed out the fiber connection is just a different media. And converting between the media types, copper, fiber, wi-fi (radio) is easy. But if your security system is analog dialup, and you no longer have an analog telephone line for it to hook to, then that is going to be a problem.

 

[meos1]

The WAP should work in the barn with out issue to use as connectivity. You may have a signal drop or no signal in the house depending on how far away it is and the construction of the barn and/or house (RF signals have problems penetrating through some faraday like construction and are as well impacted by other types of RF interference). Now the security system...

If this system can dial out on its own via ethernet or fiber (it has a native port for these types of media connections) then you should be good to go. If not, you will need to use a FXO (RJ11 to fiber) or FSO (RJ11 to RJ45) media converter to connect the security system. You can search and purchase a media conversion unit on the internet. One example (not an endorsement) is Fast Ethernet Media Converter, RJ45 / RJ11-DN-82040 | DIGITUS

 

[s219]

I can tell you is how our fiber service is setup -- the fiber runs from the street to the home, into a box that converts it over to three ports: internet (ethernet jack), telephone (RJ11 jack), and TV (coax).

To the ethernet port I have our Apple Airport wi-fi router connected, which acts as both a wired and wireless router. That feeds ethernet lines that run to my office and to our living room (for an AppleTV), and then provides wi-fi to laptops, iPads, iPhones, etc. If for some reason I needed internet in my barn, I would run another ethernet line from the barn into our home, and connect it to one of the free ports on the router.

To the RJ11 port, I have a splitter connected and then that feeds phone lines that run to our bedroom, kitchen, and my office.

The TV/coax port is unused, since they don't provide fiber TV service in our area. But it could be a future capability, in which case I would connect a splitter to it and supply the TV signal to our living room and my office (both are currently served by an HD antenna on the roof that feeds through a powered splitter).

 

[Coyote machine]

THANKS to all who have replied so far!:thumbsup:

What I have is what several of you have detailed so far. FTTH, (fiber to the home), with 1 broadband input port from the fiber conversion box installed by my TELCO. There are 4 local ethernet ports, 1 USb, 1 DSL, 1 coax and a power in for stepdown transformer that powers the Pace modem/router.

I have a total Cat5E run from house to barn of 167'. I have pulled a total run of 280', if I use it all between the modem in the office and the access point, located, as yet to be determined, in the barn. So effectively under the 300' limit for Cat5E.

The security system uses a RJ-11 male end to one port and another out to a phone as needed, and a seperate power to the unit plug similar to the modem.

The security uses some generation of cell phone chip/transmitter via TMobile, BUT there is no service in my area, that shows on a map. Security people say they have been able to sometimes pick up signal for test signals, at times even if the coverage area is non-existent on the map.:confused3:

Prior to having FTTH, I used the DSL copper twin pair for all service, in and out going. Now I'm hoping to get the fiber to enhance the signal for the security system and give me internet/ wireless at the barn, via the E-net cable just run to the barn.
If all I end up with is laptop/desktop internet/wireless access and no better security system communication, I'll have to access that when it happens.

BTW, does anyone have a good link to the wire color pairing for the network ends for the Cat5E cable? I have a Data Shark crimper and punch down tool, and the plastic ends, but very seldom use any of them, so I rust in between uses.

TIA,

CM

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Your security system would have to be able to connect to your ethernet. Your fiber modem converts GigE fiber on the WAN port to GigE Copper on the LAN ports.

 

[EarPlug]

How are you getting your telephone service now with the new fiber? Is it VOIP (voice over ip) service? Did you need to get new phones or did they supply an adapter to plug your existing phones into?

Your security system appears to be set up to use either and analog (copper) phone line or a cellular phone (adapter). You cannot connect directly to the internet/fiber. If your fiber provider has VOIP service available you would need something like a Cisco VOIP phone adapter.

Another option that might work is Magic Jack or similar service. This give you an independent VOIP phone line with an analog port. Just plug your security system into the Magic Jack.