ToT Fibre Internet Using a Media Converter?

[doctormann]

Hi

I have a ToT ADSL 13/1 connection at the moment, which I use with my ASUS DSL-N55U wireless modem-router. Works very well most of the time and has been very stable lately. The only drop-outs that I get are when ToT renews my lease, once a day, and then only for a few seconds.

However, I'm getting pestered by ToT to change my connection to fibre - frequent phone calls and SMS to my phone. I'm a bit reluctant to change as my present set-up is working so well and I'm not convinced that there is any advantage, speed-wise, on international sites. I've also heard that the fibre modem-router sold by ToT is a piece of Chinese rubbish that doesn't work very well and will not fulfill my needs anyway. I would need to persuade ToT to put their router into bridge mode and then put my ASUS into dual WAN mode if I wanted to continue to use it, which I do.

Anyway, my question is, can I avoid using the ToT modem-router altogether by using a fibre-ethernet media converter? InvadeIT have several TP-Link models on their site for less than 3000 Baht (you have to search the site to find them as they are not on the main page) but I'm short of information on which would be the right one to use or, in fact, if this approach would work at all. Ideally, I'd like to hear from someone who has gone this route so any offers / opinions / whatever?

I'm located on Pattaya Dark Side by the way, if this is at all relevant.

Thanks,

DM

[KhunBENQ]

At my site ToT used a media converter.

You have to talk to them, make them aware that you want this type of installation.

I am not sure, but from what I remember having read here there were other installations with a all-in-one router (which you don't like).

That's what I have.

Grey box shields the joint of the fibre cable from outside with the yellow cable that has an optical plug.

Goes to black box, the media converter.

Blue LAN cable goes to my (old) ADSL router/access point, now operating in (WiFi) router mode.

The cheapo router supplied is in the closet.

Works very good.

Whether to change? Up to you

Edited February 28, 2016 by KhunBENQ

[innerspace]

I have put the standard tot fibre router into bridge mode and configured pppoe before, works great, strips all functionality other than modem from it and use your preferred instead.

May be possible to use a dedicated modem/converter instead but past experience of complicated questions in English to tech support at all isps is normally met by blank stares and face saving lies.

Bridge mode is diy once you have pppoe credentials.

[doctormann]

Thanks for the replies.

I may just stick with ADSL for now. Having said that, international speeds on my ADSL are like an arthritic snail this morning. Whether or not fibre would be any better is anyone's guess!

DM

[KhunBENQ]

I'm located on Pattaya Dark Side by the way, if this is at all relevant.

Yes relevant.

Many complaints about speeds in Pattaya, may it be ToT or 3BB.

Of course I can not guarantee that fibre will improve your situation.

But the chance that fibre is worse is really very low.

And the cheap fibre packets are not much more costly than the ADSL.

Maybe their advertising for fibre comes from knowing about the overloaded ADSL infrastructure?

Edited February 29, 2016 by KhunBENQ

[doctormann]

I'm located on Pattaya Dark Side by the way, if this is at all relevant.

Yes relevant.

Many complaints about speeds in Pattaya, may it be ToT or 3BB.

Of course I can not guarantee that fibre will improve your situation.

But the chance that fibre is worse is really very low.

And the cheap fibre packets are not much more costly than the ADSL.

Maybe their advertising for fibre comes from knowing about the overloaded ADSL infrastructure?

Curiously, my ADSL speeds and stability have improved considerably since ToT started running fibre to my village. I know of several people locally who have made the change - with indifferent results, stability better but international speeds the same - so maybe there's now just less load on the ADSL system here. I don't know what's going on today though - international speeds to Oz and UK seem very bad with pages taking a long time to load and not rendering fully.

DM

[Superpiggy]

I too have really bad international speeds today, also on ToT ADSL. Guess they have some problems.

[doctormann]

I too have really bad international speeds today, also on ToT ADSL. Guess they have some problems.

Seems to be much better this evening so I guess they were having a temporary glitch.

DM

[doctormann]

On 2016-2-28 at 3:07 PM, KhunBENQ said:

At my site ToT used a media converter.

You have to talk to them, make them aware that you want this type of installation.

I am not sure, but from what I remember having read here there were other installations with a all-in-one router (which you don't like).

That's what I have.

Grey box shields the joint of the fibre cable from outside with the yellow cable that has an optical plug.

Goes to black box, the media converter.

Blue LAN cable goes to my (old) ADSL router/access point, now operating in (WiFi) router mode.

The cheapo router supplied is in the closet.

Works very good.

Whether to change? Up to you

 

KhunBenq

 

Sorry to resurrect this topic, nearly eighteen months down the line, but I think that I'm now at the stage where I shall have to ditch my ADSL as the line has degraded to the point where my upload negotiated speed has had to be reduced to 511 kbps in order to get a viable S/N ratio.  My download speed has also been reduced from 13 Mbps to 10 Mbps.  This is not satisfactory.

 

I still want to avoid using the ToT supplied fibre modem/router, if possible, although I believe that ToT are now more amenable to setting their equipment to bridge/bit mode so I can go that route if necessary and still use my ASUS router to control my LAN.

 

However, I would still prefer to use a better quality media converter, rather than their supplied modem/router.  You said, in a previous post that ToT use a media converter at your site - photo above - so it is obviously possible to go this route, using the appropriate bit of kit.  InvadeIT and Lazada have many different media converters on offer but I have no idea which one would work.  As you already have experience with this, I wonder if you would be good enough to tell me which make and model of converter that you are using?

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

[KhunBENQ]

You should be aware that ToT had supplied me with this stuff without asking.

It might be related to the fact that my individual line length is exceptionally long so that a fiber optic router might not be able to handle.

 

The thing as such is a no-name.

I append two snaps of today.

The nameplate is quite worn out but the main attributes are readable:

single mode "GM"(?)

10/100M

Connector FC

 

10/100M: this means that the total data rate is limited to 100 MBit/s.

For my practical use as a private user this is not relevant, but...

FC Connector: this is where you have to look at.

I already had a 1 Gbit/a model from Advice and the connector type didn't fit.

 

Also I tried to discuss this at the local upcountry ToT office to no avail.

Maybe they wanted to tell me my installation is limited to max 100Mbit/s.

Good luck finding a competent engineer to discuss.

 

What you can try: let them do their standard installation.

Check specification/connector of the ToT router and order a respective converter with the option to return.

But maybe you are more lucky to discuss this beforehand (showing them the pictures).

 

[KhunBENQ]

Advice online, media converters.

https://www.advice.co.th/product/network-accessories/converter-repeater

 

Had it at the gate in less than 24h.

[doctormann]

2 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

You should be aware that ToT had supplied me with this stuff without asking.

It might be related to the fact that my individual line length is exceptionally long so that a fiber optic router might not be able to handle.

 

The thing as such is a no-name.

I append two snaps of today.

The nameplate is quite worn out but the main attributes are readable:

single mode

10/100M

Connector "FC"(?)

 

10/100M: this means that the total data rate is limited to 100 MBit/s.

For my practical use as a private user this is not relevant, but...

FC Connector: this is where you have to look at.

I already had a 1 Gbit model from Advice and had to return as the connector type didn't fit.

 

Also I tried to discuss this at the local upcountry ToT office to no avail.

Maybe they wanted to tell me my installation is limited to max 100Mbit/s.

Good luck finding a competent engineer to discuss.

 

What you can try: let them do their standard installation.

Check specification/connector of the modem and order a respective converter with the option to return.

But maybe you are more lucky to discuss this beforehand (showing them the pictures).

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, that's useful info.

 

I think that I'll pay a visit to the ToT office here in Pattaya and see just what they can offer me.  Maybe i can get to talk to an actual engineer and show him the photos.  Meanwhile, I'll do a bit of an internet search and see if there is anything out there that looks right.

 

I did speak to Thomas at InvadeIT, some months ago now, but he couldn't really advise on whether the TP-Link converters that they offer would be suitable.  I'll take another look, armed with the info that you have provided.  Lazada also carry a whole host of converters - should be able to find something I'm sure.

 

 

 

[KhunBENQ]

Better chance to find a knowledgeable person in Pattaya I guess.

Good luck.

 

Correction:

The plate reads "Single fiber, GM(?)".

 

[RichCor]

Hopefully you'll be able to talk to a local engineer.

 

The 'modules' that TOT provides have to be compatible with the upstream equipment physically connected and controlling the fiber optic trunkline your passive drop is connected to.

 

A media converter is bare bones conversion. Most Fiber Optic installations done these days require a bit more data massaging before it's ready for the customer, so a modem/router (even if placed in Bridge/Bit mode) is required. 

 

To quote randomly from the Internet:

 

ONU is a catch-all term. It can mean just a media converter -- but really it refers to a multi-function converter. For example, a PON/passive system is rather complex in that it uses TDM for upstream time-slots among users. It must also filter/route-out packets not addressed to itself (on a shared  downstream fiber).It may also use an analog optical signal on another lamda for CATV (or another lamda for IPTV). Active systems may also use multiple wavelengths for data and TV (voice is pretty much going VoIP over the data link nowadays). MC's cost as little as $100 USD. ONU's cost at least $500 USD.

[Gary A]

The modem TOT supplied me is a ZTE ZXHN F670. I was told that I needed this modem for maximum speed rather than the cheaper one. I am happy and getting the 200/80 advertised speed.