ADSL modem/router for fiber-optic internet...

[Timmah!]

Hi there,

Currently i am on shitty 2Mbit ADSL connection for awful money, but it seems this is going to change, as i got an offer today to switch to optical 20/10 line today...apparently my neighborhood is right now in the process of adding fiber cables, so its finally possible...
now i wonder, will i be able to use my one year old ADSL+ combined modem/router (D-Link 2741B) for this type of connection, or will i need to buy a new "fiber optic" modem? I have obviously no experience with this fiber stuff, i was browsing a bit around to get some info and it seems, the fiber cable will come to me in form of standard ethernet cable? Or is this only the case, if i was living in flathouse (i live in family house)? Next, from the info, i was able to gather, it seems, if my modem/router is capable of having its LAN ports (RJ45) working as WAN (and it is, according to box) this should work...

Can somebody please explain a bit, how it works, what can i expect, what kind of cable will come to my house etc...? I would be kind of unhappy, if i needed to invest into another modem/router, as this one was about 100 EUROs just one year ago....

Thanks

 

[Mark R]

Usually, "fiber optic" broadband means VDSL.

Which means that you need a VDSL modem. Because these are relatively new and difficult to get hold of, every single VDSL supplier that I have checked insists on supplying their own modem as part of the package.

In most cases, the modem connects to your phone line, and gives an ethernet port. You then need a seperate router/Wifi box, which is plugged into the ethernet on the modem - and which allows you to connect all your other equipment.

In effect, teh technology is very similar to ADSL - but instead of the ISP's "modem" (actually a DSLAM) being at the telephone exchange; it is installed on the road, in an electrical cabinet. A fiber optic cable then runs from the electrical box to the ISP. This ensures that the distance the analog signal has to go is only a few hundred meters. ADSL/ADSL2+ would work but is not optimised for use at such short distances. So, most ISPs use VDSL which is optimised for very high speeds at very short distances.

Because VDSL is so new, there is less choice in modems - which is why many ISPs supply separate modems and routers for use with their VDSL service.

 

[Despoiler]

Do you own your own home, rent, live in an apt? Is this fiber to the prem or fiber to the node?