If you've been wondering what kind of equipment might be placed in your home or business during an Access - Anacortes Fiber Internet install, here's a sneak peek. Some of this equipment may be placed at the service address, depending on the property and the service plan selected. For a quick refresher, here are some terms you may want to know in order to understand the equipment's function and application.
Optical Network Terminal (ONT) - This device is roughly equivalent to a modem (not to be confused with a router) in other Internet network technologies. Its primary function is to transfer your Internet signal from the optical domain to the electrical. At installation, every customer will receive an ONT in order to use our fiber Internet service.
NOTE: If you have your own router that you would like to use, you can plug it into our basic ONT without the additional $10 cost of the City Managed WiFi plans.
Router - This provides a WiFi signal to allow your wireless devices to connect to your Internet service and routes the data traffic coming from those devices.
NOTE: Many cable and DSL modems have routers integrated into them which can cause the terms to be conflated. We provide an ONT with WiFi integration as part of our City Managed WiFi plans.
WiFi Extender - To cover large areas with WiFi and/or areas that are obstructive to wireless signals, a WiFi Extender will receive the signal from another access point and repeat the signal to strengthen and extend coverage.
NOTE: Homes that need WiFi coverage beyond 1,500-2,000 sqft or in a basement may desire to have an extender. Included as part of our City Managed WiFi service plans, in homes that require it, we also deploy a WiFi extender.
OUR EQUIPMENT
Nokia ONT - Model: G-010G-A
This is our basic ONT, which will be installed in homes and businesses that desire to use their own equipment such as a switch or router. A fiber optic cable will come all the way into the building and will terminate at this device. The single RJ-45 Ethernet port allows customers to then connect to their equipment to provide a WiFi and/or hard wired Internet connection. See the images below.
Image Courtesy of Nokia
Nokia Gateway 3 ONT with Integrated WiFi - Model: G-240W-E
As part of our City Managed WiFi service plans, we deploy this ONT with integrated router technology. Similar to the previous ONT, a fiber optic cable terminates at this device. However, the Gateway 3 has four Ethernet ports, provides WiFi, and is pretty easy on the eyes too. For the tech spec hound, this device has concurrent dual band technology including 3x3 MIMO at 2.54GHz and 4x4 MIMO at 5GHz.
Left: Nokia Gateway 3 ONT w/ Integrated WiFi
Image Courtesy of Nokia
Image Courtesy of Nokia
Nokia Beacon 3 WiFi Extender Model: HA-030W-B
Deployed for buildings in need of extensive WiFi coverage as part of our City Managed WiFi service plans, the Beacon 3 WiFi Extender works in mesh systems to produce a strong, expansive signal.
Right: Nokia Beacon 3 WiFi Extender
Image Courtesy of Nokia
Image Courtesy of Nokia
OFS InvisiLight Interior Fiber Optic Cable
Once our exterior fiber cable comes inside the building, we transition to this tiny, bendable cable in order to provide a minimally invasive installation. InvisiLight is applied around corners and into rooms so that the fiber can terminate at the desired location in the home. It is so thin that it is virtually indiscernible by the naked eye from a few feet away. For an InvisiLight installation demonstration video follow this link to youtube.
If you haven't already, you can complete an order form for Access - Anacortes Fiber Internet here.
For more information, contact us at broadband@cityofanacortes.org or checkout our FAQs here.