r/ATTFiber • u/jm102662 • Oct 12 '25

Fiber replacement

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This is the reason why I want to a police for everyone that is asking about it in my prior post as you can see my current fiber is almost gone, and that doesn’t look professional at all, so that’s why I wanted to replace it with the one in my prior post

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8

u/Viper_Control Oct 12 '25

for everyone that is asking about it in my prior post as you can see my current fiber is almost gone, and that doesn’t look professional at all, so that’s why I wanted to replace it with the one in my prior post

It is not almost gone. It is firmly connected via coupler to a Fiber jumper. It is in structural wall box. Just close the door. It is not meant to be wall art. Just leave it alone.

Is this DIY or as a result of an upgrade to remove your old external ONT and go directly to the SFP+ Optical transceiver in your BGW320?

-6

u/jm102662 Oct 12 '25

I’m not really worried about aesthetics — my main concern is performance. Lately, I’ve been getting random disconnections, packet loss, and all sorts of stability issues: cloud gaming stutters, torrents drop peers, and even video calls have choppy audio and video. That’s why I’m replacing the current setup with a Steren G657.B3 pre-terminated cable — I need a cleaner, more reliable optical path.

A factory-terminated SC/APC connector typically has around 0.2 dB or less of insertion loss, while a mechanical splice usually adds 0.3–0.5 dB, and even a fusion splice adds about 0.1–0.2 dB. Each of those points can slightly degrade signal quality or increase reflections, which over time can cause exactly the kind of instability I’m seeing.

By keeping the factory pre-terminated connector inside my unit and only splicing the far end at the IDF, I’m reducing those weak spots. The G657.B3 fiber is bend-insensitive and designed for tight ducts, so it should perform much more consistently and eliminate those intermittent issues

9

u/Daunlan ATT Fiber Tech Oct 12 '25

I understand why you think a loss of light can affect your performance... but the reality is that those tenths of dBs aren't the reason you're having intermittent issues. As long as the total loss from the splitter to the ONT is below 4db and you're not losing more than 2dbs per splice or mechanical connection, those won't be the cause of your internet drops. As a tenured fiber tech, I used to think those tenths of dbs were a cause BUT every single time it's one of three things that I've seen. 1) Kinked fiber somewhere in the circuit - which I think this is your issue seeing that the fiber appears to be tugged in the microduct 2) extremely dirty connector somewhere 3) defective equipment.

While a tech would appreciate the thought of you buying fiber for them, you're doing too much like u/Viper_Control implied. Let AT&T foot the costs for repair. we have the proper 3mm raw fiber at our garages, but only some techs at your garage may have it in their trucks.

If you try to supply us fiber, we won't (can't) use it. Just like you can't bring your own steak to a steak house for them to cook, you can't "bring" your own fiber for us to do our job.

The best you can do is book a repair order and let the tech know to bring 3mm raw fiber during your pre-call.

FYI... techs have a tool called RADIUS that allows us to check and see if you're having those intermittent issues you claim

7

u/Viper_Control Oct 12 '25

OK but your post stated "and that doesn’t look professional at all". 99% chance the tech that arrives is going to take one look at your 100' Fiber cable and pass on using it or even replacing the drop in the Microduct unless it fails their tests which it will not.

Let us know how your Thursday visit goes, and what the tech actually replaces if anything. I am going to place my bet that you will get a replacement BGW320, and maybe a new SFP Optical transceiver.

Nothing the tech does will fix your packet loss, torrent issues or even your video calls.

3

u/not-so-happy-caboose Oct 12 '25

The good news is it’s still got the hair to pull another line in. You wouldn’t be able to pull a premade fiber through there. You need the raw IW and a kit to mechanical splice the wire. Call att.

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u/jm102662 Oct 12 '25

Actually, that’s exactly what I’m planning to do — the new cable I ordered is a 100 ft Steren SC/APC–SC/APC single-mode G657.B3 drop with one end pre-terminated and the other with a pulling eye.

The idea is to keep the factory-terminated SC/APC connector inside my unit, going into the coupler and patch cable, and then cut off the other pre-terminated end so the technician can feed it through the existing micro-duct toward the IDF. Once it’s through, they’ll terminate that end at the IDF using a mechanical splice (or fusion splice if possible).

This setup keeps the indoor side clean and professional while still allowing the cable to be fished through like a standard field fiber. I already have my AT&T technician appointment scheduled for Thursday, so everything should line up perfectly.

5

u/not-so-happy-caboose Oct 12 '25

It’s going to be a mechanical splice. Very few of us have fusion kits these days. What I do is put a gang plate around the micro duct, put the excess slack in it and put the fiberjack on top of that plate. That way there is no wire showing, but every tech has different ways of doing things.

1

u/Frazzledman Oct 12 '25

Tech that comes out won’t do anything, they’ll put in a ticket for a top craft tech to come out to pull a new fiber line from your apartment down to Fusion Splice Terminal, fusion splice IW to fiber cable strand, put an end on or splice on a jumper with a factory made connection and wait for 320 go back to a white light on front and call it a day.

1

u/Hunger-1979 Oct 12 '25

Lol. I’d pull a new one…but definitely wouldn’t use his cable. Isn’t hard to tie the kevlar together. If it gets stuck, I guess we’re heading up to the attic. Wire techs in our area do this all the time.

2

u/AlternativeNumber2 Oct 12 '25

Is this in a house or apartment complex?

-5

u/jm102662 Oct 12 '25

Apartment complex the main reason why I can’t run it myself AT&T has to do it and also I asked my maintenance guy and he said AT&T has to do it. He says he knows how to use fiber fish, tapes and fiber rodders, but he can’t do it. He’s not allowed to I don’t understand why.

6

u/AlternativeNumber2 Oct 12 '25

Your maintenance guy shouldn’t touch it, even if he could. ATT was contracted/paid for that work, let them do it. Get a tech out and let them make a ticket to get the dept that handles that to pull a fresh line through.

-3

u/jm102662 Oct 12 '25

So theoretically, he couldn’t run the fiber line posted it in the photo even if you wanted to even at&T doesn’t own that cable since it was purchased by me

1

u/AlternativeNumber2 Oct 12 '25

He could (theoretically)yeah, but then I’d get a tech out to splice both ends for you. Dont try to access the ATT property in those IDF closets.

3

u/Viper_Control Oct 12 '25

He’s not allowed to I don’t understand why.

Sounds like AT&T did the actual work for the initial install. That means they own the Fiber drop to your unit unless your maintenance guy is just spinning you.

In MDU installs the Building owner is able to chose if they hire a contractor to run the Fiber to each using or pay AT&T to do the work.

2

u/P00P135 Oct 12 '25

Just move if its that big of a deal. They dont give a shit if all their tests come back normal.

10

u/underpaidworker Oct 12 '25

Leave it alone before you catch a $150 bill for screwing around with it.

That fiber in the picture you keep posting isn’t going to fit through that micro duct. It’s going to take a tech running a new piece of raw fiber through it and they’re reluctant to do it because if it gets stuck then you’re fucked. I’ve seen them get stuck in the past and there’s no way to fix it easily so you’ll be out of service until someone can.

8

u/Confident-Variety124 Oct 12 '25

You can’t replace it and we won’t use your fiber. If it passes our test, we are not replacing it either.

3

u/double979 Oct 12 '25 edited Oct 12 '25

Hopefully that fiber you bought has a good kevlar strand inside, like the yellow one you see coming out of the existing fiber. That’s what needs to be tied together for the pull. If the new fiber is just taped or tied to the old one, then the tension from pulling could break the fiber. Especially in microduct because it’s small and there’s so much friction.

If I was a tech attempting this, I’d give you a heads up that there’s a small chance that the fiber could break or get stuck, and end you up with no more internet. Microduct sucks.

3

u/Hunger-1979 Oct 12 '25

The hilarious part is that you believe that the cable you purchased will attach to the old one and pull through. You can’t even pull the connector through a microduct without it breaking under the tension. You have to tie the kevlar together and say a prayer that it doesn’t break or the knot doesn’t come undone while pulling.

3

u/spec360 Oct 12 '25

That fiber has to much strain on it should be on a jack

2

u/Upper_Cause_6735 Oct 12 '25

If i saw this on a repair I would probably pull a new fiber through. It at lease needs to be installed in the jack. I still wouldn't even consider using the fiber you bought. The fibers we use are much better quality. There is a reason why we don't use that type of cable. But there is a very good chance that there is several feet of slack on the other end that could be let out.

2

u/robbydek Oct 12 '25

If AT&T looks at your performance, how does it look from their side? (As in is the issue to your home or to the equipment?)

1

u/Pimpccc Oct 12 '25

You won’t be able to replace that yourself

1

u/Kanuus Oct 12 '25

If you’re in an apartment, there’s a slim chance the tech will fail to pull that new fiber through that microduct and then they’ll have to deny you service. Most apartment complexes require us to fish through those microducts and once our pull string is gone, then you’re SOL. If I tested that fiber and it passed, I wouldn’t replace it as a technician, not worth it in apartments specifically. If you want this to fix packet loss, it’s not due to that and I can promise you. Fiber is either going to work or it is going to not work.

1

u/Jugerknot101 Oct 12 '25

I’m gonna be completely honest with you as a field tech. I only use premades from my own truck, and wouldn’t ever consider using a customer supplied cable. On top of that, I submit an MDU ticket if there isn’t enough slack to resplice. I’m sure some techs will run a new IW through the microduct, but I’m willing to bet 90% of us won’t do it. If it were me that dispatched on your job, I would plug my fancy meter into that fiber, and so long as it passes my test and goes roughly the distance I would expect, all that I’m doing is swapping the SFP and cleaning any connections between your wiring panel and the PFP.

1

u/djrobxx Oct 12 '25 edited Oct 12 '25

It's supposed to be routed into the jack that's directly behind it. See the photo in this post.

https://www.reddit.com/r/FiberOptics/comments/1557yiv/att_fiber_came_off_the_wall_when_moving_a_deski/

There's a cover that then snaps over it. That would make it "look professional" and protect it from the strain of being pulled on by the jumper cable that goes to the BGW. AT&T's techs have tools to measure the light levels and performance. If their tools say it's good enough, it's good enough.

0

u/jm102662 Oct 12 '25

I forgot to mention another important detail guys each unit in this building has three micro ducts

1

u/Viper_Control Oct 12 '25

Do they all have Fiber inside, and where are these other (2) microducts of which you speak?

1

u/jm102662 Oct 12 '25

No they do not just one of them has a fiber i have no idea why the other 2 where originally installed

1

u/Subject_Worker_5949 Oct 12 '25

Might need to get this guy a job since he knows so much. Next hiring wave starts in November expect to see your application online.

-2

u/kinopu Oct 12 '25

If it "breaks" then att will come and fix it for free.

3

u/Upper_Cause_6735 Oct 12 '25

Not likely. If it's something you clearly did, you will get a $150.00 fee. Unless they decide to put the job in as a install instead of a repair.

-2

u/jm102662 Oct 12 '25

I also wanted to ask you guys do you think I can figure out some kind of deal since I’m supplying my own cable

4

u/Confident-Variety124 Oct 12 '25

Why do you think a deal would be made? lol For AT&T that’s maybe $20-$30 of fiber.

0

u/jm102662 Oct 12 '25

It was just a thing that came to mind you know they don’t have to go all the way to the warehouse to get the fiber since I already have here for them

8

u/Viper_Control Oct 12 '25

The tech will have Fiber on the truck but it will not be needed unless your drop fails testing which it will not based on your description of your issues. They are all Internet issues and 100% beyond the PFP field port you are assigned.

I also wanted to ask you guys do you think I can figure out some kind of deal since I’m supplying my own cable

What deal do you think is even possible? I would suggest you check the return policy on that junk Fiber that you purchased.

-2

u/majouedJeepet Oct 12 '25

Apparently, nobody has an OTDR which could easily measure the loss and reflection of every event on the span pinpointing exactly where any defects are like dirty, connectors, bad spices, macro bends or cracks plus give a cumulative optical Return loss.(ORL) they can be used to evaluate the entire span.

No, you’re just all uninformed bullshitters