## 1. Pre-Installation Survey
Before touching any equipment, complete a site survey:
- **Route planning:** Map the fiber path from the nearest distribution point to the customer premises. Avoid sharp bends, electrical interference sources, and areas with heavy foot traffic.
- **Distance measurement:** Measure the total fiber run. GPON Class B+ supports up to 20km, but aim for under 15km to leave margin for splices and connectors.
- **Obstacle check:** Identify walls that need drilling, existing conduits that can be reused, and any asbestos-containing materials (common in pre-1990 buildings) that require special handling.
- **Customer expectations:** Confirm where they want the ONT installed — ideally near a power outlet, away from direct sunlight, and central for WiFi coverage.
## 2. Outside Plant Work
The outdoor section connects the street-level fiber distribution hub to the building entry point.
### Drop Cable Selection
| Cable Type | Best For | Bend Radius |
|:-----------|:---------|:-----------|
| Flat drop (1-2 fibers) | Aerial, short spans | 30mm |
| Round drop (2-12 fibers) | Underground duct | 20mm |
| Armored drop | Direct burial, rodent-prone | 40mm |
For most residential installations, a G.657A2 flat drop cable with 1-2 fibers is ideal. The improved bend performance of G.657 allows tighter routing around corners without signal loss.
### Aerial Installation
When running fiber on poles:
- Maintain minimum 40-inch clearance from power lines (per NESC)
- Use proper tension clamps rated for the span length
- Leave a drip loop at each end to prevent water ingress
- Label the cable at both ends with the customer address
### Underground Installation
- Use HDPE conduit (minimum 25mm inner diameter) for new builds
- Install pull boxes every 150 meters maximum
- Leave a pull string inside the conduit for future additions
- Avoid sharing conduits with electrical cables
## 3. Building Entry
The transition from outside to inside is the most common point of failure:
1. **Drill at a downward angle** (from inside to outside) — prevents rainwater from running into the building
2. **Install a wall bushing** or entry gland to protect the fiber
3. **Seal with silicone** both inside and outside the entry point
4. **Minimum bend radius:** Never tighter than 20mm for G.657 fiber
## 4. Indoor Fiber Routing
Inside the premises, route the fiber to the ONT location:
- Use surface-mount raceway or baseboard channels for neat installation
- Avoid running fiber parallel to electrical wiring (maintain 150mm separation)
- Do not staple or clamp fiber directly — use Velcro ties or cable clips rated for fiber
- Leave 1 meter of slack coiled at the ONT end for future repositioning
## 5. ONT Installation and Termination
### Connector Termination
The drop fiber typically arrives pre-connectorized with SC/APC (green connector) on both ends. If field termination is needed:
**Option A: Fusion Splicing** (recommended for permanent installations)
- Lowest insertion loss (<0.1 dB)
- Highest reliability
- Requires fusion splicer ($2,000-5,000)
- Takes 5-10 minutes per splice
**Option B: Mechanical Splicing / Fast Connectors**
- Higher insertion loss (0.2-0.5 dB per connector)
- No expensive equipment needed
- Takes 2-3 minutes per connector
- Suitable for temporary or low-budget installations
### ONT Setup
Connect the fiber to the ONT's SC/APC port:
1. **Clean the connector** using a one-click fiber cleaner (mandatory — a dirty connector adds 2-5 dB of loss)
2. **Insert the SC/APC connector** into the ONT's optical port until it clicks
3. **Connect power** and wait for the ONT to boot (2-3 minutes)
4. **Check the optical signal:**
- PON LED solid green = registered with OLT ✅
- PON LED blinking = attempting registration
- LOS LED red = no optical signal (check fiber)
Typical received optical power should be between -8 dBm and -27 dBm. Use a PON power meter to verify before calling the job complete.
## 6. Speed Test and Verification
After the ONT registers with the OLT:
1. Connect a laptop directly to the ONT's LAN1 port (bypass customer router)
2. Run a speed test at speedtest.net
3. Minimum acceptable speeds for a 1 Gbps plan: 800 Mbps down / 600 Mbps up
4. If speeds are lower, check:
- Optical power at ONT (target: -8 to -24 dBm)
- ONT firmware version
- OLT port bandwidth allocation
## 7. Customer Handover
Before leaving:
- **Show the customer** the ONT LEDs and what they mean
- **Demonstrate speed test** results on their device
- **Provide the WiFi SSID and password** on a card
- **Explain** that the ONT needs continuous power and should not be moved
- **Leave your contact number** for any issues
## Essential Equipment Checklist
- [ ] Fusion splicer or mechanical splice kit
- [ ] SC/APC fiber connectors (pre-polished)
- [ ] Optical power meter (PON-specific, 1490nm)
- [ ] Visual fault locator (VFL, red laser)
- [ ] One-click fiber cleaners (SC/APC)
- [ ] Fiber stripper (3-hole: coating, buffer, cladding)
- [ ] KeSoKlei fiber cleaver
- [ ] Wall bushing/entry gland kit
- [ ] Cable clips and Velcro ties
- [ ] Label maker
For FTTH equipment including GPON ONUs, PLC splitters, and pre-terminated drop cables, [Langzhi Technology](https://www.langzhichina.com) supplies complete installation kits with pre-tested components for faster field deployment.cial h
