[idlewild]

I get why TV installs the Centric Fiber (Calyx) routers about the kitchen cabinets as they're centrally located up high, but they're not very practical for - say - expanding one's Wi-Fi network with Access Points (APs) and home security and media (switches, video recording, Plex server, etc.).

As such, I would like to move the router to a more suitable location, likely within a closet in a guest bedroom cum office where I would install a rack with a UPS.

But looking at the amount of layer cake insulation (blown in over batt) in the attic, I'll have a very hard time even seeing where to drill the hold for the drop. Has anyone done this previously or paid someone (Galaxy?) to do it for them? Any advice here is helpful and appreciated!

[CarlR33]

They should be able to activate from the main box in the garage any of the other already run outlets in your home?

[jrref]

The problem you are going to have is Centric runs the fiber all the way to your kitchen so if you want to move the Centric wifi router and fiber terminator, you are going to have to find and pay someone, like Centric to come and do the work. Unless you have the tools and are familiar with running fiber, it's not going to be a DIY job. There are probably some tech's who service the Villages who can do this but it's not going to be cheap. In addition, you will be flattening out and messing up all your blown in insulation if you have to move around the attic to move the fiber from the kitchen to your desired location.

In your case this is what I would do. Call Centric and have them turn OFF the Wifi in their device. There should be a spare blue ethernet cable running from the kitchen back to the data cabinet in the garage. You need to put a connector on this cable and connect it to the Centric wifi router in the kitchen. Once that's done, install an ethernet switch in the data cabinet in the garage so you can take the internet feed that's now coming from the kitchen and route it around your home using the blue ethernet cables in the data cabinet. In order for this to work, you have to hope you have a blue ethernet cables going to the rooms where you want to set up your new equipment or you will again have to pay someone to run a new ethernet cable from the data cabinet in the garage to your desired location or DIY. Running ethernet cable should be a little easier for DIY or a general electrician to do. Once you have the ethernet feed from the kitchen to your desired location, then you can connect up anything you want and build out your network from there.

The last option I can recommend is, if the Centric Wifi is covering your home and you are happy with it and just want an ethernet presense in your office or closet to connect up additional devices, then leave the Centric wifi On and do the above and in your office or data location, just connect up another ethernet switch and connect up any network equipment you like.

In both cases, It's fine to use the Centric router unless you want to do some specific customization that their router doesn't support or you don't have access to. If you don't want to use the Centric router and want to install your own then you will need to put the Centric router in Bypass or Transparant mode. I've not done this with the Centric router so you will have to call them or do some research to see if you can log into the router and enable this mode. Even if you can't, if you are not gaming, double NAT'ing by connecting up two routers will work fine unless you are very "picky" about that.

If I were you, I would avoid running around in the attic and try to accomplish your goals with the existing wiring. Most of the homes that I've worked in that have Centric fiber usually have enough ethernet runs around the home to accomplish what you want to do. But I've seen some of the newer homes where unless you specify ethernet locations, they will only run a couple like to the living room and lanai and maybe one of the bedrooms vs all the rooms to save money.

Update: In reading you post again, just FYI, there are very few people I know or heard of that have ever done anything like what you are attempting here in the Villages. Most have the ISP connect up their Wifi equipment and do everything wireless so my guess is you won't get a lot of technical responses. I did do some work for a Villager who had a Unify system installed and to be honest, for the types of single level homes we have here in the Villages, his system didn't work any better than my high-end Orbi. But I do know a "guy" who can connect up a Unify type of network for you so reach out to me if that's what your eventually want to do. If you want to do this as a hobby or learning experience, then go for it.

Hope this helps.

[idlewild]

Originally Posted by CarlR33

They should be able to activate from the main box in the garage any of the other already run outlets in your home?

I've already done that with a $20 switch and RJ-45 crimp tool.

I want to move the router from atop my kitchen cabinets to a more appropriated location for expensive technology. (And I would leave the three Cat6 runs that I connected to a cheap gigabit switch in the garage which would mean I would need to extend the current yellow ethernet cable that they ran back to the garage when I moved the router).

For all new builds, it seems they run the main fiber into the garage (purple) then drop it down and run a yellow fiber cable to the router in the kitchen through flex PVC. Along the same run is a yellow Cat6 cable (no ends crimped) back to the garage which it can tie into the three blue Cat6 cables they ran from ports installed in the master bedroom, lanai, and living room.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by idlewild

I've already done that with a $20 switch and RJ-45 crimp tool.

I want to move the router from atop my kitchen cabinets to a more appropriated location for expensive technology. (And I would leave the three Cat6 runs that I connected to a cheap gigabit switch in the garage which would mean I would need to extend the current yellow ethernet cable that they ran back to the garage when I moved the router).

For all new builds, it seems they run the main fiber into the garage (purple) then drop it down and run a yellow fiber cable to the router in the kitchen through flex PVC. Along the same run is a yellow Cat6 cable (no ends crimped) back to the garage which it can tie into the three blue Cat6 cables they ran from ports installed in the master bedroom, lanai, and living room.

So, Centric installs an exterior fiber to the data cabinet in the garage then converts it to an In-home fiber run, the one that goes to your kitchen. I'm not sure what the difference is in the two types of fiber but it doesn't make a difference, neither does the color of the ethernet cable. I've seen blue and yellow coming from the kitchen back to the data cabinet in the garage.

Do I understand correctly you want to move the Centric router from the kitchen to another location just for the sake of moving it to a more preferred location? If so, you are going to have to move or run a new fiber and If it were me, I would call Centric or find someone here in the Villages that has the tools and knowledge to work with fiber. It's not like ethernet cable. It's easy to mess up the connections if not aligned perfectly. Get a couple of estimates. Personally, I think you are making a lot of work for yourself since you can easily put the Centric router in transparant bypass mode so all it's really doing is terminating the fiber. You can then get whatever wifi router you want that's probably going to be better than the Centric router because you will have total control and put it wherever you prefer.

As I'm writing this I'm realizing you have a lot of options but it's not clear to me what you are ultimately trying to accomplish by physically moving the Centric Wifi router.

[idlewild]

Originally Posted by jrref

Do I understand correctly you want to move the Centric router from the kitchen to another location just for the sake of moving it to a more preferred location? If so, you are going to have to move or run a new fiber and If it were me, I would call Centric or find someone here in the Villages that has the tools and knowledge to work with fiber. It's not like ethernet cable. It's easy to mess up the connections if not aligned perfectly. Get a couple of estimates. Personally, I think you are making a lot of work for yourself since you can easily put the Centric router in transparant bypass mode so all it's really doing is terminating the fiber. You can then get whatever wifi router you want that's probably going to be better than the Centric router because you will have total control and put it wherever you prefer.

As I'm writing this I'm realizing you have a lot of options but it's not clear to me what you are ultimately trying to accomplish by physically moving the Centric Wifi router.

I'm installing a Unifi (Ubiquiti) home network which would not only include the new gateway (UCG-Fiber) but also a switch with enough PoE ports for at least two AP, a UNVR Instant, and four cameras. I also run my own home automation via a mini PC and all this kit should be collocated, ideally on a rack with UPS.

Does that help?

[jrref]

Originally Posted by idlewild

I'm installing a Unifi (Ubiquiti) home network which would not only include the new gateway (UCG-Fiber) but also a switch with enough PoE ports for at least two AP, a UNVR Instant, and four cameras. I also run my own home automation via a mini PC and all this kit should be collocated, ideally on a rack with UPS.

Does that help?

Yes, thank you.

So, if you want to use the Unify Fiber gateway in a rack in another room you will have to move the fiber drop. But, again, you loose nothing by putting the Centric router in transparent bypass mode so all it's doing is terminating the fiber with their router turned OFF and you will have full control of the ethernet feed from Centric with your Unify equipment. You don't need any extra bandwidth from the fiber since your maximum data rate from Centric is 1Gbs. If you use the Unify fiber gateway you will need to make sure it's compatible with the Centric fiber feed. I know Centric disables some options in it's wifi router so I wouldn't be surprised if they limit your ability to connect their fiber to third parts devices but I might be wrong. If you decide to use the ethernet feed from Centric then all you need to do is plug it into your Unify gateway in your new rack and it will work. There won't be any difference in performance feeding the Unify equipment with fiber or etherner with any speed that Centric is providing to you home in the Villages.

As an example, in my home with Quantum, I have their newer SmartNid which is a fiber teminator and router with a 10Gbs ethernet port. I put it in Bypass mode which turns Off the router and gives me a raw internet feed at 1Gbs in my case. I have that feed going to my Orbi 970 router and mesh network located in other parts of my home where I have full control to do whatever with all my devices. I'm also running a Homeseer and Home Assistant smart home network on a miniPC with cameras and other devices. Works perfectly. If I had removed the Quantum SmartNid and ran fiber to my Orbi via a fiber inteface device, it would have been way more complicated and the end result would be the same as what I have now.

Hope this helps.

[idlewild]

Originally Posted by jrref

Yes, thank you.

So, if you want to use the Unify Fiber gateway in a rack in another room you will have to move the fiber drop. But, again, you loose nothing by putting the Centric router in transparent bypass mode so all it's doing is terminating the fiber with their router turned OFF and you will have full control of the ethernet feed from Centric with your Unify equipment. You don't need any extra bandwidth from the fiber since your maximum data rate from Centric is 1Gbs. If you use the Unify fiber gateway you will need to make sure it's compatible with the Centric fiber feed. I know Centric disables some options in it's wifi router so I wouldn't be surprised if they limit your ability to connect their fiber to third parts devices but I might be wrong. If you decide to use the ethernet feed from Centric then all you need to do is plug it into your Unify gateway in your new rack and it will work. There won't be any difference in performance feeding the Unify equipment with fiber or etherner with any speed that Centric is providing to you home in the Villages.

Hope this helps.

Yes, thanks.

The speed is 1Gbps for now, but I want to future proof (insane, I know) so would prefer DAC cable from the UGF-F to the switch. The fiber doesn't terminate into the UCG-F to my knowledge, unless an SFP+ port can accept it so, yes, I'll still need Centric's Gigaspire box which I'll put in bypass.

And the UNVR would not only service Unifi Protect, but also possibly other media - I would run Plex off another server.

I'm still trying to figure all this out, but the long-short of it is I would prefer to have all this kit in a more accessible and cooler location instead of above the kitchen cabinets. If I can't reroute the Gigaspire, I'll probably need to drill into the top cabinet and store everything in there - including a fan!

[jamroz]

I have not yet moved to TV but I am doing tons of research.

I am currently a Federal Employee and lead a team of Server Admins (Microsoft Shop). I have my own homelab and I have Unifi equipment so seeing this thread is great because I would love to share experiences when I finally do get down there.

Are there any homelab groups?

--John

[SeanInFlorida]

I got rid of the Centric router as I have the Kaleidescape system which requires high bandwidth and also about 100 wi-fi smart devices, which requires a high end mesh system. Centric told me their default router can't handle that many devices. Centric gave me a Media box that connects to the fiber cable and then a Cat6e runs from that to the new mesh router. From there it goes to the low voltage box in the garage where I put a 16 port switch to feed the rest of the house. Then I ran any extra Cat6e cables to different rooms as needed. Its not too bad running cables to rooms in the front of my house, but difficult in the rear with the roof angle and blown in insulation. I was on my stomach in the attic crawling to an area where the roof was a few inches from my head (with nails!). I am sure they could run a new fiber cable from the box in the low voltage panel to anywhere you want. Sometimes it is worth it to pay someone to do things. I am sure Galaxy has done it many times.

[LuLinn]

Wouldn't adding a mesh system be easier and cheaper? I run 16 devices off our mesh system with no issues.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by SeanInFlorida

I got rid of the Centric router as I have the Kaleidescape system which requires high bandwidth and also about 100 wi-fi smart devices, which requires a high end mesh system. Centric told me their default router can't handle that many devices. Centric gave me a Media box that connects to the fiber cable and then a Cat6e runs from that to the new mesh router. From there it goes to the low voltage box in the garage where I put a 16 port switch to feed the rest of the house. Then I ran any extra Cat6e cables to different rooms as needed. Its not too bad running cables to rooms in the front of my house, but difficult in the rear with the roof angle and blown in insulation. I was on my stomach in the attic crawling to an area where the roof was a few inches from my head (with nails!). I am sure they could run a new fiber cable from the box in the low voltage panel to anywhere you want. Sometimes it is worth it to pay someone to do things. I am sure Galaxy has done it many times.

Can you tell us the name of this "Centric Media box". I'm curious what this is since it sounds like a fiber terminator. I'm not surprised that the Centrix router doesn't have a high device capability since most homes here in the Villages probably have less than 50 devices but did you ask them if you could put their router in Bypass mode which turns Off their router? All these wifi routers have the ability to turn Off the Wifi and the Router but I don't know of Centric gives you this capability. I remember a while back a Villager may have said they restrict certain settings when you log into their wifi router.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by jamroz

I have not yet moved to TV but I am doing tons of research.

I am currently a Federal Employee and lead a team of Server Admins (Microsoft Shop). I have my own homelab and I have Unifi equipment so seeing this thread is great because I would love to share experiences when I finally do get down there.

Are there any homelab groups?

--John

John, In general, you will find very few people living here in the Villages that have any sort of "high-end" networking system in their home. Most just have the ISP install their equipment and as long as it works, they are happy. Most homes are less than 2500 sqft. single story so almost any Wifi router covers the whole house with adequate wifi. As far as cameras, etc., again most go to Best Buy and have them install Ring equipment. Even in larger premier homes that I've been in where Villager's typically have the network professionally installed, you will see EERO, Orbi or TP-link mesh systems. Very rarely will you see a Ubiquity or similar system although I have a friend who has installed one. There are a couple of professional installers working here in the Villages, one I know installs Ubiquity and the rest lower end mesh systems. Some electricians will run ethernet cable to rooms if you want. What you find here is Circa 2012- 2020, most homes here have coax installed in almost every room with a Cat5E wired for telephone. Unfortunately, the ethernet cabling is not terminated in optimal locations like where you would install a TV in the living room since they were intended to connect wired telephones. In these homes since all the ethernet wiring goes back to a low voltage cabinet in the garage, you can re-wire it for data and use it to get hard-wired connections to an office or use it for a hard-wired backhaul for a mesh system. In the newer builds the Villages started installing Cat6 in all the rooms along with the coax but they then wired less rooms to save money unless you specified and paid for additional connections. Since in 90% of all homes here in the Villages the longest ethernet run is about 75ft, almost any ethernet cabling will give you 8-10Mbs no problem. I've tested this in my home. Quantum fiber offers 200Mbs to 8Gbs service in some areas of the Villages while Centric fiber, I believe offers up to 1Gbs in the newer areas in the South. Both are very good companies and we are very lucky to have fiber since cable here is ancient and very oversold. They haven't updated their network north of Rt.44 for many years while the fiber companies are still expanding and upgrading their networ. Quantum is now converting from G-PON to XGS-PON so at some point we will have 10GBS symmetrical Internet service. Quantum is now only installing XGS-PON capable fiber terminator/router devices. I have one and it works well.

Update: I forgot to mention, I agree it would be fun to have some sort of advanced networking group or club here in the Villages but sorry to say, most Villagers are only interested in the cheapest internet service they can get, they are very price driven, regardless of speed as long as it works so there isn't much interest in more advanced systems. There are many threads here on TOTV on interner services that you will find interesting to read.


Hope this helps. When you get here keep in touch.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by idlewild

Yes, thanks.

The speed is 1Gbps for now, but I want to future proof (insane, I know) so would prefer DAC cable from the UGF-F to the switch. The fiber doesn't terminate into the UCG-F to my knowledge, unless an SFP+ port can accept it so, yes, I'll still need Centric's Gigaspire box which I'll put in bypass.

And the UNVR would not only service Unifi Protect, but also possibly other media - I would run Plex off another server.

I'm still trying to figure all this out, but the long-short of it is I would prefer to have all this kit in a more accessible and cooler location instead of above the kitchen cabinets. If I can't reroute the Gigaspire, I'll probably need to drill into the top cabinet and store everything in there - including a fan!

Just fyi, while you are planning your system, don't worry about the heat in the kitchen. I know "they" say not to install any network equipment in the hot garage for example but I have my Orbi 970 router mounted in my hot garage and no problems. I did install a fan on the bottom of the mount but the kitchen will never get hot enough to effect your equipment. As far as future-proofing, that Cat6 cable already installed in your home have such short lengths that it will easily run 10Gbs so sorry to say this again but running fiber won't make any difference. In addition, Quantum is offering up to 8Gbs on their new XGS-PON system in some parts of the Villages so I don't expect any speeds over 10Gbs in our time here in the Villages. Let us know what you eventually implement.

[rsmurano]

I’m surprised if the OP is not more confused now than before. The houses I worked on that have Centric have their fiber cable ran to the top of the cabinets in the kitchen and that hooks up to their equipment. Centric hopes that this central location will provide enough wifi signal to your whole house which it doesn’t. It’s a bad idea to put a modem/router in a closet because you degrade the wifi signal from the start. If you want an ups, buy a small 1 and place it near the centric equipment. I have 1 of my mesh network routers on top of my kitchen cabinets which I also have my server, storage disks, and a large ups powering all of this and you can’t see anything except for the white router.
When I built my last 2 houses, I told the low voltage guy to run all my cat 5e cables where I wanted them and 1 of them was in a closet for the router, which they also put a pipe in this closet so the isp can run their cable to this closet, which in my case was fiber. ATT provided the modem router and I disabled the wifi signal from this router and setup my other 4 routers in a wired bridged setup.

You will need wifi to most locations in your house so that’s going to mean using more routers, and you should use the newer 6e or newer mesh routers. Never use WAP or power network extenders. The best way to install a mesh network or a bridged network using older routers, is using Ethernet cables between the routers when possible, and if you can’t, then buy the 6e or newer mesh network routers that provide a 2.5Gb backhaul that allows each router to communicate between themselves.

Then this is only a small part of setting up your LAN. I have 5 network switches in my house that are hooked up to the mesh router and 1 in the garage network box. Why? When you only use wifi to any device, most use the 2.4ghz wifi band which is slow but can accept lower level wifi signals. In each room with a tv, streamer, dvd player, game console, etc., by providing a wired connection to these devices, each device will operate at 1Gb or whatever the wired connection provides, much faster than any 2.4ghz wifi signal. Even if my mesh router isn’t connected by wire to the other routers, the 2.5ghz backhaul provides the bandwidth so when I stream, it’s almost instantaneous with no delay.

If you don’t have the blue cat xx cables in your house, you probably have coax in every room and you can use those cables for your LAN, it’s called MOCA network. Wired is the best way to hook up your network capable devices