This guide walks through the process of cutting the cord and switching from cable internet to fiber optic internet. You will see how the fiber cable was routed into the home network panel, how the fiber modem was installed, what speeds were tested, and how the monthly cost compared to cable internet and traditional TV service.
Switching from cable internet to fiber optic internet can be a major upgrade, especially if you want faster speeds, better upload performance, and a cleaner long-term home network setup. In this installation, the existing cable modem in the network panel was replaced with a fiber optic modem.
Before the fiber modem could be installed, a fiber optic cable had to be routed from the outside of the house to the indoor network panel. The outside fiber line was located near the main electrical panel, which is a common location for the fiber connection coming from the street.
The fiber optic cable from the street entered at a box on the side of the house near the main electrical panel. From there, the cable needed to be routed into the home, up through the wall, across the attic, and down into the network panel located in the master bedroom closet.
This type of installation can be challenging because it may require drilling through walls, fishing cable through tight spaces, and working in the attic. Because of that, hiring a professional installer can be a smart decision.
For this project, a professional installer was hired to run the fiber optic cable. While the job may be possible as a DIY project, running cable through an attic and down into a network panel comes with risks. There is the possibility of damaging walls, routing the cable incorrectly, or even falling through the ceiling while working in the attic.
Sometimes the better option is to call someone with experience. In this case, the installer drilled a hole from the garage into the exterior fiber box. The fiber cable was then routed through that opening, up the wall, through a small hole into the ceiling, across the attic, and down into the network panel.
Once the fiber cable was inside the network panel, the next step was to have CenturyLink connect the outside fiber line to the new interior fiber cable. After that connection was completed, the fiber modem could be installed.
The modem setup was simple:
After those connections were made, the fiber internet service was ready to test.
CenturyLink advertised speeds of up to 940 Mbps for this fiber internet plan. However, it is important to understand that real-world internet speeds can vary. Even with fiber service, you may not always see the maximum advertised speed during every speed test.
Several factors can affect download and upload speeds:
For the best results, test with a wired connection, make sure your operating system is updated, and try multiple browsers such as Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.
One of the biggest reasons for switching from cable to fiber was the monthly cost. In this example, CenturyLink offered fiber internet with installation and a modem for $65 per month, with no contract and a price that was not expected to increase.
For comparison, one gigabit speeds with Cox cable were priced at $99 per month. If bundled with other services, such as TV, the price could drop to $69 per month. However, the previous cable and TV package was around $170 per month, and the internet speed was only about 150 Mbps.
| Service | Approximate Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cox Cable Internet Only | $99 | One gigabit speed plan mentioned in the video |
| Cox Cable Internet with Bundle | $69 | Lower price when bundled with TV or other services |
| CenturyLink Fiber | $65 | Fiber internet, installation, and modem included |
| Previous Cable and TV Bill | About $170 | Previous setup with cable internet and TV |
| Fiber Internet Plus Sling TV | About $95 | $65 fiber internet plus $30 streaming TV service |
Instead of keeping traditional cable TV, this setup switched to streaming TV service through Sling TV. With fiber internet at $65 per month and Sling TV at $30 per month, the total bill became about $95 per month for internet and TV.
Compared to the previous bill of around $170 per month, that is a significant monthly savings. The internet speed also improved dramatically, going from about 150 Mbps on the old cable setup to a much faster fiber connection.
Fiber internet can be a strong upgrade for homeowners who want faster service, better long-term value, and a more modern network connection. While availability depends on your area, fiber can be especially useful for streaming, gaming, video calls, uploads, cloud backups, and homes with many connected devices.
Switching from cable to fiber optic internet can provide faster speeds and lower monthly costs, especially when paired with a streaming TV service instead of a traditional cable package. The installation process may require routing fiber through the home, but once the cable is in place, the modem setup is straightforward.
In this example, the switch made sense because the old cable and TV bill was expensive, the internet speed was slower, and fiber offered a faster connection at a better monthly price. If fiber is available in your area, it may be worth comparing installation costs, monthly pricing, speed options, and whether cutting the cord could save you money.
Hi guys. On today's episode, we are cutting the cord. That's right, we are going from cable to fiber optics. Today, I will show you the installation, our new speeds, and a price comparison between both services.
Let's go ahead and take a look inside my network panel. This is the location of my cable modem, and I will be replacing it with a fiber optic modem.
Before I can install the new modem, I need to run a fiber optic cable to this location. But where does the fiber optic cable come from?
A typical location is on the side of your house near the main electrical panel. This black fiber optic wire comes from the street. From this location, I need to run a fiber optic cable up the wall, through the attic, and then fish that wire down into my network panel.
I decided to hire Mike from JDM Automations in Las Vegas to run the cable for me. He has done work for me in the past, and he is quick and affordable.
The first thing he did was drill a hole from the garage through the wall and into the box on the outside of the house. This hole is where the cable is going to run through.
The fiber cable then goes up the wall, through a small hole into the ceiling, and into the attic. From the attic, the fiber cable runs to my network panel, which is located in my master bedroom closet.
After the fiber cable is inside the network panel, I can install the fiber modem. I probably could have done this myself, but why take the chance of falling through the ceiling or hurting myself? Sometimes it is better to call a professional, and that is exactly what I did.
The fiber is now in my network panel. Next, I need to call CenturyLink to connect the black fiber optic cable to my white fiber optic cable. Then, we can install the modem.
All we have to do is plug in the power supply, plug the fiber optic cable into the modem, and plug a Cat6 cable from the modem to my router. That's it.
To be honest, I have wanted to switch to fiber for a long time.
Now let's test our download and upload speed. CenturyLink says we should get 940 megabits per second, but there are a lot of factors that determine your actual download and upload speeds.
Do not be surprised if you are not getting the full 940 megabits per second. In my speed test, I did not get the full 940 Mbps, but that is okay.
Many factors determine network speed. One factor is whether other people on your network are using bandwidth. Another factor is the age of your computer. A slow processor can put the brakes on your connection and cause slower speeds.
Your router can also affect performance. Just like an older PC, an older router can slow down your connection. Your web browser can also make a difference, so it is a good idea to experiment with different browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.
Also, make sure your operating system is up to date. This can increase both security and efficiency.
Now let's talk about pricing. To get one gigabit speeds, we chose CenturyLink because they offered fiber optics with installation and a modem for $65 per month. There is no contract, and the price does not go up.
Let's compare pricing for gigabit speeds with Cox and CenturyLink. To get one gigabit speeds with Cox Cable, it costs $99 per month. However, if you bundle it with different services like TV, the price drops to $69 per month.
To get one gigabit speeds with CenturyLink, as mentioned earlier, it is only $65 per month. That is why we chose CenturyLink.
We previously had internet with Cox Cable as well as TV, and that price was around $170 per month. Our internet speed was only about 150 megabits per second, which was pretty slow.
So, we decided to cut the cord, ditch the cable, and install fiber optics to get one gigabit speeds for $65 per month.
Now we will stream cable services using Sling TV, which is $30 per month. That brings our total bill to $95 per month for internet and TV.
I hope this video gives you a clear understanding of fiber optics, how it is installed, the speeds, and the cost.
Once again, I want to thank you for watching. If you like these videos, give this one a thumbs up and share it. If you love it, hit subscribe to keep this channel alive. Thanks again for watching.
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