The ONT, router, online/offline

The ONT is essentially a "modem" allowing connection to the stream from the Exchange, yes?

I am asking about the router setup for the ISP.

Generally in the Network/Internet page there will be the ISP details and user password and a "Connect/Disconnect" for the actual connection out to the Exchange ISP terminal.

Will that still be the case with FTTP?

Meaning, I can choose to log out/disconnect before I go to bed and log in/connect the next morning or the day after if I _need_ to be online?

The ISP/connection details are still held within the router. The ONT has details to authenticate to the head end in the exchange o my. The router makes the connection to the ISP

It depends on your ISP, although I'm not sure *why* you'd want to do that.

Most ISPs use PPPoE for the connection. This establishes a session, rather like a dial-up (PPP was widely used in the days of dial-up modems). You can shut down the PPPoE interface to close the WAN connection, and start it again later; those will be the "Connect/Disconnect" buttons you're referring to. PPPoE also is what assigns you your IP address.

The configured username/password is used by some ISPs, and ignored by others. This is because the PPPoE session that they receive is also tagged with a reference which identifies your physical line/ONT, so they can use that to authenticate you.

But: some ISPs don't use PPPoE at all, and instead use IPoE with DHCP to assign the IP address: the main examples are Sky and Talktalk. This doesn't have a session as such, or provide a way to terminate it. At best, you could shut down your router's WAN interface, i.e .the ethernet port itself.

The same is true for both FTTP and FTTC, incidentally.

But again I query: what exactly is it you're trying to achieve? There may be better ways of doing it (e.g. changing your firewall rules).

If you're trying to limit access overnight then use a firewall rule on a schedule to deny all outbound traffic. An idea of the outcome you want rather than the method would be helpful.

How about a basic time switch for the router, set to go on/off while you're asleep?

Most folks just leave everything powered on 24x7. The ONT will consume 2-3 watts. Most ISP supplied domestic routers with integrated WiFi will consume in the region of 10-15 watts.

This is not like dialup or session based access. There is no need to disconnect from the ISP session. Its is designed to remain indefinitely connected. You can just leave it be....

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

This is not like dialup or session based access. There is no need to disconnect from the ISP session. Its is designed to remain indefinitely connected. You can just leave it be....

Some of us have had this since 1999 with cable modems. It takes a bit of getting used to, but maybe the latest TV scare stories about hackers has caused people to want to ‘disconnect’.

With an ONT the easiest way to force disconnect, e.g. with teenagers that won’t go to bed or do chores, is to just power off the router at the mains switch.

**as the next poster notes, don’t do this if your home “landline” telephone connects to the router **

Edited by jchamier (Mon 23-Jun-25 19:43:03)

In reply to a post by bradlink:

Meaning, I can choose to log out/disconnect before I go to bed and log in/connect the next morning or the day after if I _need_ to be online?

In some respects FTTP is much better than FTTC if you want to physically disconnect the router and/or ONT, you can disconnect either for as long, or as often as you want and when switched back on they will be at maximum speed. Where it does go wrong is if you need VoIP or WiFi calling, as they will not work.

Thank you all.

Really, I do not _need_ to be online 24/7. My routine can involve long gaps as evidenced by this post date. The electricity cost is not a concern and no matter a strong router firewall, the less time chance for attacks the better.

If you want to switch off the ONT when not using your service and switch it back on when you do (rather than trying to find a connect/disconnect software setting which may not exist in the router menu , generally there is no GUI for the ONT ) , then there is no real drawback, save the possibility that this may eventually reduce the lifespan of the device, but unlike FTTC for example, this switching off and on isn’t going to potentially be interpreted as line instability and the network taking steps to stabilise the line by sacrificing speed for stability (no dynamic line management like FTTC ) , either switching off the router or switching off the ONT will require a little time to re authenticate to the headend/service provider once switching back on , but presumably this is acceptable , and as stated obviously any IP telephony won’t work when you are powered down , so if you feel more comfortable switching off when not using your broadband service , switch it off , router or ONT , it can’t really hurt .

Edited by Iniltous (Sat 28-Jun-25 12:10:30)