I have a Nokia in one of those boxes. The Openreach guy applied an ONT id sticker to the outside of the box, so presumably they are supplied with spare stickers. Although obviously that did not happen in OP's case.

In reply to a post by DFScale:

I have a Nokia in one of those boxes. The Openreach guy applied an ONT id sticker to the outside of the box, so presumably they are supplied with spare stickers. Although obviously that did not happen in OP's case.

Correct , the ONT comes with a set of serial number stickers , often one is attached to the outside of ONT enclosure , in fact the authentication process involves scanning the SN , using the company Iphone each tech has ( with the appropriate application ) so a copy of SN on the exterior of the case makes this ‘scan and go’ process easier, some techs even place a copy of the serial number inside the external CSP , that way , provided the ONT is powered , no further access inside the house is required to authenticate ……it shouldn’t be necessary to quote the SN of the ONT to an ISP thats already accepted onto the PON ( so the PON light is already lit ) although admittedly it can be useful to the provider to know the serial number if matching the address to a service is problematic

Edited by Iniltous (Sun 19-Jan-25 10:14:37)

I think the OPs ISP, does (or at east used to) make a habit of asking for the ONT serial number. Just the way they roll.

Hopefully they can find the label. Should be on the front and back of the ONT as noted as that’s how they come out of the box - without further labels being applied by the engineer, and considering no one has taken it off the outside case in the meantime…or simply taken the whole ONT…

In reply to a post by DFScale:

I have a Nokia in one of those boxes. The Openreach guy applied an ONT id sticker to the outside of the box, so presumably they are supplied with spare stickers. Although obviously that did not happen in OP's case.

I’m on to my third ONT. Two generations of Huawei (the original 1+1 went faulty after a lightning inspired surge) and latterly a Nokia with 2.5G port after we moved service to EE’s 1.6G tier.

Although all my Openreach attending engineers have been super helpful they have never affixed the spare stickers on the outside enclosure (mines still an old pre 2019 BBU type). Not once, not ever. They do scan it as @Initous has said for activation, but then tuck it back inside.

Just saying.

In reply to a post by DFScale:

??? Nobody is jumping to a conclusion. FGS should we avoid raising possibilities in case someone jumps to a conclusion?

Sorry, just didn't want to bombard/overwhelm the OP with too much information.

In reply to a post by PCJM40:

In reply to a post by DFScale:

??? Nobody is jumping to a conclusion. FGS should we avoid raising possibilities in case someone jumps to a conclusion?

Sorry, just didn't want to bombard/overwhelm the OP with too much information.

Many thanks to everyone for their extremely helpful advice.

So earlier today I had a look and could not find the serial number anywhere, there was what appeared to be a marking of what looked like where a previous sticker had been.

I've emailed both the house builder as the house is only a few months old, to see if they have kept records as well as Openreach in the hope that they can help too. Everything else looks to be intact. The previous owner had used Virgin Media sadly so didn't have any of their own records. It's no big deal I'll just use my 5G connection until I can get sorted.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know how long on average it would take for IDNet (my ISP of choice) to get my connection setup once I can provide the ONT Serial? As I understand it, they will just supply internet via the existing Port 1 on my ONT?

As always, any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks again.

Dark

Around 10 days from order. Give or take.

In reply to a post by DarkByD3sign:

I've emailed both the house builder as the house is only a few months old, to see if they have kept records as well as Openreach in the hope that they can help too. Everything else looks to be intact. The previous owner had used Virgin Media sadly so didn't have any of their own records. It's no big deal I'll just use my 5G connection until I can get sorted.

If there’s an actual ONT inside that enclosure, then you’d be able to see it. I have my doubts as to whether it was ever installed. You can easily check if it was using your address in the BT Wholesale Checker. At the bottom of the table, it will say “ONT exists…” if there actually is one there according to Openreach records.

Perhaps take a wider photo (similar to what you did earlier), with the left cover opened…

If there is an ONT is in there, will be labeled on the front - failing that it will definitely have a silver and black factory label on the rear. Just slide it towards the right to unlock it from the fixings inside the enclosure and carefully turn it around.

I’m probably not telling any tales out of school.

But once upon a time, with IDNet, you could actually see, in public view, the ONT serial numbers associated with a premises address when you were purportedly about to place an FTTP broadband service order.

I think someone must have altered them to the glaring GDPR / security implication and they subsequently got rid of it in their public ordering portal, a while back.

Shame. It came in handy for legitimate uses.

You shouldn’t need the serial number , most ISP won’t even ask …if the PON light is lit and steady green on the ONT , then you only need the postal address , the ONT has already been authenticated by the tech who fitted the ONT before you moved in …FWIW , the rear of the ONT has the factory label with the serial number on it , along with other details , which means removing it carefully from the plastic cover that fits over the electric patress box but it should be there
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326394479204?_skw=bt+open...

In this case it’s at the bottom, beginning ALC

Edited by Iniltous (Sun 19-Jan-25 22:04:44)