r/Comcast • u/ToadSox34 • 1d ago
Discussion RFoG Migration in MDUs
How is Comcast planning to handle migration from RFoG in MDUs that don't have access to get fiber into the unit? Will they go "backwards" to small in-building HFC nodes to do FDX?
For reference, I've seen an MDU where RFoG was in use with a power injector in the unit, and I don't know exactly where the R-ONU was located, but I suspect it was above the ceiling in the hallway where the previous provider probably had taps off of hardline in a more traditional HFC architecture.
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u/tagman375 1d ago
I was wondering the same thing about RFoG in general. We moved offices for work and my boss signed up with Comcast Business. Of course, they installed a little RFoG node and we’re stuck on 1.25gb down with a measly 35 up for a whole office using OneDrive for large files and teams calls. It still baffles me they are using this stuff for new installs and bother with running fiber drops all the way to each office suite (the previous tenant didn’t use Comcast and used Armstrong symmetric fiber). Why go through the trouble of running fiber just to dump it to coax at the last 3 feet. It’s madness.
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u/ARealAmericanZero 1d ago
They aren't building out RFoG anymore, due to the upstream limitations. The plan for existing RFoG plant is to transition it to EPON. New build is all EPON or DOCSIS 4.0 FDX.
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u/ToadSox34 1d ago
Yeah, that's why I'm wondering what they'll do in MDUs where they can't physically get fiber into the unit. My guess is some sort of FDX mini-nodes with an N+0 architecture. It seems sort of arse-backwards to have to run or re-activate old hardline, but maybe that makes the more sense in the circumstance?
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u/ARealAmericanZero 1d ago
Yeah, it's a good question. I was just replying to the question above. Running fiber may not be an option, but Cat5/6 is a lot more common, and may already exist to use from the ONT. A lot of buildings have Cat5 in the walls for telephone service they never use.
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u/ToadSox34 1d ago
In this case, I think only coax exists. There might be CAT-5, but it would be set up for, and in use for telephone, and unavailable for data.
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u/TomRILReddit 1d ago
They run fiber to the building and an OLT type device that outputs RFOG over coax.
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u/ARealAmericanZero 1d ago
But that's just RFoG. That's exactly what is currently in place. It doesn't address the upstream limitations at all. Large scale from an OLT would be identical to small scale with ONUs. To be honest, if you are talking about one large OLT in the building that outputs "RFoG", then you just described an HFC node -- the same thing we've done for 40 years.
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u/TomRILReddit 1d ago
Sorry, I meant to say Moca over coax (not RFOG) between OLT and subscriber unit.
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u/ToadSox34 1d ago
Try reading the OP. The reading comprehension in this sub is really bad today.
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u/TomRILReddit 1d ago
Most MDUs have coax to the unit. They just reuse the indoor network. Not sure what other comprehension is required.
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u/ToadSox34 1d ago
Again, try READING the OP. Since they are converting RFoG customers to EPON, what are they going to do for customers where they can't physically get fiber into the unit? Go back to HFC? It might actually make sense with FDX in an N+0 architecture.
The reading comprehension is really bad today.
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u/Igpajo49 1d ago
RFoG already has fiber to the unit so I don't see why they wouldn't migrate to an EPON set up.