Can I plug in GPON/EPON into an SFP Port on a network switch and get rid of ONT?

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JB701

JB701

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I was thinking about setting up a router on a stick with VLANs with an Intel NUC and a managed switch. I came across this managed switch Amazon.in: Buy TP-Link T1500G-10PS(TL-SG2210P) 8Port Gigabit Smart PoE Switch (Black) Online at Low Prices in India | TP-Link Reviews & Ratings . It has two SFP Ports, this got me thinking; Can I get a SC to SFP transceiver like this one SFP MODULE 1.25G 20KM 1310+1490 SC SINGLE MODE (PAIR)-NETLINK - Netlink ICT Private Limited and plug in the fiber that comes to my home into my network switch without any ONT? Will this work?
 
So I had done a tiny bit of research around this a while back (I might be completely wrong too 😉), anyway you'd need a GPON / EPON SFP module, a regular module wouldn't work.

For example, Mikrotik has a GPON SFP module - MikroTik but even that Mikrotik module had some issues/challenges from what I read on Mikrotik forum. Also it wouldn't work on a regular managed switch from what I understood.

However there is something called a SFP ONU on a stick, which is basically an ONT in a SFP form factor. It's available on AliExpress. This is a regular ONU (with chinese firmware 😉) - US $47.16 25% OFF|E/GXPON SFP ONU Stick With MAC SC Connector DDM pon module 1490/1330nm 1.25/2.5G XPON/EPON/GPON( 1.244Gbps/2.55G)802.3ah|Fiber Optic Equipments| | - AliExpress Using it like that I didn't see the advantages for such a solution. 🤷‍♂️

Long story short, I ended up deciding at that point that it's not worth the effort and money going for such a solution, and it might be just easier to get a decent ONT/ONU and use it in bridge mode over ethernet. The same would work in your router-on-stick model as well.
 
It might, cause it takes care of all GPON/EPON stuff and just gives you an interface. If I already had an SFP capable device I might have just bought it for educational purposes, but now to try it, I need to get an SFP supported device and this. 💸 💰

It certainly has a web UI, that is what I meant, it is basically putting a regular chinese ONU inside that form factor. You can use the web UI to clone ONU parameters like the serial, and other things so that it is able to register with the OLT.

Yep, I had seen that as well, but to be honest, I was confused by the description. Doesn't look like it would work on a managed switch. The more expensive 50 USD one might work.

This module can only be used into the EPON ONU devices without SFP inside .

Can not be used in solution EPON OLT---Splitter---optical Switch/Router .

This module is not the type of GPON ONU Stick MAC , is not !!!

Please check carefully before ordering .

Will not refund if use it as the GPON ONU Stick MAC modules in the switch !!!
Click to expand...
 
This will all end up costing a lot of money for such a complicated network setup that's likely to add to latency and complexity.
Buy a decent ONT, bridge it, do what you want from there.
 
@varkey I may be wrong. But as far as I know, the proposed setup by @JB700 involves adding more networking equipment. Isn't it a general rule of thumb that, more connections means more latency? Also not to mention, there's no guarantee the setup will play nice with his ISP, there are many variables which leads to complexity even if he manages to get it to work.

The best way to have control in a home network is a simple decent ONT in bridge mode. If the ONT is decent, you will not face any performance, stability or latency issues. Then from there, plug it into a switch/firewall/router you name it.

The above setup is so simple that it's foolproof, you will not have to deal with any complexity whatsoever. My understanding is that, in computer science, simple solutions are the best and most efficient solutions. 500000 lines of code will be inferior to 4000 lines of code if it does the same thing in a simpler manner.

I too was considering a similar setup like @JB700 until I realised it's just not worth it.

On this subject, @varkey any news on Jio Fiber's almighty bridge mode?
 
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@Dark_Nate Lol, I have decided to go with a regular managed switch without SFP ports and just using the ONTs I already have.

But underneath those PON to SFP transceivers are just ONTs so presumably there shouldn't be any significant difference in performance or complexity. Just that it'll cost me 4k extra for SFP switch and ~7000 for two transceivers (dual fiber link).
 
@JB700 that's ultimately the best solution here. As long as it's decent ONT + bridge mode. You have all the powers you need to manage your own home network.

Oh yeah, for LAN cables I suggest Amazon Basics Cat7. The performance is insane and futureproof. Also, it's heavily shielded. I'm not joking, it's really hard to bend it even a little due to shielding.
 
JB700 said:
@Dark_Nate Lol, I have decided to go with a regular managed switch without SFP ports and just using the ONTs I already have.

But underneath those PON to SFP transceivers are just ONTs so presumably there shouldn't be any significant difference in performance or complexity. Just that it'll cost me 4k extra for SFP switch and ~7000 for two transceivers (dual fiber link).
Click to expand...

Precisely, the basic ONT @Dark_Nate is referring to is over ethernet whereas this is over SFP, other than that there is no difference in complexity or latency.

Btw which managed switch are you going for? I had also been in the same rabbit hole a few months back, but then didn't want to spend money at that point (well, even now, but just for future reference).
 
varkey said:
It might, cause it takes care of all GPON/EPON stuff and just gives you an interface. If I already had an SFP capable device I might have just bought it for educational purposes, but now to try it, I need to get an SFP supported device and this. 💸 💰

It certainly has a web UI, that is what I meant, it is basically putting a regular chinese ONU inside that form factor. You can use the web UI to clone ONU parameters like the serial, and other things so that it is able to register with the OLT.

Yep, I had seen that as well, but to be honest, I was confused by the description. Doesn't look like it would work on a managed switch. The more expensive 50 USD one might work.
Click to expand...

Don't make your bets on cloning from chinese ont/onu config files, they lie, some details might be missing or mangled intentionally by unit and it will give you lot of headache
 
I don't have first hand experience, but the feedback on TP-Links Easy Smart switches isn't so good for the managed features. Not sure how well the VLAN related options work on it.

I had my eye on that as well at first as it looked cheap, but then there were discouraging reviews here and there. I don't remember exactly what were the problems. The Netgear managed switch appeared better.

There is also another more expensive Netgear model with POE and SFP, definitely 4x more costly, but the POE would definitely help if you want to add APs later.

 

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