What IS this left-over from a rental house? Cable, modem, router, alarm system, what? (1 Viewer)

[The_Doc_Man]

I tend to like video disks, tool. Since we're still on cable, we can't search a video library so easily.

Then again, I usually wait until what I want reaches the Wal-Mart "cheapie" rack.

OK, so I'm dirt-cheap, well beyond frugal, and in the general direction of penny pinching.

 

[BlueSpruce]

I tend to like video disks, tool. Since we're still on cable, we can't search a video library so easily.

Then again, I usually wait until what I want reaches the Wal-Mart "cheapie" rack.

OK, so I'm dirt-cheap, well beyond frugal, and in the general direction of penny pinching.

I often visit Goodwill and Salvation Army thrift stores and buy used items for ~10% of what Walmart charges. My neighbor bought all those Dexter DVD's for $7

 

[BlueSpruce]

Here's a mystery relic in my garage I can't figure out what it was for. There's no model name on it. Maybe Fios?

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I looked up the numbers visible on the side - no luck. That cord on the bottom is clearly a wall-socket plug for electric power. Are there any other sockets on the top or bottom?

I see a standard flat-head screw/hex screw head at the top. Might be one on the bottom as well, hidden by the angle of that shot. Since you have unplugged it, you should be able to safely unscrew it to see if there are part or model numbers on the back of the device.

 

[AccessBlaster]

According to chat:

It’s a Verizon power supply unit—specifically the type used to power a Verizon FiOS ONT (Optical Network Terminal) or other Verizon network equipment.

Key indicators:​

• The Verizon logo on the casing.
• The “POWER OK” indicator light on the bottom.
• The cable bundle coming out of the bottom, including what looks like low-voltage wiring and a regular power plug.
  

What it does:​

This device converts household AC power to low-voltage DC power for Verizon’s network hardware (typically the ONT, which is often mounted outside or in a utility area). Without it, internet and phone service from FiOS would go down.

 

[BlueSpruce]

I looked up the numbers visible on the side - no luck. That cord on the bottom is clearly a wall-socket plug for electric power. Are there any other sockets on the top or bottom?

I see a standard flat-head screw/hex screw head at the top. Might be one on the bottom as well, hidden by the angle of that shot. Since you have unplugged it, you should be able to safely unscrew it to see if there are part or model numbers on the back of the device.

You read my mind. The model num in the back indicates it's a 16 volt power supply for a Verizon Fios Modem.

The weird thing is the cable that was connected to it runs to the other side of the cinder block wall to these outdoor boxes.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Regarding the first picture in post #46, the right-hand box is a cable junction box. I won't say that EVERY cable company uses that design, but a majority use it. From the thickness of the cord coming out of the left-hand box, it might be a power convertor of some kind. But that would be hard to say without brand names and model numbers.

 

[BlueSpruce]

Regarding the first picture in post #46, the right-hand box is a cable junction box. I won't say that EVERY cable company uses that design, but a majority use it. From the thickness of the cord coming out of the left-hand box, it might be a power convertor of some kind. But that would be hard to say without brand names and model numbers.

Yep, as I suspected, the power supply was connected to the outdoor Frontier optical modem. The yellow cable is the fiber comming in, but an output ethernet cable that runs into the townhome. Why wouldn't they just run the fiber all the way into the home so the modem is indoors?

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Why wouldn't they just run the fiber all the way into the home so the modem is indoors?

Networks run under the ISO 7-layer model of networking, for which the lowest layer is Point-to-Point physical connections. If their modem uses Ethernet-over-CAT7 but what is coming into the building is Ethernet-over-fiber, they need a convertor.

I've got table-top convertors in two places because my house was wired for COAX cable when it was built over 40 years ago, and when we changed to fiber from copper, there were some issues requiring conversion at the physical layer. It is commonplace when dealing with new networks in old buildings. The alternative would be to tear out a wall to replace the connecting cables with newer signal carriers and then replace the sheet rock or whatever else you have for a wall. It's far easier to just provide a convertor to carry the signal for the short leg between the building junction and the individual modems.

 

[BlueSpruce]

Networks run under the ISO 7-layer model of networking, for which the lowest layer is Point-to-Point physical connections. If their modem uses Ethernet-over-CAT7 but what is coming into the building is Ethernet-over-fiber, they need a convertor.

I've got table-top convertors in two places because my house was wired for COAX cable when it was built over 40 years ago, and when we changed to fiber from copper, there were some issues requiring conversion at the physical layer. It is commonplace when dealing with new networks in old buildings. The alternative would be to tear out a wall to replace the connecting cables with newer signal carriers and then replace the sheet rock or whatever else you have for a wall. It's far easier to just provide a convertor to carry the signal for the short leg between the building junction and the individual modems.

Understood, however, placing the modem outdoors exposes it to the elements, as can be seen in the pic, plus anyone could plug into an ethernet port. I also think most people wouldn't be able to leverage speeds above 1Gbps, unless they have newer devices with NIC's and Wifi receivers > 1Gbps.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Understood, however, placing the modem outdoors exposes it to the elements, as can be seen in the pic, plus anyone could plug into an ethernet port. I also think most people wouldn't be able to leverage speeds above 1Gbps, unless they have newer devices with NIC's and Wifi receivers > 1Gbps.

None of those are problems for the company unless they have leaky equipment. However, most of these housings are sufficiently tight to be waterproof.

Someone can plug into your modem? Who pays the bill for usage and how is it the ISP's problem if someone is stealing your service at a point where it shows up on your bill? As to getting >1 Gbps speed, if you want it - pay for it by getting the new, more expensive devices. Since you usually get that by signing up with the ISP for the new, expanded service... how is that the ISP's problem? I can hear them saying "cha-ching" all the way to the bank.

 

[BlueSpruce]

None of those are problems for the company unless they have leaky equipment. However, most of these housings are sufficiently tight to be waterproof.

Someone can plug into your modem? Who pays the bill for usage and how is it the ISP's problem if someone is stealing your service at a point where it shows up on your bill? As to getting >1 Gbps speed, if you want it - pay for it by getting the new, more expensive devices. Since you usually get that by signing up with the ISP for the new, expanded service... how is that the ISP's problem? I can hear them saying "cha-ching" all the way to the bank.

I removed the modem's cover and it had cobwebs, dead bugs, and slime on the board. By moving the modem indoors no one can hardwire an ethernet cable to it, unless they break into my home. Fiber providers won't cha-ching me because my cable internet's 300Mbps speed is good enough for me and I have not experienced any outages, whereas fiber is more susceptible.

 

[BlueSpruce]

Frontier relics gone, like it never happened!.. The BrightHouse junction box lives on!

 

[AccessBlaster]

I found an unusual piece of equipment in my garage the other day, and I was hoping someone could identify its purpose. It appears to have four wheels and seems capable of movement. Inside the top, there are several chrome looking components. Next to this unknown device are two large white metal boxes with various dials and buttons. Any help would be greatly appreciated these items are causing me a lot of anxiety. Thank you, sincerely Access Blaster.

 

[BlueSpruce]

View attachment 121813
I found an unusual piece of equipment in my garage the other day, and I was hoping someone could identify its purpose. It appears to have four wheels and seems capable of movement. Inside the top, there are several chrome looking components. Next to this unknown device are two large white metal boxes with various dials and buttons. Any help would be greatly appreciated these items are causing me a lot of anxiety. Thank you, sincerely Access Blaster.

Can I borrow that spark plug gap gauge?

 

[AccessBlaster]

sure

 

[BlueSpruce]

sure

Find any relics in your garage you want to remove?.. I cleanout my garage once a year. @Issacs OP got me started last night and I ended up removing obsolete junk, caulking holes, and painting over, like it was never there.

 

[AccessBlaster]

Find any relics in your garage you want to remove?.. I cleanout my garage once a year.

Yeah, here's a small project that stalled out a few years ago.

 

[BlueSpruce]

Yeah, here's a small project that stalled out a few years ago.

View attachment 121817

Lawnmower Engine?

 

[AccessBlaster]

Yes, spare edger engine