Installation

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Axiom has WiFi routers available for lease to our subscribers at a cost of $7.50 per device/per month, which includes full coverage by Axiom tech support - our device, our problem - and no hassles for the homeowner. Router leases do not have a contract term; billing can be stopped at any time simply by returning the leased router to PO Box 771, Machias, ME 04654 and notifying Axiom via email at support@connectwithaxiom.com.

Alternately, customers are welcome to use their own WiFi routers. Any standard WiFi router will be compatible with our service, although older and less expensive models may not perform as well as newer or more premium models. For the best performance, please ensure that your WiFi router is “WiFi 6”, and “IPv6” compatible (pretty standard for newer devices). Finally, please understand that due to the wide variety of routers in the marketplace Axiom technicians are unable to install, repair, configure, support, or otherwise manage customer owned equipment.

Below, please find links to articles that compare and review WiFi Routers. If you ultimately decide to purchase a new WiFi router, these articles may help you make a decision about which one is right for you.

     ● NYT Wirecutter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-wi-fi-router/
     ● CNET (with FAQ on what is a Wireless Router): https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/best-wi-fi-router/

Additionally, in older or larger homes, some customers find that mesh systems provide better coverage throughout the home. Axiom can build a mesh system in your home by installing multiple router nodes for the standard lease cost of $7.50/mo per device. If you’d like to consider purchasing your own mesh system, here are some articles specifically addressing meshed networks.

     ● NYT Wirecutter Mesh: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-wi-fi-mesh-networking-kits/
     ● CNET Meshed Systems: https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/best-mesh-wifi-routers/

Occasionally customers, especially those considering more complex home networking setups (for example, additional wiring, outdoor WiFi, the use of range extenders, etc.) may choose to hire a private contractor for the wiring and configuration of their local network. For your convenience, we’ve included contact information below for a Maine-based contractor who does home and commercial network installations. While Dave is not an Axiom employee, we’ve had great reports from customers on his work over the years.

     Dave Hewins
     Maine Communications Consulting
      207-873-4648
     dhewins@mainecc.com

Thank you for signing up with Axiom! If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us via email, at support@connectwithaxiom.com, or via phone at 207-255-0679.

Axiom Standard Installation Guidelines for new Fiber Optic Internet Service

This document is a visual guide to Axiom's methods to install fiber optic service at a subscriber's home. This process has two distinct stages, and a few different options are available at each stage.

The first step towards getting connected to the new fiber optic service is for Axiom to install a "drop cable" from the fiber trunk cable on the street to your house. After the drop cable is installed and thoroughly tested, the second half of the installation can be completed. This is when our technicians install the electronics at the house and activate your new internet connection.

There are two primary ways to connect a fiber cable to your house. Each may require a different level of preparation on the homeowner’s part, depending on how the current utilities come to your home and how your property was developed. We describe all this below.

First, we’ve got to get the fiber to your house from the street

As we mentioned, there are two primary ways we can bring fiber from the street to your house.

Aerial Installation: For most homes, installing a drop cable in the air from the nearest utility pole makes the most sense. If your electrical service is delivered overhead, we’ll follow those cables unless you say otherwise.

Underground from the nearest utility pole: Subscribers whose current utilities come underground may prefer the new fiber optic service to come to their property the same way. If the homeowner provides a "viable cable path" for our drop cable construction crews to use, we’ll pull in the fiber cable at no additional cost. Conduits must be clear of obstructions, have enough free space for the new cable, and, very importantly, must not contain electrical wires. In the absence of a viable underground cable path, it is the homeowner's responsibility to install a new conduit to the home in order for the connection to be completed. We urge homeowners to work diligently to address their situation. Multiple visits to the home will incur additional charges.

Should we find an unusable conduit while attempting to pull in the drop fiber, we will work with you to explain the situation and your options and provide referrals to local contractors whenever possible.

Once we have the fiber run in from the street, we need to attach it to your house

Axiom’s Outside Plant Contractor will bring the fiber cable from the street to your house. Once the fiber is at your building, they need to mount a small plastic box (a Network Interface Device "NID") to terminate and test the new fiber.

The NID is typically mounted on the exterior of your house near the existing power meter or wherever your conduit terminates on the outside of the house. If you have underground utilities and your conduit terminates inside your home, Axiom will coordinate with you for interior access to mount the NID.

The exterior portion of the installation, including the gray plastic NID, is depicted to the left.

The interior installation, which includes placing a cable from the NID and through the wall, as shown to the left, is completed on a separate visit and is described below.

Finally, we bring the cable into your house, install the electronics, and activate the service

In the final step of installing the new fiber optic service at your house, Axiom technicians must access your home, bring a cable through the wall from the NID, and install and test the electronics.

There are several key distances to keep in mind as you think about where you’d like your internet equipment placed.

The first thing to think about is where you’d like Axiom to come through the wall from the NID. The wall penetration must be:

Within 100’ of the NID (closer is better)
Accessible from the ground w/o a ladder
On the same exterior wall as the NID

Often there is an electrical panel just inside the building from the power meter. Many homeowners prefer that we mount our equipment near the breaker panel to keep all the utilities together in one place.

Once inside the house, we will mount a small wall plate (see "interior cable entrance" above) where the cable comes into your home. This will be directly on the inside of the wall from the exterior cable entrance and protects the fiber cable we bring in from the outside.

We will run a small jumper cable from the exterior wall plate to the actual electronics ("411 ONT" in the picture above) that power your new internet connection. These electronics need to be mounted:

On the inside of the exterior wall that the NID is mounted on the outside of
Within 4’ of the "interior entrance"
No more than 4’ from a power outlet

Clustering your cable entrance and ONT as close to each other as possible, and as close to an outlet as possible, will improve the visual appeal of your installation, reduce the time needed to complete your installation, and better protect your fiber cables from getting snagged and damaged in the future.

The final step of the installation is to plug in and configure a Wi-Fi router so you can get online wirelessly with all your devices. Axiom can provide this router for a lease fee of $7.50/mo (in which case we install, test, and support it), or the subscriber can acquire and install their own router (which will not be supported by Axiom).

While these guidelines reflect the most common installations we see in the field, every home is different, and we recognize that these methods may not fit your circumstances exactly. If you have questions or concerns or want to discuss a custom installation to better fit your needs, please do not hesitate to discuss this with your Axiom salesperson by calling 207-271-2801. Axiom may be able to customize your installation for an additional charge and can refer you to outside contractors who specialize in interior data wiring if you need a more robust solution than Axiom can offer.