1 November 2026

Quick Links

• Standard 5 port router
• Enhanced 5 port router
• Historic routers

These days we try to use standard ports on our routers, but historically it was a bit inconsistent - and of course there will always be some reason why a particular router is an exception from these rules - but in most cases this information should be right.

Top Tip : try to take a picture of what cables goes into each port before you start moving things. Even just knowing what colour cable goes where is usually enough to get things working without having to call for help.

Standard 5 port router

Our standard 5-port router is used for our fixed wireless service and fibre services where the service speed is up to 100Mb/s. This is the most frequently used customer router across our network. The manufacturer changed the case from a white/beige squared off style to a more modern looking black one - but the actual internals are identical.

The power supply should always be 24V.

This router is used in a number of scenario’s; the ports are allocated as follows:

Frequently Discovered Issues

• The power supply must be 24V. Although the router itself can normally work with 9-27V, the antenna only works with 24V. Using a 12V power supply may give the impression it’s working, but if the connection does come up, it will frequently cycle and can lead to the antenna failing.

• The LED for port 5 lights up red. This is not an error. The red LED indicates that the port is delivering power. Port 5 is the only port on this router than can deliver power (needed for the antenna), hence why we use it.

• The router ‘silkscreen’ or writing next to the ports may show ‘Internet’ against port 1. As noted above, the only port that will power the antenna is port 5, so we reconfigure the router with our own firmware. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy to change the writing on the router itself. We don’t order enough of these from the maufacturer in order to get them to make a custom version for us.

• Antenna cable is unplugged from port 5 and someone later then plugs it back into port 1. The light against port 1 won’t illuminate as port 1 does not supply the power required for the external antenna.

• If there is anything connected to port 4 (customer device or FTTP) and the antenna LED is showing red, port 4 may show an orange colour rather than green. This is purely because there is a green and red light next to each other and the red light is also showing partly through port 4’s indicator mixing with the green light. Nothing abnormal and no issue.

Enhanced 5 port router

Our enhanced 5-port router is used for our fibre services when the FTTP service is more than 100Mb/s. On this model, the manufacturer changed which port can provide power to be port 1. This means any external radio antenna must use port 1.

The power supply should always be 24V.

Frequently Discovered Issues

• The power supply must be 24V. Although the router itself can normally work with 9-27V, the antenna only works with 24V. Using a 12V power supply may give the impression it’s working, but if the connection does come up, it will frequently stop working.

• This router is used in two scenario’s and the cabling is different between them, however for consistency with our regular routers, we have continued to use port 4 when we also have a radio service on the device.

Historic Routers

Previous generations of routers didn’t supply power out on any port for the antenna, so we used an inline power brick to supply power to the antenna.

If you have one of these, then the port marked ‘PoE’ is for the cable heading to the antenna (P means power, the antenna needs power). The port marked ‘LAN’ goes to the router - typically port 1. As the antenna is powered from the PoE injector rather than the router, the voltage on the router power supply is not as important. It would normally be a 24V device, but that’s not always the case.

The PoE injector itself typically has a light on the top surface - either white or blue depending on which version. If there is no light on the router for the port where the cable from the injector goes in, check the mains cable to the injector is properly seated (and of course actually plugged in at the 3 pin plug end).

← All Tech Hub articles