Broadband and telephones

[Harry Bloomfield]

It will be interesting to see if that happens. All the ones that I have seen have a box outside and near ground level. I can't see any physical reason why it needs to be outside, but it does need to be near a stable surface as the equipment that they use to precisely align the ends of the cable and "weld" them together can't be used whilst balancing on a ladder. Let us know if they do install the "outside" box in your loft.

I made that aspect clear to YouFibre, at the beginning, that I both wanted it straight into the loft, and that they could not run any cables down the wall, because they always come adrift, flapping about - apart from looking unsightly. They agreed they could do that.

 

[pcaouolte]

I made that aspect clear to YouFibre, at the beginning, that I both wanted it straight into the loft, and that they could not run any cables down the wall, because they always come adrift, flapping about - apart from looking unsightly. They agreed they could do that.

Good. I have trawled the internet and have found some other people who have managed to get both the ONT and the "external" junction box installed in their loft so it obviously is possible with the right loft conditions (boarding & access) and a helpful installation engineer. I hope all goes well for you.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Good. I have trawled the internet and have found some other people who have managed to get both the ONT and the "external" junction box installed in their loft so it obviously is possible with the right loft conditions (boarding & access) and a helpful installation engineer. I hope all goes well for you.

It is boarded, and carpeted, it just needs the cable/fibre brought in through the low eave, into the main part of the loft - I will be arranging a draw-wire tomorrow, to make that part easy.

 

[Mottie]

On the same subject, I’m having my fibre installed on Dec 10th but we have no telephone poles in our street. We did have cable about 20 years ago (NTL) and I seem to remember they used a moling machine to get to the house from the street, going under our lawn. We no longer have a lawn, it’s been replaced with a drive with a pretty substantial reinforced concrete slab that I fitted myself (the slab, not the surface pavers). I’ve just had a look outside. We have one 'normal' phone line connection box and one cable connection box. Whether they can use the existing cable remains to be seen.

 

[aveatry]

On the same subject, I’m having my fibre installed on Dec 10th but we have no telephone poles in our street. We did have cable about 20 years ago (NTL) and I seem to remember they used a moling machine to get to the house from the street, going under our lawn. We no longer have a lawn, it’s been replaced with a drive with a pretty substantial reinforced concrete slab that I fitted myself (the slab, not the surface pavers). I’ve just had a look outside. We have one 'normal' phone line connection box and one cable connection box. Whether they can use the existing cable remains to be seen.

It depends who now owns the NTL infrastructure - virgin maybe ? and it depends who is going to be your supplier. Speaking to afriend of mine who lives at the start of a shared drive of 3 houses and one furthest away had fibre put in and they just layed it along the hedge and covered it with leaves. So if they can not do it underground then you can expect something like that.
I am going through it now and going ask for a pre visit to come up with a plan for where I want it (overhead)

 

[Mottie]

Speaking to afriend of mine who lives at the start of a shared drive of 3 houses and one furthest away had fibre put in and they just layed it along the hedge and covered it with leaves. So if they can not do it underground then you can expect something like that.

I’ve already had instructions from Mrs Mottie that it’s got to be a neat installation on the day or they can go away!

 

[aveatry]

I’ve already had instructions from Mrs Mottie that it’s got to be a neat installation on the day or they can go away!

just watch out they do not charge you for a "missed" appointment when you do that

 

[Diver Fred]

I’ve already had instructions from Mrs Mottie that it’s got to be a neat installation on the day or they can go away!

Not only do you need to know (and plan) how the external fibre 'cable' will come onto your property. Who is doing your provision? If your supplier is using OR to supply the fibre to the house it is possible they will find a means of using an existing duct.

Do make sure you know where inside you want the ONT locating - normally close to the router position but moving to FTTP could be the chance to improve the location of such in-house kit. (If you are reliant on WiFi centre of the house at first floor level seems to be best and cuts down the need for extended units (BT speak - Halo).) You will get a grey box external fitted to the house about 12-18 inches off the ground where the external to internal fibres are joined.
The ONT will need its own electric point along with the router. The router and ONT do not have to be close together.

 

[Mottie]

Not only do you need to know (and plan) how the external fibre 'cable' will come onto your property. Who is doing your provision? If your supplier is using OR to supply the fibre to the house it is possible they will find a means of using an existing duct.

It is Open Reach. But not to worry, they say they are going to discuss it first. Too bloody right they are!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The YouFibre engineer, due between 1 and 6pm, turned up at 2:45. I explained to him where/how I wanted it, and he said no, he wasn't allowed to do it that way, at first. I said it was either my way, or not at all, though he agreed it was by far the easier way, but he took some photos, and rang the office to clear permission to do it my way. Minutes later, it was agreed.

Fibre comes in from the pole, pulled into the loft, via the eaves, using my prepared draw-wire, then a terminator box, fibre from that to the ONT, ONT into back of router. And working all within 75 minutes. New router has a couple of phone sockets on the back, which need an simple adaptor, to plug my phone system in.

I'm still using my old FTTC via Plusnet, until I get around to configuring the YouFibre router, to my internal LAN setup.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I've just connected my new laptop, in the living room, to the router via wifi, as a test. I'm paying for 150Mbps, it tested as 159 down, 149 up. on my old Plusnet router, the one in the loft, the connection would be just about useable. This one is rock solid, and it seems full speed too.

The router reports no phone line as yet..

 

[aveatry]

The YouFibre engineer, due between 1 and 6pm, turned up at 2:45. I explained to him where/how I wanted it, and he said no, he wasn't allowed to do it that way, at first. I said it was either my way, or not at all, though he agreed it was by far the easier way, but he took some photos, and rang the office to clear permission to do it my way. Minutes later, it was agreed.

Fibre comes in from the pole, pulled into the loft, via the eaves, using my prepared draw-wire, then a terminator box, fibre from that to the ONT, ONT into back of router. And working all within 75 minutes. New router has a couple of phone sockets on the back, which need an simple adaptor, to plug my phone system in.

I'm still using my old FTTC via Plusnet, until I get around to configuring the YouFibre router, to my internal LAN setup.

Well that was a result then.
I have just tried to get an engineer to come and discuss mine with me but was told that one couldn't be booked but one will be visiting so all I can do is ask the to let me know when that will be. I am the same as you I have 2 options that I wll agree to and both of them require work from me first and I need to know which one because if they just turn up on the day things wont be ready. My preferred route needs me to remove some under cladding from a canopy and the second option needs me to lift some slabs and cut out a bit of concrete. Otherwise there optin I know will mean loads of unsightly cable clipped to my house vertical and horizontal.
If they can not do it my way then they can forget it and I will wait until my contract is over and go with virgin who currently own the already installed ducting in the street that goes to me property boarder. As it stands at the moment my new fibre will be overhaed from the post as it is now

tested as 159 down, 149 up.

Is that normal for full fibre as currently my up is about half my down with TTTC

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Is that normal for full fibre as currently my up is about half my down with TTTC

I understand, it is not normal, rather unusual. I suppose, great for uploading, but how often do you upload lots of data?

Reading up on it, it's not a fixed IP, £5 extra for that, and something about it also being a shared IP, because You's pool of IP's, is inadequate. Not a problem, unless you host a website or similar.

I was told we would have a temporary Voip phone number, I tried plugging a phone in, and it just makes a bleeping noise, rather like an engaged tone, and the routers webpage, suggests no connection. I received an email suggesting my old number will be ported, on the 26th.. The aris nvg578lx router seems like a good one, very configurable. I changed it's LAN IP, DHCP, passwords etc., to match my old router, rather than spending days reconfiguring on my network, to match the new router.

Regarding your layout, I've read where engineers have agreed to running the fibre across, then going away, and leaving the customer to install it as they want it, then returning later to finish the installation.

 

[aveatry]

Regarding your layout, I've read where engineers have agreed to running the fibre across, then going away, and leaving the customer to install it as they want it, then returning later to finish the installation.

Now that would be perfect for me. I have a not very deep canopy that I know they are going to have a hissy fit about getting over, they can get a ladder just-to the side of it to fix the overhead to the wall then go away and I will do the clipping that they cannot reach.

Reading up on it, it's not a fixed IP, £5 extra for that, and something about it also being a shared IP, because You's pool of IP's, is inadequate. Not a problem, unless you host a website or similar.

I dont understand any of that really. I have no idea what my normal copper router is.

I was told we would have a temporary Voip phone number, I tried plugging a phone in, and it just makes a bleeping noise, rather like an engaged tone, and the routers webpage, suggests no connection. I received an email suggesting my old number will be ported, on the 26th..

As far as I know for me as soon as it in then so is my phone, my router will have an included phone socket and I just pull the phone out of the BT one and stick it in the router.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I dont understand any of that really. I have no idea what my normal copper router is.

My understanding - The world is running out of 4 digit IP numbers, so the next stage is to use 6 digits. Each ISP, is allocated a range of IP numbers, and YouFibre, like all ISP's has its range of IP's. The problem is, that YF as a late comer, does not have enough IP's to go round all it's customers, so several of their customers, might have to share the same IP's. They use some clever trickery, to do that.

As far as I know for me as soon as it in then so is my phone, my router will have an included phone socket and I just pull the phone out of the BT one and stick it in the router.

All I know, is that my phone is still not working over the VoIP, despite being told to expect a temporary number, until my original number was ported.