Does installing openreach engineer touch PC?

Hi all,

Due to have Infinity installed week after next, and I read on the BT website that the Openreach engineer will install some software and demonstrate it on a PC. Do I have to have this? Can I refuse? (I really don't see a need for ISP support software on my desktop or laptop).

I'm hoping its optional.

When I had mine done he wanted to and I just point blank refused.

The service works out of the box there is no need for the CD.

The engineer who installed the FTTC service for my line did no such thing, in fact he didn't even do any speed tests or check the line.

As soon as the Openreach modem synced he left!

The guy who did my installation knew that this step was unnecesary and didnt bother.

If you show that you can connect without the BT DVD then everything should be fine.

I had got a reasonaly long ethernet cable so my daughter could connect to the HH3 without using wireless (I was at work) and the BT DVD is still in the box.

When I got home then HH3 went back in the box to join other ISP supplied routers in the garage and my Billion 7800N is now providing much better Wireless connectivity and handles to full speed 80/20 connectivity without problems.

Using wireless speedtest.net gets 71Mb/s down and 16Mb/s up!

If the engineer offers, then just decline. 99% of installers won't even offer.

Hope it all goes swimmingly, this time.

In reply to a post by Alex1M6:

The engineer who installed the FTTC service for my line did no such thing, in fact he didn't even do any speed tests or check the line.

As soon as the Openreach modem synced he left!

Wow! That's just plain wrong.
He should have, at the very least, asked you to open a browser window to test the connection was working well.

I know when I had my Infinity installed, the engineer did this and also ran a speedtest.net speedtest to show what speeds I was getting.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

If the engineer offers, then just decline. 99% of installers won't even offer.

Hope it all goes swimmingly, this time.

Great!

Thanks all - otherwise I'd have borrowed a spare XP laptop from a friend, and wiped it later

My engineer came in. Went "hello I'm Mark."

He then unscrewed my old faceplate, screwed in the new one. Hooked up the modem. and popped it under my stand (blocking the air vents).
Went away for 5 or so minutes.

Came back, connected my sky router. Saw a green light and left.

He took probably 10 - 15 mins total.
I think this is probably how 99% of them do things. Quick as possible.

It should be pretty similar with BT. He threw my sky CD in the junk bag he had along with my old faceplate. He definitely had no intention of using it.

Edited by ukhardy07 (Sun 09-Sep-12 00:21:40)

I think I'll give him my android tablet if I ever get FTTC and he asks

Same here - he didn't even ask for my computer to be switched on. So I fired it up while he was finishing his tea and hobnob and connected via Ethernet just to make sure. I also checked that the Hub3 was in my list of available wireless networks before he went. Does no harm. But as for the BT bloatware disc - it went in the bin.
I do have a neighbour who installed it and had all manner of adverts, pop-ups and slowdowns.

It should be pretty similar with BT. It will be the same Openreach installer for any FTTC isp. Or, if you are unlucky, a random bod off the street contracted to Openreach.

In reply to a post by StephenTodd:

It should be pretty similar with BT. It will be the same Openreach installer for any FTTC isp. Or, if you are unlucky, a random bod off the street contracted to Openreach.

Although Sky's instructions state that its upto you to connect the Sky router to the Openreach modem - but BT's instructions state that the openreach engineer/installer will plug everything in for you. Maybe BT pays Openreach more for this

I told him it was a Mac I was using and I said do you want me to test if it was working?
He said yes and I loaded a web page and all was fine.

I believe BT pays Openreach for managed install extras which include connecting the router,installing the software and the CAT5 extension where required.

There are options the ISP can request on install so variations can be down to that. Also remember the engineers are only trained with the openreach systems. Some may have figured out some more from experience and having it at home of course.

Openreach connect the sky router anyway to test there's a connection

They did for me and a relative anyways

Upgrade from ADSL+ to FTTC/VDSL done last week. Engineer phoned me to say he was at cabinet and asked if it was okay to disconnect me.

I unplugged my Billion 7800N from the ADSL master socket, went in to its config over wifi and told it to use EWAN PPoE in future and shut it down. Plugged in a n/w cable to the EWAN port ready.

Within a few minutes, engineer turned up, fiddled with the master socket, installed the Openreach modem and did some testing.

He then asked if I had been sent a router by my ISP, Plusnet (so, clearly expecting one).I said yes, but I was going to use my existing router, which I had already reset for the new service. I pointed to the network cable hanging out of. He plugged it in and turned it on and asked me to give it a try.

It worked with no hassles. He left.

Edited by deleted (Tue 11-Sep-12 18:31:45)