new building

I need to set up FTTC for a new flat, but because the building is new, there has never been a BT line registered, VM is not available, and post code checkers only bring up the correct address on the Royal Mail's website.

I was told 'everyone gets Sky' in the buildings nearby, so naturally I want to know how can I find out if it's possible to speed up the process of getting a landline and even, if FTTC is enabled?

The exchange is Colindale and it says FTTC is enabled in some areas and I've seen the new cabinets installed, but then again BT have told me "no such address exists" so has anyone experienced something similar?

Getting the phone line installed is not so much of an issue, if it's a new build and never had any phone line then the provider would just get a new address built for the location, then it would just be a point of the next available engineer appointment.

As for finding out if FTTC is there, knock on the door of one of the neighbours in the block and see if they will give you their phone number and then pop it into the BT Wholesale checker.

PM me the postcode and I'll see what info it gives.

Can't really knock on the door of the neighbours, there aren't any yet
The only positive thing I've heard from the estate agents was that some other tenants in a nearby building had the same issues and they managed to order Sky TV+Broadband. Of course I'm not after that, I need proper broadband asap

In reply to a post by Adsl24:

PM me the postcode and I'll see what info it gives.

PM Sent
This is amazing, the road doesn't exist in any sat nav or Google Maps (but the satellite image shows the buildings and the road!), except for Bing, which has the road.
The post code doesn't work anywhere, but I've got a post redirection working with Royal Mail, so their 'system' is the only place that knows this place even exists.

In reply to a post by Saltank:

...with Royal Mail, so their 'system' is the only place that knows this place even exists.

If Royal Mail didn't know your post code, you wouldn't have one!

Ask your preferred broadband suppliers to invest in some decent address finder software: i.e. software that uses the Royal Mail's database - the definitive source of UK post codes!.

Your property should be on cab 50, like every other postcode (such as NW9 5EW) closeby. Properties left and right of where you are are on cab 50.

Cab 50 is planned to have FTTC, but according to Openreach records this is not yet enabled. Most others in the exchange area are, so it's likely just to be a matter of time.

Of course I can't 100% gaurantee this but it's more than likely to be cab 50. So you can't get FTTC just yet but should do so not too far in the future

James

Thank you for that information, I am humbled!

Will have to take up a short term ADSL2+ connection meanwhile, I suppose.

Be sure to keep us in mind as we can do monthly contracts until FTTC is available

Will do, thanks!
Now I have to try and find an ADSL2+ provider that does 3 months contracts. It seems BE stopped doing them

Like I said, we do 1 month contracts on ADSL2+ Take a look at our Premium Home, Plus and Pro packages. FREE setup at the moment too, so you can't go wrong!

Edited by deleted (Fri 11-Nov-11 15:43:20)

Superb, I slightly misread your previous post. I'll probably be placing an order as soon as I get a landline. I'll be using XLN telecom most likely since they've been excellent before.
Also have an appointment for a Sky TV engineer next week. I wonder if I took a landline with them, would they install it on the same day? Hmm...

I know I sound like a salesman but we also do monthly phone line contracts cheaper than bt too

Would have followed your lead if I knew earlier, as I've already started the process with another provider...

Funnily enough, with the building OPPOSITE mine, it now says the following:

Our test also indicates that your line currently supports a fibre technology with an estimated WBC FTTC Broadband where consumers have received downstream line speed between 33.5 to 35.8 Mbps and upstream line speed between 13.3 to 14.1 Mbps.

So... I can has FTTC?
Wishful thinking!

In reply to a post by Saltank:

Now I have to try and find an ADSL2+ provider that does 3 months contracts. It seems BE stopped doing them

I think you are in good hands with James at ADSL24, but a point of fact.

It is only the Be Value product that is 12-month only. Unlimited and Pro have a 3-month option, see their Home Page.

AHh yes, thank you for pointing it out. Glad they didn't abandon that option, but seeing as how FTTC might be activated any time now, I'll go with the 1 month

Spoke with XLN today and there's still no word from BT Openreach with regards to getting a landline set up :\
I've got a Sky chap coming to install TV on Thursday though, at least some of the big companies have faster service

If you want me to get you some lead times on a landline PM me your house number/postcode and I can see what Openreach's availability is and if there any any lines that can be restarted/taken over.

James

Seems like this is going to be a nightmare install, if I can't get a simple land line set up for over a week now!
XLN aren't doing anything, which is disappointing to say the least.

Dear me All we could do is place an order and see what Oepnreach come back to us with.

I was just notified of my installation date, which is on the 30th!
Another week of tethering for me! :/
I'll try and get a SORN and see if I can get an order placed with you for ADSL2. I was also given the landline number I'm assuming they're going to activate on the 30th.

A SIM Provide, (LORN = Linked Order Number), can only be arranged when placing the line order. Too late afterwards. I think the order number is a different format, so the engineers know to look for the broadband one.

I told the chap at XLN to give me the LORN so after sounding like he's not heard the term before, he said OK so I'm hoping he didn't forget!

I've got some documentation now, but no LORN, just an Order Reference, but I don't think that's it. Also have the number, but I suppose you guys can't check anything once it's activated?

Have another question. The phone socket is installed as in this photo, I'm wondering how the Openreach engineer will go about this when FTTC is finally available? I would be worried if he would say "I need to remove all this" just to install the new gigantic faceplate they're using...

Where is the phone socket? Is it behind what looks like a slider in the left-hand white panel?

What the heck is that whole assembly anyway, and what have you got plugged into it at the top right? Assuming those are two normal size 3-pin power sockets at the bottom, it's huge, and there must be an instruction book with it.

Yes the BT socket is right in the middle, left hand side, behind the little sliding panel. Just right of the socket there appears to be a blank 50x50mm module.
Top right is the stereo speaker input, but the speakers are pretty bad (they're fixed in the ceilling).
I have managed to trace down where the BT Master socket comes from, here isthe link if it's of any use, but there are no photos

There are photos around by googling it but not too helpful.

What above the slider? The back of that top bit looks to have IDC connectors though, so maybe nothing.

On the assumption there is some wiring at the back leading somewhere, (similar to the way the speaker sockets go to the speakers and I expect the TV to an aerial), any idea where to?

I have a feeling the engineer will want to install a separate master socket, unless you can persuade him that a dangly filter is fine. Technically one will do the job, but it would be very non-standard.

I do wonder if the space next to that module is for this data socket fed off it, but specifications and info any even harder to find than pics. Where the filter would be in that setup I have no idea, but if that can be solved it would seem to be the solution.

Edited by RobertoS (Fri 25-Nov-11 17:04:34)

There must be a master socket somewhere else in the property. I have seen those type of multi point jobbies before in new builds, I personally think they suck, big time. The last thing you want is your precious DSL signal in close proximity to everything else.
Have you tried looking in any utility/airing cupboards ?

The apartment plan says that's the master socket right there, so I'm assuming it must be a different type of wiring from the standard wall mounted thing people get in houses built many years ago. I couldn't find any master socket anywhere.

Hmm, how can that qualify as the NTE (network terminating equipment) ? Any way you can contact the builders and confirm that they have noused this up ?

In reply to a post by Saltank:

Have another question. The phone socket is installed as in this photo, I'm wondering how the Openreach engineer will go about this when FTTC is finally available?

Where actually is that "unit" situated? In the floor? Does it have a cover panel? Any distinguishing model / part number?

It looks, to me, as if it has been designed to house three separate categories of connections. At the top, audio / visual / broadcasting. In the middle communications. At the bottom, power.

I will say that it appears that the power sockets have been fitted upside down . . .

Now looking closely at the middle section. Are the two end screws different from the three at the "top" and three at the "bottom" of that section? They look so, to me. I would be very tempted to remove the LH & RH end screws and lift out the middle section, take a photograph of its rear and post a link to the photograph here. Whilst taking another photograph, could you show us a more general view of that connection "unit", please?

As Zarjaz has already mentioned, to have an xDSL service connected via such a unit will be a folly!

It's an MK Data Grid setup. See also the two links in my 17:02 above.

Thanks, Bob. I obviously missed those links.

But there again, they are just the average module inserts not the entire unit. Do you actually know what is the full unit? Or who manufactures it?

Edited by burakkucat (Sat 26-Nov-11 00:16:56)

Nope. As I said earlier as well, info about any of it is hard to come by, especially from MK themselves.

As others are saying, it looks a complete loser to me. It looks hideous and the last thing I would want visible in anywhere I lived, never mind a modern place. Pre-fitted (lousy) speakers in the ceiling as well?!

Somewhat restrictive on where you put any of the kit. Utterly idiotic idea.

Looks like a floor mounted box, possibly one of these.

There must be a master socket somewhere, might even be under the pannel on that box or under the floorboards. Unless thay just ran the line straight to the back of that module.

I agree with all comments and everything your have said regarding that entire unit, however I still fail to see how you are sure that it is a MK product!

I would like to see a few more photographs and, also, if the OP can report any distinguishing markings.

In reply to a post by burakkucat:

I agree with all comments and everything your have said regarding that entire unit, however I still fail to see how you are sure that it is a MK product!

I would like to see a few more photographs and, also, if the OP can report any distinguishing markings.

Have a look at the MK logo, visible between the Live & Neutral orifices on the mains sockets.

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

Have a look at the MK logo, visible between the Live & Neutral orifices on the mains sockets.

Apologies.
I neglected to provide a link.

well going by the 1st link in Bobs post @ 17.02 that is the master socket !

as others say cant say i like it one bit

I should point out that there IS a cover, and it's nicer than having these things sticking out the wall. but I don't think the box is deep enough, because anything other than the power plugs will stick out and the door won't close.

Here's the BT socket, it's RJ11 from the looks of it.
So.. what are the chances that I'll never have proper broadband in this place?

Edited by Saltank (Sat 26-Nov-11 18:06:20)

Have a look at the MK logo, visible between the Live & Neutral orifices on the mains sockets.

Which only specifies that the 13A sockets fitted to the unit were made by MK. It does not specify that the unit was made by MK.

Looking at the supplier list, it's more than certain that this whole unit is supplied by MK Electric. Logic Range is the name for the power sockets.

According tothiswebsite, these are my 'options'

During the installation of the FTTC service the Openreach engineer will fit a Service Specific Front Plate to the existing NTE5. Where no NTE5 exists, Openreach will install an NTE5 within 3 metres of the entrance to the End User premises. Where an external NTE exists Openreach will install an NTE5 with service specific front plate internally immediately adjacent to the external NTE.

I wouldn't want to drill anything anywhere, because when I move out I will have to pay for fixing it, isn't there any other way?

Edited by Saltank (Sat 26-Nov-11 18:29:30)

In reply to a post by Saltank:

Looking at the supplier list, it's more than certain that this whole unit is supplied by MK Electric. Logic Range is the name for the power sockets.

Now having read your comments regarding your observations, then I agree it is highly likely to be an MK product.

According to this website, these are my 'options'

During the installation of the FTTC service the Openreach engineer will fit a Service Specific Front Plate to the existing NTE5. Where no NTE5 exists, Openreach will install an NTE5 within 3 metres of the entrance to the End User premises. Where an external NTE exists Openreach will install an NTE5 with service specific front plate internally immediately adjacent to the external NTE.

I wouldn't want to drill anything anywhere, because when I move out I will have to pay for fixing it, isn't there any other way?

Ouch!

I really think you will need to remove the LH- & RH-end screws of the central section, lift it out, turn it over and take a photograph. A second photograph of the void, left by lifting out the central section, may also be useful to see.

Edited by burakkucat (Sat 26-Nov-11 20:32:33)

That top bit of the unit looks to be a lift-up flap, rather than the sliding one of the phone socket. What's behind it, or is it just a blanking plate?

I can't get it open, yet.

It's normally a place to put a label, i.e. phone number, extn number, etc.

When I have had to deal with similar in the past, I had found the only option to fit the 'required' VDSL front plate and NTE, was to disconnect the feed from the current telephone jack, then somehow bring a cable though from the back and fit the NTE there. Not at all satisfactory, but worked.
I guess if I was installing VDSL, and the owner could not locate any other line plant, and didn't want the 'Frankenstein' multi-port adapted, I might be tempted into seeing what the sync looked like with a microfilter in the existing.
Has it occured to you that if that is the only point in the premises, and you can get get FTTC, there will be a white modem (preferably wall mounted) right next to the beast anyway.

OK well, I can say that the landline was installed!
Openreach arrived exactly at 8am, looks like I was first on their list. That hasn't happened in a while.
The engineer said it was an engineers dream, because everything was 'in place'.
He told be I'm on Cabinet #2, which was built 4 months ago, and which also doesn't have FTTC and there's no sign of it being built any time soon. I'm very disgruntled and will now have to check to see if I can even get normal ADSL2+ since he suggested it might not be available.

With regards to the master socket, yes, he said, that is the master socket, and to install the fttc faceplate would require what you suggest, leading a wire out of the master to the nearby wall. Or, there might be a better, smaller design at some point in the future. Of course, maybe by the time my cab is enabled (if ever!) then I'll have to consider it.

Placed an order with ADSL24...

Thanks for the support, everyone!

Edited by Saltank (Wed 30-Nov-11 10:05:01)

I finally got my confirmation today that the line will be activated on Wednesday, yay!

I realised something. I was intentionally connected to an exchange (Hendon) where it say FTTC will be enabled in March 2012!
Geographically that exchange is farther away from me than the Colindale exchange which would give me better speeds.

Isn't this cheeky??

You tend to get connected to which ever exchange has capacity available in your street. So not unusual to have an exchange that is physically closer, but be connected to another one.

Looking at Samknows exchange checker, LWHEN serves 14,757 and LWCOL has 14,855 lines so you make sense.
Very unhappy that hundreds of people moving in to brand new buildings have to go through the same month long bs wait to get a simple land line installed - the Openreach engineer said some have to wait up to 6 weeks! And that BT didn't want to install an FTTC cabinet from the get go.
Sure it might make sense in the short term, but then again they'll have to dig up the street in a couple of months.

Thought I'd post an update. I happened to check Samknows and it's showing that my exchange - Hendon - has FTTC available in some areas! This is very fascinating considering it was always saying early March 2012, before.

I checked my line, but still unavailable.

In relation to the socket, I happened to have broken the little sliding door to the socket, as it wasn't fixed properly, so I decided to open it up and see what's inside. Here it is and I am hoping there will be room for a proper FTTC socket in the future? Right now I just plugged my microfilter directly in the the plug you see there, there's lots of space for it in that space with the wire.

A little bump...
Have spoken with a representative from the construction company who suggested I remove half the panel that houses the telephone cable so that I could be able to fit a socket in there without fixing it to a wall because there is some hollow space underneath the whole floor panel... All this will probably happen when ever they upgrade the cabinet, as the exchange is showing as live.

With regards to cabinet, I had a long look at a huge excel sheet which is supposed to tell me which post codes are connected to what cabinet, and my post code is NOT on there!
Anyone know what this could mean? I've also not been able to physically locate which cabinet my line is connected to. Should I just give up on waiting?

Edited by Saltank (Fri 27-Jan-12 16:16:02)

Did you remove the space from the middle of the postcode? You need to. And if you are looking at the original December csv file, there is a Part 1 and a Part 2.

Yes, my postcode ain't in there at all. There are only 26 results for codes starting with NW95 connected to the LWHEN exchange. All of them say deployed...

Thanks to James from ADSL24 for trying to find my local cabinet. He's initially concluded that my line is direct from the exchange, but I was told by the BT Openreach that I AM connected to a cabinet. I've not actually found where it is, yet...

I've been walking around my area, trying to find where cabinet #2 is but without much luck. I found the following sitewhich is a Vodafone mast with three different giant green boxes, and then I found another mystery green box without any indication of what it is or who it's made by.
Could that be the cab I'm connected to?

Thanks for replies. I can't give up hoping for FTTC just yet, until I know for sure where the cabinet is and if it will ever be upgraded.

Edited by Saltank (Fri 10-Feb-12 14:54:40)