Mate has just ordered BT Fibre broadband

My mate who isnt very technical has just ordered fibre broadband. He doesnt have a phone line connected at present (although does have the master socket). Ive never had fibre so not sure how it all works myself. Wil lthe BT package be FTTC or FTTP?

Also regarding setting it up, is it the same as setting up adsl. Master socket - router - computer? Do you need splitters like with adsl?

He will need a BT Retail line installing as well, but that will be part of what he has ordered.

Put his address (not just the postcode) into this checker. That should tell you if it is FTTC or FTTP.

If it is FTTC as most are, then half way down this page it tells you what the engineer does in most installations. In the case of BT Infinity he also connects the BT Home Hub to the modem and is supposed to test it works.

The engineer brings a modem. The Home Hub will be sent direct to your mate ready for the engineer.

Edited by RobertoS (Thu 04-Jul-13 20:29:28)

If your mate has a master socket installed they will connect that back up to the network as long as it's in working order when tested.

I your mate has been given only 1 install date it will be FTTC, FTTP requires 2 installs only 1 of which you need to be in for.

The engineer will fit a Specialist socket from otherwise known as a SSFP or Service Specific Face Plate, ( This will be the only connection usable to the VDSL modem, Extensions don't work with FTTC ) Your mate can have a Cat 5 network extension put in from the VDSL modem to the router, i believe this is upto 30 Meters.

Hope this helps.

Thanks guys, so the BT guy should set up everything for him and get him online? Said i will go round to sort it if not

Edited by bobble_bob (Thu 04-Jul-13 19:45:17)

Yeah as long as the VDSL modem gets sync it should be all plug and play from there on in, nothing difficult.

If it's a Openreach engineer they may well get him to test it while they are there to confirm he is happy with the speed etc.

If it is a contractor tho they may say, Sync shown at the modem "Job Done" ( I speak from experience here, after having 1 contractor install and 1 Openreach install )

Great thanks

I'm slightly worried that the OP says his mate has ordered "BT Fibre".

If he means BT Infinity then as I said before the engineer is supposed to connect up the BT Home Hub and check all is working. It is a Managed install, unlike most others where all he has to do is check from the modem back to the cabinet.

If he doesn't mean Infinity then the Subject could mislead .

I think it's worth pointing out as well, for the OP (although his mate won't have any extensions at first) and any other non-techies that find this thread, that although you are right when you say extensions don't work with FTTC, that (I hope) you just mean FTTC can't be run from extensions. Phones can of course be used at extensions.

Edited by RobertoS (Thu 04-Jul-13 21:20:32)

So my mate got everything installed. Internet and phone line works. However today his phone line doesn't anymore. No dial tone and anyone that rings gets sn engaged tone. Tried new phone and cable same result. BT said try ftom test socket, and they confirmed its engaged. So what could be wrong? Was working fine for 24hrs and Internet continues to work ok

Are there any extension sockets/phones?

No nothing. Everything plugged directly into master socket. Was working for abit

One wire disconnected back at street cab so vdsl added to line ok but link for voice to the exchange not so good.

My guess anyway.

Post deleted by Ribble

If callers are getting engaged tone then unplug everything and try calling again. If the caller gets ring tone then something inside was applying a loop , so then start reconnecting everything one buy one.
If callers get engaged tone when nothing is plugged into the test socket then there must be a fault external to you.

At a guess, the numpty who installed it has put some form of partial short (loop fault) on the line, worth checking however, is that they've not installed a duff FTTC faceplate filter, there has been a few wrong 'uns recently.

Remove the two long screws from the front plate, then remove both front plate AND the VDSL front plate, now try the test socket. If still no dial tone, the engineer has ballsed up in the copper cabinet, and you need to get Openreach out via the voice provider. They will want to make an appointment as its a loop fault, and will threaten charges, but if the above advice has been followed, then they are not liable.

My guess anyway.
The OP's mate gets engaged when dialled in to, it's a loop fault.

Yea they're coming out on Weds to look at it. Weird that it was working for a short period then just died.

Yes, you'd thought it was Pete Tong from the get go. Have your mate tried without the VDSL front plate, as suggested ?

http://www.coolwebhome.co.uk/faceplate/ In case poster was confused, this is the procedure in photos

From the test socket? Yes and no dial tone. BT tested the line when he plugged it into the test socket and said its engaged

Edited by bobble_bob (Sat 13-Jul-13 11:22:56)

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

At a guess, the numpty who installed it has put some form of partial short (loop fault) on the line, worth checking however, is that they've not installed a duff FTTC faceplate filter, there has been a few wrong 'uns recently.

Remove the two long screws from the front plate, then remove both front plate AND the VDSL front plate, now try the test socket. If still no dial tone, the engineer has ballsed up in the copper cabinet, and you need to get Openreach out via the voice provider. They will want to make an appointment as its a loop fault, and will threaten charges, but if the above advice has been followed, then they are not liable.

Aren't these faceplate's guaranteed for 12mths against defects, after installation ? When you consider that the BT openreach modem is the active NTE then should the said SSFP be at fault then there should be no charge if it fails within 12ths ?
If the OP has reported a PTSN voice fault then it should give details of where they think the fault is, (Diagram) on the BT web site track/report a fault you he will need to log in or have his account number at hand to enter into the tracker ,if it shows the fault location as being near their home, it's likely to be at the PCP

And as a result of some clumsy engineer unintentionally disconnecting one leg of the OP's copper pair , resulting in FTTC working fine ,but no dial tone , iv'e had this before, but with ADSL although that works attenuation doubled sync plumetted

If i was the op i wouldn't be checking for a dial tone in the test socket with FTTC or ADSL that uses DLM otherwise it may end up requiring a further engineers visit to have DLM reset

Who said there would be a charge if the FTTC face plate were faulty ? I was just asking if that could be ruled out.

And as a result of some clumsy engineer unintentionally disconnecting one leg of the OP's copper pair , resulting in FTTC working fine ,but no dial tone ,

As I've mentioned else where, the OP's mate has a loop fault, not a dis fault.

If i was the op i wouldn't be checking for a dial tone in the test socket with FTTC or ADSL that uses DLM otherwise it may end up requiring a further engineers visit to have DLM reset

One check is not going to trigger DLM.

In reply to a post by tommy45:

If i was the op i wouldn't be checking for a dial tone in the test socket with FTTC or ADSL that uses DLM otherwise it may end up requiring a further engineers visit to have DLM reset

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/13897...

Also in text form in the current BT Phone Book. Page 8 in our area.

post screwed up on me deleted

Edited by tommy45 (Sat 13-Jul-13 21:10:43)

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Who said there would be a charge if the FTTC face plate were faulty ? I was just asking if that could be ruled out

No one did , but it was left open to interpretation

As I've mentioned else where, the OP's mate has a loop fault, not a dis fault
And i was just giving another possible cause for no dial tone But a working xDSL service, not trying to argue about what the cause is/was

One check is not going to trigger DLM.I agree it shouldn't /wouldn't do that, if they only disconnected it one time only, But they may be inclined to experiment by using the plug in type filters should they get a dial tone at the test jack,

Edited by tommy45 (Sat 13-Jul-13 21:36:14)

In reply to a post by tommy45:

And i was just giving another possible cause for no dial tone But a working xDSL service, not trying to argue about what the cause is/was

You might be trying to explain one half of the symptoms, but that fails to take into account the other half - callers getting an engaged tone. That's the clue that it is a loop fault.

You might not be intending to argue about the cause, but you are having that effect. And with someone who probably knows a smidgen more than you do on diagnosing copper faults.

One check is not going to trigger DLM.I agree it shouldn't /wouldn't do that, if they only disconnected it one time only, But they may be inclined to experiment by using the plug in type filters should they get a dial tone at the test jack,

It still wouldn't be the end of the earth, but FTTC's DLM does indeed appear to be pretty resilient to this kind of disconnection.

Asked my mate today more about the wiring the guy installed. The master socket isnt on the outside wall, its a semi detached and its fixed to the joining wall, so that suggests another cable somewhere must come in to attach to it?

The BT guy told my mate he has run a cable under the carpet. Both the router and phone line are directly connected to the master socket. Im wondering if this cable under the carpet is from outside the house and connects to the master socket, and has been damaged by walking on it or something? Would explain why the test socket still didnt do anything, aswell as trying a new phone cable

Still doesnt explain how the broadband is ok though

Edited by bobble_bob (Mon 15-Jul-13 22:19:39)

Mate just rang to say its all fixed. The BT guy didnt say what was wrong, just that he had to switch fibre connections or something.

Probably code for "the last guys ballsed it up"

Sounds more like a lift and shift has been done on the DSLAM port.