Superfast Herts & Bucks

Now that we have funding and rough dates for the deployment, does anyone know when things are going to start moving?

My exchange is due to start work in 2014, and they're touting that superfast is actually coming in 2014 (rather than just work starting), but no signs of activity on roadworks.org, and the BT checker etc. don't show anything even planned.

How long does the process usually take from start to finish? This is a non-fibre enabled exchange right now.

Cheers,
AP

How long is the piece of string I am holding?

Excactly 7.49 Inches; so when am I going to get fibre? ;oP

In 7.49 Inches time haha

Andy

As Herts and Bucks have no track record of delivery it is difficult to say.

However looking at other areas where there is a delivery record, Wales for instance, they have delivered a substantial number of new exchanges since they started last June. See the area from around Anglesey down the coast towards Aberystwyth as an example.

They appear to be doing all the Cabinets straiight away ( Except where there are particular problems), leaving the EO ( Served direct from the exchange) customers until later. Following the more customers per £ principle.

The Wales map is based around exchange areas so is clearer in one way but doesn't show the detail that the Herts map so is harder to pinpoint premises. Most of Wales didn't have superfast so infill wasn't an issue!

Hopefully sometime in 2014, my cab was slotted for end of 2013 under Surrey BDUK project but even though its been stood for some months it has not gone live yet....so even if the cabinet appears it could two weeks away or 3 months.

My cabinet install on roadworks.org didn't appear until 3 weeks before it was installed. BT checker also only showed FTTC when the cabinet was live and available to order, at no point before did it show that it was coming soon etc so I wouldn't worry that there is no info yet.

Thanks for the comments all. I guess I'm a bit too eager, but it'd good to hear other's epxeriences so I (and others) can know what to expect.

I had an openreach engineer over at work for something different, and he didn't know anything much, but perhaps he was a different "branch".

Cheers,
AP

I actually contacted connected counties today about this, as the local exchange, Lane End, was showing as "No plans" whilst others in the HP14 area were now updated to "Under evaluation".

Had a lovely reply letting me know that Lane End was indeed due for update *this year* and that the OpenReach "Where and when" checker was wrong & would be corrected.

Hopefully this helps =)

That's great information NeoLojik - as that's my Exchange too!

I hope that they mean the exchange, and the cabinets in 2014 as well...

Edited by AndyPandy (Tue 14-Jan-14 11:03:24)

In reply to a post by AndyPandy:

That's great information NeoLojik - as that's my Exchange too )

Small world eh? =D

Also, have some even better news!

I have checked your postcode against our programme plans and found that we are rolling out fibre to your location with work beginning in April with BT surveying the area. Subject to the results of this survey an upgrade will then follow providing fibre to your green cabinet, which in most cases (subject to distance from the cabinet) enables people to order speeds of at least 24 Mbps. All being well the new service should be available to order from service providers at the end of this summer.

Following the survey in April more detailed timings will be available on our website www.connectedcounties.org.

I think I'll email them as well. I'm wondering if the other exchanges are simply being surveyed first, although I'm sure I saw a document on the site one time saying that Lane End was a priority.

Maybe if enough of us pester them, we might get bumped up the schedule

In reply to a post by AndyPandy:

I think I'll email them as well. I'm wondering if the other exchanges are simply being surveyed first, although I'm sure I saw a document on the site one time saying that Lane End was a priority.

Maybe if enough of us pester them, we might get bumped up the schedule

Haha, couldn't hurt. Our little exchange has always been a bit behind the times

Fortunately I'm close enough right now to get around 20mbps sync on ADSL2+, so hoping FTTC will be a big leap when it happens. Mostly interested in the upload increase to be totally honest, 3 people sharing a 1mbps upload can be a real grind sometimes.

I'm getting about 15MB/s synch, although it used to be closer to 17MB/s - old wiring and the weather I guess.

I'd say I'm about 270 metres away from my cabinet by road, and 215 metres as the crow flies, so assuming that the cable does take a trip around the whole village before returning to the cab, I'm hopeful of 70+ MB/s based on the chart here.

Although the TBB guide shows that it could be slower: TBB Guide

The pain point for me is that another cabinet is much closer - I can see it from my window

In reply to a post by AndyPandy:

I'm getting about 15MB/s synch, although it used to be closer to 17MB/s - old wiring and the weather I guess.

I'd say I'm about 270 metres away from my cabinet by road, and 215 metres as the crow flies, so assuming that the cable does take a trip around the whole village before returning to the cab, I'm hopeful of 70+ MB/s based on the chart here.

Although the TBB guide shows that it could be slower: TBB Guide

The pain point for me is that another cabinet is much closer - I can see it from my window

You're a bit closer than me then, which is odd as I get a better ADSL sync than you do. Google maps says I'm about 450m from the cabinet I'm certain I'm connected to (Cab 7), and a good 700m from the exchange. My line is synced at 20248kbps down with a 6dB margin (16dB attenuation). Looks like I'll be seeing between 40 and 60mbps when we get FTTC.

Like I said though, small world. Never thought I'd bump into another person from Lane End on the internet =)

In reply to a post by NeoLojik:

In reply to a post by AndyPandy:

I'm getting about 15MB/s synch, although it used to be closer to 17MB/s - old wiring and the weather I guess.

I'd say I'm about 270 metres away from my cabinet by road, and 215 metres as the crow flies, so assuming that the cable does take a trip around the whole village before returning to the cab, I'm hopeful of 70+ MB/s based on the chart here.

Although the TBB guide shows that it could be slower: TBB Guide

The pain point for me is that another cabinet is much closer - I can see it from my window

You're a bit closer than me then, which is odd as I get a better ADSL sync than you do. Google maps says I'm about 450m from the cabinet I'm certain I'm connected to (Cab 7), and a good 700m from the exchange. My line is synced at 20248kbps down with a 6dB margin (16dB attenuation). Looks like I'll be seeing between 40 and 60mbps when we get FTTC.

Like I said though, small world. Never thought I'd bump into another person from Lane End on the internet =)

Spooky isn't it - not exactly a huge place!

Your synch speeds are excellent, but then you're very close to the exchange. I'm about 1.5km from the exchange itself, so ironically I may see better speeds than you if my cable length to the cab is shorter.

If you use the checker here, you can see which cab you're connected to. I was amazed that I wasn't connected to the one 50m away, but I guess it depends when the houses were built etc.

In reply to a post by AndyPandy:

Spooky isn't it - not exactly a huge place!

Your synch speeds are excellent, but then you're very close to the exchange. I'm about 1.5km from the exchange itself, so ironically I may see better speeds than you if my cable length to the cab is shorter.

If you use the checker here, you can see which cab you're connected to. I was amazed that I wasn't connected to the one 50m away, but I guess it depends when the houses were built etc.

True. A couple of years ago I had an E side shift performed due to a high-resistance fault. The engineer showed me the map of the cable run from my place to the exchange, and I'm fairly certain that cabinet 7 is the one I believe it is (at the bottom of Simmons Way, near the exchange). They're supposedly marked, I really should take a look one day haha.

So yeah, when FTTC arrives, I'd imagine you'll see a better sync than me due to a shorted cabinet-to-house run, but any increase is a bonus eh? =D

Take a look via Google street view, the number is often visible.

In reply to a post by R0NSKI:

Take a look via Google street view, the number is often visible.

Just had a look, unfortunately it seems that's the one picture missing! The cabinet is in front of a house on a T-junction, and it seems there's no photo which gives a clear image of it

i just did a quick google streetview tour of Simmons way, and I couldn't see a cabinet at all at the exchange end (where it meets Marlow road)?

The checker I posted above will (should) definitely tell you which cab your connected to, but finding the things can be more difficult!

I went and looked at the one closer to me than the one I'm connected to, and perhaps it's not a bad thing I'm not on it, as it looks a bit beaten up! (By the turning to the parade and primary school - No. 6)

In reply to a post by AndyPandy:

i just did a quick google streetview tour of Simmons way, and I couldn't see a cabinet at all at the exchange end (where it meets Marlow road)?

The checker I posted above will (should) definitely tell you which cab your connected to, but finding the things can be more difficult!

I went and looked at the one closer to me than the one I'm connected to, and perhaps it's not a bad thing I'm not on it, as it looks a bit beaten up! (By the turning to the parade and primary school - No. 6)

Of the 3 parts of that T-junction, you can only see it from 1, and it's from a heck of a distance ^u^

http://tinyurl.com/olkvykn

Ooof! Cabinet 6 has seen better days eh? Been a while since I've been up there.

I spotted it this morning - odd location for a cab! You're right, it's 7.

There's an update on the connected counties site that's got me excited, and possibly someone else on this thread

http://www.connectedcounties.org/news/2014/march/lat...

Looks like Lane End cabs 2 & 7 are going to be ready for service this year, between June & December!

Dang! I was just about to post the exact same thing to you xD

Roll on fibre! \o/

Ironically I'm now very glad not to be connected to the the cab that's closest to me, as that's not scheduled yet - though I see Lane End shows up in the Phase 3 list, so likely will be done later

Funny how these things work out ^u^

Out of interest (and based on your sig), are you staying with Zen after the FTTC switch? I was with them many years ago back when they has usage limits, and would happily return to them for FTTC. They still as good as always?

I'd still wholeheartedly recommend Zen - never had a problem with them, and when I've had a problem with the BT side, they've been all over it.

Service isn't shaped, throtted etc. It's an internet connection, plain and simple!

Right now I pay a (subsidised) amount for Zen Office, so I get 1Tb of data a month, which although I never use nearly that, I'm happy to have. I hate having to look at the usage checker, and thing about when I can download things, or stream things.

Just looking forward to a cheaper, faster, and unlimited bandwidth service with them

Given that it's a minimum 12 month contract due to BT's rules, I wouldn't dare try anyone else!

Guess what just showed up on roadworks.org

Planned works at cabinets 1 & 7, dated for 24th July - 6th August. I'd imagine the other 2 phase 2 cabinets will have their planned works show up soon.

Can't wait!

Cabinet 2 just showed up, 29th July - 11th August. That just leaves cabinet 5 to make an appearance and that will be all 4 phase 2 cabinets =)

Already moved my phone to Zen in preparation, can't wait! \o/

Another Lane Ender here... well Moor Common anyway. I see that Cabinet 5 up in Frieth was installed a week or so ago while I was on holiday. Getting excited now...

2 has power now.. Apparently 7 has some issues to work through, at least according to Connected Counties on Twitter.

There was an Openreach contractor by 6 this morning, survey I guess, so things are progressing.

I wish they'd just switch them on!

There was some work on the Marlow road the other week, maybe getting the fibre up from the Marlow exchange to Lane End.

In reply to a post by mfresh:

Another Lane Ender here... well Moor Common anyway. I see that Cabinet 5 up in Frieth was installed a week or so ago while I was on holiday. Getting excited now...

Edited by AndyPandy (Sat 06-Sep-14 22:01:57)