Optimising Sky Fibre Self Install

Hi all,

I'm about to have my Sky Fibre activated, and was a bit puzzled by how I didn't need a visit like those I know on fibre had. I now realise that Sky do self install (which is actually great for me). But the OCD in me needs to know if I can do better. I already have Sky ADSL, and an Openreach branded socket with one socket (which I've connected the microfilter to). I don't know what the model is.

1) What (in terms of equipment) are the differences?
2) Is it possible to have a "engineer equivalent" install via the self install option? I'm happy to get my hands dirty.
3) What would I need? After doing various searches here and other places I see things like these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/GENUINE-BT-Openreach-Interst...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GMORGIC/ref=as...

Which do I need? Is there really a MK2? What's the difference? Are there any other (cheaper?) options?

Would I need a crimping tool or similar to install the new faceplate?

Thanks!

Edited by deleted (Mon 03-Feb-14 10:57:56)

1. The current socket you have sounds like the standard face. http://www.coolwebhome.co.uk/faceplate shows the taking apart of a faceplate set-up. but explains how it fits together
2. Yes you fit a VDSL faceplate and it is identical to an engineer install
3. There is a MK2 slightly better filtering, but not seen anyone really claim it has made a massive difference

Why do you think you need a crimping tool? What are you planning to do. Engineers don't usually have to do any crimping on a normal install in a home.

Thank you for the very quick reply.

I thought I would have to deal with a bare wire to fit the new faceplate. But if I understand the (very handy) link you posted the whole thing seems to stack like Lego with the existing socket I have.

Is there any way to slim things down, or is this "double thick" stacked setup how all engineer installs are done?

Finally... which VDSL Interstitial plate would be recommended (ie reputable seller etc).

I'm using this one

In reply to a post by sshaikh:

Finally... which VDSL Interstitial plate would be recommended (ie reputable seller etc).

I bought one of these Openreach MK2's and fitted at weekend. No difference to the 18month old original Openreach so far.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191045937873?ssPageName=ST...

In reply to a post by jchamier:

I bought one of these Openreach MK2's and fitted at weekend. No difference to the 18month old original Openreach so far.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191045937873?ssPageName=ST...

Thanks, bought!

Thanks to all who replied too.

No way to slim it down

Hey sshaikh,
You pretty much read my mind. I was just about to start a very similar thread (or keep an older thread going probably straying further off topic though.)

Anyway, Can I ask what the Sky Fibre checker is estimating you will get speed wise?
I have a friend who has just got Sky Fibre, the self install includes one microfilter, so although I wouldn't/haven't personally done it, you could not use the interstitial filter and just opt for the microfilter.
My general policy is to get the VDSL modem (in sky's self install setup) the Sky Hub (no seperate BTOpenreach VDSL modem required as close as possible to the master socket with interstitial filter.
All of these "tricks and tips" seem to be a very hot topic on TBB forums at the moment, such as the MK2 faceplate and even the "Tandy" or adslnation pro 0.5m twisted pair RJ11 (VDSL) link cable.

I thought I was "prepared" for doing my friend's self install, their estimate was 6Mbps download, when connected we got about 8/9Mbps but maxing out the upstream seemed to cause packet loss.
His line travels quite a distance within his property (130m long driveway) to his master socket, so I was curious about reducing this distance, however from other's recommendation, playing about with the connection within the first few days/10 days of activation is generally not recommended.

On this basis, it might be worthwhile doing all "tweaks" prior to actual connection.
If you have the MK2 faceplate ordered thats great, I also am waiting for one to arrive, my concern is that now his service is live, I shouldn't really touch anything as attempts to improve the connection may actually slow it down.
The Sky Hub provides quite limited stats:
Modem Status Connected
Traffic Type:PTM
Line Rate - Upstream (Kbps):1316
Line Rate - Downstream (Kbps):9896

(unless anyone knows how to interrogate this further?

I'm about to ask the question in another thread about definitive "behaviour" of DLM (dynamic line management) as there seems to be slightly varying stories out there.
Good luck with your Sky Self Install!, I was surprised that they only include 1 microfilter in the modem pack.

Cheers,
flipdee

Edited by deleted (Mon 03-Feb-14 13:17:04)

My Mk2 faceplates arrived, very very quick delivery from the ebay seller doing them.
Order saturday, arrived today.
Feel like my hands are tied somewhat, might try one of them on my long established 70Mbps home line to see if it has any impact.

Cheers,
flipdee

Hi

The estimate was 40mbps according to the agent on the phone.

I was also told that I would get 2 microfilters. To be honest wanting the VDSL plate is just me being fussy.

Thanks for the tip regarding setting it up first. Actually I want to try the new plate with my ADSL line before it gets switched anyway to see if it makes a difference.

My current modem is less than a metre from the socket (I had it installed new for ADSL broadband, so it's already in the right place I guess).

Thanks!

Edited by deleted (Mon 03-Feb-14 13:48:38)

If you stick your number in the sky checker on http://www.sky.com/quickbuy/new?view=personalise (make sure your not logged in already) and click on "Check availability" on the right hand side under Superfast Sky Broadband & Talk this should hopefully give you a more comprehensive estimate.
I suspect your line may be capable of more than 40Mbps but the package sky are selling you is limited to 40Mbps, (if this is the case) unless your line is actually on the fringe of supporting 40Mbps, an optimisation exercise is not really required.

cheers,
flipdee

It keeps telling me that I'm already on sky (I'm not logged on). My neighbour gets "Estimated access line speed: 40.0-40.0 Mbps".

But regardless of that your suspicion is right that it's limited by Sky as I also had an option to get the "pro" package which gave me 53 mbps or so.

Ah, it mustn't really matter whether your logged in or not, thought the check availability disappeared when you already had a product.
Yeh, the pro product is the 80/20 service, so optimisations will only help matters if you ever decide to upgrade, unless there are existing underlying factors to a reduced speed service but probably unlikely.

cheers,
flipdee

Okay I understand. Still it would be nice to get rid of those dangling microfilters.

In reply to a post by flipdee:

My Mk2 faceplates arrived,
...
might try one of them on my long established 70Mbps home line to see if it has any impact.

You have two (or more) lines?

If you fit the interstitial VDSL filter plate, you no longer need dangly filters elsewhere.

I have 2 fttc lines from different providers, was doing various tests between them. Probably will let one lapse soon though.

OK .

Just to confirm - I did in fact get two microfilters with the hub.

Faceplate arrived and Sky internet activated (well it was switched on yesterday but I waited on advice given here). Installed the faceplate and am receiving the following:

Modem Status Connected
Traffic Type:PTM
Line Rate - Upstream (Kbps):9999
Line Rate - Downstream (Kbps):39998

No idea if the microfilters would have fared worse, but I'm more than happy with those numbers!

Thanks all for the help - I'm a bit addicted now and so will think about adding a voiceline extension to the master socket!

It's possible your attainable speeds are much higher as you are on a 40/10 product and at maximum speed for that product.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

No way to slim it down

I beg to differ. The initial surface pattress can be a sunken standard electrical metal box, thus saving 20mm in the stack height.

You probably would not wish to do a conversion yourself, and strictly you should not interfere with the master socket, but flush telephone sockets have been a common feature in homes over the last decade.

That is not to say that the task is beyond an experienced DIY person.

My original master socket was a recessed one, and the house was built in the early seventies.

In reply to a post by R0NSKI:

My original master socket was a recessed one, and the house was built in the early seventies.

Ah but while house builds of that decade [70s] might well of had flush phone sockets, the concept of a master socket being the demarcation point between the incoming service and extension wiring had yet to be introduced. For example, an exterior, or interior, junction box for a single line often had wiring spun off in all different directions to several flush sockets throughout the home.

In my case the internal phone wiring was installed, with flush sockets, by the builder with an array of un-terminated cables ending up in the loft. When ordering a phone service, I had to pay a fee to BT for the wiring to be tested and then connected to the incoming service.

On installation of FTTC, the preferred arrangement is to have the master socket located next to a desktop computer, so the original wiring arrangement often needs changing to achieve this. It means that having an engineer install can be very advantageous.

When they built this house it was the only socket in the house, and apart from a plugged in extension for sky it was the only socket when we bought the house in 2002. The incoming line comes up from underground, so no other connections in our case.

Needless to say it has been altered since - see the picture guide in my signature. When we had FTTC installed the engineer used my existing Cat 5e extension to move the master socket to my server room - I didn't like the stacked master socket arrangement in my hallway. We just have a flush blanking plate now with the cables jelly crimped behind it.

Edited by R0NSKI (Sat 08-Feb-14 17:49:45)

just out of curiosity whats your speeds and ping like on the second FTTC connection you said you have and who is it with? (whats pings like on sky connection also)