What is this duct for?

http://i.imgur.com/t8QJviP.jpg

Image above. The duct runs from under the fibre cabinet, to the bottom of a telegraph pole. Behind it is also an electricity substation.

Is this for getting power to the cabinet, or are they planning on running something up the pole?

We're the opposite side of the village from the exchange, and given that there's an FTTC cab, I suppose it's not FTTP, although the area is marked for a mix of both.

It's not for power. Using a grey duct for power is a big no-no.

Must be up the pole then, but what could that be?

Not FTTP, and definitely from the FTTC cab (I saw the other end before they put the cab in place).

In reply to a post by AndyPandy:

http://i.imgur.com/t8QJviP.jpg

Image above. The duct runs from under the fibre cabinet, to the bottom of a telegraph pole. Behind it is also an electricity substation.

Is this for getting power to the cabinet, or are they planning on running something up the pole?

We're the opposite side of the village from the exchange, and given that there's an FTTC cab, I suppose it's not FTTP, although the area is marked for a mix of both.

Too small for badgers.

Quite possibly for FTTP. (if it actually comes from an UG chamber)

Edited by Rastus (Mon 25-Aug-14 12:20:14)

Seems strange to provide FTTP up a telegraph pole, that is served by a PCP with an FTTC cab stood next to it doesn't it?

Unless it's for those that can't achieve decent speeds due to the distance.

Very odd, I'll keep an eye on it!

In reply to a post by AndyPandy:

Seems strange to provide FTTP up a telegraph pole, that is served by a PCP with an FTTC cab stood next to it doesn't it?

True, but are you certain that the lines supplied by that pole are definitely connected to the PCP in question?

Perhaps your own line is from that pole, but if not, if you know the phone number of someone who is connected to the pole you could enter said number into the line checker to confirm the cabinet number.

In reply to a post by AndyPandy:

Unless it's for those that can't achieve decent speeds due to the distance.

There has to be a boundary somewhere between the FTTC and FTTP areas, and although I've seen both halves of a semi-detached house split between FTTC and FTTP, they were fed from different poles.

I don't think FTTPoD is made available until after FTTC is enabled on a cabinet (BICBW), but that would be another possibility if someone had placed an order for FTTPoD.

In reply to a post by Rastus:

True, but are you certain that the lines supplied by that pole are definitely connected to the PCP in question?

Can't be 100% certain, but as the PCP is a stone's through away, it seems likely

In reply to a post by Rastus:

I don't think FTTPoD is made available until after FTTC is enabled on a cabinet (BICBW), but that would be another possibility if someone had placed an order for FTTPoD.

No FTTPoD here as far as the spreadsheet says at least, just pure FTTP.

Would love to get FTTP, but something tells me that as I'm connected to the PCP I'll get FTTC. That said, FTTP seems to take much longer, so maybe it's a good thing short term.

It looks black to me...

Black/red = power
White/grey = telecommunications

In reply to a post by Ignitionnet:

It's not for power. Using a grey duct for power is a big no-no.

It could be intended for telemetry monitoring for the Substation.

It's definitely grey. I don't think they connect telemetry equipment for substations to fibre....do they?!

I must be missing something as that does not look grey to me...

Got a postcode or street for the area?

In reply to a post by AndyHCZ:

I must be missing something as that does not look grey to me...

Got a postcode or street for the area?

You're making me second guess myself now! It looked grey from memory, but the photo does make it look black.

The makers (emetelle - http://www.emtelle.com/?id=338) seem to be linked heavily to BT (see posts to the right).

Here's a repost of the cab base, without cab, in case it helps: http://i.imgur.com/NIsVmot.jpg

The diameter is the giveaway to me. That, and the disturbed earth that leads from the cab to the mystery duct.

Edit: This is SMLN, Cab 2.

Edited by AndyPandy (Mon 25-Aug-14 22:12:34)

My thought too, black duct has been used as that's what the contractors doing the sub-station had. It'll be for a plain old telephone cable.

The duct is for power, and the pole is likely to be an electricity supply pole .

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

My thought too, black duct has been used as that's what the contractors doing the sub-station had. It'll be for a plain old telephone cable.

So you think it's black, and therefore for power (like Ribble), and that the pole is for power? I'll have to take another looks at this.

Or, it's for telephone cable, in which case it begs the question as to why it comes out (based on the evidence of groundworks) under the FTTC cab?

The pole will likely have a ' danger electricity' warning marker on it.

That is a black duct, the grey pipework used is grey like the drain pipe in mid right of this chamber picture

Just noticed that you can see the pole climbers spike marks on the pole, so yep, there tizzy up there somewhere.

I take it all back, I think!

I went for another nose around, and the ducting actually is black. The pole has a "danger of death" badge as well.

Interestingly it branches off to other poles, some of which have thick black cables (electricity?) going to houses, and also, rising out of the ground initially, what are certainly telecom drop wires.

Is it usual for poles to carry both utilities?

So, I suspect that the ducting is to bring power to the cab. Is this usually covered in the BT planned works, or should I be looking out for separate electrical works?

Is it usual for poles to carry both utilities?

Yes, known as joint user poles

So, I suspect that the ducting is to bring power to the cab

It is for power.

. Is this usually covered in the BT planned works, or should I be looking out for separate electrical works?

Usually a separate order by the power utility

Edited by deleted (Tue 26-Aug-14 19:19:01)

You can keep an eye on things by looking at planned works on http://roadworks.org

Probably for carrying BT bile or bulls do dah.

It's obviously to bring power to the fibre cabinet.

Yeah, I've been following it like a hawk

BT works due to finish on Friday, but no sign of electrical works on any of the installed cabs (there are 3 that I know of so far).

Well, it was power in the end. Saw them connecting it up, although no roadworks needed.

I also spotted a BT contractor fiddling around in the tip right hand side of the open cabinet, which I guess was terminating the tie lines between the PCP and FTTC box.

How much longer now...?!

Connecting the end we saw by the pole to where?

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Connecting the end we saw by the pole to where?

New thick, black cable up the pole, into some sort of connecting blob.

If I remember I'll walk over to it tomorrow, and see if the cab is humming. It's only 260 metres away following the roads, so I'm hoping for decent speeds when....it....eventually.....goes..........live!

Probably won't be humming yet, they run power to it but usually don't turn the cabinet on until shortly before it goes live.

You're right, not humming yet :/

Soon I hope...