Is this a Cabinet or Pit?

I just noticed this pop up on roadworks tonight down my road and was wondering if this is a new pit or for a cabinet.

Build 1 concrete chamber 915mm x 445mm x 965mm deep in Footway,Build 1 precast jointing chamber (725mm x 225mm) 600mm dep

Damn roadwords cut off the remaining text.

So I am assuming (well hoping) its a chamber/pit ready for the fibre to be blown through due to its the side of the road the poles are on, and is at a junction of one of our side roads that has a fibre node at the junction the other end off the main road.

But I am guessing it is a new pit due to we are part of the FTTP Commercial Project which was confirmed by BT over the phone and email.

Your due to be upgraded under a FTTP (Fibre to the Premises project). It is estimated that a large number of customers will benefit from FTTP service in your area.

along with other stuff that I won't say.

And that we are going to get it soon, to be honest I think the FTTP Commercial Project has been delayed due to them being very busy trying to keep up with all the BDUK rollout, deadlines and stuff, so I do understand that.

But if its for the fibre this could allow for around 635 addresses to get FTTP down the remaining part of our road along with the remaining side roads that been sitting waiting just for the fibre to be blown since end of 2011 , so fingers crossed

But knowing our luck so far, it's probably just for a new copper lines LOL

I might take a wander/stagger down my road (only 9 doors down the road) when its due to start middle of next week and ask the engineers.

*** update ***
Just took a look on Google Maps at that location and to me it seems like they are removing an old narrow and small pit down the road and replacing it with a new larger one like the one we have by our pole.
Here is an image of both pits.

But I will take a look and maybe take some pictures if I get there the right time and if my meds haven't warn off

Thanks

Paul

Edited by PaulKirby (Sat 02-May-15 05:34:40)

Not sure. BT had this done on my road last year. I asked them, and they told me they were putting newer cables in as the other ones were too old.

Pretty standard size so could be for holding aggregation node or splitter node. Unlikely to be purely part of a copper improvement, unless lots of bad joints and upgrading the space to make future expansion work easier.

3 or 4 new areas seem to go live with GEA-FTTP each week, compared to the 200+ FTTC ones

Hello Andrew

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Pretty standard size so could be for holding aggregation node or splitter node. Unlikely to be purely part of a copper improvement, unless lots of bad joints and upgrading the space to make future expansion work easier.

Well the old one down the road doesn't have any fibre hardware in the pit due to it wouldn't fit unless installed sideways (does have the bottle up the pole though) and I think is the only one that doesn't in my area, all the rest have the newer larger one and also have the fibre hardware in there too.

I was thinking its to make space due to BT have been reclaiming redundant cables on the main road and now this, so I am thinking well more hoping that they are freeing up space for the fibre to be blown down for the remaining area that got partly done.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

3 or 4 new areas seem to go live with GEA-FTTP each week, compared to the 200+ FTTC ones

Well I see that happening in other areas but our exchange hasn't seen a FTTP install for a few years now and they haven't really completed those fully, but that may be just down to some issues that would of caused delays like having the small old pit etc and to reduce delays they put that on hold to work on other areas, and maybe they have come back to asses the area and to try and finish off some of them.

The way I see it I cant see them installing fibre down the remaining part of our road apart from homes from one pole due to the pit not being large enough to have the hardware in there, which is why I think they are changing it, then once everything seems ok, and only then the fibre may get blown.

And blowing fibre down for all this area at the same time makes more sense than to blowing fibre to an area apart from one or two poles that would have to be done later.

Thanks

Paul

In reply to a post by FredTheB:

Not sure. BT had this done on my road last year. I asked them, and they told me they were putting newer cables in as the other ones were too old.

Yeah I was thinking this, but that pit is the only one in my area by a pole that is the old smaller one, all the others have the larger one.

That and all the reclaiming of redundant cables that BT have been pulling up.

Also that old pit is the only one that doesn't have the fibre hardware in the pit due to it being too small, all the rest have the fibre hardware in them, so I am assuming its to hold the fibre hardware along with adding more space.

I am assuming this was one of the reasons half our road and lower sides got stopped in mid install, makes loads of sense, no point in upgrading an area with fibre apart from homes on one pole due to a pit bring old and too small.

But like I said I will try and take a wander/stagger down there and ask them next week when they are installing it, might even take some pictures.

Thanks

Paul

Damn roadwords cut off the remaining text

Try http://v6.roadworks.org/

I find it is better

Ian

In reply to a post by ian007jen:

Damn roadwords cut off the remaining text

Try http://v6.roadworks.org/

I find it is better

Ian

Yep that looks better, but still cuts off at the end in the exact same place, so maybe BT or our council's tool only has a set amount of characters for the description, I know VM puts hell of a lot of text into their description.

But yeah it looks better also the bouncing icons look nice

Paul

I've just had one of these done outside my house.... it is just a standard distribution point (for copper in my case), it supplies myself and neighbor only..

Was replaced in my case as it had semi collapsed inside and had sunk around 2-3 inches into the ground causing a tripping hazard...

Currently awaiting tarmac replacement!

Best bet is finding out whether there is an existing one their or if it mentions any installation on ducting or polyduct!

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

I've just had one of these done outside my house.... it is just a standard distribution point (for copper in my case), it supplies myself and neighbor only..

Was replaced in my case as it had semi collapsed inside and had sunk around 2-3 inches into the ground causing a tripping hazard...

Currently awaiting tarmac replacement!

Best bet is finding out whether there is an existing one their or if it mentions any installation on ducting or polyduct!

Well the last time I went past it it didn't look dodgy or anything, I am guessing where we are down for FTTP it would need to have the fibre hardware in the pit and the current pit is way too small for it and would need to be changed to a larger one, which I think might be the case.
It already has the fibre bottle thing up the pole along with the black tube with yellow stripe etc, its had all that since end of 2011.

If you look at this image you will see two pit/chambers, left is the one at the location of roadworks and the one on the right is the one by our pole and is the same dimensions as the one that is being installed.

As for seeing any mention of ducting or polyduct, don't see anything there, but that could be due to the description being cut off the end, so I can only see the first part.

Like I already said this is all it says on roadworks "Build 1 concrete chamber 915mm x 445mm x 965mm deep in Footway,Build 1 precast jointing chamber (725mm x 225mm) 600mm dep" and that's it.

To be honest I think BT is just changing it to the larger one like Andrew said, for future expansion easier etc, also our pole is the next one up from that one and if fibre cannot get to that section due to being old and too small then our pole won't get fibre due to the routing of cables, so by upgrading that should resolve that issue.

Paul

Well good luck to you... I hope it is for Fibre Jointing and that the completion is soon..

Hmm, not too sure if the work was carried out.
It was down to start from the 6th to 8th of May on roadworks however yesterday it was changed to start on the 6th to 7th and then disappeared.

Not gone out yet to check if it was done yet, but I haven't seen anything turn up let alone heard any digging.
My guess is they decided on cancelling the work due to the rain and wind, no wonder the fibre install is taking so long

Paul

Well it did seem that they didn't do this work that time round due to I took a look and no change to the pit/chamber, could of been down to the weather being very rainy and very windy.

I have now seen it showing up on roadworks again and is down to be done for 27th to 29th of May, so hopefully it gets done this time due to I think this is holding up our FTTP rollout.

As before its the same work even with the end of the description cut off.

Build 1 concrete chamber 915mm x 445mm x 965mm deep in Footway,Build 1 precast jointing chamber (725mm x 225mm) 600mm dep

So fingers crossed

Paul

Question, How long does it take to do the following work:

• Build 1 concrete chamber 915mm x 445mm x 965mm deep in Footway.
• Build 1 precast jointing chamber (725mm x 225mm) 600mm dep.

The reason I am asking is it was down to start today and nothing has happened, not even markings on the pavement.

I am hoping its just a late start and not another cancelling of the work again like last time.

Paul

Guess bl**dy what, its been removed again, that's twice they job was down and twice its been removed.

WHY BT WHY?

SIGH

Paul

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

Well good luck to you... I hope it is for Fibre Jointing and that the completion is soon..

Well 4th try was a charm, I have seen 3 other lots of work for this just appear on roadworks to either just disappear on the day the work was suppose to start or 5 mins after being submitted, so I was rather glad when I heard power saws roaring about 8:30 this morning.

Decided on taking a walk to see, where I saw 2 workers from Conways, one guy in the pit digging and the other sweeping up

Took a couple of pictures shown below of the dug hole and all the cables, fibre tubing, phone and fibre enclosures, oh and loads of blue string that looks rather new.

The blue string may of been put in place ready for the fibre tubing by BT the other day.

Anyway here is the two pictures:
Whole Pit and Hardware, Close-up of Hardware

I am not too sure what the thin black cable with the yellow plastic wrapped round it is for, but it goes into the fibre enclosure along with the fibre tubing.

Not too sure what the thing enclosure is for, maybe for a few extra phone lines maybe.

Also they was suppose to be doing the following:

1. Build 1 concrete chamber 915mm x 445mm x 965mm deep in Footway
2. Build 1 precast jointing chamber (725mm x 225mm) 600mm dep

Spoke to the Conway workers and asked about whats going into the pit, and was told red bricks, so I gather that was part 1 and maybe somebody else will be doing part 2 of the work, the work is down for the 15th to 17th.

Paul

Edited by PaulKirby (Mon 15-Jun-15 11:03:25)

that cut and dig is very very good.... never seen work so neat... the mess made outside my house for just a smaller one is atrocious...

If you don't mind, could you post a link to pic once it's completed!

Edited by mlmclaren (Mon 15-Jun-15 11:16:00)

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

that cut and dig is very very good.... never seen work so neat... the mess made outside my house for just a smaller one is atrocious...

That's because they are not British workers LOL

But yeah, it was rather neat and square, even saw them making loads of depth measurements

What makes me laugh was BT insisting that there wasn't any fibre hardware in these pits and that was why we cannot get fibre yet LOL.
I told BT that we have everything apart from the fibre tubing and the actual fibre in them.

BTOR (Fibre Enquiries team, Openreach) told me via email "I have checked the details of the FTTP upgrade in your vicinity and all being well you should be able to order your FTTP at the beginning of July.", so hopefully its not long now

I tell you what, its been a long frustrating wait seeing and knowing all the fibre hardware has been there since 2011 when they started the fibre install down our road.

*** update ***

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

If you don't mind, could you post a link to pic once it's completed!

What when all the chamber lid has been put on, knowing when exactly before the lid is placed will be hard to know due to its at the bottom of my road and I cannot keep popping down there.

Paul

Edited by PaulKirby (Mon 15-Jun-15 11:28:15)

Isn't the Yellow/Black the Power feed ?

Yes I agree with you there... polish guys did the ducting work to my property and did a good job too... everything else was done by British bodge masters.

Yes if you could get a picture when it's all built and resurfaced.... not in any rush at all so don't worry too much, just when your passing.

In reply to a post by Pgre:

Isn't the Yellow/Black the Power feed ?

What on the FTTP Enclosure?
I thought this at first, I should of got a clearer picture, hard to see via the pictures where the other end goes, also I didn't think the Fibre Enclosure required power due to it being fibre all the way.

I also thought it might of been just a patch cable to cover up the connectors on the enclosure.

Paul

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

Yes I agree with you there... polish guys did the ducting work to my property and did a good job too... everything else was done by British bodge masters.

LOL, yeah they sounded polish, probably saying to his mate "what's this idiot want" LOL.
But yeah looks neat.
Still not sure if the red brick part is the actual "Build 1 precast jointing chamber (725mm x 225mm) 600mm dep" or not.

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

Yes if you could get a picture when it's all built and resurfaced.... not in any rush at all so don't worry too much, just when your passing.

Yeah, sure, will check later today, my doctor keeps telling me to do some walking exercise (LOL), shouldn't think they would be there long, probably will be done after lunch, so I will check then.

Paul

In reply to a post by Pgre:

Isn't the Yellow/Black the Power feed ?

No power in a splitter node. All passive.

Just a different type of fibre tubing

In reply to a post by Ignitionnet:

In reply to a post by Pgre:

Isn't the Yellow/Black the Power feed ?

No power in a splitter node. All passive.

I thought so, do you know what those two cables are for?

Paul

In reply to a post by Ribble:

Just a different type of fibre tubing

Ah, well I cannot see where it goes, it certainly doesn't come into the pit, so I am wondering if its either a single cable or two separate cables going nowhere.

Paul

What goes in must come out!

In reply to a post by Ignitionnet:

What goes in must come out!

LOL, well I think its just a loop cable to cover the two connectors.

Paul

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

Yes I agree with you there... polish guys did the ducting work to my property and did a good job too... everything else was done by British bodge masters.

Yes if you could get a picture when it's all built and resurfaced.... not in any rush at all so don't worry too much, just when your passing.

Well here is how it looks now, granted it still needs to be filled in around the chamber lid, but it looks great so far.

Paul

Not bad!

Loads better than the work done around my neck of the woods!

Heh, well its normally bad work we get here, like I said I was rather surprised on the quality of work they have done.

I will post a picture of the final look once they come back to lay and flatten the tarmac.

Paul

Well it's not a splitter node, as suggested elsewhere, that's a fibre DP node. No power required to either of these types of node, PON innit ! Passive Optical Network.

The two smaller feeds with the yellow whipping are the the feed in, and out again, dropping one or two fibres in the DP. The larger black tube with the yellow stripe is BFT (blown fibre tubing containing twelve 4mm tubes inside) and is going off to a fibre manifold somewhere.

The blue ropes are going off to nearby premises ready to pull in copper. but more likely single BFT's to the various properties as and when they order.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Well it's not a splitter node, as suggested elsewhere, that's a fibre DP node. No power required to either of these types of node, PON innit ! Passive Optical Network.

I thought it was a DP Node, we have them in all our chamber/pits, it was where the last time I saw them when they was installed was back in 2011 and wasn't too sure if it was the round one or this one.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

The two smaller feeds with the yellow whipping are the the feed in, and out again, dropping one or two fibres in the DP. The larger black tube with the yellow stripe is BFT (blown fibre tubing containing twelve 4mm tubes inside) and is going off to a fibre manifold somewhere.

So the smaller ones are a bit like a daisy chain where it goes in this one and then out into the next one down the road.

As for the larger one it goes into the manifold (black bottle) up the phone pole.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

The blue ropes are going off to nearby premises ready to pull in copper. but more likely single BFT's to the various properties as and when they order.

Erm, I think in this case thats not the case, I think its to pull through the fibre tubing betwnn chambers, all premises are connected to the phone pole.

Also this is for FTTP which doesn't touch the copper phone line.

Paul

I thought it was a DP Node, we have them in all our chamber/pits, it was where the last time I saw them when they was installed was back in 2011 and wasn't too sure if it was the round one or this one.

That also explains why that's an 'old style' DP node.

Also this is for FTTP which doesn't touch the copper phone line.

....errm. You do know what I do for a living Paul, don't you ?

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

I thought it was a DP Node, we have them in all our chamber/pits, it was where the last time I saw them when they was installed was back in 2011 and wasn't too sure if it was the round one or this one.

That also explains why that's an 'old style' DP node.

Well basically long story short (well sort of LOL), we basically was suppose to of got FTTP installed down our road and side roads along with several other cabinets back in end of 2011 as part of the 66% Commercial Rollout (has also been confirmed by BT on phone and email), however BTOR got called off in mid install, (hence parts of our road and side roads getting FTTP and us just got up to the point of having all the hardware, just no blown fibre), to work on the BDUK installs etc, but seems BTOR may of forgotten about our area, well until I got our MP involved, its only now that they have started to come back to our area working on chambers/pits etc, BTOR have told me if all goes well I should be able to order FTTP from start of July (seems a bit optimistic due to being only 2 to 3 weeks away), so all progress I hope.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Also this is for FTTP which doesn't touch the copper phone line.

....errm. You do know what I do for a living Paul, don't you ?

Well, not really, you can PM me if you don't want it public.

I used to work for a company that did work for the M.O.D, but had to leave due to ill health, which was a shame due to I really liked it there.

Paul

Sorry for the delay...
Here is that Image 1 and Image 2 of it all completed

Paul