FttC install questions (possibly stupid, would rather check)

I've ordered FttC with BT and currently on a BT line, I've chosen an engineer install which is scheduled for next week but after reading here for a bit I've a couple of questions I'd like clarified just to make sure everything goes ok during the install.

The problem is what I think is the master socket (it doesn't have a socket on the faceplate but does have a test socket underneath from what I recall) is in a cloakroom underneath the stairs which isn't suitable for the router anyway plus there's no power there. Will the engineer still fit a new socket within 30m? How much complexity will they accept, at the moment the router is in the lounge which is across from the cloakroom so the cable would need to come out the cloakroom then over four door frames to make it round to the lounge. Do I need to arrange this specifically ahead of the visit? (there was no option I could see for it on the order) I've seen differing comments on this recently and a couple of local friends who have had fibre installed and the engineer wouldn't fit a socket in a different room, they had to use the master socket.

I know depending on the way the extensions are wired it's possible to convert one of those for the fibre router but unfortunately the two suitable downstairs sockets have sky boxes plugged into them so I can't do it with them.

Thanks,
John

These problems will all be resolved when the engineer comes to install the service. Make it where you would like the router to be located, and the engineer will discuss the various options for doing as you request.

This is why your choicer an engineer install was the correct thing to do.

As long as it's an Openreach person.

As long as it's an Openreach person.

Agreed, but I didn't want to confuse the OP .....








...... or risk the wrath of the 'Cluck bird' again

I think he may be on an induced holiday, following his unprovoked attacks on Adrian and you.

His first one on you was really funny. It was in a thread where he accused someone of not even spelling their own real name correctly, with his following post and the next one about you misspelling your username.

I really chuckled.

Edited by RobertoS (Mon 30-Nov-15 22:00:20)

What are the options then if it isn't an Openreach person? As the router can't go onto the master socket if they refuse to fit an extension then I'd have to cancel the install. Are there any particular areas the non-Openreach engineers operate? I'm in the North of Scotland so not a big place at all.

Edit - I've seen references to non-Openreach contractors, I assume that's what is being referred to?

Thanks,
John

Edited by Johnmcl7 (Mon 30-Nov-15 22:36:34)

There is a chance that the install may be done by a Kellys or Quinns bod, sub contractors to Openreach. These guys get paid on the number of jobs they do, so sometimes anything looks likely to take longer than usual, they try to wriggle out of it. But not always. Stand your ground, be firm that where you want it is where you want it.

They aren't all bad, it's just more likely to hear when it goes wrong than if they did a bang tidy job.

Don't panic.

I think he may be on an induced holiday

Or flown South for the winter ? Yaaay.

As Zarjaz says. They are generally capable of doing the job, but this sort of thing they try to wriggle out of. Most users don't know this so accept what they are told.

You have been forewarned so forearmed. BT have probably ordered the extra work just in case it is required, (before self-install they always did, but I can't be sure they still do). As Zarjaz says, stand your ground and be firm.

I would try to check with BT Sales that the "Data Extension Kit" (which Openreach call the "Home Wiring Solution") has been ordered. Assuming it has, you will be on very strong ground.

As an example of Kelly wriggling: The man who turned up for my second FTTC installation appointment claimed to have no access to the All in One cabinet, and that he would not be allowed to work on it anyway. I barely managed to restrain myself from asking why the **** he had come at all.

The BT OR man who came for the third appointment did the job.

The first appointment was a no show, which due to some internal BT problem never got as far as being assigned to an engineer. BT of course did not tell anybody about this until I complained to my ISP about the no show and they asked what had happened.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHgUN_95UAw could be about BT, not AT&T.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

There is a chance that the install may be done by a Kellys or Quinns bod, sub contractors to Openreach. These guys get paid on the number of jobs they do, so sometimes anything looks likely to take longer than usual, they try to wriggle out of it. But not always. Stand your ground, be firm that where you want it is where you want it.

They aren't all bad, it's just more likely to hear when it goes wrong than if they did a bang tidy job.

Don't panic.

Agreed, it depends on who you get, the last visit we had was when we had a line fault was done by a subcontractor that didn't want to route the new cable from the BT80B box to the NTE5A Master box around the door frame or below, even though the cable I had installed a few weeks before was done by me.

They kept insisting it was my cable due to it was under the floor, so 15mins later they had finished their re-wire (shortest possible link under the carpet and with 2 BT80B boxes due to the cable was a tad bit too short and half a dozen of gel clamps), and what a shock, the line was still dead and it turns out the fault (i.e. a short with our pairs) was in the chamber by our pole and not in our house.

I asked them could they wire back up my neater cable, where I was told no the new cable will be fine and will last for ages.

Sadly a year or so later that so called cable that will last for ages is now cracked on the outer casing and is now falling apart due to people walking over it.

So I thought ok, I will just wire up my new cable that I had installed under the floor, but nope, guess where they got their cable from, yep you guessed it, my [censored] cable, our re-wire is so badly done and ugly.

Common sense would of been to disconnect the wires in the BT80B box and then check if there is still a fault, but no.

That was the only sub contractor of openreach that I have had issues with, and I have had a few, normally they have all been fine apart from this one.

So, like I said it depends on who you get, also the time matters as well.

Paul.

Edited by PaulKirby (Tue 01-Dec-15 06:18:34)

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

I think he may be on an induced holiday

Or flown South for the winter ? Yaaay.

Notice they do not so much fly as plummet! <thud!>