FTTP Ready to order doesn't mean ready to install

A word of warning for future users of this site. Just because the Openreach database sates you can order FTTP, doesn't mean you will get it.

I'm on a new build estate so you would think Openreach would know what cables are in the ground, where they run and where the distribution points are.

3 weeks ago FTTP suddenly became available for me to order. Great I thought, time to say goodbye to my 1Mb ADSL connection. My first mistake was getting my kids hopes up that we were getting "better internet" (as my son calls it!).

I placed an order with BT for Infinity 3 which was accepted and an appointment for the engineer to attend to install my broadband was made for 2 weeks later. So the day came, the OR engineer turned up when he said he would. I knew as soon as he arrived that there was going to be an issue when he stated that "the system" was showing my DP as being 200m away and he could only run a cable around 150m.

He examined a few of the underground chambers near my house and told me there was one across the road. He then went on the phone to find out what to do. He then told me that he was handing it back to the planning department to sort out what needs to happen and told me I'd get an update by today.

So I called the FTTP team at BT this afternoon. The guy I spoke to, spoke to OR and called me back. They need to send someone out to do a survey, which will happen before next Friday and then I'll know better by then whether they intend to connect me to the nearby DP or the further away one. I'm led to believe the nearby DP isn't yet active which is why I've not been connected to it already.

I'm surprised that Openreach don't know what their network looks like, especially one that's just recently been laid. It's also frustrating that their systems show a product as being available to order, which I take to mean everything is in place on their end.

I think if I had usable broadband it would be make the wait more bearable.

Rant over

It doesn't work like that with your setup. You have copper going to your property (as you have ADSL).

In fibre only new builds the Fibre ONT is already installed and fibre connected to every property.

Your developer probably choose copper initially then changed their mind to FTTP, the reason you have both. In these circumstances they rarely install the fibre to each property until it's ordered. Makes sense to me as not everyone will want it.
If the developer planned ahead the likelihood is it could have been activated the day you moved in.

Okay, I understand that. The OR guy that came out said that I'd be getting the new connectorised method of connection. He would have been able to do it that day if either a) the DP they were telling him to use wasn't so far away or b) the closer DP was active.

So the installer pulling a fibre cable through on the day wasn't the issue. It's OR not knowing what the setup was.

In reply to a post by sparkymark75:

It's OR not knowing what the setup was.

It is too easy saying this. What it really means is one bloke made a mistake. Either in believing the existing hardware had sufficient reach, or in believing more hardware was ready than was in the ground.

Either way, it comes down to one person making a decision about what gets put into the database.

From that point onward, the rest of OR believes the database.

In reply to a post by sparkymark75:

Okay, I understand that. The OR guy that came out said that I'd be getting the new connectorised method of connection. He would have been able to do it that day if either a) the DP they were telling him to use wasn't so far away or b) the closer DP was active.

So the installer pulling a fibre cable through on the day wasn't the issue. It's OR not knowing what the setup was.

All BTOR need to do is the following:

Install another FibreDP and daisy chain it back to the one on the end of the other fibre cable.

If there is no more fibres left, then BTOR will need to run another fibre cable from the Splitter Node up to your hardware.

Once done and tested, update their database, then go live.

This is assuming there is enough space in the ducts and the splitter node.

Paul

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

In reply to a post by sparkymark75:

Okay, I understand that. The OR guy that came out said that I'd be getting the new connectorised method of connection. He would have been able to do it that day if either a) the DP they were telling him to use wasn't so far away or b) the closer DP was active.

So the installer pulling a fibre cable through on the day wasn't the issue. It's OR not knowing what the setup was.

All BTOR need to do is the following:

Install another FibreDP and daisy chain it back to the one on the end of the other fibre cable.

If there is no more fibres left, then BTOR will need to run another fibre cable from the Splitter Node up to your hardware.

Once done and tested, update their database, then go live.

This is assuming there is enough space in the ducts and the splitter node.

Paul

I totally agree with you there.
Look at all the hassle I had to go through dating back to end of 2011, BT kept insisting there was absolutely no fibre in my area, even though I took photos of all the hardware (when the engineers did work in the chambers I took a crafty NINJA photo LOL) and sent it to them.

Then 5 years of arguing later we now have fibre, so its true you just need to be persistent and keep at them.

Paul

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

Install another FibreDP and daisy chain it back to the one on the end of the other fibre cable.

If there is no more fibres left, then BTOR will need to run another fibre cable from the Splitter Node up to your hardware.

In the connectorised setup, I don't think a DP provides any means to splice fibres together,to allow daisy-chaining, so the latter case is more likely.

In photos of connectorised equipment in chambers, I recall seeing a lot of small cables (with the spiral plastic protectors). See 6th image here:
http://blog.thinkbroadband.com/2016/06/a-peek-at-the...

In reply to a post by WWWombat:

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

Install another FibreDP and daisy chain it back to the one on the end of the other fibre cable.

If there is no more fibres left, then BTOR will need to run another fibre cable from the Splitter Node up to your hardware.

In the connectorised setup, I don't think a DP provides any means to splice fibres together,to allow daisy-chaining, so the latter case is more likely.

So if no daisy chaining is not happening, then they are wasting a lot of fibre cables and reducing the available space in the duct, how stupid is that.

In reply to a post by WWWombat:

In photos of connectorised equipment in chambers, I recall seeing a lot of small cables (with the spiral plastic protectors). See 6th image here:
http://blog.thinkbroadband.com/2016/06/a-peek-at-the...

So each cable is going from the splitter node to an individual connectorized block.

Like I already said above, they will be wasting a huge amount of fibre cables if that's what they are doing.

Plus sod having to sit up the stop of the poll joining all the fibres to the connectorized block.

Much better and safer to have a premade connectorized block with a pre-length of fibre cable already fitted and sealed, to then tack to the pole and then into the chamber to a form of DP where they are all joint together.

See I would of still had the FibreDP installed and have that connected up to the Connectorized Block at the same time.
Then when the engineer arrives to install the FTTP to the home/building they would just need to use the premade fibre cable.

Paul

Far too much logical thinking going on in here

All the fibre in my area is underground.

Yep, connectorised blocks come pre made, you run the tail back to a common node and splice there.

Even if half way up a pole you leave long enough tails so it can be brought down to ground level for the infrequent splicing it may need.

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

then they are wasting a lot of fibre cables and reducing the available space in the duct, how stupid is that.

I guess the stupidity depends on whether duct space, in these locations, is the primary problem, or if the blocks are meant to help solve a different problem.

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

So each cable is going from the splitter node to an individual connectorized block.

Like I already said above, they will be wasting a huge amount of fibre cables if that's what they are doing.

Plus sod having to sit up the stop of the poll joining all the fibres to the connectorized block.

Much better and safer to have a premade connectorized block with a pre-length of fibre cable already fitted and sealed, to then tack to the pole and then into the chamber to a form of DP where they are all joint together.

The connectorized blocks are indeed pre-terminated with a tail of fibre - but more than just the length needed to get from the top of a pole down to the chamber.

One of the points of this system was to have a cable that was small but came with sufficient strengtheners that it could be pushed through many duct blockages. That reduced the number of calls into the digging teams - and seems to have been the main problem that was under consideration.

Remember too that we are talking of the cables between the connectorised DP and the splitter node, which has a max size of 128 premises. One or two streets at a time, so lengths are relatively short. The splitters can still be daisy-chained. We might see an architecture where the old-style fibre cable runs along main roads, chaining splitter nodes, while the pre-terminated cabling runs along side-streets.

The connectorised blocks (Corning Optisheath Multiport) can be supplied with different lengths of tail - anything from 3m to 600m, but I think the standard variants come with 50ft, 100ft, 150ft, 200ft.
https://objects.eanixter.com/PD362314.PDF

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Even if half way up a pole you leave long enough tails so it can be brought down to ground level for the infrequent splicing it may need.

Interesting to see that KCOM's architecture is to put splice tray DPs part-way up each pole. Not at the top, but just above the height that the metal cable protectors run up to.

https://youtu.be/hbwTCX4QP8Y?t=66

That�s just common sense to protect their lineplant.

In reply to a post by sparkymark75:

Far too much logical thinking going on in here

Each way is logical. It just depends what your main problems are.

For BT, in this part of the network, it looks like getting past duct blockages, between DP and splitter node, was an important consideration.

Another was trying to reduce the amount of time it took to deploy on installation day. They wanted to stop using blown fibre in the drop (to reduce the need for compressors and blowing equipment), and reduce the need for splicing (at both the DP and on the exterior of the house).

Connectorised blocks with pre-made tails solves issues in one direction, while pre-made drop cables with a peelable cable solves issues in the other direction (peelable == cable that is both outdoor spec and indoor spec, with the outdoor sheath that can peel away at the entrance to the home).

https://youtu.be/LLpk2dz6nBQ?t=582

The downside is the number of cables in the ducts, if duct-space is an issue.

From a protection perspective, yes.

But interesting that they're willing to let engineers splice at a short height, which Openreach seem to be much less willing to do.

There must be a logical answer, because if you cannot get a flat stable surface close enough to the fibres to splice you are stuffed....

Have had to use the top flat step of a four tread step ladder before, not ideal, but worked.... also piled up a combination of cardboard boxes to reach the required height. This all in utility cupboards about a meter and a half square. Fun.

LOL

When you splice a strand, and then have to wind it all back into the splice tray, what kind of length can it hold? Can you get a couple of metres in there?

In reply to a post by WWWombat:

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

then they are wasting a lot of fibre cables and reducing the available space in the duct, how stupid is that.

I guess the stupidity depends on whether duct space, in these locations, is the primary problem, or if the blocks are meant to help solve a different problem.

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

So each cable is going from the splitter node to an individual connectorized block.

Like I already said above, they will be wasting a huge amount of fibre cables if that's what they are doing.

<snip>

<snip>

One of the points of this system was to have a cable that was small but came with sufficient strengtheners that it could be pushed through many duct blockages. That reduced the number of calls into the digging teams - and seems to have been the main problem that was under consideration.

Remember too that we are talking of the cables between the connectorised DP and the splitter node, which has a max size of 128 premises. One or two streets at a time, so lengths are relatively short. The splitters can still be daisy-chained. We might see an architecture where the old-style fibre cable runs along main roads, chaining splitter nodes, while the pre-terminated cabling runs along side-streets.

<snip>

It appears that BTOR have now decided to install the new connectorised block method for FTTP even where the old-style manifolds have not been used to capacity, at least where duct-space is not an issue.

I've been chasing BTOR via the local Superfast organisation for over 2 months to find out why a couple of friends at different addresses (and different Cabinet Areas) in my town are no longer able to order FTTP when their addresses were previously on the BT database as FTTP-enabled about 4 years ago.

Both addresses have copper lines via overhead cabling from nearby poles which have had the old type 'bottle' shaped manifolds fitted for several years, and both manifolds are supplying a very small number of FTTP connections (2 on one, harder to see on the one pictured at the link below).

Because both addresses have nearby properties served from the same poles/manifolds which are able to order FTTP I was under the impression that this was likely a database issue and that was the tack I took with my chasing-up, but it appears that it was not as simple as that. During my last conversation with the local Superfast rep I was told that some progress had been made regarding the pictured location, and that equipment had been installed which was waiting to be commissioned. I doubted this and continued with my argument that no commissioning should be necessary as the manifold had been in place for around 4 years and was actually in use.

As I was passing that location yesterday I decided to take a look at the pole (mainly to see if the existing manifold was full) and was surprised to see that even though there were very few connections on it, that a new connectorised block with its cable had been fitted to the pole.

This photo shows both fittings on the pole, although the lighting was not too clever due to it being an overcast day and fairly late in the afternoon.

Wow.

The main driver for doing this, surely, would be the number of engineers trained and equipped to do each type of installation.

Yes, 2m is what my BTOR installer wound back into the CSP after splicing, which is fitted slightly higher than the specified position. I just checked - it's 1.35m above the floor in a tiny utility cupboard which opens into a downstairs room.

As Rastus says, they are supposed to leave around 2m �slack� prior to the splice..... you could fit way more if you wished.

Seen a few with both ... seems no sense to me ...

I know this is probably a "how long is a piece of string" question. But how long do you reckon I have to wait?

There was a team out about a month ago clearing blockages for OR to run the fibre (I spoke to them to find out what they were doing as they dug outside my driveway). So I'd like to think that there won't be any delays because of that. Although never say never I guess.

Another question. I cancelled my ADSL broadband with Origin when I was given a date by BT for install. BT are due to take over my phone line on the 20th November. I currently still have internet access via ADSL, will I lose this when BT take over my phone line?

If it's a new build estate, then Openreach will have gone off the plans provided by the developer. New sites are built by developers and then connected up by Openreach.

I would raise it with your developer who can speak to the New Homes team at Openreach to see if it can be escalated or if an estimated date can be given.

I'm in a similar sort of situation order accepted but theres some works to be done to get it to our estate. Have you asked the FTTP team if they have news, they have been pretty helpful to me with updates on where openreach are at.

This can probably be ignored only realised the initial post was yesterday so won't have any news until the survey is done Did the FTTP team tell you when your next update would be. I have been given specific dates for when to expect next updates.

Edited by bluemoon87 (Sat 11-Nov-17 17:14:50)

In reply to a post by AndyHCZ:

If it's a new build estate, then Openreach will have gone off the plans provided by the developer. New sites are built by developers and then connected up by Openreach.

I would raise it with your developer who can speak to the New Homes team at Openreach to see if it can be escalated or if an estimated date can be given.

Anytime I've asked the developer, they just tell me to contact OR. It's been OR guys I've seen in the street and surrounding area the past few months. I'm guessing the developer have taken OR up on their "free" deployment offer.

In reply to a post by bluemoon87:

I'm in a similar sort of situation order accepted but theres some works to be done to get it to our estate. Have you asked the FTTP team if they have news, they have been pretty helpful to me with updates on where openreach are at.

This can probably be ignored only realised the initial post was yesterday so won't have any news until the survey is done Did the FTTP team tell you when your next update would be. I have been given specific dates for when to expect next updates.

The guy I spoke to yesterday said they will know more once the survey has been done and they will have a better idea of what needs to happen by the time of my next update next Friday.

In reply to a post by j0hn83:

It doesn't work like that with your setup. You have copper going to your property (as you have ADSL).

In fibre only new builds the Fibre ONT is already installed and fibre connected to every property.

Your developer probably choose copper initially then changed their mind to FTTP, the reason you have both. In these circumstances they rarely install the fibre to each property until it's ordered. Makes sense to me as not everyone will want it.
If the developer planned ahead the likelihood is it could have been activated the day you moved in.

I wouldn't have expected them to run the fibre to the property, but at least to have the rest of it ready to be hooked up to if the OR database is showing it as available.

I paid a not insignificant sum of money to exit my contract with my previous provider of ADSL on the basis of FTTP being shown as available and BT accepting my order.

I believe you can never trust anything ISP customer service staff say, particularly if a sale is involved, also the FTTC/P availabilty checker is not the gospel truth as I discovered when upgrading from ADSL to FTTC, it said available, Plusnet placed an order, after many queries and tickets FTTC was not actually available. There was a problem with the fibre connection at the head end exchange, actually got upgraded about 3 months later!

In your case it may have been better to leave the ADSL service active until the FTTP was installed and working.

In reply to a post by Realalemadrid:

I believe you can never trust anything ISP customer service staff say, particularly if a sale is involved, also the FTTC/P availabilty checker is not the gospel truth as I discovered when upgrading from ADSL to FTTC, it said available, Plusnet placed an order, after many queries and tickets FTTC was not actually available. There was a problem with the fibre connection at the head end exchange, actually got upgraded about 3 months later!

In your case it may have been better to leave the ADSL service active until the FTTP was installed and working.

In hindsight possibly, however I'm not sure that would have been do-able as BT insist on you taking out a phone line with them when ordering FTTP. The only option I can see would be to get them to install another phone line, even more money.

I called BT and they said they will look to provide me with broadband over my existing copper line to keep me connected until the fibre install is sorted. I'll find out in a week if that's the case.

Fom my experience with FTTP (the FTTPoD variant for me) and others on this forum, it seems the length to wait is extremely variable and can change during the order process.

In my case a missing card at the head end exchange means I picked up a 4-6 month wait, but that said, others have been a lot faster than that, bit of a lottery really.

So when I last called on the 10th, I was told a survey would be carried out by the 17th. Called them today and surprise, surprise, naff all has been done!

In the meantime, what little broadband I had is now gone as my phone line is transferring over to BT today.

I've been told the 6th Dec is the next date for review! Fuming about covers it. So infuriating not being able to do anything about it meanwhile Openreach just plod along with no urgency to resolve anything.

Can't wait to share the great news with the kids when I get home from work and then listen to them complain all night!

I am sure BT can provide you bog standard broadband whilst this gets figured out, if you have no joy email executive level complaints.

Out of curiosity, do you know if anyone else on the development has ordered yet? As said we are at a similar stage and there are a couple of orders. One persons is progressing with decent notes being made on the account but the others are being told a survey needs to be done but don�t seem to progress even though planning work is being done in the background. May be worth escalation to see what�s actually going on.

In reply to a post by ukhardy07:

I am sure BT can provide you bog standard broadband whilst this gets figured out, if you have no joy email executive level complaints.

The person I spoke to today did say it's in BT's interest to get this sorted ASAP as I won't be billed for anything until both services are active.

They did say they would try and provide ADSL broadband, I need to call them tomorrow once my phone has switched over (which it already has anyway).

I don't think I'm being unreasonable. If it wasn't listed as being available, I'd still be plodding along on my 1Mb ADSL connection waiting.

Edited by sparkymark75 (Mon 20-Nov-17 23:14:05)

In reply to a post by bluemoon87:

Out of curiosity, do you know if anyone else on the development has ordered yet? As said we are at a similar stage and there are a couple of orders. One persons is progressing with decent notes being made on the account but the others are being told a survey needs to be done but don�t seem to progress even though planning work is being done in the background. May be worth escalation to see what�s actually going on.

Some of the lower part of the street already have FTTP active, but those houses have been there for a few years. The top of the street where I am is a new raft of houses being built by a different developer. I'm not aware of any of my neighbours having FTTP or having ordered it yet. I do see they all have the blue ropes at the point their phone line comes into the house.

Latest update. On checking the BT Wholesale checker today, I see that my neighbours now have WBC FTTP available as a product to order. A couple of differences with my record are that under the heading FTTP Install Process, they have 1 Stage, I have --

And the first sentence under the table for them reads like; Single Dwelling Unit Residential UG Proven Clear.

Whereas mine states Single Dwelling Unit Residential UG with no anticipated issues.

I now have a fibre case handler dealing with my complaint. They updated me yesterday to say that the OR records have me using equipment which is too far away. So they have to cancel my order, correct the OR record to show me connecting to the closer equipment and then re-instate my order so that they can build the job based on the new OR record.

They are providing me with complimentary ADSL in the meantime but that takes 5 working days to activate so I'm offline until Thursday next week. Not sure how long the updating of the OR records will take.

1 Stage "indicates number of stages/visits to be followed by engineer to perform ONT Installation at premise"

In reply to a post by AndyHCZ:

1 Stage "indicates number of stages/visits to be followed by engineer to perform ONT Installation at premise"

Yeah when the OR installer originally appeared, he did say they were using the new connectorised method.

In reply to a post by sparkymark75:

They are providing me with complimentary ADSL in the meantime but that takes 5 working days to activate so I'm offline until Thursday next week. Not sure how long the updating of the OR records will take.

Just a warning...

While the order for ADSL sits on the line, you won't be able to put an order for FTTP in. The system can only handle one change at a time, be it an order, cancellation, or fault report.

In reply to a post by WWWombat:

In reply to a post by sparkymark75:

They are providing me with complimentary ADSL in the meantime but that takes 5 working days to activate so I'm offline until Thursday next week. Not sure how long the updating of the OR records will take.

Just a warning...

While the order for ADSL sits on the line, you won't be able to put an order for FTTP in. The system can only handle one change at a time, be it an order, cancellation, or fault report.

I already have an order for FTTP in. The BT Wholesale checker doesn't show an active order on my phone line. Thanks for the warning though. Not much I can do about it other than cancel the ADSL order but that would leave me with no internet. I can't see the FTTP issue being sorted before next Wednesday/Thursday.

Although given FTTP is now showing as available for all my neighbours now too, the equipment must be ready so it sounds like I just need my record updated and then I can get an install scheduled. Or am I dreaming?!

An update..

So I was told last Tuesday that I would have my complimentary broadband in 48 hours. Turns out they communicated this wrong. What they actually meant was that it takes 48 hours to raise an order for it and then a further 5 working days.

Fair enough, so that should mean it's active this Thursday, But no, I get an email yesterday telling me that my order has now been placed and that it will activate on the 4th December!

Feels like every timescale they give me is incorrect.

I checked my order for FTTP last night on the BT website and can see that a new appointment has been made for my fibre install, for the 14th December. My case handler told me that the next update from Openreach is due tomorrow.

https://i.imgur.com/YrDNr2B.png

I'm trying to believe what the BT website is telling me but it's hard to trust anything they tell me these days.

The BT Wholesale checker also makes reference to the active order on my phone line. So if everything's to be believed, I'll get ADSL on the 4th and then 10 days later FTTP.

What are the chances of that?!

I also got a laugh out of the BT email for my ADSL saying My guaranteed minimum speed is 2Mbps, I've never had that speed.

https://i.imgur.com/XHsjbuY.png

Todays update...

Ah well, knew it was too good to be true. My order on the BT website has been cancelled!

If BT Retail are giving you the run around then you may want to consider ordering FTTP via Cerberus as 1 or 2 others have found them to be far quicker than BT in getting you up & running.Their 220/20 Mbps service (similar to Infinity 3) is around £55 pm so not that different to BT pricing and you get far better support.

https://www.cerberusnetworks.co.uk/connectivity-broa...

In reply to a post by baby_frogmella:

If BT Retail are giving you the run around then you may want to consider ordering FTTP via Cerberus as 1 or 2 others have found them to be far quicker than BT in getting you up & running.Their 220/20 Mbps service (similar to Infinity 3) is around £55 pm so not that different to BT pricing and you get far better support.

https://www.cerberusnetworks.co.uk/connectivity-broa...

Openreaches records are wrong which is causing the issue. Once they're corrected, in theory I guess the install can go ahead. I'm just having issues with this dragging on and BT misleading me with every timescale they give me.

In reply to a post by sparkymark75:

Openreaches records are wrong which is causing the issue. Once they're corrected, in theory I guess the install can go ahead. I'm just having issues with this dragging on and BT misleading me with every timescale they give me.

In that case an isp such as Cerberus is likely to be more efficient in chasing up OR to fix their FTTP database instead of giving you a �computer says no� answer - which I imagine is what bt have sometimes been telling you. There was a chap on here not long ago unable to order fttp via bt (openreach database error) but once he got in touch with Cerberus they sorted it within days.

Edit: here you go

[FTTP] Getting Openreach to fix their Database

Edited by deleted (Wed 29-Nov-17 16:29:23)

In reply to a post by baby_frogmella:

In reply to a post by sparkymark75:

Openreaches records are wrong which is causing the issue. Once they're corrected, in theory I guess the install can go ahead. I'm just having issues with this dragging on and BT misleading me with every timescale they give me.

In that case an isp such as Cerberus is likely to be more efficient in chasing up OR to fix their FTTP database instead of giving you a �computer says no� answer - which I imagine is what bt have sometimes been telling you. There was a chap on here not long ago unable to order fttp via bt (openreach database error) but once he got in touch with Cerberus they sorted it within days.

Edit: here you go

[FTTP] Getting Openreach to fix their Database

BT have already taken over my phone line so technically I guess I'm already in contract with them? I don't have a phone so haven't actually used the phone line but they are providing me ADSL from the 4th until I get the FTTP installed.

I'm not sure if anyone in here works for Openreach or knows the systems they use but as someone that works in IT, I'm curious as to why it takes them so long to update a database?

Also what's the interaction between the ISPs ordering systems (in this case BT) and Openreach's? My BT order was updated yesterday with a new install date and then today the whole order has been cancelled. What triggers this to happen? Something in Openreach or BT?

Feel like I'm talking to myself here but I guess this may be useful if someone else ever finds themselves in this position...

So my OR records have been updated and a new installation appointment has been made for next week. The road outside my house will be closed for a few days while they finish the road surface. I hope the OR guy doesn't use that as an excuse for not doing the job. The pavements are fine, it's just he won't be able to park his van right outside my house but a few metres down the street.

We are reading, and glad you're getting there. I'm sure the engineer won't mind walking a few meters.

Hope your install goes well, fttp will be a nice Christmas present.

In reply to a post by R0NSKI:

We are reading, and glad you're getting there. I'm sure the engineer won't mind walking a few meters.

Hope your install goes well, fttp will be a nice Christmas present.

Thanks, indeed it will.

My complimentary ADSL goes live on Monday. So I'll go from no internet the past 2 weeks to 1Mb ADSL then a day later (hopefully) 200Mb

In reply to a post by sparkymark75:

In reply to a post by R0NSKI:

We are reading, and glad you're getting there. I'm sure the engineer won't mind walking a few meters.

Hope your install goes well, fttp will be a nice Christmas present.

Thanks, indeed it will.

My complimentary ADSL goes live on Monday. So I'll go from no internet the past 2 weeks to 1Mb ADSL then a day later (hopefully) 200Mb

When our FTTP was installed the 3 vans and 5 engineers parked by the phone pole across the road from us.

So that should be fine.

Paul

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

In reply to a post by sparkymark75:

In reply to a post by R0NSKI:

We are reading, and glad you're getting there. I'm sure the engineer won't mind walking a few meters.

Hope your install goes well, fttp will be a nice Christmas present.

Thanks, indeed it will.

My complimentary ADSL goes live on Monday. So I'll go from no internet the past 2 weeks to 1Mb ADSL then a day later (hopefully) 200Mb

When our FTTP was installed the 3 vans and 5 engineers parked by the phone pole across the road from us.

So that should be fine.

Paul

My cables are fed underground so he'll only need access to the chambers on the pavements. Thankfully the pavements were done last week. He's also using the new connectorised install method, does that mean less time spent with your head in an underground chamber?

Connectorised means the installer will be doing the cable chamber bit.

The Openreach guy just left, I'm all set. 200Mb working nicely. Bonus is BT support IPV6 so no more NAT issues hopefully on the Xboxes in the house.

http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/6851456267

My pull rope was from my house to an underground chamber on my side of the street, but the DP was in a chamber across the street so he had to pull it across but all went smoothly.

Edited by sparkymark75 (Tue 05-Dec-17 20:35:11)

Glad it�s all sorted in the end.

congrats

funny enough it seems a competitor hyperoptic or whatever its called not only has no ipv6 but they using cgnat.

So a couple of weeks on, and it's been rock solid, no complaints. Today I go on the BT website to be told my first bill in January is £444!!

On looking at the bill, they're charging me £385 as an early contract termination fee. I'm guess that's because of the delay to my install and them having to cancel and create orders to get me going again.

Anyway, after a phone call they said they will credit my account with the early termination amount to negate that charge.

So for anyone else that finds themselves in the position of having multiple orders on their account because of install delays, check your bills when you get them!

check your bills when you get them!

Good advice for every bill received - billing can go wrong at any time and anyone that doesn't check every bill is looking for trouble.

In reply to a post by ian72:

check your bills when you get them!

Good advice for every bill received - billing can go wrong at any time and anyone that doesn't check every bill is looking for trouble.

Agreed, last year when we got fibre there was issues which delayed a month.

Sadly we were also charged for the month and the month before, a swift phone call and an email we were then also refunded the money taken as well as compo for all the fob off and issues as credit, we were in credit for many months

One thing I like about BT is when they see that they have done wrong they are happy to resolve the issue.

Paul