Fibre finally comes to EO line

First, a bit of background. We're in a rural village (40 properties) on a poor exchange only line, about 4 miles back to the exchange, Rampton (SLRAM). The lines locally are poor and noisy, and ADSL is poor, and slowly deteriorating. There are no above ground cabinets between the pole and the exchange, only underground inspection chambers.

Historically, all 600-odd lines were exchange only lines with no local PCPs, and no hope of fibre. However, Notts County Council's 'Better Broadband For Nottinghamshire' stepped in and has installed new cabinets in the villages over the last couple of years, I would guess 90% of village properties on the exchange now have FTTC.

However, our 40 properties were not included in the scheme. Last year, BBFN were still telling me that there was nothing on the horizon, but earlier this year, 20 properties at the nearest (to the exchange) end were suddenly upgraded to FTTP from pole mounted pods, with 300Mb ultrafast available. I was in touch with BBFN again, and they informed me that this end of the village (the remaining 20 properties) would be getting fibre between January and March 2018. Naturally, I thought more FTTP.

However, BBFN told me we would be connected to a new PCP, cabinet P5. I assume this will serve the remaining 4 poles and 20 properties in the village. According to roadworks.org, this new PCP is to be situated about 200 metres down the road from me, next to properties with FTTP - work starts on March 13th.


I thought I had got the hang of this FTTP business, I was rather looking forward to moving from a crackly EO line, but it now looks like we will be getting a FTTC solution. Is this sort of arrangement of a cabinet to serve only 20 residential properties unusual?

Does this mean we will remain on our EO line for voice, which is absolutely diabolical at times?

Is a new PCP install likely to be G.Fast enabled?


Sorry for the long winded post and the questions, but if anyone has any pointers as to what's going on, I'm all ears!

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

I thought I had got the hang of this FTTP business, I was rather looking forward to moving from a crackly EO line, but it now looks like we will be getting a FTTC solution. Is this sort of arrangement of a cabinet to serve only 20 residential properties unusual?

Not unusual at all, I have only seen the odd couple like this.
I have also seen it the other way round where there are about 6 homes connected to my PCP (phone cabinet) that can get FTTP, the remaining 300+ homes can only get FTTC.

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

Does this mean we will remain on our EO line for voice, which is absolutely diabolical at times?

No, you will either get a small AIO (All In One) cabinet which contains both the PCP and the Fibre hardware, or you will get both a PCP and Fibre cabinets.

Paul

Thanks for the info Paul, I'll be glad to get rid of the long voice line.

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

Thanks for the info Paul, I'll be glad to get rid of the long voice line.

Well it will still be a long voice line, just that there will be a PCP cabinet in between.

Paul

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

Well it will still be a long voice line, just that there will be a PCP cabinet in between.

Not good news, the lines back to the exchange are really poor.

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

Well it will still be a long voice line, just that there will be a PCP cabinet in between.

Not good news, the lines back to the exchange are really poor.

It was the same on my copper line here, which was why I moved everything over to fibre, so our copper line is no longer being used.

Your copper line should be ok for voice, the broadband will only use the copper line from the cabinet to your home.

Paul

Edited by PaulKirby (Wed 17-Jan-18 19:21:17)

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

It was the same on my copper line here, which was why I moved everything over to fibre, so our copper line is no longer being used.

Your copper line should be ok for voice, the broadband will only use the copper line from the cabinet to your home.

I would have loved to move voice over to FTTP, voice lines here are really poor. We have had multiple incidents of flooding of underground connection chambers over the years, and there are always ongoing issues with intermittent audible noise.

20 properties is fairly low number for an all in one rearrangement, FTTP usually suits smaller projects than FTTC, but each project has it's own set of variables and the gainshare money still has to be best value I guess.
One thing is fairly certain though. You won't g.fast too soon.

Edited by witchunt (Wed 17-Jan-18 20:05:31)

In reply to a post by witchunt:

One thing is fairly certain though. You won't g.fast too soon.

I can't say that won't be disappointing, after watching the other 20 properties in the village get 300Mb FTTP a few months ago.

One other thing which made me think FTTP was coming was when we had a new pole installed before Christmas. The new pole has a loop in the cables clipped to the pole where the FTTP pod was fitted on the other poles, and a new empty duct was laid at the side of the new cables to the inspection box.

I wonder if FTTP was the original plan, but for some reason they swapped to a FTTC solution?

Edited by sparky_paul (Thu 18-Jan-18 13:06:04)

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

I wonder if FTTP was the original plan, but for some reason they swapped to a FTTC solution?

This does happen, my road had all FTTP hardware (DP's in the chambers and Manifolds etc) installed back in 2011 - 2012, but just didn't all go live.
Even some of the chambers were upgraded to house the DP's, sadly the bottom half of my road got downgraded to FTTC about November / December 2017.

So yeah it happens.

Paul

You may well find that they run a complete new cable from exchange to the cabinet which may then remove any existing issue on that segment. It is easier to run a new cable than try to located and use all of the existing pair which could be in different cables.

Cheers Paul.

I think the NGA cab installation on roadworks.org is pretty conclusive evidence that we will be FTTC.

Edited by sparky_paul (Thu 18-Jan-18 16:46:55)

In reply to a post by MHC:

You may well find that they run a complete new cable from exchange to the cabinet which may then remove any existing issue on that segment. It is easier to run a new cable than try to located and use all of the existing pair which could be in different cables.

It would be nice to think so, the lines are rubbish. It is about 4 miles though.

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

Cheers Paul.

I think the NGA cab installation on roadworks.org is pretty conclusive evidence that we will be FTTC.

Well without a postcode its hard to see.

Paul

Sorry Paul, I think this will work if you have time to have a look

https://roadworks.org/?104500334

Just to clarify, at the moment there is no existing cabinet there, just a pole and a inspection box in the grass verge. The previous pole just to the southwest has FTTP available.

There's also another associated works for the power supply work

https://roadworks.org/?104500330

Edited by sparky_paul (Fri 19-Jan-18 10:04:56)

I believe it's going to be all in one cabinet

In reply to a post by witchunt:

I believe it's going to be all in one cabinet

That's interesting, what makes you say that? Is is because there is no existing PCP, or are there clues in the roadworks.org entries?

Might sound a daft question, but does a AIO cabinet still use the existing copper lines back to the exchange for voice?

Edited by sparky_paul (Fri 19-Jan-18 11:46:54)

Some info I came across.
AIO is just a combined PCP and DSLAM and still use the copper E side for voice/PSTN.

Cheers, any info or opinions are much appreciated.

All I'm trying to do is gain an understanding of what will happen, and what we are likely to end up with.

Edited by sparky_paul (Fri 19-Jan-18 12:58:37)

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

In reply to a post by witchunt:

I believe it's going to be all in one cabinet

That's interesting, what makes you say that? Is is because there is no existing PCP, or are there clues in the roadworks.org entries?

Yeah the info sort of gives that impression, also where there isn't already a PCP Cabinet.

Location: (PCP5) OPPOSITE HILLSIDE COTTAGE , TOWN STREET
Description: Install 1m of 4 poly ducts in Verge
Description: Provide 1 Cabinet and base (NGA cabinets)

Location: (PCP5) OPPOSITE HILLSIDE COTTAGE , TOWN STREET
Description: Install 2 of 1 way power duct in Verge
Description: Performing an 1excavation to expose existing power cable in Verge

As you can see it mentions PCP5 as the location and also there is mention of power, the last time I checked PCP Cabinets don't require power, however Fibre Cabinets do.

What's also strange is there is no mention of a DSLAM Cabinet (Fibre Cabinet) so this also might point to an AIO Cabinet.

But this is all guess work.

Paul

Makes sense.

It'll be interesting to see where they get the power from too. I'm not sure what the "existing power cable" is, all the electricity supplies in the area are T-T overhead cables on poles.

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

Makes sense.

It'll be interesting to see where they get the power from too. I'm not sure what the "existing power cable" is, all the electricity supplies in the area are T-T overhead cables on poles.

The pole is a power pole going by roadworks.

I take that back its not a power pole LOL
But there will be power there due to where do the homes get it from, plus isn't that a power station there near it LOL.

Paul

Edited by PaulKirby (Fri 19-Jan-18 15:08:28)

Description: Performing an 1excavation to expose existing power cable in Verge

Looks like there's already a power cable in the verge where the cabinet is being placed.
They often use the feed from street lighting, perhaps that's the case here.

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

But there will be power there due to where do the homes get it from, plus isn't that a power station there near it LOL.

The houses are all on overhead electricity lines, and as far as I know there's nothing in that verge apart from water, drains and telephone cables. There are no houses on that side of the road, only fields, and the electricity supplies come from a line which runs behind the houses on the other side of the road.

Anyway, they seem to think there is something down there, I guess it's not impossible. Can't imagine where it goes to though.

I'm not sure the cabinet will work long on 132kV from the power station LOL

In reply to a post by j0hn83:

They often use the feed from street lighting, perhaps that's the case here.

Good thinking, but all the street light are on the other side of the road. There's nothing on that side, only the phone poles.

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

In reply to a post by j0hn83:

They often use the feed from street lighting, perhaps that's the case here.

Good thinking, but all the street light are on the other side of the road. There's nothing on that side, only the phone poles.

TBH I cannot see them using the power from the street lights, the reason being they are on circuit breakers in case water gets in etc.

But don't quote me on it.

Paul

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

TBH I cannot see them using the power from the street lights, the reason being they are on circuit breakers in case water gets in etc.

The streetlight supply wouldn't be on that side of the road anyway.

I hope there's something there to connect to when they dig the hole!

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

TBH I cannot see them using the power from the street lights, the reason being they are on circuit breakers in case water gets in etc.

The streetlight supply wouldn't be on that side of the road anyway.

I hope there's something there to connect to when they dig the hole!

One would hope so yes.

Just check between dates: 13 Mar - 26 Mar

Paul

Edited by PaulKirby (Fri 19-Jan-18 19:33:33)

Yes, a two week slot.

I'll be having have a stroll past with the dog when they start digging holes, see if there's any scratching of heads.

Quick update...

Dates for the PCP5 works have changed today on roadworks.org, - was 13-26 Mar, now says 9-22 Feb.

Hopefully, some sort of action is imminent!

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

Quick update...

Dates for the PCP5 works have changed today on roadworks.org, - was 13-26 Mar, now says 9-22 Feb.

Hopefully, some sort of action is imminent!

Hopefully it leads to your area getting fibre

Paul

I notice that WBC ADSL 2+ has also appeared on dslchecker.bt.com with an availability date of 21-Feb-18.

Presumably thats 21CN coming at the same time?

Something's happening. There's now a hole dug ready for the concrete pad, I'm looking forward to seeing what sort of a box they stick on it. Anyone for a sweepstake?

Tardis

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Tardis

We've already got one of those... the water board have left a portaloo 'round the corner, the right colour and everything.

All in one

A couple of surly looking fellows with a tatty transit tipper, a wheelbarrow and some shovels have shuttered up a rectangle and look like they are getting ready for a bit of concreting.

Any pictures?

In reply to a post by max360:

Any pictures?

Not yet, it's all behind barriers and they didn't look like they would appreciate me poking about when I walked past earlier. Didn't sound very jolly either.

It's raining now, but I'll be sure to get some pics as things progress.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Tardis

My ex had one of those and yes it was bigger on the inside, but she called it a bag

Paul

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

Something's happening. There's now a hole dug ready for the concrete pad, I'm looking forward to seeing what sort of a box they stick on it. Anyone for a sweepstake?

Pictures would be nice, if its just one hole like somebody else has said, it looks like it might be an AIO Cabinet.

Paul

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

In reply to a post by max360:

Any pictures?

Not yet, it's all behind barriers and they didn't look like they would appreciate me poking about when I walked past earlier. Didn't sound very jolly either.

It's raining now, but I'll be sure to get some pics as things progress.

If its a public place, what can they do?

Paul

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

A couple of surly looking fellows with a tatty transit tipper, a wheelbarrow and some shovels have shuttered up a rectangle and look like they are getting ready for a bit of concreting.

Sounds like they are installing the base for the cabinet, I reckon there will soon be a few wide pipes sticking out and some blue cord, there is always blue cord

Paul

From what I could see, it's a single pad they were putting down, typical single BT cabinet sized.

Will have a nosey tomorrow.

Technically nothing Paul, but yesterday was a seriously pants day to be working outside (as I was) so a little courtesy would probably not go amiss.

Who needs photos of a concrete slap being knocked up anyway ?

Indeed, it was pretty grotty here to be digging holes, or taking photos.

Anyway, here it is, shuttering is still in place, plus another excavation. Sorry about the picture quality, quick snap from the phone and into the sun.

https://postimg.org/image/uw1fs8t8z

Frosty here this morning! If that's the finished level, it looks lower than the surrounding ground.

No blue draw rope, just an earth cable sticking out - presumably goes to a spike somewhere, as everything is supplied overhead T-T here. Grey ducts head towards BT inspection chamber.

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

In reply to a post by MHC:

You may well find that they run a complete new cable from exchange to the cabinet which may then remove any existing issue on that segment. It is easier to run a new cable than try to located and use all of the existing pair which could be in different cables.

It would be nice to think so, the lines are rubbish. It is about 4 miles though.

I'd be very tempted to move your number to VoIP once you can order FTTC then.

In reply to a post by nemeth782:

I'd be very tempted to move your number to VoIP once you can order FTTC then.

I already have another VOIP line with a local number, that's no problem.

Can't see the securing bolts in the picture so likely to be back to finish off, maybe due to the weather / temperature

In reply to a post by witchunt:

Can't see the securing bolts in the picture so likely to be back to finish off, maybe due to the weather / temperature

No, there's no studs sticking up out of the concrete. I would have thought they would have levelled it to the top of the shuttering, but the ducts are too short?

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Tardis

We've already got one of those... the water board have left a portaloo 'round the corner, the right colour and everything.

Turdis?

In reply to a post by Rastus:

Turdis?

Very good!

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Technically nothing Paul, but yesterday was a seriously pants day to be working outside (as I was) so a little courtesy would probably not go amiss.

Who needs photos of a concrete slap being knocked up anyway ?

It was to see if it was a base for a PCP or a fibre one that's was why I asked for a photo.

Paul

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

Indeed, it was pretty grotty here to be digging holes, or taking photos.

Anyway, here it is, shuttering is still in place, plus another excavation. Sorry about the picture quality, quick snap from the phone and into the sun.

https://postimg.org/image/uw1fs8t8z

Frosty here this morning! If that's the finished level, it looks lower than the surrounding ground.

No blue draw rope, just an earth cable sticking out - presumably goes to a spike somewhere, as everything is supplied overhead T-T here. Grey ducts head towards BT inspection chamber.

The grey ducts are for the phone / fibre cable(s) and the black ducts with the earth are I assume for the power and they will be joint to that power cable at the bottom of the photo.

Paul

Looks very similar layout of ducts to what appeared near to us last summer:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NUYn6c9zxLwEC10V2

Which then magically turned in to an AOI cabinet (10 August 2017)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/PV7ddqBRF9nPOXM32

Took till Christmas 2017 to go live but worth it now.

Edited by MarkLeman (Thu 15-Feb-18 11:30:23)

In reply to a post by MarkLeman:

Looks very similar layout of ducts to what appeared near to us last summer:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NUYn6c9zxLwEC10V2

Which then magically turned in to an AOI cabinet (10 August 2017)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/PV7ddqBRF9nPOXM32

Took till Christmas 2017 to go live but worth it now.

I think we have its twin.


Nothing at all happened yesterday. Went out this morning about 8.30, just come back in and found that this thing had landed some time this morning -

https://postimg.org/image/pt78uqdmb

Also note the new inspection chamber to the rear. Nobody there now, barriers gone and all deserted.


Hope it's sorted quicker than yours, local BDUK promised all systems go by the end of March.

Edited by sparky_paul (Thu 15-Feb-18 14:04:45)

Amazing how quickly they can install these things once the decision has been made
Ours needed a bit of work to clear ducts, after a few weeks it was powered up and I could hear a faint hum when I put my ear to it (the dog walkers thought I was mad

With an AIO cabinet I believe the procedure is to do a 'live-to-live' migration of the lines from the old cabinet but, again from what i have read, all the ISPs need to agree the date, so this can take several months.

Hang in there, we went from 10/1 to 80/20, the difference is amazing, particularly having two teenagers who just can't get their head round 'not using the internet' so we can watch netflix!

In reply to a post by MarkLeman:

With an AIO cabinet I believe the procedure is to do a 'live-to-live' migration of the lines from the old cabinet but, again from what i have read, all the ISPs need to agree the date, so this can take several months.

All our lines currently go right back to a 20CN exchange several miles away, all underground, no fibre and not a cabinet in sight.

In reply to a post by MarkLeman:

Hang in there, we went from 10/1 to 80/20, the difference is amazing, particularly having two teenagers who just can't get their head round 'not using the internet' so we can watch netflix!

I would be happy with 10/1, that would be a luxury here!

Edited by sparky_paul (Thu 15-Feb-18 17:46:28)

No live to live delays. Hope all the lines and data update promptly

Well, there's been no further action around the new cabinet, no sign of any BT vans or the like. I think they've forgotten us

Another odd thing cropped up on adslchecker.bt.com just before the works on the cabinet started, a date of 21-Feb-18 appeared for WBC ADSL2+, presumably that's an exchange upgrade to 21CN.

Anyhow, this date has been but back to 23-Mar-18 today.

Would there be any connection between the 21CN work and our new all-in-one cabinet, or is it coincidence that it's taking place at the same time?

I think they would have to route all the EO Lines that it will support through it and the power if it hasn't already been done, these will / may require digging work i.e. more planning, this all takes time.

Paul

No link.

My first FTTC line went live in early 2011, a few months before 21CN went live on the exchange. However, that exchange wasn't the head-end for fibre, so the presence of 21CN there didn't matter.

By now, every exchange that BT intends to be a fibre head-end will already be active. Every remaining cabinet will be routed (in fibre, anyway) back to a head-end where 21CN facilities are already present.

I didn't think there would be a link, well technical anyway.

They are doing some other work in the immediate area, 3 new cabs and some duct clearing work, I thought perhaps the work had been coordinated to happen over the 2-3 week period they were 'in the area' so to speak...

...then the 21CN changeover seems to have been pushed back a month.

It's around a week since your AIO cab was stood. Ours was stood in January 2016 and wasn't available for use until September 2016 with the rerouting of our EO lines taking place in either late July or early August. I live in central London and much of the delay was due to problems elsewhere with getting the fibre to the cab with our local council, Lambeth, being unhelpful and obstructive..

Well, FTTP is available 100 yards away from the new cabinet, and that was done 6 months ago, so hopefully it shouldn't be too far away.

The local BDUK said fibre would be available by the end of March.

New works have appeared today on roadworks.org

https://roadworks.org/?104959413

16 Mar - 20 Mar

Highway Authority: Nottinghamshire County Council
Location: (PCP5) OPPOSITE HILLSIDE COTTAGE , TOWN STREET
Description: Excavate Power hole
Works ref: BC005WP00400500250712801
Current status: Planned work about to start

The end of march is possible, but depending on the amount of EO Lines and where they all routed, but I have doubts it will be done by the end of March.

Paul

We are pretty much on the end of a cable run from the exchange, there will only be a couple of lines which continue out of the village at the other end. The new cab should serve the lines for 20 properties, all of which run directly beneath the new inspection pit.

From the new roadworks entry, it looks like the power connection hasn't yet been done, the hole in front of the cabinet which looked like it should be for power has been filled back in. To be honest, and I know all these things are supposed to be recorded on County Council services maps, I'm still not 100% convinced that there's actually any electricity supply cable in that grass verge.

Other odd things are happening on dslchecker.bt.com, The revised date for 21CN, which by by strange coincidence tied in with the new date on roadworks.org, has disappeared overnight and is now showing ADSL2+ as 'Available'. Nothing seems to have been disturbed at this end though, no ADSL resync or anything that might indicate anything being swapped over...

Edited by sparky_paul (Fri 23-Feb-18 09:45:30)

Probably looking at another 2-3months +

I guess we will have to see what transpires when they start digging holes again in March.

Would have been interesting to be a fly on the wall for the planning for this - isn�t the Huawei all in one cabinet good for 96 lines?

For 20 properties wonder how the costs for this verses FTTP added up. Are they factoring in any excess costs for FTTP against the fact it won�t need revisiting again in the future?

Standby for new cabinet disappearing if you�re right and there�s no viable power supply found and the plan switching back to FTTP....

Upto 128 lines on an AIO cabinet.
They will only install 1 x 32 port line card if there's only 20 properties.
The line cards are only a fraction of the cost though.

So, a lot of infrastructure to install for 20 lines, probably will only have a maximum lifespan of 15 years at a guess? Is there a design for a g.fast upgrade for an all in one yet?

In reply to a post by AL66:

Would have been interesting to be a fly on the wall for the planning for this - isn�t the Huawei all in one cabinet good for 96 lines?

For 20 properties wonder how the costs for this verses FTTP added up. Are they factoring in any excess costs for FTTP against the fact it won�t need revisiting again in the future?

When I saw the hole, I had a funny feeling that the thing they unearthed that looked like a cable or ducting was actually the water supply pipe. Without actually getting in the hole and giving it a rap with a screwdriver, it's hard to tell for sure, but it's certainly in the right place for the water. It would be a staggering cock up if it was.

It's been a funny carry on from the beginning, out of the 40 properties in the village, 20 properties get 300Mb FTTP, then our pole is replaced and looks prepped for FTTP... then the local BDUK tells us that the remaining 20 properties are getting a cabinet.

In reply to a post by AL66:

Standby for new cabinet disappearing if you�re right and there�s no viable power supply found and the plan switching back to FTTP....

Has that actually been known to happen?

Edited by sparky_paul (Fri 23-Feb-18 14:44:03)

I believe so if the costs to get the power to the cab turn out to be excessive. Hard to see why the AIO FTTC cab would be cheaper than doing the job properly for 20 premises with FTTP, especially as at some point in the future they�ll have to be back to do FTTP anyway (unless we�re going to demote ourselves to 3rd world status). Openreach seems to be the home of strange decisions!

In reply to a post by AL66:

I believe so if the costs to get the power to the cab turn out to be excessive. Hard to see why the AIO FTTC cab would be cheaper than doing the job properly for 20 premises with FTTP, especially as at some point in the future they�ll have to be back to do FTTP anyway (unless we�re going to demote ourselves to 3rd world status). Openreach seems to be the home of strange decisions!

Well my road and side roads have all got FTTP hardware installed along with all fibres going from the splitter node into all the FibreDP hardware and have done since 2011 - 2012, sadly BT have decided to install FTTC for the lower part of my road and lower side roads.

So yeah they make strange decisions LOL
Maybe for my area there was a logical reason for the change.

Paul

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

When I saw the hole, I had a funny feeling that the thing they unearthed that looked like a cable or ducting was actually the water supply pipe. Without actually getting in the hole and giving it a rap with a screwdriver, it's hard to tell for sure, but it's certainly in the right place for the water. It would be a staggering cock up if it was.

That cable looks like armoured mains cable, where the outer case is metal, we have them round here.
But yeah, they do look like water pipes LOL

Paul

Logical? Openreach? Unlikely!

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

That cable looks like armoured mains cable, where the outer case is metal, we have them round here.
But yeah, they do look like water pipes LOL

The problem is, I don't really understand why there would be an underground electricity cable there at all, and certainly not that size. All the electricity supplies in the village are overhead T-T, and the only thing on that side of the road that may be fed underground from a pole is a small sewage treatment pumping station.

There are two problems with that scenario, the cable would be taking a very strange route to get there, and if that was a SWA cable they unearthed, it would be far too big.

However, I do know for sure that there is a black alkathene water supply pipe. just in the verge, and roughly that size. It was replaced about 25 years ago.

I had a look up the road on google maps - there�s some other non Openreach cabinets and an access hatch, possible a small sewage pumping station? Maybe they�re hoping to tap into the power supply for that? As you say, whatever they uncovered in the hole looks too big for 240v, could be a big three phase cable possibly, not much use it it�s 11Kv/33Kv - what�s the price of a transformer?!

You�ve got streetlights on the other side of the road - can the supply cable to them be used or too small?

In reply to a post by AL66:

I had a look up the road on google maps - there�s some other non Openreach cabinets and an access hatch, possible a small sewage pumping station? Maybe they�re hoping to tap into the power supply for that?

If it's the green ones I think you mean, they are pump control panels for a sewage pump. The inspection cover goes straight into the sewage bell, so they won't want to be going in there! The 3 phase supply for that comes down my mate's drive from a pole across the road, behind the houses - I've seen that cable when it was dug up, it's not very big.

The main pumping station and reed bed is nearer the new cabinet, down an adjacent track, and is a more substantial installation. However, as an electrician of 30+ years, I would say that thing in the ground still looks far too big for a supply to that... my money is still on water pipe.

In reply to a post by AL66:

You�ve got streetlights on the other side of the road - can the supply cable to them be used or too small?

I believe they can use the lighting supplies.

According to roadworks.org, the works commencing on 23 March are for another power excavation in the same spot, so this will be attempt number two... if I can catch them in the act, I'll ask them what's going on.

Was the pipe possibly blue? Think they�ve been using blue MDPE for water now for the best part of 30 years, prior to that black alkathene.

Does sound like it�s going to need to use the streetlight supply, otherwise back to FTTP.

Could be 30 years ago, it was a few years before I moved here and I'm relying on neighbour's memory. That said, I'm pretty sure it was alkathene I saw when they dug up a leaking hydrant - that was maybe 15 years ago though.

The excavation in the first photo is certainly the right place for the water pipe though.

The excavation pit was purely to get the small black duct into the cabinet base. That duct is deliberately clear of the buried "service". The hole was probably that large when they realised something else was in the vicinity. I agree it looks too big for a 3 phase 415v XLPE or lead sheathed cable and could be a water pipe.

The cabinet installers do not make the excavation for the power cable. The local DNO will make any excavations for the supply. The route for this should have been planned as part of the cabinet design.

In my village and surrounding ones, where the supply is overhead, the overheads have been tapped and an insulated feed fed down the pole, underground and into the cabinet. If the supply needs to cross the road by a new underground cross road duct, that isn't an issue. It is unlikely that a new pole will be placed by the cabinet and the cabinet fed via direct overhead feeds.

The cabinet won't be fed from a single phase supply that is looped into the streetlights, but if they are fed from single phase taps from a 3 phase buried cable, then the same approach i.e a new single phase tap could be used.

The DNO will re-excavate the hole at the cabinet end of the duct. The fact that it was back filled will be a clue to its location and the cabinet contractors will probably have laid a plastic "services below" tape over what was in the bottom of the trench.

Even after the supply is connected, it could be up to a couple of months before the cabinet is commissioned and the checkers updated. Don't forget the fibre needs to be run to the cabinet from the aggregation node and the copper lines all routed through the cabinet as well. Commissioning takes place after all of that is done.

Edited by sidef (Fri 23-Feb-18 18:05:07)

In reply to a post by sidef:

In my village and surrounding ones, where the supply is overhead, the overheads have been tapped and an insulated feed fed down the pole, underground and into the cabinet. If the supply needs to cross the road by a new underground cross road duct, that isn't an issue. It is unlikely that a new pole will be placed by the cabinet and the cabinet fed via direct overhead feeds.

That's pretty much how the few things on that side of the road are fed, with a underground SWA to the nearest pole.

Another complication is that the electricity board poles are not roadside, the line is behind the properties, so to go underground through a property will probably require at least one wayleave. I hope they find something in the verge when they start digging!

New entry on roadworks.org

https://roadworks.org/?105138450

27 Mar - 11 Apr

Responsibility for these works BT

Information for Road Users

Location: Town Street, Cottam, Nottinghamshire
Traffic lights, etc: Traffic control (two-way signals)

Information for Operational Teams

Highway Authority: Nottinghamshire County Council
Location: (PCP5) 481791,379772, 481810,379781, 481839,379828, 481859,379841, 481877,379866, O/S PUMPING STARTING HEADING NORTH 1
Description: Install 50m of 1 way poly duct in Verge 80m of 1 way duct in carriageway
Works ref: BC005WP00400500257459600
Current status: Planned work about to start

Not sure what all the cryptic numbers are, but the distance (50m + 80m) looks about right between the new cab and the last pole enabled with FTTP. There is no access to verge for part of that route, looks like they're digging up the road... might prove interesting, the road goes over an old pre-Beeching disused railway crossing.

Edited by sparky_paul (Wed 14-Mar-18 17:56:16)

Not sure what all the cryptic numbers are

They are grid references ( Eastings/Northings)

In reply to a post by witchunt:

They are grid references ( Eastings/Northings)

Bingo. I did think that initially, but I gave up after punching one in and ending up in the Atlantic off Cornwall.

This looks more like it...

https://gridreferencefinder.com/?gr=SK8179179772|481...

Edited by sparky_paul (Wed 14-Mar-18 20:13:04)

Well, someone came to the new cabinet on 16th March, as promised on roadworks.org, dug a hole then promptly disappeared. The plastic barriers erected around the hole blew all over the shop that night, next day someone appeared to have laid them across the hole to prevent anyone falling in.

Not sure if anything has happened today as I haven't been out that way, but at least the snow has mostly gone.

I must have a looky tomorrow, see if there's been any progress.

Edited by sparky_paul (Mon 19-Mar-18 22:40:40)

Well, last week while I was out, someone came back and filled in the hole again. I don't know what was done, if anything.

Anyway, the third installment on roadworks.org starts today, that's a fortnight digging up the road to install new ducting. No sign of anything happening yet...

A week on, and no holes in the ground.

roadworks.org entry gone today, replaced with another with a new date, 18 Apr - 1 May.

https://roadworks.org/?105323375

Edited by sparky_paul (Tue 03-Apr-18 18:02:59)

Well, the ducting work was supposed to have started yesterday, but no sign of any digging yet. Over the last week or so, there has been someone spotted working in the new cabinet, and also up some of the poles to be served by the new cab.

There have also been some changes on the checkers too, with CodeLook now stating "FTTC being Connected, live due by July 2018" for the new cabinet P5, and also dslchecker.bt.com now has a new VDSL section, with line speed figures and a WBC FTTC availability date showing "Planned".

Nice, so not long now then

Paul

Yes, it's starting to look promising!

Noticed one odd thing, if I check the address checker on dslchecker.bt.com, it now says that FTTC is "Available". Checking the phone number still says "Planned".

Well, first bit of the ducting was installed at the end of last week, from the new cab to a point 40 yards down the verge, where they are forced onto the road. Hopefully, they will be back today to start digging the road up.

It "might" be done, but needs to progress in the system, I say keep checking every day or two with and without you phone number.

It might be a week or two before its fully live, but this is all just guess work.

What does the BT Openreach Where and when page say you can get?

Paul

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

What does the BT Openreach Where and when page say you can get?

That's showing the same -

If you use the postcode and address, it's now at "Superfast Accepting Orders", but showing the old cabinet number 4.

If you put the phone number in, it's still on "Connect", but is showing the new cabinet P5.

Up until a few days ago, both used to say cabinet 4 and fibre enabled, but too far from the exchange (3+ miles EO line).


In any case, it's nowhere near done, they are digging the road up as I type, installing 130m of ducting. I was just curious about the checker anomaly.

Haven't gone back to previous posts, but going by your current post I am assuming you went from an EO line to cabinet 4, to then new cabinet 5.
If so the following might be valid.

Ok, just skimmed through previous replies, maybe BT moved the EO Lines to their nearest cabinets, yours might be too far for cabinet 4 so they installed P5 and maybe the address information hasn't fully processed in the system where as the phone number has.

Did the Where and when page say you were on cabinet 4 or 5 for the address and phone number?

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

What does the BT Openreach Where and when page say you can get?

That's showing the same -

Ok, well I would trust that more than the BT Wholesale Checker.

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

If you use the postcode and address, it's now at "Superfast Accepting Orders", but showing the old cabinet number 4.

If you put the phone number in, it's still on "Connect", but is showing the new cabinet P5.

You were probably first moved to cabinet 4 but was too far to get FTTC so you are possibly being moved to cabinet 5 which is at the connect stage.

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

Up until a few days ago, both used to say cabinet 4 and fibre enabled, but too far from the exchange (3+ miles EO line).

The distance to the exchange has nothing to do with getting FTTC or not, you are most probably too far from the cabinet (i.e. P4) hence the move.

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

In any case, it's nowhere near done, they are digging the road up as I type, installing 130m of ducting. I was just curious about the checker anomaly.

That's because they are still connecting up your cabinet.

Paul

Edited by PaulKirby (Mon 23-Apr-18 18:07:10)

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

Haven't gone back to previous posts, but going by your current post I am assuming you went from an EO line to cabinet 4, to then new cabinet 5.

We are still on the EO line, and the cabinet 4 is back at the exchange. Our new local AIO cabinet P5 isn't connected yet.

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

Haven't gone back to previous posts, but going by your current post I am assuming you went from an EO line to cabinet 4, to then new cabinet 5.

We are still on the EO line, and the cabinet 4 is back at the exchange. Our new local AIO cabinet P5 isn't connected yet.

I know, I updated my reply before you replied

Paul

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

Did the Where and when page say you were on cabinet 4 or 5 for the address and phone number?

If you use the postcode and address, it's still showing cabinet number 4.

If you put the actual phone number, it's showing the new cabinet P5 - this previously stated 4 as above.

Just to confuse matters further, I'm not totally convinced the old cabinet 4 is correct either. CodeLook lists us as being on Exchange 7, Exchange 4 serves an area in the next village. There is also a FTTC cabinet P4 connected last year, but that's a couple of miles the other side of the exchange - so I'm pretty sure we have never been connected to that.

Just curious about all this really, I'm not too fussed so long as they get it connected up!


Also interested in the news that BT is going to transfer voice lines to VOIP, perhaps we will get rid of this long EO voice line after all.

Well the ducting is in, they were pretty smart digging up the road and there was little disruption.


I noticed something else on dslchecker.bt.com... when I punch in the number and get the predicted stats up, it also says

There is an open order on your line which is due to complete by 03-May-2018.

What's that all about?

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

Well the ducting is in, they were pretty smart digging up the road and there was little disruption.


I noticed something else on dslchecker.bt.com... when I punch in the number and get the predicted stats up, it also says

There is an open order on your line which is due to complete by 03-May-2018.

What's that all about?

A screen shot would help.

Paul

Exchange 7 and exchange 4 will be exchange only bundles

The transfer to VoIP will still use the copper between you and exchange or you and cabinet, but rather than existing phone systems it will be into an MSAN

i.e. those without broadband will not be needing broadband modems just to have a working phone

Screenshot of the dslchecker.bt.com page

https://s14.postimg.cc/tcy5crmnl/Screenshot_from_201...

By the way, the ADSL speeds are pure fantasy.


That's interesting, something else has appeared overnight

There is currently a Broadband cease pending or in progress against this line. This cease is due to complete by 3rd May 2018. This will not stop you ordering Broadband from a new supplier, but it will delay the provision of the new Broadband service.

EDIT: Just checked some of the neighbours phone numbers, they all seem to have cease orders against them completing 3rd or 4th May.

Edited by sparky_paul (Wed 02-May-18 11:09:47)

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Exchange 7 and exchange 4 will be exchange only bundles

The transfer to VoIP will still use the copper between you and exchange or you and cabinet, but rather than existing phone systems it will be into an MSAN

i.e. those without broadband will not be needing broadband modems just to have a working phone

Presumably the MSAN will go in the new AIO cabinet, now we have one?

That's got to be a good move for us, the EO voice lines are long and are in a poor state, there have been multiple problems in the areas over the last couple of years in particular. It's a pity they can't get on with it now.

Edited by sparky_paul (Wed 02-May-18 14:08:23)

Just looked at your image and yes I can see the message "There is an open order on your line which is due to complete by 03-May-2018." which would suggest you have an open order of some sort.

Also I would change that image to cover you phone number up, you can see the full number if you look correctly.

Paul

No need since the DSLAM that does VDSL2 can usually do voice if its made to

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

Just looked at your image and yes I can see the message "There is an open order on your line which is due to complete by 03-May-2018." which would suggest you have an open order of some sort.

Also I would change that image to cover you phone number up, you can see the full number if you look correctly.

Paul

Won't this be in relationship to the transfer to the AIO cabinet?

The "DSLAM" in your new AIO cabinet is also a MSAN, with those functions not used.
It is very unlikely that OpenReach will use these functions. Your voice line will continue to be used right to the exchange. Any switch to IP based voice will likely be done at the exchange.

Edited by j0hn83 (Thu 03-May-18 06:08:49)

In reply to a post by jdigz7:

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

Just looked at your image and yes I can see the message "There is an open order on your line which is due to complete by 03-May-2018." which would suggest you have an open order of some sort.

Also I would change that image to cover you phone number up, you can see the full number if you look correctly.

Paul

Won't this be in relationship to the transfer to the AIO cabinet?

It's possible, TBH I have never seen that message before, so I couldn't say.

Paul

The consultation suggests the future voice platform for openreach will be voice over the GEA platform. Other CPs may develop their VOIP services

I'm not sure what's going on - no broadband (ADSL) today. I am syncing, but no login.

All the neighbours lines also seem to have a cease order completing today or tomorrow, according to dslchecker.bt.com. Mine shows as completing today.

The 'open order' message has disappeared, but it still says

There is currently a Broadband cease pending or in progress against this line. This cease is due to complete by 3rd May 2018. This will not stop you ordering Broadband from a new supplier, but it will delay the provision of the new Broadband service.

Edited by sparky_paul (Thu 03-May-18 13:33:43)

Looks like BT are moving your lines to a different cabinet, so expect some disruption. I expect they will sort it out sooner or later.

In reply to a post by Realalemadrid:

Looks like BT are moving your lines to a different cabinet, so expect some disruption. I expect they will sort it out sooner or later.

Hopefully sooner rather than later!

It would be nice if they let you know what was going on.

They were also supposed to go to IP based voice at the same time 21CN was rolled out.

The OP has little prospect of his very long E-Side being made redundant for voice anytime soon.

Something else has appeared on roadworks.org today,

https://roadworks.org/?105601772

May 4 - May 9

Description:

locate and excavate 1 subsequent blockage in existing duct,Locate and excavate 2 blockage in existing duct

No activity at the moment, and no ADSL either

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

The 'open order' message has disappeared, but it still says

There is currently a Broadband cease pending or in progress against this line. This cease is due to complete by 3rd May 2018. This will not stop you ordering Broadband from a new supplier, but it will delay the provision of the new Broadband service.

That message has disappeared too now. In fact it's disappeared from all the numbers with the cease order completing today.

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

I'm not sure what's going on - no broadband (ADSL) today. I am syncing, but no login.

If you are syncing ok and just not being able to login then you are reaching the equipment at the exchange fine but just not reaching the ISP's network.

I assume your phone line is also working, if so then this also confirms its reaching the exchange.

So maybe the routing software / system wise is not completed yet.

But I might be wrong.

Paul

Well, at least ADSL is back up today.

Even though the speeds are poor, being without it altogether takes some getting used to.

It looks like you had a cease and provide paired order on all the lines to do a planned transfer to the new cab. This would change the equipment you were terminated on and the ISP would have to recognise the new termination.

This could also happen if the exchange equipment was being changed from ADSL to ADSL2+.

If it was the move of the copper to the new cab you are now just waiting for the fibre to be provided to the cab once they have cleared the blockage. Once this is complete and tested the AIO will go live and you will be able to order.

The move of the copper has to be agreed with all the ISPs and they would have wanted to do it even if the Electronics in the Cab were not live, as it is administratively difficult to get all ISPs to agree on a date. This move sometimes takes months to complete and at least it may have been done already for you. It is far easier where none of the customers already has VDSL, as is likely in your area, than where some people have (poor) VDSL service and need to be moved as well.

witchunt

|It will certainly be end to end VOIP over the BB (GEA or future BB service) as no baseband service will ever cost in with the present ( or likely future) returns. The technology exists today but needs to scale up and be rolled out to all (EVERY)customers on an exchange to enable the PSTN kit to be recovered. This can be difficult to do without a long lead time as there will be lots of resistance/reluctance from older people who like the existing setup and CPs who have not developed their own VOIP network yet. The latter will want plenty of time so that they can move first and pick up the profitable customers, so expect lots of resistance from the .normal players who will not want BT to have a free run at moving to VOIP.

In reply to a post by kitcat:

It looks like you had a cease and provide paired order on all the lines to do a planned transfer to the new cab. This would change the equipment you were terminated on and the ISP would have to recognise the new termination.

This could also happen if the exchange equipment was being changed from ADSL to ADSL2+.

You could be right with the latter. There has certainly been no activity at the new cab for a few days, and no voice service interruption, certainly not in the daytime anyway.

The exchange has only recently been upgraded to 21CN, according to dslchecker.bt.com, perhaps it was to do with that.

In reply to a post by sparky_paul:

Well, at least ADSL is back up today.

Even though the speeds are poor, being without it altogether takes some getting used to.

Ah, so the ISP needed to be updated of the changes then.

I know when we were on ADSL 2+ when it went down (which happened a lot) even though it was slow we did notice the impact it made when it went down for a day or two.

Paul

In reply to a post by kitcat:

|It will certainly be end to end VOIP over the BB (GEA or future BB service) as no baseband service will ever cost in with the present ( or likely future) returns.

Really?? Maybe I misread, but it sounds like you're proposing that PSTN-only users will have broadband-over-copper installed in their house, *and* a VOIP termination device, whilst continuing to pay the same low monthly rental. It's hard to see a return on that.

However if OpenReach made the VDSL2 equipment act as MSANs, they could continue to provide analogue voice service without entering any property - *and* still recover all the copper from the PCPs back to the exchange, *and* remove the voice equipment within the exchange. Same return from a much smaller investment.

The technology exists today but needs to scale up and be rolled out to all (EVERY)customers on an exchange to enable the PSTN kit to be recovered. This can be difficult to do without a long lead time as there will be lots of resistance/reluctance from older people who like the existing setup and CPs who have not developed their own VOIP network yet.

CP VOIP capability is irrelevant. Those CPs today outsource the voice service to OR / BTW via WLR. In future they could still outsource it - and indeed would gain a wider choice of VOIP providers to outsource to.

However, I can't see any point to entering every customer's property just to upgrade from analogue to broadband-over-copper plus VOIP. It will make sense only when installing fibre to every property, and you have to drill into it anyway - and if you're removing the copper tail which the baseband voice service depends on.

They won't have to 'enter' every house.

The voice service is likely to be from an ATA either within future HUBs or by a plug in device ( Like those already on the market). The customer will just plug in their phone to the 'phone socket on the ATA/Hub.

The ATA is just a piece of software controlling the Phone socket and setting up a VLAN ( 144 to 168Kb) at CBR ( Constant bit rate) across the network. VOIP call servers are cheap.

Using an MSAN is expensive compared to this which is why BT stopped rolling out the Voice 21CN in 2009. Just the MSAN management is expensive and you would need combination cards to handle the Voice and BB which would reduce the capacity and increase the cost. The existing cards are BB only.

CP voice capacity is not irrelevant, they may still be able to buy wholesale from BT All the full LLU suppliers have their own voice supply (4.4m WLR and 5.53m full LLU @ April 2018)

Upgrade will be over time with the only BT led part being those PSTN only customers where they will have to provide the BB service and the Hub, The BB only being active for the Voice VLAN. ( Could be over the oldest DSL type as only need less than 500kb).

BT would also be looking to come out of the regulatory straightjacket of the PSTN world which costs a lot on the management side.

This type of product is already the only choice at FTTP only sites which will be all new builds well before this date, I can foresee BT not providing copper service to new multi dwelling developments from around 2020/22 and am surprised people cannot see this coming.

ADSL sync speed has just plummeted to 160kbps down, 256k up. Are they likely to be working on this stuff over bank holiday weekends?

They Often have people working weekends and bank hols

Well, I just got back in and the ADSL is still up the spout.

Bank holiday weekend, kids not happy.

In reply to a post by kitcat:

They won't have to 'enter' every house.

I was talking about PSTN-only users: those who don't currently have a broadband connection, some of whom don't even have a master socket, and certainly don't have any broadband service or any relationship with an ISP. Most likely it's BT they buy the phone service from.

To turn these people into VOIP (without going the MSAN approach), you would have to:

1. Make them become BT broadband customers (even if they don't want Internet)
2. Give them a modem/router/ATA device
3. Possibly either install a new master socket, or move the existing master socket (*)
4. Even if they already have a master socket, they will likely have to disconnect their existing extension wiring from it and reconnect to the ATA

(*) Many older houses have PSTN entering at the hallway, but with no mains socket nearby.

candlerb

1. No
2 Yes
3. Maybe
4. Yes

That is why it will take till 2025 to do. But OR will have the best view on BB penetration and it is surprising how few homes don't have a master socket. Likely to be done an area at a time so that teams can work through the tail of PSTN only people. I will have to dig out the OFCM data for an estimate of how many (%) that exist.

But is there really a business case for doing this while broadband is still being delivered on copper, which leaves the MSAN option on the table?

What MSAN option? They are NOT going to rip up the E-Side and run all voice lines from the FTTC MSANs.

Removing the E-Side (and therefore ADSL) would dramatically increase the number of cabinets needed.
Running voice from the cabinets reduces the port density available, again dramatically increasing the number of cabinets needed.

Unless they plan on busy PCP's having half a dozen fibre cabinets it's not going to happen anytime soon.

If you think the LLU providers will allow this you're dreaming. OFCOM won't either, as they are toothless.

The future is FTTP, with voice being run over the fibre from the home.
You DO NOT need broadband for this.

Completely agree with your last paragraph.

In reply to a post by j0hn83:

What MSAN option? They are NOT going to rip up the E-Side and run all voice lines from the FTTC MSANs.

Removing the E-Side (and therefore ADSL) would dramatically increase the number of cabinets needed.

Non-FTTC lines can get their voice service from an MSAN in the exchange. Sure, you'd need more MSAN ports in the exchange, but the option of putting ATAs in every home would in any case need some sort of data service provided to every home.

The future is FTTP, with voice being run over the fibre from the home.
You DO NOT need broadband for this.

Being pedantic, FTTP is (one form of) broadband.

I fully agree that *if* you've decided to replace the copper line up to the home with FTTP, then you need an ATA on there to do voice. In fact it's the only option.

But unless I've misunderstood, what's being proposed is that *before* we get to that point, existing analogue voice services should be replaced by an ATA in the home connected to broadband-over-copper.

I really don't see why you'd want to do that, when you could easily serve the voice component from an MSAN, and avoid all the issues of in-home phone wiring.

Candlerb

You missed the part where I said the cards in the FTTCs are NOT combo cards but are BB only. All the cards would need changing out which would cost billions. Also there is no Call server to control the FTTC cards which would be more 100s of Millions. Etc.

VOIP is available cheaply and BT doesn't get enough revenue from a voice service to do anything other than a cheap service. The existing PSTN is starting to creak and some parts will struggle to reach 2025, I think it will be 'unpicked' by then to remove the worst equipment. BT has been cannibalising it for over 5 years already for spares and the costs of supporting it must be increasing whilst the OFCOM allowed revenue is decreasing.

OFCOM models for PSTN pricing have worked on cheapest replacement cost for at least 8 years and these have always been VOIP costs, so that is all that BT is allowed to recover.

Candlerb

We must both have been typing at the same time.

The cost of providing an exchange based MSAN then doing the transfer costs this out as there is no way of BT recovering that cost. An ATA is cheaper than the MSAN cards and needs no core network to connect it to nor an ( expensive) call server to control the call.. 64Kbit baseband voice is now too expensive to ever be provided and could never compete with Skype type voice.

Running all the voice over a BB network designed for data needs negligible bandwidth. ( At its peak total Voice for the UK was only about 20Gb in total). The Call controls for VOIP are basically the same as a Mobile network call control and can be run on the same equipment which is 'Off the shelf.' An MSAN call control would need to be developed and may be a one off worldwide which equals expensive.

In home wiring is not OR ( BTs) responsibility and therefore won't feature in their costs, apart from the minimal few without Master sockets which are meant to be changed out whenever OR come across them. Zarjaz or other OR people can confirm if this is still being done.

Edited by kitcat (Tue 08-May-18 16:25:15)

Can confirm that is still being done, yes.

Do they replace old non-NTE master sockets when they come across them? We still have an old LJU5/1A dual socket.

Well to wrap this thread up, FTTC became available for us at the beginning of August.

I was about to go on holiday, so I haven't ordered yet, but a neighbour is acting as guinea pig and has already had his 80/20 BT product activated and running. I understand it's been a bit unreliable so far.

I will be ordering when I return from hols, so hopefully it will be a happy ending, and worth the long wait.

I think you'll need to get an engineer install done to get a modern NTE and a wiring check for bridge taps. If your neighbour's is like yours and hasn't been replaced that may be causing their problem with reliability.

Enjoy your holiday first .

Edited by RobertoS (Mon 20-Aug-18 21:44:29)

He self-installed, and his master socket (and hence router) is in the loft!

He's had problems with his line over the last few years, as have most of us, so I'm not sure if he has ever had a new NTE fitted.

Incidentally, as far as I can tell, nobody has been notified that FTTC is now available - I have have had to tell them. The only reason I know is because I've been onto this for years, pressing the local BDUK scheme to help us.

nobody has been notified that FTTC is now available

Out of curiosity, nothing more, who do you feel should have notified you/them that FTTC was available? Your council, BDUK, your ISP, OpenReach? Also how should they notify you over and above that most ISP's web sites, together with BT Wholesale, dbs errors aside, usually have this information when you enter a phone number or address.

Apart from the odd BDUK cabinet with a sticker on it saying fibre broadband is here (which is on a single cabinet in my area) I've never known anyone to be notified about FTTC being available.

In reply to a post by MCM:

nobody has been notified that FTTC is now available

Out of curiosity, nothing more, who do you feel should have notified you/them that FTTC was available? Your council, BDUK, your ISP, OpenReach?

I'm not sure, but there should be some way to let folk know. Most, if not all, of the new cabinets that have appeared locally have had the large 'fibre broadband is here' type stickers on them, which is probably enough to nudge anyone with an interest. Ours is just an anonymous looking green box.

To be honest, I understand that perhaps Openreach might not want a rush, and will be happy with spread of word of mouth, but most people are completely unaware of what's going on. One neighbour has just signed up for an 18 month ADSL contract with EE, and the imminent availability of fibre was never flagged.

Edited by sparky_paul (Tue 21-Aug-18 20:08:55)

Click this link to sign the petition:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/258240/spon...

My petition:

Force the unlock of Exchange Only Broadband lines or provide funds cover costs

Exchange only lines are those that do not have a cabinet and are usually feet from the exchange. Due to the way the lines have been configured, EO lines that go directly into the exchange (no cabinet) cannot get super fast broadband. This is not the fault of the home owner.

OFCOM will not move this forward either so the government must step in to unlock EO lines and force companies to upgrade these lines or find a solution. This affects hundreds of properties around the country, despite being in busy towns and cities, they cannot get fast broadband. The current UK broadband backend provider (openreach) must be take over the costs and be held responsible Failing this the government must set up a fund to unlock these lines in order to offer all super fast broadband.

Click this link to sign the petition:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/258240/spon...

They have been doing many exchange only lines, some with FTTP and some have had PCPs and FTTC cabs installed. They can't magically do all of them at once.

Same here. Exchange lines close the exchange have been diverted to a cabinet outside the exchange. Long lines (like mine) have been intercepted on route and re-routed to a new cabinet but still over 1km away. This has been done via BDUK funds.

So even 'unlocking' the cabinets for EO doesn't mean speed is massively increased. My estimated 5-12mbps ADSL EO line has gone to 27-39mpbs via FTTC so still hardly brilliant.

Luckily for me I managed to get Virgin Media to let me pull a rope through what they say was an 'unservicable' property and then get them back to do a cable pull. Now have Virgin Media 200mbps service so at least there was another option (although only by knowing the right people) for me.