It's arrived

A few weeks back I started seeing CBTs taped at the bottom of poles, then a few BT vans in late evenings ...

This morning, checked up and 1000Mb FTTP is now here for me. And just over a week ago I re-signed my FTTC contract and at that time "no date showing". So, need to give it a week for billing to settle down and then get round to an order.

In reply to a post by MHC:

A few weeks back I started seeing CBTs taped at the bottom of poles, then a few BT vans in late evenings ...

This morning, checked up and 1000Mb FTTP is now here for me. And just over a week ago I re-signed my FTTC contract and at that time "no date showing". So, need to give it a week for billing to settle down and then get round to an order.

Niiiiiiiiiice :

1000/220 with single stage install. Probably 50 metres from CBT to intermediate pole, then 60m to house and no trees.

As you mentioned before it will terminate at ground level, then, back up the wall to the eaves and through the soffit. From soffit to final location internally is about 6-8m which I will run conduit for.

What is the minimum conduit diameter needed?

In reply to a post by MHC:

just over a week ago I re-signed my FTTC contract and at that time "no date showing".

If you're within your cooling-off period, perhaps you can still cancel your contract? Unless your provider sells FTTP and also allows you to upgrade penalty-free within contract, in which case it doesn't matter.

They allow upgrades with no penalty except that is starts a new contract period.

In reply to a post by MHC:

What is the minimum conduit diameter needed?

I provided 20mm, which made for an easy install. Do keep any bends as gentle as you can.

It'll fit through 10mm easily

Regarding the fibre connector on the ONT, can it be unplugged by the customer for decorating etc?

Also, what size hole would that connector need to pass through it? (is it similar in size to a CAT5/CAT6 RJ45?)

Many thanks.

Cheers!

It can be unplugged, but if decorating you need to cover it to avoid dust getting onto end of fibre. Disaster would be if it was some paint.

Best bet - unplug ONT from power, leave fibre connected, remove from wall and place in a sealed plastic bag.

IMPORTANT: If fibre is attached to wall don't let ONT hang from the fibre when its not connected to the wall.

The connector is an SC APC. If you disconnect the ONT when the room isn't dusty and put it in a ziploc bag that should do a decent job at keeping the connector clean. For the incoming fibre you could get an SC APC coupler and use that to cap the connector off - though the best approach is to leave the fibre connected and touch it as little as possible.

Also, what size hole would that connector need to pass through it? (is it similar in size to a CAT5/CAT6 RJ45?)

The fibre will be run from the ONT back to the external CSP ...... so fully encased in its exterior ‘cladding’ it is roughly 5mm across, if peeled to show its white inner, about 3mm

I’d suggest 15mm to be on the safe side.

In reply to a post by MHC:

1000/220 with single stage install.

Same as mine was / is.

Also no cost to upgrade but as you say it does start a new contract.

Only 2 weeks in my case!

Trying to order using one of the bundled packages ... FTTP and Digital Voice with the same number as I currently have.

They cannot port my BT PSTN to Digital ! The number has been with BT (and predecessors) for 40+ years and always on copper.

Now exploring options - give me copper voice and FTTP or, my preference, give me a new Digital number and allow me to move the existing to my preferred VOIP provider.


Any ideas why it cannot be ported?

In reply to a post by MHC:

Any ideas why it cannot be ported?

The computer says "No"

Precisely! I could understand there being issues if it had been moved from provider to provider and copper to VoIP to copper but this has been BT continually and I would prefer to stay there! but if it must move then off to another provider.

I am not sure even paint would be a disaster if you cleaned it.

You can get dust caps, just don't bother with the ferrule ones, they are the devils work and have a habit of coming of in my experience. The ones you want for SC connectors are the rubber square ones that go over the whole end, for example part AK-DC-015 on the following web page.

https://alker.co.uk/v1/store/fibre-optic-dustcaps?shop

Unlike the ferrule ones these don't snag on things and come off. Note the only difference between the APC and UPC is the colour.

Pro tip the LC dust caps like part AK-DC-005 are the devil incarnate. They come off as soon as you look at them and they are tiny bits of plastic and invariably get lost. They seem to enjoy going down the floor vents in datacentres. The ones that clip on like part AK-DC-009 are what you want for LC connectors.

I’d go with Bill’s suggestion, ‘computer says no’.

In reply to a post by MHC:

They cannot port my BT PSTN to Digital ! The number has been with BT (and predecessors) for 40+ years and always on copper.
...
Any ideas why it cannot be ported?

To speak to you, do people have to dial the operator and ask for Kensington 3456?

Could it be that BT's Digital Voice has already "claimed" the existing number?

Cheers!

In reply to a post by jabuzzard:

Pro tip the LC dust caps like part AK-DC-005 are the devil incarnate.

Aside: I can't believe that they charge 50p *each* for these tiny caps, with a minimum order quantity of 20! You get four of them for free when you buy an LC-LC fibre cable.

In reply to a post by MHC:

As you mentioned before it will terminate at ground level, then, back up the wall to the eaves and through the soffit. From soffit to final location internally is about 6-8m which I will run conduit for.

When I had my overhead FTTP install the engineers took the fibre straight from the eaves (hanging point) straight through the wall and put a small internal CSP on entry point and then straight to the ONT, (Saved all the mess outside with it trailing up and down.

If that is possible - but the entry point is low down in a corner. The conduit could be used for either way ...

Both loft have decent ladders - almost stairs going to them, fully boarded and lit, so no potential hazards. I will get conduit/trunking run and then tweak on the day and if a T piece is needed to break out and back in - a 5 minute job.

See how you get on with engineers,

I will not that on my installation it was for an office occupying a third level in an old house (previously the loft) but now fully converted into a room,

I know engineers can be funny about lofts due to risks.

Know too well about lofts and risks - or more exact, my wife does! Hence the reason for decent steps up to them lighting and floors. The smaller one, is where all the comms equipment is - NTE, splitter/filter, patch panels, 4G back up, hub, (previously modem and router), network switch, PoE adapters ... and more. Even has its own power ring with plenty of sockets.

An external CSP is preferred ....

providing a test and access point without the need for an appointment if a fault is deemed external.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

An external CSP is preferred ....

providing a test and access point without the need for an appointment if a fault is deemed external.

Can you request an external CSP at the time of install?

With your previous explanation about high level working too, I will make it easy for them to install and go with what ever they decide is the best way. All I need is the ONT in one specific location - and even then anywhere along a 1.5m length of wall.

Do you know the length of power lead? Is it 3m as with the Smart Hub?

In reply to a post by ashlez:

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

An external CSP is preferred ....

providing a test and access point without the need for an appointment if a fault is deemed external.

Can you request an external CSP at the time of install?

You ought to just have one fitted, as that is the general rule of thumb .. but there are a variety of different scenarios.

Nope, the supplied power lead a metre, tops.

In reply to a post by MHC:

Do you know the length of power lead? Is it 3m as with the Smart Hub?

The wall-wart for my 1+1 ONT only has 1m of cable to the DC plug. Whether that's the same for the newer and smaller 1+0 ONT, I don't know.

That reduces the space available by a little, but still plenty of space.

In reply to a post by candlerb:

In reply to a post by MHC:

Do you know the length of power lead? Is it 3m as with the Smart Hub?

The wall-wart for my 1+1 ONT only has 1m of cable to the DC plug. Whether that's the same for the newer and smaller 1+0 ONT, I don't know.

Nah, same size.

In reply to a post by billford:

In reply to a post by MHC:

Any ideas why it cannot be ported?

The computer says "No"

Well, the salesman that dealt with the order refused to accept that and told the computer to sort itself out ... after a few days of sulking, "computer says yes".

Order placed and install, early January. Unfortunately just 330/50 (314/48) rather than 1000 service - computer said no, even though OR check says yes. Will update later.

Next two issues:

Run conduit for internals ...

FInd way to get SIP data so I can use my existing GigaSet base and handsets.

If your number is being ported to Digital Voice then you will have to use the Smart Hub 2. There is no way to use the DV service with your own equipment.

If it's vital that you use your own kit then you need to port the phone number to a VoIP provider.

The SMartHub2 will be there - it is the attached DECT base that I need to sort out. Currently have 4 lines on Gigaset and the new DV is the old analogue ported across.

Following in, have just looked at the SH2 instructions and there is an Analog out - so easy enough to take that straight into the Gigaset base.

Yes that will work, I read your post like you wanted to use the DV number with the SIP part of your handsets.

Hmm not sure age has anything to do with it, parents have had the same number for +50 years, moved house and kept the number. And recently went from ADSL to FTTP with BT, and they were automatically put on Digital Voice.

Parents had FTTP installed, went from ADSL to FTTP because they are on WBC FTTP no FTTC is available.

The install happened during Lockdown1 and the person doing the installation would only install the ONT at the first location they could get to where the fibre duct met the wall of the house. They would go nowhere else in the property. Are you sure they will do as you are expecting?

Possibly this was due to my Father being in the shielding/vulnerable category.

Yes, but be prepared for Caller Id not to work and also you will not have the 2 line functions.

I gave up and decided to register the Gigaset handsets with the SH2.

And you need to dial 1571 to get the voicemail from the Gigaset handsets.

Where the dropwire hits the house is where the ducting will start - it cannot go on the other side of the wall as it is a bedroom and it would be at the head of the bed.

So, one of two lofts ...


If they drop down to ground level, there is a radiator there, so again not suitable.

The location is exactly where the existing master socket and hub are located.

Point was that it had never been ported or used on any other service - copper PSTN only for that time.

I need to wait and see, as pictures sometimes show the analog phone port, however there is a Yealink DECT base station and handset.So where is the VoIP interface? In the hub or Yealink base? And apparently Yealink will not work with Gigaset handsets ...

Thanks for the connector info.

Cheers!

BT Business broadband can be supplied with a Business Hub and Yealink SIP DECT phone for their Cloud Voice service, whereas the BT Retail broadband is supplied with the Smart Hub 2 and Digital Voice from the inbuilt ATA.

You can replace the Business Hub with a third-party router, the Yealink phone still works.