FTTP Install Advice

Dear all, I am hoping for a bit of advice on the process for switching from FTTC to FTTP.
Openreach have recently installed fibre both to overhead poles as well as the usual BT manhole covers through which I would ultimately be connected. They have not though taken those cables to any of the houses as far as I can see. I had assumed that they would do that with each property and then I could order the service. However having recently checked the Openreach/BT website it is now showing FTTP available to me from BT (but not Sky/Vodafone etc.) and I am now wondering whether I need to order the service for the final bit of cabling and termination point to be installed. Should I place an order or would it better for me to wait? The postcode for the close is CM13 1SW.
All help appreciated!
Many thanks

James

BT only install the cabling to the premises once an order is placed. If the database shows it is available then you can order, they will survey then install the cable to the outside of the property and then come to install it inside.

When Openreach install the infrastructure for fttp it only goes as far as a connectorised block terminal (CBT) these are typically located either at the top of a telephone pole or within an Openreach joint box which are normally found along the pavement. Once an order is placed with an ISP Openreach or one of their contractors come and install the connectorised fibre cable between the CBT and the property and also install an optical network terminator (ONT) ready for a router to be connected. The reason you may only be able to order via BT Retail currently may be down to an ISP specific cablelinks being required within the headend exchange where the fibre runs back to.

In reply to a post by ian72:

they will survey then install the cable to the outside of the property and then come to install it inside.

Looks like properties in that post code are '1 Stage' installs, do they still come and survey first?

I have a one stage lined up for next week, no survey appointment scheduled or even indicated.

I had forgotten about the one stage installs and was thinking of how mine was done.

Still, for the OP if the ISP he wants has it available then may as well order - there won't be any other work that needs to be completed before an order can be placed.

In reply to a post by MHC:

I have a one stage lined up for next week, no survey appointment scheduled or even indicated.

You might have a delay ...... lots of ‘non essential*’ install work is being shelved due to lockdown part three.

This might be the case ... but circumstances vary.





*non essential , as in you have a connection that you can use already.

I am wondering about it too, and need to call order management to discuss.

Internal conduit is in place, so if OR can provide ONT and internal fibre, easy enough to install and then installation will only require work outside.


Or if not, they can provide the new handset for the VOIP and migrate that across as a minimum.

Edited by MHC (Wed 06-Jan-21 13:10:19)

Trouble is, order management can say what they like, but it is down to the installers risk assessment on the day.

Ensure easy access to everywhere they might need to go, plenty of windows open for fresh air. A big black X where you want the ONT. Then don’t be in the rooms where the work is to be carried out.

On the ring ahead, answer their questions, tell them you have provided a conduit with a draw cord ... that might just swing it.

This is probably a silly question but what is a 1 stage install?
Thanks again, this is helpful!

As I understand: A BT/OR Technician arrives with everything. He runs the drop from pole to house, then does the internals connects together and walks away.

The alternatives include where one arrives and does the feed to the house, either from cabinet or pole and could be over or underground. Then once complete a second arrives - maybe days later and does the internals.

There are also in some cases a survey required too.

In reply to a post by Jim5457:

This is probably a silly question but what is a 1 stage install?
Thanks again, this is helpful!

A 1 stage install means they will come install the fibre during a single visit, usually on the day of activation..

A 2 stage install will see them come and survey the job and do any necessary external work, with the final bit of work being done on activation day.

In reply to a post by MHC:

I am wondering about it too, and need to call order management to discuss.

Internal conduit is in place, so if OR can provide ONT and internal fibre, easy enough to install and then installation will only require work outside.


Or if not, they can provide the new handset for the VOIP and migrate that across as a minimum.

Reading the ISPReview article today and the statement from OpenReach, it looks unlikely they will install your FTTP in the immediate future.

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2021/01/openre...

Edit: actually you will be an "in flight" order and it might go ahead. Although they say it may not.

Hard luck to anyone looking to order soon.

New installs for ultrafast broadband products (FTTP, Gfast and SOGfast) will be pushed back to 1st March 2021 onwards, although an escalation process will be introduced to help tackle cases where the end customer has no existing broadband service or is receiving a service of less than 30Mbps (to help support home working and schooling).

— Many existing (inflight) orders will continue, except for those orders where the customer has an existing broadband service with Openreach above 30Mbps (these will also be delayed to 1st March onwards).

Edited by j0hn83 (Wed 06-Jan-21 15:11:15)

Currently have 70+Mbps so, potential for postponing it if OR insist on coming inside.

I was shielding during the previous lockdown so I would be asking the same of them as they are of me. However, it could be achieved without them entering the property either.

Or at least send me the handset and I can migrate voice.

In reply to a post by j0hn83:

In reply to a post by Jim5457:

This is probably a silly question but what is a 1 stage install?
Thanks again, this is helpful!

A 1 stage install means they will come install the fibre during a single visit, usually on the day of activation..

A 2 stage install will see them come and survey the job and do any necessary external work, with the final bit of work being done on activation day.

I'm listed as a '1 stage' install, but OR came out to check pole and distance to house, I was told this was happening, but didn't need to be in , and no appointment was made. He checked pole, which is labelled as do not climb, and 'wheeled' distance to house.

Thanks all, that's very clear. I've got a good 60Mb+ FTTC link at the minute so I think I'll just be a bit patient and wait until March then. That should also increase the likelihood of cheaper providers/offers coming online with a bit of luck.
Thanks again!

Jim

In reply to a post by MHC:

However, it could be achieved without them entering the property either.

Normally Openreach will insist on installing the ONT themselves, as it's their equipment and their responsibility.

If they let you do it, you'd have to pass out the barcode so they could scan it, which is part of the process of activating the ONT.

Not too much of an issue though - these "strange times" need amended work practices to allow things to continue. A split install during lockdown means one less in te backlog once everything eases up.

To make things even easier you could consider putting the screws on the wall ready for the ONT.

Both the latest Huawei and Nokia ONT have the same fixing points, 60mm from centre to centre horizontal for the screw holes and a max of a 4mm screw thread and the head needs to between 6mm and 8mm.

Already have the dimensions, just that it is going where the current Master is located.

Have both Csk and Cap head screws ready to use

Countersunk is the weapon of choice.

But I doubt that the presence of a couple of screws is going to swing it.

If they let you do it, you'd have to pass out the barcode so they could scan it, which is part of the process of activating the ONT.

Surely the installer would just scan the serial number before handing the ONT over for installation ?

Just that some modules are designed for cap/cheese/round and other csk.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

But I doubt that the presence of a couple of screws is going to swing it.

OK, maybe not on its own but adding this to what has already been prepared may swing it.

I may not be a current day installer but I do know that people who come to your house to fit things always appreciate a well prepared customer.

Edited by deleted (Wed 06-Jan-21 22:43:16)

I may not be a current day installer but I do know that people who come to your house to fit things always appreciate a well prepared customer.

For sure.

Times are a little different at the moment though due to lockdown no.3 so there’s a fair chance it won’t get as far as an installer visiting at present to admire one’s thoughtfulness.

I see it as more of a policy issue. "Yes I'd love to come and do your install, but my manager says we're not allowed to".

For the same reason, OR engineers are not allowed to accept tea or biscuits from customers any more.

Those policies are what allows them to continue operating during a lockdown - without those policies to mitigate the risks they would not be able to operate at all.

+1

In reply to a post by ian72:

Those policies are what allows them to continue operating during a lockdown - without those policies to mitigate the risks they would not be able to operate at all.

I fully agree, and the policies and procedures are there to protect everyone.

I'm just pointing out that the policy means that the OP is unlikely to get Openreach to turn up and facilitate an FTTP install, even if they offer to install the ONT themselves (which itself is outside of normal policy).

In reply to a post by candlerb:

I fully agree, and the policies and procedures are there to protect everyone.

Totally agree, but why not cancel all none urgent installs and stop taking new orders, the fact that some people like the OP do not know if anyone's coming isn't good.

I think they now have - there have been reports that they won't be do any installs until March.

In reply to a post by ian72:

I think they now have - there have been reports that they won't be do any installs until March.

I saw that post but not seen it officially yet

In reply to a post by ian72:

I think they now have - there have been reports that they won't be do any installs until March.

Will be interested to hear what they say to you if your ring up

Edited by deleted (Thu 07-Jan-21 15:31:34)

In reply to a post by dect:

In reply to a post by ian72:

I think they now have - there have been reports that they won't be do any installs until March.

Will be interested to hear what they say to you if your ring up

It does seem the BT retail website hasn't caught up with the message, currently says

Most connections, upgrades, installations and repairs are still going ahead as normal but engineer visits might be cancelled or delayed if an engineer needs to enter your home.

Remember, many of our packages can be installed without an engineer. We’ll just post you a hub and you can set yourself up without a home visit.

The original info was from ISPReview but they don't seem to link to the source and Openreach seem not to say anything publicly on their website.

I was talking about this recent post

In reply to a post by MarkC64:

I will now have to wait until March as they have stopped all Fibre installs due to lockdown.

In reply to a post by dect:

Totally agree, but why not cancel all none urgent installs and stop taking new orders, the fact that some people like the OP do not know if anyone's coming isn't good.

We where booked for install on 18th, with the current situation in our area I'm in two minds as to phone up and tell them not to bother, but think I'll leave it a while to let them decide what's happening. As much as I'd like FTTP ASAP, with one of our local health centres declaring an emergency as they only have one cv-19 free doctor left, it's looking pretty grim.

In reply to a post by burble:

We where booked for install on 18th, with the current situation in our area I'm in two minds as to phone up and tell them not to bother, but think I'll leave it a while to let them decide what's happening. As much as I'd like FTTP ASAP, with one of our local health centres declaring an emergency as they only have one cv-19 free doctor left, it's looking pretty grim.

Wouldn't be comfortable with anyone coming into my house at present.

In reply to a post by dect:

Wouldn't be comfortable with anyone coming into my house at present.

Some of that is going to depend on personal circumstances. For example FTTP has just become available to my brother on the checker (they where pulling the fibre just before Christmas). Given they all had it at the end of October chances of getting it are low, and the ONT would be located just inside the front door anyway so if everyone is wearing a face mask and you leave the front door open for ventilation the chances of any spread is of the virus is very low.

However he gets a decent 55/12Mbps. Though I wonder if he could swing the upgrade as an essential worker being a judge trying to do hearings from home with two teenage daughters doing home schooling.Though last year the youngest ended up getting sent in due to bad behaviour. I did suggest a lock on the study door to stop her interrupting hearings, would work as well.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Countersunk is the weapon of choice.

But I doubt that the presence of a couple of screws is going to swing it.

I thought the ONT slid onto the screws? In which case countersunk is never the right choice of screw ever. It's pan head all the time.

In reply to a post by jabuzzard:

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Countersunk is the weapon of choice.

But I doubt that the presence of a couple of screws is going to swing it.

I thought the ONT slid onto the screws? In which case countersunk is never the right choice of screw ever. It's pan head all the time.

That is normal, although I have occasionally come across units with an internal taper to allow csk heads.

In reply to a post by jabuzzard:

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Countersunk is the weapon of choice.

But I doubt that the presence of a couple of screws is going to swing it.

I thought the ONT slid onto the screws? In which case countersunk is never the right choice of screw ever. It's pan head all the time.

My modem was hung with countersunk screws. My ONT the same.
It gets a nice grip on the rear of the device when hanging on the wall.

Pan head screws tend to leave a gap in the slot allowing a modem or ONT to wobble any time they're touched.

Countersunk for me.

In reply to a post by j0hn83:

Pan head screws tend to leave a gap in the slot allowing a modem or ONT to wobble any time they're touched.

Countersunk for me.

If pan head are screwed in to the correct depth then the device shouldn't wobble, if this was for the million pound question on who wants to be a millionaire I would have definitely chosen pan head but maybe there isn't a wrong answer so will be open minded and give countersunk screws a go next time

It's countersunk for me as well. Pan heads can be a bit too fiddly to get right.