Considering FTTP

Hi everyone,

Apologies for cross-posting, I've also posted this in the Zen forum but so far no responses.

I'm currently on Zen Unlimited Fibre 2. FTTP is now available in my area and I'm considering upgrading. I've been with Zen for a long time (August 2002) and I'm keen to stay with them.

I've not been keeping up with developments so I'm looking for tips and advice on what's involved, things to consider, etc..

Some questions I would like to clear up:

1. What exactly can I expect if I order FTTC (e.g. Zen's Full Fibre 500) i.e. what is involved in the installation, what sort of lead time is involved, etc.? Our current phone line comes in via a pole, and the Openreach guys working in the area recently have installed the fibre to the poles.

2. Would I be able to keep my existing Zen user account name and my existing IP address?

3. Do I need a new router? I currently have a Netgear Nighthawk R7000 (not my first choice, but my Billion BiPac 7800N went pop and I needed a replacement quickly) - would this be suitable, or would I be better with a different router - if so, any recommendations?

4. Phone line - I assume this remains? I see there's an option for "Digital Voice" - is this an option worth taking?


TIA - I'll probably have further questions, but sorting these out will be a big help.

Hi

1) Going to assume you mean FTTP. They will normally run the FTTP to a box on the wall outside the house and will then run the final FTTP from there inside. Within reason they are fairly flexible about where it will terminate inside. Lead time at the moment could be months as most FTTP installs have been on hold due to Covid so OpenReach will have a backlog.

2) Sorry, don't know but I would assume you would keep user account.

3) I believe your R7000 will be fine with the service

4) Will leave to others really to comment, digital voice would possibly require you to use the Zen provided router as it may need a phone port on it configured for the digital voice but I don't know specifically how Zen deliver it.

3 - Any router which supports PPPoE WAN connections is fine. Zen will provide a Fritz!Box, which is OK but a little restrictive in configurability.

4 - The copper phone line remains, the replacement overhead cable includes a copper pair which will be connected to the existing feed-in to the property plus the new fibre. Depending who your voice rental is with (Zen being one of the few ISPs who will provide broadband without their phone service) and if you still use a landline number there are various options.

The Zen Digital Voice option would likely be provisioned on the Fritz!Box, I don't know if they will provide the necessary settings if you wished to use a third-party device. It depends if you consider £7/month with 1000 inclusive landline/mobile minutes good value if you do wish to keep a landline number, there are other SIP voice providers who charge less.

Mike

Very happpy Zen FTTP customer (live since Jan 2018)

1) There are three stages and lead time in my case was 4 weeks, 1st two stages you don't have to be at home for but I was
- Two guys come from Kelly Communications or maybe MJ Quinn to install the conduit.
- later at some point OR or a contractor comes to pull the fibre
- Zen will get in contact to arrange a date for an Openreach Engineer (or possibly CityFibre if you have that available and opt for that) to install the Optical Network Terminator (ONT) where you want it, extend the fibre from the junction box (installed at stage two) outside to the location, drill a small hole to push the fibre through and plug in and test the connection (the ONT needs to be near a power socket or you can plug it into a surge protected extension lead as I have.
2. Yes you keep your IP address and account details.
3. The Nighthawk should be fine but they supply a Fritzbox 7530 (was a 3490 when I went live but upgraded it.

Connection has been rock solid as you'd expect from Zen, only been down late at night 3 or 4 times due to BT maintenance but only for about an hour.

Edited by techguy (Wed 03-Mar-21 13:59:28)

In reply to a post by Babylon5:

4. Phone line - I assume this remains?

If you wish, although you'll end up paying for a standalone analogue phone service, which could be best part of £20 per month. You can keep your existing FTTC service as well if you like.

You can migrate your phone number to a different provider, e.g. a standalone VOIP provider like Sipgate / Yay / AAISP etc, or Zen if you take their voice option. When the number migrates, it automatically ceases the PSTN service, and also any FTTC service on the same copper line.

Personally I'd suggest migrating to a separate VOIP provider. This is no slight on the quality of Zen's voice service, but if in future you wish to migrate to a different ISP, then your voice service and phone number aren't tied to it and there's one less thing to worry about in the migration. Getting the equipment to do VOIP would be your responsibility, although you may be able to configure the Zen-provided router to work with a 3rd-party SIP provider. The main advantage of taking the voice service from Zen is that they'll sort out the voice configuration for you.

With any FTTP-based voice service, remember that the service may stop in the event of a power outage. This won't be a problem if you keep a charged mobile around, but if you rely on the line for emergency calls then you may want to buy a UPS. "Vulnerable" customers should be offered this by the ISP.

I believe it’s changed a little in Openreach’s case. If there’s already ducting in place or if it is coming from a pole on the first visit they will pull the fibre through the duct or over from the pole. Then they’ll fit a splice point box on the front of the house.

Then on the 2nd visit the actual in-home install is done. Fibre goes from the exterior box to an ONT inside.

Cheers. What does the ONT look like? I assume it needs power.

Hi,
An ont looks something like this.
They vary depending which make you get.
ONT

ONT next to standard phone socket for size comparison

Openreach Site ONT Dimensions

Edited by RR_The_IT_Guy (Thu 08-Apr-21 21:50:13)