FTTP installation

What ho one and all,

The area I live has signed up the the BT Gigabit scheme and apparently, installation will be later this year.

At the moment, I have not signed because I am uncertain as to how the installation actually happens at / in the house.

As I understand it, OpenReach will bring the fibre from a pole to a termination box next to where my BT line currently comes into the house.

Then, whomever I choose as a fibre internet provider, will come and find the equipment and connect up to the OpenReach box on the external wall?

I would like the ONT in the loft but have been told that may installers will not work in a loft. Is this correct? My loft is fully floored, well lit and has a 13A power point so it is complete safe with no fear of putting a foot through the ceiling.

I don't want the ONT on the ground floor office inner wall. So is it possible that I could install a CAT5 (or 6) cable from the loft (ONT location) to the office space and even fit the RJ45 plugs myself and that would be acceptable to the fibre provider?

Basically I'm asking, if the fibre provider installs the ONT, the rest is just plugging in an RJ45 from the ONT to modem, and is something I can do myself. Is this allowed by the system?

Many thanks and toodle pip

Hi - Openreach will install the ONT inside the property and commission it on behalf of the broadband provider you order a service from. This includes the external cabling from the pole (or for that matter UG duct) in the street. You need to provide a suitable location for the ONT that is both accessible and has an adjacent 13A socket to power the ONT. Once installed the ONT remains permanently connected to the fibre and stays with the building. It’s Openreach property.

The network delineation / boundary is the RJ45 socket on the ONT. Beyond that is your responsibility and you can reasonably do as you wish. Depending on the broadband provider you sign up with, they will provide the router to connect to the ONT. However as it’s simply an Ethernet connection at the RJ45 you can choose to locate the router anywhere you so desire as long as you’re within the structured cabling/Ethernet permanent link / channel limit of 90 to 100 cable metres from the ONT - which for most domestic properties is more than ample.

In reply to a post by Rekusu:

The area I live has signed up the the BT Gigabit scheme and apparently, installation will be later this year.

At the moment, I have not signed because I am uncertain as to how the installation actually happens at / in the house.

Would it be a deal breaker if you can't have the ONT exactly where you want it?

Gentlemen,

Thanks for the input, much appreciated.

As mentioned in my original post, I had heard the OpenReach so not enter lofts but in my case, the loft is 100% safe, not dirty and with plenty of light and working space.

As for the cable, I will give serious thought to installing my own length of CAT6 from the loft; it may be challenging but not impossible and certainly not something that I would expect a regular installer to undertake.

If your ideal ONT location is in your boarded out, lit, loft ... (presumably accessed via stairs) then that ought to be OK.

Better still, provide a drawcord from inside to outside.

The loft would be best.

I like the idea of preparing a hole but don't think that will happen as apart from not having a 12" (or longer drill bit), the current BT line position is near the apex of the roof which is around 9-10 meter high. Don't have a ladder that long and if I did, I would not be going up there. I don't bounce as I used to!!!

In reply to a post by Rekusu:

The loft would be best.

I like the idea of preparing a hole but don't think that will happen as apart from not having a 12" (or longer drill bit), the current BT line position is near the apex of the roof which is around 9-10 meter high. Don't have a ladder that long and if I did, I would not be going up there. I don't bounce as I used to!!!

Then you can't expect an Openreach engineer to do that either. Could they take the cable in to the loft under the eaves?

In reply to a post by candlerb:

In reply to a post by Rekusu:

The loft would be best.

I like the idea of preparing a hole but don't think that will happen as apart from not having a 12" (or longer drill bit), the current BT line position is near the apex of the roof which is around 9-10 meter high. Don't have a ladder that long and if I did, I would not be going up there. I don't bounce as I used to!!!

Then you can't expect an Openreach engineer to do that either. Could they take the cable in to the loft under the eaves?

Well an engineer must have installed the cable in the first place! Sounds like a gable wall with the anchor point towards the top so presumably possible to use a longer cable passing through the anchor point then along the outside of the house to a suitable location for a CSP. Would Openreach do something like that?

The shape of the house is not really relevant but effectivley, the front is a gable wall and the current BT cable is attached to the timber cladding and goes through a hole, into the loft.

Ten years ago when we moved in, BT installed the cable with no problems so I would have though that OpenReach would hopefully, do the same. If the ONT is located inside the house, they have to make a hole somewhere.

And making that hole at the poiknt where the fibre would attache to the house must surely be easier than attaching to that point, then bringing the cable down that wall, to the ground, along the front, down the side and then making the entry hole.

But what do I know? That is why I am asking.

To be honest every installation is different and so are the installers doing the work, we have seen reports on here where installers bend over backwards to do what the customer wants (normally the Openreach directly employed staff) and we have seen other reports where the work has been subbed out to a contactor and they will only do the basics. You won't know for sure until the installer turns up on the day.

Edited by deleted (Fri 05-Mar-21 12:28:29)

What? They are literally trained & equipped to go up ladders & work at heights.

So I'm disabled if I can't do x then I shoukdnt expect a workman to do it? OK taking it to an extreme there but come on. Whilst an OR guy probably won't install to the roof apex that was still a rather clumsy way of putting it

I think it was the working in the loft he was referring to.

"The shape of the house is not really relevant"

It is relevant as one can then determine how much higher the entry point could be. If a flat roof then not much higher but a gable can be an extra 2 - 3 metres.

Does the ONT ever need to be switched off / on again (rebooted)? If so then a more accessible location might be better.

In reply to a post by Rekusu:

The loft would be best.

I like the idea of preparing a hole but don't think that will happen as apart from not having a 12" (or longer drill bit), the current BT line position is near the apex of the roof which is around 9-10 meter high. Don't have a ladder that long and if I did, I would not be going up there. I don't bounce as I used to!!!

Long drill bits are not so expensive. Can't you drill the hole from the loft outwards?

"Can't you drill the hole from the loft outward"

Liable to blast a large chunk off the face of the brick as the bit breaks through.

"Can't you drill the hole from the loft outward"

Liable to blast a large chunk off the face of the brick as the bit breaks through.

It's a timber frame house with cedar cladding where the current BT cable enters. Probably not a problem to drill from inside, but the cedar is quite soft and would really need some kind of backing to support it as the drill exits.

Thanks for the clarification; it is looking somewhat more encouraging.

As for looking at the ONT lights or re-booting, access to the loft is excellent with a large ceiling hatch and attached loft ladder.

In reply to a post by broadband66:

Does the ONT ever need to be switched off / on again (rebooted)? If so then a more accessible location might be better.

They really are very reliable in my experience. You could always ask your spark to fit the 13A socket on a switched feed spur.

However on the whole I actually think it’s better installed in a more readily accessible location.

So if the ONT requires switching off / on again then you will have to drop the hatch / ladder and climb up. Seems like a bit of hassle.

I know these things aren't pretty but surely an easily accessible ONT would be more practical?

You’re more likely to want to plug a direct patch lead into the Ethernet port, rather than power it on/off for any reset purposes.

[and yes, I know you can run a network cable to the ONT so you don’t have to be next to it to ‘directly’ connect.]

I agree with your logic / sentiment. IT gear doesn’t need to be on display, but it shouldn’t require ladders etc to access normally.

Edited by Pheasant (Fri 05-Mar-21 17:25:31)

In reply to a post by broadband66:

So if the ONT requires switching off / on again then you will have to drop the hatch / ladder and climb up. Seems like a bit of hassle.

A smart plug soon solves that...

In reply to a post by Davey_H:

In reply to a post by broadband66:

So if the ONT requires switching off / on again then you will have to drop the hatch / ladder and climb up. Seems like a bit of hassle.

A smart plug soon solves that...

“Alexa please switch off the ONT.....”

“OK I’ve switched off the ONT...”

5 minutes later...
“Alexa please switch on the ONT”
“....I appear to be having a problem with that...please try again later”

D’oh!!!

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

D’oh!!!

I know at least one person whom had their smart speaker plugged into a 4way which was controlled by a smart plug. Essentially ask the smart speaker to disable itself. Quite useful if you're into privacy

You don't have to use one connected to Alexa. I've got one that connects to wi-fi and an app on my phone, no external connection required, the only problem is when wi-fi isn't available, and if that's the case there are bigger problems

Yeh I know. I was making a kind of nerdy joke. 🤪

At the risk of deviating this thread even more wildly off course, have you used IFTTT?