Fttp underground install

Hi all.

Having fttp finally installed on Friday but have a couple of questions as I'm not sure how things will work.

My property is served by underground cabling at the moment however the way the cable comes in is a bit odd. The ducting starts at the front of the property and the master socket is somehow in the living room at the back of the house.

From what I understand this means the ducting goes under my hallway and kitchen to end up in my living room. If this is the case will the engineer use the same ducting to install the ONT

There’s a good chance that that isn’t how the line is fed.

If existing cables are run underground and just ‘appear’ on an internal wall … then the are usually ‘Direct in Ground’ cables … ie, not ducted.

I suspect it more likely the existing duct comes up on an external wall …. or (rather unusually) in a service cupboard.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

There’s a good chance that that isn’t how the line is fed.

If existing cables are run underground and just ‘appear’ on an internal wall … then the are usually ‘Direct in Ground’ cables … ie, not ducted.

I suspect it more likely the existing duct comes up on an external wall …. or (rather unusually) in a service cupboard.

That's concerning. I was just going off what the engineer who was in the ducting box outside said.

In this case I'm presuming that the only way to get the ONT to where the master socket currently is would be having the cabling ran in through the door, the hallway and then to the living room

You don’t have to have the ONT by the master socket - unless perhaps you want to use the master socket / extension wiring to distribute voice from the ISP router. Otherwise there is no techical need for them to be co-located.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

You don’t have to have the ONT by the master socket - unless perhaps you want to use the master socket / extension wiring to distribute voice from the ISP router. Otherwise there is no techical need for them to be co-located.

For some reason by the master socket is the only double power socket in the whole property (not had a chance to get a electrician out yet) and my isp have said thats where openreach are likely to put it. Having just took my faceplate off it looks like socket is buried into the wall itself so I suspect it may be buried after it comes into the property.

Happy to attach photos if it'll help confirm

This is something that you can discuss and agree with the engineer on install day.

They may have some good ideas about the best way to get the cable into the property. This could for example involve them micro trenching part of the external run if your existing copper is in fact DiG. It may be possible to route the fibre via an external wall and come through the wall at a particular point, rather than routing it internally if that is awkward or difficult.

They are generally quite reasonable and helpful.

You haven't said how old the property is or what part of the country your in as that may give others a clue.

In reply to a post by gf20:

For some reason by the master socket is the only double power socket in the whole property (not had a chance to get a electrician out yet) and my isp have said thats where openreach are likely to put it

There have been a number of instances quoted at various times in these pages where the ONT has been installed some distance from a power-point and the user has supplied the power through an extension cable. If you have a preferred position for the ONT that may provide a solution until you do get an electrician out.

Post deleted by Grimers

If your copper is DIG, then it's likely that the fibre will come in overhead from a pole, unless you're willing to provide ducting for it.

Just to update on this I had openreach come out to do the first stage of the install on Wednesday.

Apparently they suspect the house developers and openreach put the original copper wiring in the cavity wall so it's not possible to run the fibre to the same point

Unfortunately this means the only choice of location I've really got is the kitchen which isn't ideal as there isn't many power sockets. They can't install it into the hallway apparently as they aren't allowed to drill through wood.

Does anybody have any suggestions or am I left with no other choice?

I had a FTTP installation about 3 weeks ago. Two guys came out and ran fibre from the in-pavement cavity to the existing external point for my telephone connection. They then fitted a Customer Service Point and went.

Like you my builder has run copper telephone wiring from the external telephone point to various sockets around the house. These wires are not accessible to me as the homeowner.

The actual FTTP installer came a week later and he asked me where I wanted the modem (ONT), and he ran a small fibre cable externally to the same point that I used previously for my FTTC connection in my lounge.

That said, had I given the matter more thought, I would probably have got the installer to place the ONT in a more central position. Why because on a 300/50 connection, I only get 50% of that speed in different parts of my home. If I was an avid gamer then I would want the modem where I could get a wired connection from my router.

You are confusing the router and modem(ONT) your router provides your wi fi signal not the ONT so all you need between the two is a cat5/6 cable so you could have the router next to your computer and plug the computer straight into the router

Not a problem if you’ve a loft apartment with no walls…😎

Otherwise it’s try and hide the cable time, mesh WiFi or powerline for most folks.