Hi,

These are a couple of pictures from one of our customers (router is a Netgear WNR3500):

http://community.plus.net/forum/index.php/topic,9499...

I think there are a few more pictures knocking around the forum.

They aren't deploying the battery back up at the moment or doing the voice service over the fibre (FVA or Fibre Voice Access). The voice trial is expected later in the year at which point I expect they'll include the battery backup as the reason for the battery is to ensure the voice works in the event of a power failure rather than the broadband. At the moment all our customers continue to keep the voice service over the copper which also means we can keep the ADSL service active during the trial in case of problems with the fibre.

There are plans for a "Comms Cupboard" option which would be a wall mounted lockable cupboard containing the ONT and battery backup and all the wires/power which would have room for the router on top.

In reply to a post by GMAN98:

In reply to a post by Ignitionnet:

In reply to a post by chris6273:

It wouldn't need a new grid. It would just use the old local loop.

Less maintenance: It wouldn't require as much maintenance because it would be as it is now but people wouldn't be able to complain about poor connections/errors because the voice frequencies would not be carried over them.

Or Ofcom could get their heads out of their backsides and allow BT to do an out and out swap of copper for fibre. That's probably what BT are waiting for.

The ONTs have battery backup pretty much everywhere anyways.

I think that is what the new FTTP VoIP trial is about.

It's not 'new' stuff per se, Ebbsfleet has always been all fibre so they know it works. 21CN is access network agnostic so it couldn't care less whether the call comes in as a 135kbps data stream already digitised or it has to be done on an MSAN it all goes to the same soft switch.

Thanks for that Dave.

Yes, you can tell there is no back up there. It may not need much power, but I would still expect a significant size increase to accommodate one (or am I drastically behind the times?).

On a separate note, is there an option to have my external connection unit fitted with a spirit level?

I wonder why they don't just hand over the responsibility of backup power to the customer. I mean, in the event of a power cut you can use your mobile (if the mast is still powered) but its up to the customer to ensure the mobile is charged, why not the same here.

I mean.. I wonder how many people these days use just cordless handsets that don't put in batts to cover a power cut?

I mean.. I wonder how many people these days use just cordless handsets that don't put in batts to cover a power cut?

Good point. Includes my household.

why are people thinking FTTH / FTTC are using VOIP? When I started on the project I thought they where doing away with copper as well but they are not sounds stupid not to use VOIP I know but it's all down to costs at the moment. BT has spent alot of money upgrading to 21CN so I do.nt think copper will disappear yet

FTTC and FTTH is using Huawei and ECI equipment there are a few Power Point Presentaions about the NTE's I'll try and find them

I'll ask about FTTH and copper for the phones when I'm back in work

Copper is just one (old) element of 21CN, no-one is saying they are getting rid of it yet, they are running trials without it, makes no sense to put copper and fibre into new builds and where FTTP goes in if the customer wants to loose the copper that should also be an option

I expect there is no decision as yet, that is what the trials are for

In reply to a post by RandomJointer:

I was a bit puzzled why them fibre droptubes have a copper pair in 'em. Perhaps it is just for fun?

The copper pair is for communication between the installers of the cables

In reply to a post by GMAN98:

I mean.. I wonder how many people these days use just cordless handsets that don't put in batts to cover a power cut?

My cordless base station runs off the UPS

Though I do have an "ordinary" phone as well that I can plug in if necessary.

I saw a battery backup unit before the trial started, it was about the same size as one of the Netgear routers we use.

As for the spirit level, I don't know whether Openreach carry them but will ask