Well, CDS replied...

" Openreach�s data is correct.

Regards,

Ed Cross "

At least it never took the 3 weeks, small blessing eh?

I thought they were useless because it was going to take up to 3 weeks for a reply; it turns out they're just useless in a different way...

So much for October this year.
   

OMG, they really are completely useless. I guess it's because they just can't be assed to do any research into the reason why it's not live - and have no way of getting further information on it/can't be assed.

What we really need is proper transparency on status.

E.G having a central site where engineer work and exchange status is updated in real-time and made public (just like delivery companies do with their track and trace systems).

It would ease so much of the frustration if people were able to track and understand the reason for delays, and receive updates so they weren't just wondering what was going on. For all we know they're waiting for a fresh delivery of Milk and Teabags at the Exchange before they hit the go-live button.

I cannot disagree at all. The situation would be far less frustrating if there was some sort of tracking system in place.

Even if they made regular updates to the site, not necessarily with full technical data, but basic information, for example: "Your exchange has been delayed due to 4 blocked ducts, and 3 damaged cables," or such; and then provide a rough timetable of works, and give updates as each one has been dealt with.

It would be far better than treating the end users as if they are mushrooms. (Keep them in the dark and feed them ......it.)

Delays aren't nearly as bad when you know there's a good reason, and aren't left thinking it's because Tom Bodgit, Dick Leggit and Harry Scarper couldn't be bothered to get out from under their duvets today.
 

FYI - I've contacted BT to see if they can provide an update on this - waiting to hear back - with a bit of luck they may even post back to the forum.

It would be nice to get something more than the vague 'calendar year 2015' guesstimate, or the even less impressive level of information that CDS seem to believe is satisfactory.

I am wondering if the delays have anything to do with the cable works that are due to happen in January, along the B3232 near Alverdiscott and Newton Tracey... Although that's just a wild guess. I have no real idea how or where the routing to our exchange is done.

Hopefully BT respond and give a proper answer, that can make us smile...
 

Oh no... I see what you mean.. depends where the links back to Torrington go.
I would hope capacity is already at the torrington exchange. I think Alverdiscott uses the Newton Tracey exchange WWNTCY (that's the nearest to them). Hopefully it has nothing to do with us. Really depressing if it does though

I will confess I have no real knowledge of how everything is linked up... It was purely a speculative thought; if our 'feed' (for want of a better word) comes along the same cluster of cables, then could it have an impact on the ability to deliver our service kind of thing?

I don't know if things run through a main exchange in an area, and then that supplies other exchanges... So would we be dependent upon Barnstaple for instance?
As in Barnstaple, to Newton Tracey, to us...

I don't really have that much in the way of technical knowledge when it comes to how it all works; I just know it's a little bit better and a lot more complicated than the empty bean tins and bits of string we had when I was a kid.
 

Yeah, it would be nice to know some of the detail - I know there are real BT engineers on this forum somewhere
I know for our connectivity here at our HQ in FIlleigh we have links going to Barnstaple and Exeter for our fibre. I've got no idea on the domestic side, how they hook things back into the exchange - would be nice to know more.

Details would be nice; I can however sympathise with any BT engineer who does post here... It must be difficult to speak out and make any kind of definitive statement for fear of being quoted, or worse, misquoted, should anybody raise issues with BT at some point.

To my mind, there is also another big issue that the engineers face; that being they are technical minded types, but they are sadly having to work to the orders generated by beancounters who have little or no technical knowledge, and whose primary purpose is to deliver another dividend to shareholders without actually making much change to the infrastructure...

I wouldn't want to speak out under those circumstances.

Hopefully you'll get a reply to the email you sent, and we'll at least have a little more information then.
 

I susspect the main spin spine joins the B3232 at Alverdiscott through Newton Tracey on its way to Barnstaple