From what I have heard so far - slower than standard Krone and quite a bit of fiddling around. Yes, they are gel filled to improve moisture resistance and will look tidier.

As for tool-less - all that has happened is the Krone tool being changed from a separate device to integrated into the connector strip.

From looking at one of the other videos, it looks like the actions are quite reasonable for the engineer adding or removing one or two jumpers.

However, for the installation of the main cable on the back connectors, it looks horribly inefficient. The use of the outrigger, with a locking push/pull mechanism, looks "awkward" - I would have thought a temporarily-reversed connector block would make for easier connections, then reversed once completed.

I witnessed a couple of contractors at the PCP/FTTC pair outside my house recently, deploying additional tie pairs. I can't say how many pairs they did (and they probably weren't using this new system), but they were here on 2 consecutive days - though neither felt like full days.

That was without the need to dig in any extra ducts - which they said was unusual.

I guess you wouldn't want it to be much slower than this ... but perhaps it lets them use more engineers who are less skilled, allowing total throughput to increase.

The mere fact that BT are introducing new technology into PCP's suggests that they expect them to be part of the network for at least another couple of decades.

In reply to a post by WWWombat:

... but perhaps it lets them use more engineers who are less skilled

Yes, using a Krone tool is quite a complex task.

On the other hand, it does seem to end up with a very tidy installation. Which could have considerable benefits.

From what I could see from the two cabinets - old and new side by side - it definitely seemed to look like the tidyness of the cabinet would be vastly improved in the new one.

Guess I'll keep refreshing the wholesale page over the next few days to see if it does go live!

In reply to a post by WWWombat:

From looking at one of the other videos, it looks like the actions are quite reasonable for the engineer adding or removing one or two jumpers.

However, for the installation of the main cable on the back connectors, it looks horribly inefficient. The use of the outrigger, with a locking push/pull mechanism, looks "awkward" - I would have thought a temporarily-reversed connector block would make for easier connections, then reversed once completed.

Based on previous experience at a datacomms firm, but without anything like the experience of others here in installing and maintaining metallic line plant (my role was primarily R&D), I'd guess that the outrigger approach cannot be avoided. Twisting the installed block through 180 degrees with respect to the cable risks damage, also the fan-out geometry of the pairs will be incorrect risking strain on the installed pairs.

The tool-less blocks avoid problems of connectors being damaged by misaligned tool insertions and they likely make it difficult to ram in unsuitable wire or use an unsuitable tool (such as a screwdriver). The tool-less blocks allow the actual IDC to be gel filled without making an awful mess.

The test point is a great feature when troubleshooting and fault finding.


I'd expect engineers to become faster at installing multi-pair cables using the outriggers over time. Maybe there are people here with direct experience who can comment on the real life benefits (or otherwise!) of the new blocks.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

On the other hand, it does seem to end up with a very tidy installation. Which could have considerable benefits.

Krone installations can be very tidy - IF the Techs follow the guidelines. I have seen frames in business premises with thousands, maybe tens of thousands of incoming lines and handset connections with cross connections to switching equipment and they were immaculate. Good installation technicians pride themselves on the quality of their work.

As you are probably aware but others may not be, they still have to locate and identify the pairs accurately etc.

Not the nicest of jobs, outside in all sorts of weather, at the sides of roads, getting the van/s parked and so on.

In the case of my local FTTC, that would be up 2 times 288 pairs, 1152 individual wires, keeping in mind that they are actually double links, 1 set from the PCP to the FTTC and then the second set back again.

Say 1 minute for each wire, almost 20 hours, so around 3 days work, whether as a single job or spread out by back-plane groups.


It would be interesting to know how much time is allowed by BT-OR.

BT have just installed a cabinet near to my house, (we've been waiting 2 years!) and I had a chat with the engineer on Wednesday last week who was carrying out the internal wiring. He said that it usually took 2 or 3 days to complete that work and then the cabinet should go live sometime within the next week or two. He finished Thursday.

As this is just an extension to our local fibre network, which has been up and running for some time, I'm hoping we might be able to place an order by the end of the month. Hopefully my days of living on a measly 3mbs are coming to an end.

But these are out on the street, in all weathers, and a guy with frozen hands.

Well those videos was very interesting to watch

Are they using the new wiring now?
The reason that I ask is that we have not long (i.e. last December) had a brand new PCP cabinet installed a few feet from our old one and I know that's our old one is in a bad state inside the cabinet the last few times that I have seen them working in there.

I have also watched the videos for the DP41 I am assuming that's what I also have at the top of my phone pole, so I guess BTOR could upgrade that, but what about the shell in the pit?
The shielded shell for the phone lines in the pit is the worst and wires are in very bad state so the engineer said a few years back.

I have seen the engineers use pick and match to get a working wire and in some cases some lines are now no longer a twisted pair but now two separate wires on different pairs, I did tell the engineer that its would cause issues but was told there is no twisted pair spare, I assume this is a common thing.

But like I said, great vids.

Paul