In reply to a post by Kr1s69:

It is, I had expected VM rolling out to my area would mean I would leave Sky.

I would hope you have a trial with VM TV before making such as decision. You may not have the choice, but in many cases people whom did this have rejoined Sky 6 to 12 months later... VM TV was quite different!

In reply to a post by jchamier:

In reply to a post by Kr1s69:

What does this mean? If VM arrive in my area is it going to be broadband only with no TV?

Quite possibly! Depends what they deploy, but today VM have three network types:
* coax cable - DOCSIS
* FTTP RFoG - which is fibre to your home and a convertor to coax - DOCSIS
* FTTP XGS-PON - which may be delivered by nexfibre the new company

It appears the existing TV services require the DOCSIS service, so perhaps VM are planning on launching a service similar to Sky’s Stream, or they will not bother with TV anymore, it may not be profitable.

Just a note the TV Service does not require DOCSIS. DOCSIS is a network protocol that was created to run on top of existing cable TV Networks harnessing some of the TV spectrum to make them useful for future internet use while maintain legacy TV Services that run over UHF

The HFC "coax" network was a TV network first with DOCSIS slapped on top to make it useful for them to compete against upcoming DSL providers

RFoG is basically the same thing they've just replaced more of the coax with fibre hence the name RF over Glass which has a media converter on the end to convert light back into RF hence maintaining TV compatibility

XGS-PON is passive and does away completely running on top of the existing UHF TV signals, its also been built as a wholesale network and not purly a VM exclusive so even though technically possible to run side by side they are not bothering to mash them together,

In the long run the old HFC Network will go and legacy TV services will indeed be removed completely in favour of products like their Stream box which can only be ordered by broadband only customers, The box uses the same horizon software as as the 360 box its just 100% IPTV based rather than a mix of IP and UHF and lacks recording

so no its not lack of DOCSIS its lack of an UHF network that stops the 360 service being available and the bonus DOCSIS and its inherent flaws also go

In reply to a post by acpsd775:

so no its not lack of DOCSIS its lack of an UHF network that stops the 360 service being available and the bonus DOCSIS and its inherent flaws also go

Thank you! That makes sense with the original analogue TV boxes as well as the cable modems back in 1999.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

In reply to a post by Kr1s69:

It is, I had expected VM rolling out to my area would mean I would leave Sky.

I would hope you have a trial with VM TV before making such as decision. You may not have the choice, but in many cases people whom did this have rejoined Sky 6 to 12 months later... VM TV was quite different!

Yep I’ll be keeping the sky until I’ve tried whatever my replacement is.

I’ve seen more openreach FTTP around town so there’s a chance that gets here first.

These new fangled broadband technologies appear to work like buses, wait ages and then loads come along.

In reply to a post by Kr1s69:

These new fangled broadband technologies appear to work like buses, wait ages and then loads come along.

Same here, the VM coax goes back to the 1990s, and the Openreach copper is probably 1920s, yet in the last 24 months there are two Alternate Networks running FTTP through the town. The first to get here gets my business from VM as I can't cope with the random disconnects anymore. (caused by failing cabinet that networks aren't interested in fixing).

I had assumed that they were installing RFOG because they are installing power pillars next to where the connecting boxes are going?

Virgin seem to have finished in Newbiggin a while ago but doesn't seem to be live yet.

Openreach doesn't seem to be doing much work, possible just duct clearing. Would they clearing blockages so that virgin could their fibre?

In reply to a post by greenglide:

I had assumed that they were installing RFOG because they are installing power pillars next to where the connecting boxes are going?

If there are any signs, or info online, you could see if its Virgin Media or nextFibre doing the install, that might give a clue. I thought the RFoG deployment had ended though.

Openreach doesn't seem to be doing much work, possible just duct clearing. Would they clearing blockages so that virgin could their fibre?

That happened around here before two alt-nets appeared, I wonder if the PIA process that allows for the rental of OR's ducts and poles also includes getting them unblocked?

Blyth have XGS-PON so I think we’re getting that too. The work is also being done on behalf of Nexfibre rather than VM directly so I’m sure we’ll not get RFoG.

Nexfibre are clearing openreach ducts themselves rather than openreach doing it for them, but as both are working in the same towns there are often nearby works that look very similar.

Around Hirst in Ashington you can see fibre CBT’s at the top of poles and thinkbroadband mapping shows it as available in some postcodes - more than just the new build and initial exchange only lines that got it some time ago.

I was having a chat with the guys who just did the fibre pull for my road (no digging / poles its all). Basically from what he knows its a full fibre broadband product only, tv service could be provided by a streaming box but it will just utilize your broadband connection.

The kit is capable of 10gbit but the broadband product will be 1gbit initially (though there are some 2.5gbit trials going on).

I asked if he had a Ready for service estimate he said he doesnt know but it will be some time this year.

BT had my address on a FTTP build plan at the start of the year but then suddenly remove the address and have not added me now (not even planned on OR's FTTP tracker). Im stuck with slow unreliable and flakey fttc so im happy for at least someone getting me a half decent product.

In reply to a post by Kr1s69:

Blyth have XGS-PON so I think we’re getting that too.

Interseting.They did Bedlington last summer/autumn and it's RFoG.