This topic

Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

Minkey1 — Fri, 20 May 2022 12:23:01 GMT

Afternoon all. We're currently on Halo 3+ via FTTC, with a SH2, the backup mobile router, and a disc at the rear of the house. Next week OR will attend to install Full Fibre 100.

Will the existing internal kit still work with full fibre? They haven't specifically said they'll send anything new. The existing main router says it's a 2 on the back, but doesn't have the little coloured icon next to the BT logo, and we've had it a year or two - so it may be 1st gen v2, if you see what I mean.

However, my main question is this. About 2yrs ago the internal house telephone wiring developed a fault resulting in the router constantly recycling. The engineer couldn't isolate it and as we don't use landline phones anyway, in the end bypassed it altogether and ran the cable behind the gas box and across the front of the house and drilled straight into the back of the existing master socket. He left me enough slack so I was able to bury it along the front wall where we never dig. Everything rock solid since.

Will OR be able to run the new fibre cable the same way and in through the same hole to the new internal box? I know there'll be a new external box too - we're on UG ducting from the street chamber a few metres away. Does fibre need protection? Can it bend down out of the new external box, and bend up to go through the existing hole - or must it run as straight as possible?

I'm hoping they can replicate what we already have as that would keep everything together inside where we really need it.

Sorry for the long post. I'm just not not sure what's feasible and how amenable OR will be.

TIA. BR, Mike

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

Minkey1 — Fri, 20 May 2022 12:23:38 GMT

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

Minkey1 — Fri, 20 May 2022 12:24:12 GMT

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

Minkey1 — Fri, 20 May 2022 12:24:49 GMT

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

Minkey1 — Fri, 20 May 2022 12:25:26 GMT

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

licquorice — Fri, 20 May 2022 12:43:42 GMT

There is only one version of the Smart Hub2 and with the latest v0.33.00.12274-BT firmware, LAN port 4 can be configured as a WAN port for FTTP.

If you no longer require a landline or if you are converted to Digital Voice, your existing copper wiring will not be required.

The fibre cable doesn't have to enter the house at the same point as the current master socket and will terminate in the ONT (optical modem) which will require a power socket.

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

Minkey1 — Fri, 20 May 2022 13:26:05 GMT

Thanks licquorice. The main hub has that firmware so should be OK for full fibre - although since I posted I've got an email from BT saying that at least 2 packages are being despatched, so we'll see.

We are already on DV, so they'll remove the copper I guess?

I appreciate the new cable doesn't *have* to enter the house at the same point, but I'd prefer it to, hence my wondering about the external run and feasibility of burying it again. Where it comes in now means I'm straight onto the router where I have a bit of AV and smart home kit adjacent.

I understand they'll junk the existing master socket and be replaced by the new powered ONT.

If they insist on running it from the back of the new external box it'll come into the hall and need routing across the front wall of the living room. For reasons relating to domestic harmony I want to avoid that at all costs.

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

licquorice — Fri, 20 May 2022 16:31:47 GMT

They are usually pretty flexible with how the cable runs, tea and biscuits always helps 😃😃

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

Minkey1 — Fri, 20 May 2022 16:38:48 GMT

Going out now for the chocolate digestives 👍🏻

🤞🏻

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

samtheaspie — Sat, 21 May 2022 08:27:59 GMT

@Minkey1 I am interested how this goes as I live on a similar street to you (a 25 year old estate) I am assuming they will just use the ducts in the pavement.

Hopefully FTTP comes to me soon. Hopefully way before 2026 "sigh"

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

Minkey1 — Sat, 21 May 2022 18:08:39 GMT

Bit of a rigmarole tbh. I'd registered my interest before and all the published timescales I saw for our area (BD17) didn't show anything expected soon. Then a month or so back OR turned up laying cables in the street ducting, and putting up new poles in an older estate next to us. I chatted to the guys and they confirmed they were bringing fibre up from the street cabinet. Roll on a few weeks and neighbours either side had it put in for the final few yards. Brilliant I thought, especially when I got an email from OR and a letter from BT saying I could upgrade to Full Fibre 100 at no extra charge via the Price Promise. Ring this number etc

Rings the number. Computer says no. Our house no isn't on the system, despite neighbours either side getting "done". Someone would check and ring me back.
2 weeks on no-one has, and I get another letter from a third party provider saying I could have it.
So I used my trusty ceoemail dot com and complained to the top man.
I get a call from Executive Complaints. The system bug has been overridden, and I get a date for next Thurs 👍🏻
Hope you get fixed up soon. Have you seen any cable work being done? That was the first thing I saw.

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

Starwire — Sat, 21 May 2022 19:46:12 GMT

Will your life be complete when you get FTTP or do you have anymore challenges after that?

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

samtheaspie — Sat, 21 May 2022 19:48:33 GMT

@Starwire Mine will be, I will be able to download a file quicker than I can boil a kettle..

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

Minkey1 — Sat, 21 May 2022 20:03:24 GMT

@Starwire my life is based upon the acquisition of whatever new and shiny thing comes along next.

So, no. I relish a challenge. They are there to be overcome.

😉

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

scaramonga — Sun, 22 May 2022 00:38:38 GMT

Misery, and I'm deadly serious!

Once BT has taken your order, then that is it. They are happy, accounts still brimming with cash from your bank etc., but forget about any support should something go wrong.

They have very little interest in seeing your order through, and really don't give a toss, one way or another, if it turns out good/bad for you. Openreach are a 'major' problem here, and if you think BT are bad, then the best is yet to come lol, as these guys don't know what planet they are on, coz if it's Earth?, then it's certainly a different 'Earth' from what I live on.

Good luck!

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

Minkey1 — Sun, 22 May 2022 10:57:01 GMT

@scaramonga, I hear what you say. I'll wager many of us have experienced a reliable service once it's up and running, but a 'mare getting there. I know I have.
Next door went FF a few weeks ago and had no issues. I'm hoping tea and McVities will get us the same.
Will update after Thurs.
🤞🏻

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

gg30340 — Sun, 22 May 2022 11:05:15 GMT

Minkey1

Just to keep things in context. BT has over nine million broadband customers and while it is no doubt annoying and inconvenient when things go wrong, the vast majority of installs and service go without a problem.

As can be seen on this thread and throughout the forum people who post on a forum such as this are generally seeking information or they are having some sort of a problem.

Very few people post to say they have had problem free install or that they have had BT Broadband for long and weary and have never had a problem.

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

Minkey1 — Sun, 22 May 2022 15:13:04 GMT

@gg30340 Bar a few yrs with VM, I've been with BT all my adult life. So that's about 50 yrs. I will always speak as I find. My experience was added after others had raised issues with BT.

If all goes to plan on Thurs (🤞🏻) I'll be the first to say so.

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

Minkey1 — Thu, 26 May 2022 10:45:37 GMT

Just a quick note to draw a line under this one. Engineer (third party co working for OR) has just left. Some initial concern the duct was blocked. After a call to OR, turned out our duct didn't go to the nearest pavement point, but one further up the street. Once that was established, the new cable was drawn up fine and laid across the front of the house and in, exactly how I wanted it

So all good. Pic attached showing Speedtest results last night, laptop over wi-fi, and after the work this morning with an ethernet connection. Not quite the promised 100Mb, but no worries.

Very happy.

Re: Full Fibre next week - what to expect?

Minkey1 — Thu, 26 May 2022 10:48:38 GMT