This topic

Swapping from FTTP to FTTC during installation.

Joeyc — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 09:30:43 GMT

Signed up for fibre to my house, but the duct is blocked and I've heard nothing for over 2 weeks.

I work from home so I need an internet connection, I simply can't wait any longer. I don't see any options to choose broadband on the website, is it still possible to get broadband from bt if they offer fibre?

(I have their 4G dongle, it very slow, I also have my own 4G router but at peak times the connection becomes unusable.)

Blocked duct - Do I need to do anything?

Joeyc — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 09:44:17 GMT

Openreach engineer was here last week setting up my fibre, was unable to run the fibre through the duct as it's blocked.

Said another team would be out to unblock it and connect the fibre. I've not heard anything from BT or Openreach about this. The duct is probably crushed from the lorries that a neighbour has been sending up the shared drive, if they dig up the driveway, they would be blocking access to 3 properties. So I'm a bit nervous about them turning up unannounced.

Do I need to do anything? How long should it take? I work from home so I need an internet connection, wondering if I should just go with broadband for now.

Re: Blocked duct - Do I need to do anything?

imjolly — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 10:40:57 GMT

if engineer was only there last week probably bit soon for BT to get in touch about another visit to fix the broken/blocked duct. may be difficult if in shared drive with others and in constant use

not sure what you mean by

' I work from home so I need an internet connection, wondering if I should just go with broadband for now. '

Re: Blocked duct - Do I need to do anything?

pippincp — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 10:47:17 GMT

You don't need to do anything. The engineer will have reported the blocked duct and it will have been passed on to the civils team.

If the civils team can get a rod through then no dig necessary. If they can't then a dig may be required but would be limited to the extent of the blockage.

How long would it take? It really depends on the length of the blockage, the length of the drive etc.

Re: Blocked duct - Do I need to do anything?

Joeyc — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 11:17:49 GMT

Thanks.

This is for FTTP, there's already a phone line for broadband so they wouldn't need to run the fibre if I settled on that. But I understand they're trying to phase it out.

They're sending me a 4G router in the meantime.

Re: Blocked duct - Do I need to do anything?

Joeyc — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 11:19:21 GMT

Thanks. Hopefully no digging needed.

As for how long, I'm asking how long should expect to be without it. I read some people have waited months.

Not an issue now as BT are sending a 4G router.

Re: Swapping from FTTP to FTTC during installation.

DavidM — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 15:43:07 GMT

Hi @Joeyc and thanks for posting.

Sorry there's been a delay getting the FTTP connected. Can you check what's available at BT Broadband (btwholesale.com) and post the results?

Cheers

David

Re: Blocked duct - Do I need to do anything?

Joeyc — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 20:52:02 GMT

The duct is still blocked. OpenReach lied to BT and said the duct was cleared, no one had been here and it's very much blocked. BT confirmed that the work hadn't really been carried out. BT are chasing but literally cannot say if it would be weeks or months. Been 3 weeks already.

What if I were to do the work myself? I have access to inspection cameras, I could see if it's debris or collapsed. I can find someone to pull up the paving and do the work.

I can't wait for OpenReach anymore as it's literally putting my job at risk now.

Re: Swapping from FTTP to FTTC during installation.

Joeyc — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 20:57:52 GMT

I have a complaint with BT and they're chasing with OpenReach, as for some reason the work was marked as completed when it hadn't, so I've had to wait 3 weeks for nothing. There's problems with the 4G in the area and so now working from home is challenging. My job is literally on the line if they can't sort something.

Our records show the following FTTP network service information for these premises:-Single Dwelling Unit Residential UG premises served by 2.5 Inch plastic duct 56.
FTTP is available and a new ONT may be ordered.
The exchange is not in a current fibre priority programme
WLR is currently available at the exchange
SOADSL is not restricted at the exchange
For all ADSL and WBC Fibre to the Cabinet (VDSL or G.fast) services, the stable line rate will be determined during the first 10 days of service usage.
Actual speeds experienced by end users and quoted by CPs will be lower due to a number of factors within and external to BT's network, Communication Providers' networks and within customer premises.

In order to be eligible for handback, downstream speed should be less than Downstream Handback Threshold values.
If you decide to place an order for a WBC fibre product, an appointment may be required for an engineer to visit the end user's premises to supply the service

Re: Blocked duct - Do I need to do anything?

garybs29 — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 09:35:14 GMT

This is the second time you've said your job is at risk, have you just moved in or something & have no services just now via the copper line? As unfortunate as it is can you not attend an office in the meantime as the residential service won't cover losses for work purposes either

Re: Blocked duct - Do I need to do anything?

iniltous — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 09:50:46 GMT

If it’s a shared driveway , presumably it’s not in a public area covered by the NRSWA , which gives rights to utility company’s to excavate, perhaps it’s permissions from the owner(s) has to be gained that is causing the delay ( if this isn’t solely your own driveway ) ,

If it were simply the case of excavation on your ‘land’ it’s possible the delay would be less ( but that’s speculation on my part ), but I suspect it’s not simply the case that you have been ‘forgotten’ , blocked ducts on ‘standard’ installs ( so the blocked duct is under the public footpath or under the customers own garden ) are commonplace and can be done an a very short ‘daily whereabouts’ type notice to the council.
If you could do some of the ‘civils’ yourself , obviously that would reduce or remove the need for OR to do that work, perhaps getting a freely moving draw rope between where the Openreach duct is against your house wall and the curtilage of the private driveway.

Re: Blocked duct - Do I need to do anything?

Joeyc — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 10:10:10 GMT

Yes moved in at start of October. Moved well away from the office with the agreement of being able to work from home instead. But with constant downtime/signal problems from 4G, my boss is hinting that I need to go back to the office, but the cost of doing so will put me in hardship. There's copper, but but ISP's seem to only offer fibre.

Van outside this morning parked next to the cover got my hopes up, but it's just Virgin Media doing an install for the neighbour. Wonder how he's getting on!

Edit: Spoke to the Virgin Media guy who rodded and said the duct is clear to our house, so that's the end of the journey with BT.

Re: Blocked duct - Do I need to do anything?

Joeyc — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 10:46:24 GMT

Tail between legs time.

Virgin media came out around 4 times, dug around in various peoples gardens, dug up the same patch of driveway each time and disappeared. I didn't cancel BT just yet as I wanted to see who could get the connection in first. Yesterday, two OpenReach engineers spent the day relaying the entire duct down our driveway and came back early this morning to do the finishing touches.

They explained that their duct had been cut up in 3 places recently. They said Virgin Media's engineers had done it in order to run their own duct.

Needless to say, cancelled Virgin Media and will be going with BT after all.