FTTP Issue Red LOS Light

[KennyLoggins]

Seems like there has been issues on our estate for the last month but I have got away with any long term connection losses until today. I have been having the odd connection fail (LOS red) lasting about an hour at least once a week for the last month. My broadband and phone has been down since mid day and after checking the BT fault database there was indeed a fault that was fixed at around 2pm. Looks like the fault hasn’t been fixed and I’m without internet and phone for the next 5 days. 

Our internet connection with BT used to be rock solid (FTTP) up until around a month or so ago where people were reporting issues. Neighbour had an issue last week that was fixed and looks like it’s my turn now - I do worry if this is a bigger problem going forward.

Trying to get an earlier appointment sorted out given that the problem was supposed to be fixed today and I’m still without internet and phone.

Red LOS light illuminated on openreach box - it’s more frustrating the fact that a fault was reported in my area and now mine is still not working - and looks like it’s not going to be fixed for another five days.

[Keith_Beddoe]

@KennyLoggins 

I would suspect that there are issues with the optical power levels.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_power_budget

Which is possibly why you are getting intermittent losses, as the light level is dropping too low.

Unfortunately with passive optical networks, where the signal is split many times, its possible that the initial calculations were in error, and this has only shown up since more people have been connected.

Sorting this out may involve network re-arrangements and some specialist planning, which should keep Openreach busy for some time.

Copper networks are much easier.

[KennyLoggins]

Thanks for explanation hopefully it’s not that as going forward it may be more of a common occurance.

I think our estate was a trial area for FTTP back in 2013/2014 when it was first built.

On a side note I have noticed our optical cable from the grey box outside the property that goes into the white openreach box in our property is a white one but some other properties look like they have a thicker black cable not sure if this is normal or not ?

[Keith_Beddoe]

That would be just different cladding. The actual fibre itself is very thin.

I just hope that someone made a good record of all of the fibre routes at the time, as sorting it out now would be a nightmare, as you cannot simply connect a phone across to identify them, like you can with copper.

Its possible some of the fibre splicing done then, was not up to the same standard. I am assuming they used single node fibre and not multimode, as the two are not compatible.

[KennyLoggins]

Will see what openreach say on Monday - it seems as if it’s just mine that has gone down completely as my neighbour opposite has no issues.

is is possible mine has got knocked offline when they were doing work yesterday. There was a fault reported then and it’s was supposedly fixed.