Ethernet extensions

[TARTAN67]

Hi all

I have BT full fibre 500mbps but the wireless reception around my 4 bed semi detached is terrible. I’ve tried BTs extenders but they barely impact the signal.

I’d like to neatly add Ethernet cables from my router extender to other rooms throughout the house but I’m not sure who can do this work. Is it BT or do I have to try and find someone else? I’m well aware this is chargeable but the job needs doing if I want decent broadband strength around the house.

TIA

[chrisjp]

I very much doubt that BT would accept this job - and they would have to get Openreach to actually do it anyway.
Running ethernet cables invisibly inside a house is likely to require a mixture of chasing plaster walls, threading cables behind plasterboard walls, raising floorboards and crawling around in loft spaces.
Seems to me this is all work that an electrician could do, if you don't want to do it yourself. You may have difficulty though finding an electrician who wants to take such a job on.

[TARTAN67]

Many thanks, it’s just a shame that the BT router delivers such poor WiFi strength. We had Sky before with 100mbps that provided double the WiFi strength throughout the house compared to BT. Looks like it’s back to Sky at the end of this contract.

[WSH]

Internal network cabling is nothing to do with BT, (who’s responsibility ends at the router), or Openreach, (who’s responsibility ends at the phone socket/ONT).

You might find a sparky that can do it but personally, I’d try a firm that specifically does network cabling.  It’s not going to be cheap if you expect it buried in walls.  Surface mounted trunking is more viable and can look quite presentable if done right.

[TARTAN67]

Thanks, I did state ‘neatly’  so not necessarily buried. Just as long as it’s a good clean job. My main question was who does this work?

[licquorice]

Look in the local paper for ex telecom guys. Don't get a sparky.

[TARTAN67]

Cheers

[36ULW]

When I was a CST for Openreach I did FTTP Installation/Repair.

Back then Openreach had a Service, can’t remember exactly what it was called, something like Super Charged Broadband Boost I think?

Anyway, it was basically the FTTP Equivalent of an ADSL Broadband Boost.

On these Supercharged Visits we could run up to 3 X 30m CAT5e Data Extension Sockets. We were also supposed to be able identify the best location for WIFI Signal by Relocating the Router, which would mean an ONT Shift. Issue we always had with that was we had no means of testing the WIFI Strength. 

Not sure if Openreach binned off the Service or not but I did FTTP right up until I left and I do remember for at least the last 18-24 months I worked there I never did get one of those jobs again.

So either Openreach stopped selling them.

Or

BT who were the only ones who bought it thought it was a waste of money so stopped buying it.

Or it’s still available but they don’t actively sell it.

[naylor2006]

I can only second what other folks have said, there are usually Telecoms or Data Cabling professionals who can do this, electricians can do it but its something that has often just been tagged onto their work because to do 'cabling' and chuck it in during 1st fix or whatever..... From my experience with two new builds, the first electrician wired up all my ethernet ports with just 4 wires, I dunno assuming they were for phones or something and in another house just used poor face plates that all needed replacing. On both occasions I used a 'Network Cabling' guy that I had found on google for my area, he came over and just repaired the work. He also did satellite installs and various jobs like that so they are better suited to those types of cabling jobs having the right tools. That was quite a while back.

Nowadays the tools are easily accessible and the last job I did myself so dont rule that out, the tools available now also make it far easier, either pass-through crimpers and connecters or the push cutting face plate tool thingy....

Its very hard to run cables internally once walls are up and plastered, I live in an old house now with solid walls and I used the outside wall for one cable run to the attic and from there it was possible to provide much tidier drops into the rooms. 

If you are around the Bristol area I can recommend someone, this guy has all sorts of magnets and rods and somehow can fish a cable through the walls, floor, ceiling and has always helped me with the more difficult jobs.