Full Fibre Pre-installation Issues.

[Malh]

I am considering Full Fibre installation, including digital phone system; however, maybe not that straightforward!

Broadband providers supply very little to no information regarding the installation. To give a taster of the providers knowledge, I asked how do I connect my three telephones to the router, I was told cable would have to run from the router into all the rooms with a phone!

Openreach provides online info, including a slick video. However, the important question I want answered is not included, also there seems to be no telephone number to speak to them (I tried three with an engaged tone, continuously.

My concern is the routing of the cable into my house, the positioning of the  external and internal connection boxes. Also the suggestion that my router has to be close to the internal connection box! All of which I may not agree with the engineer, in which case the installation would be aborted! Why do they not help themselves pre-installation informationto prevent the engineer with any Hassle. 

My existing internal connection box is in my garage, my router position is in the first floor office, maybe a 20meter cable run.  Can thet arrangement remain?

Does anyone know of a telepehone number to help with my issues, before going ahead.

Thanks Mh

[gg30340]

Are you intending to get Broadband and Digital Voice phone from BT?

If not you will need to contact the provider that you do intend to get those from and ask them how the installation will take place.

If it is BT your questions can be answered here once you have replied.

[licquorice]

I assume you are intending to use BT as your provider as this is a BT forum with no connection to Openreach.

The fibre modem (ONT) and router need not be co-located, they can be up to 100 metres apart connected by Cat5e or better Ethernet cable.

Digital Voice handsets connect back to the hub via DECT. Alternatively, you can connect your existing cordless base station to the phone socket at the rear of the hub. BT also supply a DV adapter which is simply a portable phone socket that connects to the hub via DECT and just requires a mains socket.

[36ULW]

When I was a CST you could get a type of NTE5c Face Plate with a cable that had a 431A connector at each end.

I’d plug the Face Plate into the NTE and then the 431A cable into back of the Router and then into the NTE to liven up that and any existing LJU’s.

Didn't ever do many of them though. Also weirdly us CST’s couldn’t order the Face Plate, they were always sent out to the EU with the Router.

[Malh]

Thank you for your response, you've certainly given me food for thought!

[Malh]

Thank you for your response. Yes, I am considering getting Full Fibre and digital phone sytem from BT.  Based on what I have gathered, Openreach handles the fibre installation into my home regardless of the provider, which is why I referred to Openreach.

You have prompted me to get deeper into my frustration and confusion! I spoke to BT today, however the salesman went straight into the EE contracts, and stated they are better than BT and cheaper! Also BT uses  a dated router, hub2, while EE use a Wi-fi 6 router!  I realise BT and EE are the same company group.

[Malh]

Thank you for your response, and some of the exact requirements I have been looking for in order to keep my existing location set up.

I can now go ahead and plan my preferred route for the Ethernet cable, in order to conceal it in conduit within the fabric of the wall. It was told that the cable could be neatly tacked to skirting and door architrave - eeek. I'm old enough to remember our existing phones retrofitted to a house! 

 Yes, I am considering getting Full Fibre and digital phone sytem from BT.  Based on what I have gathered, Openreach handles the fibre installation into my home regardless of the provider, which is why I referred to Openreach.

You have prompted me to get deeper into my frustration and confusion! I spoke to BT today; however, the salesman went straight into the EE contracts and stated they are better than BT and cheaper! Also BT uses  a dated router, hub2, while EE use a Wi-fi 6 router!  I realise BT and EE are the same company group.

[gg30340]

BT now offer the BT Smarthub 3 which has wifi 6 to new customers.

As you have alluded to, EE Broadband and BT Broadband are both part of the BT Group and are virtually the same product, the only real difference being the price and some of the faster products that EE offer.

They will both be installed by Openreach.

The ONT can be installed in your garage as long as there is an electrical socket near to it. From there you would need to run a length of Ethernet cable to the room that you want your Smarthub sited.  

If it was a straight run the Openreach Engineer may do that for you but no guarantee of that or what would be better would be if you have the Ethernet cable pre run either by your self or a competent person such as an electrician or network engineer and that would make it a simple case of connecting the Smarthub to the ONT once it is installed.

It has already been explained about how the Digital Voice works.

[iniltous]

You say you would prefer more information prior to ordering as to what will happen as far as the internal and external cable route, location of CSP/ONT etc , but there are just too many variables to have anything more than the existing online information (which for most will be perfectly adequate) and a home visit before the installation if an order is actually made , or before an order is made clearly have an additional cost to Openreach , if it were on offer (it isn’t ) the likely cost would be in the region of £130-£200 to cover costs , a price not many would pay , hence it not being something on offer.

For most the external cable route simply mirrors the existing copper cable (so from a pole or underground) , as far as the location of the ONT , provided what the customer wants isn’t impractical or too time consuming them will likely be doable…want the cable ran internally through multiple rooms , or into something like a loft space won’t be doable .

[chrisjp]

One point about your need to connect your 3 telephones to the router and the BT agent's comment that: "cable would have to run from the router into all the rooms with a phone".
This isn't the case if you currently have these phones connected to the BT telephone master socket, and thus already have extension wiring installed.
Once you've been converted to fibre to the premises and DV, all you'll need to do is connect the green telephone socket on the router to the old master socket or one of existing extension sockets. Your 3 telephones will then work exactly as they do at the moment.