How to tidy this fibre install

[essayer]

Fibre is coming to chez moi. Had the installer (subcontractor) round in the week to first fix the fibre from the pole



They’ve left it like this. Apparently it has to come down the outside wall to floor level, then in through the wall to the room behind.

Not happy about this as
1) the fibre looks rubbish
2) they can’t fix it to the wall because, surprise, nail in cable clips don’t work on stone walls
3) the room is not where I want fibre

Trying to address these issues is impossible because the provider is useless, the subcontractor not contactable and apparently ‘computer says no’ when I ask whether the fibre could go into the loft and be terminated there (like the BT cable above it). It’s a barn conversion on one floor so not ‘that’ high.

What are my options?

[No ideas for a name]

essayer said:

...
Apparently it has to come down the outside wall to floor level, then in through the wall to the room behind.

Not happy about this as
1) the fibre looks rubbish
2) they can’t fix it to the wall because, surprise, nail in cable clips don’t work on stone walls
3) the room is not where I want fibre

Trying to address these issues is impossible because the provider is useless, the subcontractor not contactable and apparently ‘computer says no’ when I ask whether the fibre could go into the loft and be terminated there (like the BT cable above it). It’s a barn conversion on one floor so not ‘that’ high.

What are my options?

I drilled my own hole in to the loft space, and installed a duct. The OpenReach guy was quite happy to put the ONT in the loft... next to the CSP that I had already put in.
Mske the installer's day easire, and they should be able to accomodate your wishes.

As to point 3...I was quite happy once the fibre was in to the house. Any further switching was down to me... in fact I don't want any service provider having anything to do with that.

[essayer]

Ok bear with me, learning the terms

So I can buy my own CSP and install in the loft , then make it easy to run the fibre from where it is now to the CSP?
Then during the second install, they terminate the fibre in the CSP, and also bring in the second fibre from wherever in the house and join them together?

Are they happy to go up in the loft to do this? I can site the CSP next to the hatch so they don’t need to go climbing about

[Youforreal.]

They turned up at my house to install fiber, was told the existing cable would be ok which I doubted tbh, luckily I was there, they were about to come off the pole at the side of my garden to the gable end of the house about 40m away, I told them to do one and still running copper at the moment.

Will have to install a duct to the house and come in trough a facia to the roof space the to the socket.

[No ideas for a name]

essayer said:

Ok bear with me, learning the terms

So I can buy my own CSP and install in the loft , then make it easy to run the fibre from where it is now to the CSP?
Then during the second install, they terminate the fibre in the CSP, and also bring in the second fibre from wherever in the house and join them together?

Are they happy to go up in the loft to do this? I can site the CSP next to the hatch so they don’t need to go climbing about

Sorry, it was quick reply and the TLAs just came out.

I actually got the CSP (Customer Splice Point) from an OpenReach installer when on another job. He figured it would make the job easier for him or his mates when they came do do mine. I believe you can buy them too. Made by Dexgreen. https://dexgreen.com/blogs/dexgreen-openreach-vide...

The chap that turned up to me was quite happy to do the install in the loft. I had already put the CSP near the loft hatch.
I helped him pull the drop cable/fibre in, he then put the ONT (Optical Network Termination) aka fibre modem in the loft also - next to where I had prepared a mains outlet. He then did the fibre splice and everyone was happy.

As it happens, there is already a small cabinet in the loft with a UPS and a firewall - so it all logically fitted nicely. Minimum cabling on show, minimum effort for the OpenReach guy.

[Mr Pointy]

essayer said:

Ok bear with me, learning the terms

So I can buy my own CSP and install in the loft , then make it easy to run the fibre from where it is now to the CSP?
Then during the second install, they terminate the fibre in the CSP, and also bring in the second fibre from wherever in the house and join them together?

Are they happy to go up in the loft to do this? I can site the CSP next to the hatch so they don’t need to go climbing about

CSPs are £20 on ebay. I'd say it's uncertain whether they will go up in the loft as it may well be down to the particular installer - they can even be unwilling to use you loft ladder due to insurance issues. I'd say you need to be prepared to go into the loft & pull the cable through to the CSP & hope you get someone who is prepared to stand on steps to do the termination.

As you say you then need to provide a simple route for the fibre from where you want the ONT to the CSP point - you might even consider putting draw strings in if it will make it easier.

There's a lot of H&S involved these days & it can be up to the installer on the day as to what they are prepared to do. Make it as simple as possible & you might get what you want.

[essayer]

Thanks all.

The loft ladder may be a problem, we don’t have one !

I use an expanding ladder but I’m assuming they won’t want to use that as one of the steps doesn’t lock

[No ideas for a name]

essayer said:

Thanks all.

The loft ladder may be a problem, we don’t have one !

I use an expanding ladder but I’m assuming they won’t want to use that as one of the steps doesn’t lock

I just had a decent step ladder - OpenReach guy was fine with it.

[Dogwatch]

The fibre terminal will require an adjacent power socket to power its flashing lights.

[essayer]

Spoke to another installer today - I suggested I could run the unterminated fibre internally through the loft and down into the cupboard

This apparently isn’t possible as the fibre isn’t fire rated(!?) to be more than 2m long inside the house

Their suggestion was for them to install the CSP on the inside of the gable wall. However, for this to happen the loft would need to be boarded. Seems overkill!

If I run the fibre down into the cupboard do you think they’ll actually object?

[Rough101]

essayer said:

Spoke to another installer today - I suggested I could run the unterminated fibre internally through the loft and down into the cupboard

This apparently isn’t possible as the fibre isn’t fire rated(!?) to be more than 2m long inside the house

Their suggestion was for them to install the CSP on the inside of the gable wall. However, for this to happen the loft would need to be boarded. Seems overkill!

If I run the fibre down into the cupboard do you think they’ll actually object?

None of the wiring in your house is fire rated, or even low smoke, unless very new.

[No ideas for a name]

Mine runs in to the loft, 4m along the wall, 4m along another wall, then 1m to near the loft hatch. No issues were raised at all.

I would run the fibre or a smal duct, to where you want it.
Make the OpenReach guys day easier and he should be happy to do it your way.