Any FTTP experts?
Discussion
Hello
Wondering if we have any FTTP experts in the house? I live in a rural property, up a private track, there is another house at the end of said track, where it meets the main road.
At the end of the track there is a recently installed FTTP distribution point at the top of the telegraph pole, called a CBT I believe. It has four outlets on it, and there are four properties on the track. The Openreach fibre checker says my neighbour at the end of the track can order FTTP now, while I cannot, and there are no plans to upgrade my property.
This pole is under 300m away from my house. I've done my best to contact Openreach and BT but 9 time out of 10 I just get a moron who has access to no more information than I do so I just get the standard "computer says no" answers, and while I'm clearly biased and maybe just not accepting news I don't want to hear, this does seem like nonsense based on what I can see. I occasionally get through to someone willing to help who also has access to infrastructure maps in BT who agrees to have a look at it, but then it all grinds to a halt.
Does anyone know what the max distance from CBT to property is, and any other limitations on getting tied in to FTTP infrastructure?
Note I am not supplied via a cabinet, I have what I believe is called an Exhange Only (EO) line, so it's copper all the way or FTTP, nothing in between is really possible (though telling BT to do one and going 4G is looking increasingly attractive).
Thanks.
Wondering if we have any FTTP experts in the house? I live in a rural property, up a private track, there is another house at the end of said track, where it meets the main road.
At the end of the track there is a recently installed FTTP distribution point at the top of the telegraph pole, called a CBT I believe. It has four outlets on it, and there are four properties on the track. The Openreach fibre checker says my neighbour at the end of the track can order FTTP now, while I cannot, and there are no plans to upgrade my property.
This pole is under 300m away from my house. I've done my best to contact Openreach and BT but 9 time out of 10 I just get a moron who has access to no more information than I do so I just get the standard "computer says no" answers, and while I'm clearly biased and maybe just not accepting news I don't want to hear, this does seem like nonsense based on what I can see. I occasionally get through to someone willing to help who also has access to infrastructure maps in BT who agrees to have a look at it, but then it all grinds to a halt.
Does anyone know what the max distance from CBT to property is, and any other limitations on getting tied in to FTTP infrastructure?
Note I am not supplied via a cabinet, I have what I believe is called an Exhange Only (EO) line, so it's copper all the way or FTTP, nothing in between is really possible (though telling BT to do one and going 4G is looking increasingly attractive).
Thanks.
I think you should be fine with the technical side - fibre should be able to do more than 300m in a single run, but as you say it's likely a BT computer says no type issue...
Is the current phone line over poles or underground? When BT cabled up our street for FTTP, various properties were excluded as they didn't have copper phone lines coming in overhead, they were via buried cable which made the running of Fibre into the house way more difficult.
It may be worth calling one of the 'better' providers that do Openreach supplied FTTP - Zen, A&A etc as they may be able to help, and you are much more likely to speak to a techy who knows how to help and how to override what the Openreach computer says to get an order submitted.
Last option if you don't get anywhere - how well do you know the people at the bottom of the lane? Well enough to get them to put a second line in and a point to point wifi antenna on the roof, assuming there's reasonable line of sight?
Is the current phone line over poles or underground? When BT cabled up our street for FTTP, various properties were excluded as they didn't have copper phone lines coming in overhead, they were via buried cable which made the running of Fibre into the house way more difficult.
It may be worth calling one of the 'better' providers that do Openreach supplied FTTP - Zen, A&A etc as they may be able to help, and you are much more likely to speak to a techy who knows how to help and how to override what the Openreach computer says to get an order submitted.
Last option if you don't get anywhere - how well do you know the people at the bottom of the lane? Well enough to get them to put a second line in and a point to point wifi antenna on the roof, assuming there's reasonable line of sight?
Fibre over 300m will be fine, the attenuation should be minimal. I think the issue right now is who owns the fibre 'box'.. Then you just need to work out tunnelling / channeling costs..
We have GigaClear in our village. If you are near one of the connectors they installed (one for each property at the time) then happy days. If you are over 50m it starts to approach £400 to connect.. I've seen £15/m quoted elsewhere as well.
We have GigaClear in our village. If you are near one of the connectors they installed (one for each property at the time) then happy days. If you are over 50m it starts to approach £400 to connect.. I've seen £15/m quoted elsewhere as well.
random_username said:
I think you should be fine with the technical side - fibre should be able to do more than 300m in a single run, but as you say it's likely a BT computer says no type issue...
Is the current phone line over poles or underground? When BT cabled up our street for FTTP, various properties were excluded as they didn't have copper phone lines coming in overhead, they were via buried cable which made the running of Fibre into the house way more difficult.
Thanks for the reply. The current phone line is on poles, the fibre pops out of the ground at the pole at the end of the track and I assume if I were to get FTTP it would go between the 5-6 poles from there to my house.Is the current phone line over poles or underground? When BT cabled up our street for FTTP, various properties were excluded as they didn't have copper phone lines coming in overhead, they were via buried cable which made the running of Fibre into the house way more difficult.
random_username said:
It may be worth calling one of the 'better' providers that do Openreach supplied FTTP - Zen, A&A etc as they may be able to help, and you are much more likely to speak to a techy who knows how to help and how to override what the Openreach computer says to get an order submitted.
Good suggestion thanks.random_username said:
Last option if you don't get anywhere - how well do you know the people at the bottom of the lane? Well enough to get them to put a second line in and a point to point wifi antenna on the roof, assuming there's reasonable line of sight?
Might have to work on them a bit for that..!eps said:
Fibre over 300m will be fine, the attenuation should be minimal. I think the issue right now is who owns the fibre 'box'.. Then you just need to work out tunnelling / channeling costs..
We have GigaClear in our village. If you are near one of the connectors they installed (one for each property at the time) then happy days. If you are over 50m it starts to approach £400 to connect.. I've seen £15/m quoted elsewhere as well.
Thanks, unfortunately their website doesn't even recognise my postcode, odd!We have GigaClear in our village. If you are near one of the connectors they installed (one for each property at the time) then happy days. If you are over 50m it starts to approach £400 to connect.. I've seen £15/m quoted elsewhere as well.
Contact Andrew (Mr Saffron) on Think Broadband forums, he has a fair bit of clout with getting issues like this sorted. But if it’s an FTTP on Demand install then you may not have much joy!
Can you advise postcode for the neighbours house that have FTTP? are there any other CBT’s in the area or just this one?
I have a geeky interest in the whole FTTP rollout and follow developments quite closely... being rural myself with a fibre spine run close by our house I feel your pain!!
Can you advise postcode for the neighbours house that have FTTP? are there any other CBT’s in the area or just this one?
I have a geeky interest in the whole FTTP rollout and follow developments quite closely... being rural myself with a fibre spine run close by our house I feel your pain!!
Edited by SlimJ on Tuesday 18th August 14:11
Jambo85 said:
Thanks for the reply. The current phone line is on poles, the fibre pops out of the ground at the pole at the end of the track and I assume if I were to get FTTP it would go between the 5-6 poles from there to my house.
It sounds like you have the same system as we have then, with the 'quick connectors' up the poles. When they installed ours it was a case of running a new fibre/copper combined wire to replace the old copper one between the pole and the house, then connecting everything up. I'd definitely be looking at calling one of the better providers and having a conversation with someone that knows what they are talking about - if there is a free 'port' for every house on your lane, then it sounds like it's just a computer oversight rather than deliberate. If the neighbours down the lane are in the same situation as well it might be worth talking to them beforehand too - if you can promise a provider 3 signups for one lot of effort then it may also help..
SlimJ said:
Contact Andrew (Mr Saffron) on Think Broadband forums, he has a fair bit of clout with getting issues like this sorted.
He does seem quite a useful chap!SlimJ said:
Can you advise postcode for the neighbours house that have FTTP? are there any other CBT’s in the area or just this one?
A few miles North of Aberdeen along the A947. I don't want to be more specific than that. The CBTs are popping up on most poles where there are houses.Jambo85 said:
A few miles North of Aberdeen along the A947. I don't want to be more specific than that. The CBTs are popping up on most poles where there are houses.
I understand. Take a look here: https://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/index.php?ta...This will give you an idea of current FTTP coverage in your area.
Also check your details here (if you've not done this already): https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADS...
LooneyTunes said:
My FTTPoD install was a little over £50/m + vat, over a similar distance, and has so far taken 9 months to not yet complete... may be cheaper if it’s all overhead, but don’t necessarily expect it to be done quickly!
Wow - that's a trenching cost presumably? All done privately?SlimJ said:
I understand. Take a look here: https://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/index.php?ta...
This will give you an idea of current FTTP coverage in your area.
Cool thanks, do I read correctly that that is all based on user speed tests?This will give you an idea of current FTTP coverage in your area.
SlimJ said:
Also check your details here (if you've not done this already): https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADS...
Computer says ... no.Jambo85 said:
LooneyTunes said:
My FTTPoD install was a little over £50/m + vat, over a similar distance, and has so far taken 9 months to not yet complete... may be cheaper if it’s all overhead, but don’t necessarily expect it to be done quickly!
Wow - that's a trenching cost presumably? All done privately?Jambo85 said:
SlimJ said:
Contact Andrew (Mr Saffron) on Think Broadband forums, he has a fair bit of clout with getting issues like this sorted.
He does seem quite a useful chap!I would start a thread on that forum - there are several regulars on there who have access to more information than the public. Be prepared to go out and get cabinet and DP numbers off poles, exact map locations, cable runs, neighbour's phone numbers, etc. I ended up overlaying all the plant onto a satellite view of the area to illustrate the issue.
In my own case, I was the victim of a database error, and although a FTTC cabinet was 200m from my house, I couldn't sign up for FTTC. Few days of providing info on there, and a few weeks wait, the database was changed and I'm now on 80/20 FTTC.
Definitely speak to Zen.
When I first moved in to my current house, the previous owners had BT FTTP and left the modem. BT were adamant I couldn't get fibre, despite me having a modem in the living room. The most they would do was "raise a case" to investigate which takes something like a month.
Zen signed me up straight away. Unfortunately they're quite expensive so I ended up (reluctantly) switching to BT when the contract was up, who were able to do it then as it was already active.
When I first moved in to my current house, the previous owners had BT FTTP and left the modem. BT were adamant I couldn't get fibre, despite me having a modem in the living room. The most they would do was "raise a case" to investigate which takes something like a month.
Zen signed me up straight away. Unfortunately they're quite expensive so I ended up (reluctantly) switching to BT when the contract was up, who were able to do it then as it was already active.
Blockbuster said:
350m is the maximum from CBT to house. It’s the longest cable length available.
Also there has to be a route from the CBT to the house, ie an existing series of poles, or ducting.
Thanks this is interesting - can the cable not be joined? Perhaps it would be worth me accurately measuring the distance to be sure.Also there has to be a route from the CBT to the house, ie an existing series of poles, or ducting.
Thanks for other replies too.
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