topic Re: Question about broadband installation in Broadband

Question about broadband installation

26NearFar — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 19:42:30 GMT

We’re thinking about leaving Virgin Media. What we are really concerned about is the physical installation if we sign up with a new provider.

The installation with Virgin was a nightmare. We are in a mid-terraced house and ended up with a huge length of cable running through the bedroom, along the hall skirting boards, over the bathroom door and into the spare room. Is there any way of avoiding this with a new install? We are willing to have the router put anywhere to avoid this. Our installation was carried out quite a few years ago - have things moved on since then?

We would love to hear from anyone who has recently gone through this process, especially if you live in a terraced house.

Re: Question about broadband installation

jab1 — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 19:48:41 GMT

@26NearFar Welcome to the forums. A couple of questions for you. Do you know if you have a BT/Openreach master socket in your property, and if so, where is it located?

Re: Question about broadband installation

26NearFar — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 20:05:48 GMT

Hello

Thank you for your quick reply.

We may have a BT/Openreach master socket as our phone line was with BT originally. I will check tomorrow and get back to you.

Re: Question about broadband installation

26NearFar — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 16:46:21 GMT

Hello

I've checked and unfortunately we don't have a BT/Openreach master socket.

Re: Question about broadband installation

jab1 — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 17:00:46 GMT

OK, @26NearFar That means you will need a line and socket installing before you can use Plusnet (or any other ISP who uses the BT/OR network). Do you know if the line will be overhead/underground?

Also, what BT/OR services can you get? - post a screenshot of the result from https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL . You may need to use the 'post code' option, but ensure your phone number/address is obscured.

Re: Question about broadband installation

RealAleMadrid — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 18:36:07 GMT

@jab1 I think you mean the "address option" on the checker where you can enter your postcode and then pick your actual address from a drop down list. Postcode alone is not much use.

Re: Question about broadband installation

jab1 — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 18:41:13 GMT

Thanks, @RealAleMadrid . You are of course totally correct - I forgot to 'proof read' before posting . My apologies, @26NearFar .

Re: Question about broadband installation

26NearFar — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 19:53:28 GMT

I have attached the results of the broadband checker.

Thanks for all the interest in my query so far.

Re: Question about broadband installation

jab1 — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 20:07:09 GMT

~~Can you please paste it into the reply window - it appears to be a corrupt document. To do this, click the icon to the right of the 'smiley' icon above the text entry box, and follow the prompts.~~

Ignore the above, it finally opened. According to that, you have an overhead feed, so no digging is involved, and you can order Full Fibre, should you so wish.

Re: Question about broadband installation

26NearFar — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 20:06:24 GMT

Re: Question about broadband installation

jab1 — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 20:08:49 GMT

See my edit above.

Re: Question about broadband installation

bmc — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 20:56:20 GMT

@26NearFar

The Checker results show an o/h feed to the rear of the premises.

For FTTP you need an Optical Network Terminator (ONT) fitted to the inside wall near a power socket. This will be at the rear of the property. There is a bit of leeway as to where it's sited but you won't know until the day of install.

After this, things get a bit easier. The router is connected via an Ethernet cable so can go anywhere where you're happy to run said cable.

Brian

Re: Question about broadband installation

26NearFar — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 12:39:32 GMT

Many thanks for all your replies. I've dropped this query on a few broadband forums and PlusNet have been the friendliest.

I'm attaching a couple of photos of the rear of our property just to clarify if this is the o/h feed indicated on the results.

Virgin probably weren't able to use it because their internet system is slightly different. On the second photo

I think the oh feed is the black box just above the drain pipes

Re: Question about broadband installation

jab1 — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 12:53:37 GMT

@26NearFar By OH feed we mean are you fed from a cable which comes from a 'telegraph pole', which your BTw screenshot indicates clearly you are. The black box is merely the one which contains the wires &c. to connect your internal wiring to the external.

Re: Question about broadband installation

26NearFar — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 13:13:03 GMT

Hi John

The telegraph pole is at the front of the property. These are some shots of the front just to show how Virgin connected us. Unfortunately there is no way to run a cable to the back of our property without going over the roof-tops! On the second photo I think you can just about see where the cable runs up the outside wall and into the front bedroom.

Our router is in the back bedroom which is why we had to have so much cable.

Re: Question about broadband installation

bmc — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 13:20:20 GMT

@26NearFar

If I understand correctly that the O/H pole is at the front, then the OR ONT will be installed on an internal wall at the front of the house.

Brian

Re: Question about broadband installation

jab1 — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 13:25:58 GMT

Right, so the pole is at the front, as is normal practice, but for some reason the router is in the back bedroom?

Do you currently have a cable from that pole to your property?

If not, Openreach will run one at 'pole-height' to the front of your house and then down to (usually) just above your damp course and through the wall at that point, installing the master socket on a convenient wall nearby, although if you talk nice to the installation engineer, he may position it at a point more to your liking.

Re: Question about broadband installation

26NearFar — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 14:09:27 GMT

Many thanks for your reply.

We are not currently connected to the telegraph pole so maybe this is hopeful.

Our router is in the back bedroom as this is where we have our PC. Our PC isn't wireless and needs to be plugged into the router by an ethernet cable. This might be the source of the problem and why we needed so much cable!

Re: Question about broadband installation

jab1 — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 14:26:06 GMT

Before I make any further comment: IF you decide to go with Plusnet as your ISP, which service will you be ordering - FTTC or Full Fibre?

Re: Question about broadband installation

bmc — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 14:44:19 GMT

@26NearFar

Forget my previous post. I went back an re-read the thread. The OR Checker results show that an FTTP install would be via an O/H cable to the rear of the property. There must be another pole out the back somewhere.

If the back bedroom is at the rear of the house then the ONT placement would be some where near by.

As an aside, your PC may not be wireless but you can get wireless USB dongles to provide capability.

Brian