topic Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box in Full Fibre

Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

AndyMillne — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 14:33:02 GMT

Hi all,

I've got Plusnet Full Fibre scheduled for installation in two weeks. As part of the install, I'd like the Openreach entry point moved to the garage, where my router and a UPS are located.

Currently, the FTTC master socket is in the living room, with the external entry point at location A (see attached picture). From there, I'm running gel-filled Ethernet cables outside, under the block-paved driveway, and around the corner into the garage. Then some of those cables return back to the living room. In total, there are four Ethernet cables between the living room and the garage, but only two are currently usable.

Ideally, I want the fibre entry point moved to the garage (location B) so I can use all four Ethernet cables to connect back to the living room, and also keep everything powered via the UPS during outages.

My questions are:

Will the Openreach technician install the fibre at point B (garage) if requested?
If the existing duct emerges at point A, can it be rerouted to B, or would I need to take care of that before the appointment? I don't really want to mess with the existing Openreach duct if possible. If I need to do it, are there any specific requirements for what they'll run the cable through?

My Plan B if the preferred is problematic is ask them to come up from the existing duct and clip the cable up and over the front door (blue route) but if the box needs to go on the outside wall by the hanging basket, that might look a bit silly.

Thanks!

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

bmc — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 15:58:05 GMT

@AndyMillne

This is one of those where you will only find the answer on the day when you speak to the installer.

I don't suppose your ethernet cables are in a duct? If they are, is the duct accessable at the entry point A and is there space for another cable?

Failing that, is it easy to drill through the wall at the corner of the garage to get the fibre cable in? I'm thinking the installer (if you get a good one) may well be happy routing the cable as per the blue line.

Brian

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

Baldrick1 — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:09:46 GMT

@AndyMillne

I imagine that the BT Availability Checker (BT Broadband Availability ) has this recorded as a 'soft dig' installation, so won't want to dig up your driveway.

If it was me, I would have the fibre enter your property at point A, install the ONT here, then use one of the Ethernet cables as a WAN to connect to the router in the garage, where presumably you have the router and UPS. Then you can use another Ethernet cable cable to take the LAN back to wherever. If you need another Ethernet link then simply fit an Ethernet switch. They're not expensive.

If necessary use an extension lead to power the ONT until Openreach have done their bit, then use a PoE send/receive pair to provide the ONT with power from your UPS.

If you need more details then do ask.

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

Dan_the_Van — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:13:04 GMT

Another consideration would be to run the fibre cable at almost ground level, maybe at brick level above.

Hole through the wall at point A into the porch, cable run underneath the front door frame, around the wall to your point B.

This assumes the front door is set slightly forward to the wall where the window where current conduit is presented.

Some of the brick mortar will need to be chipped out to allow the cable to turn the corner, fibre cable turning circle is limited.

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

AndyMillne — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:31:48 GMT

@bmc the ethernet cables aren’t in a duct at the moment but i probably have time to lift the blocks and put a duct in specifically for the new cable. I’m just not sure what they would be happy using?

@Baldrick1 that’s essentially what I have now with the exception of powering the ont using Poe. That’s a good idea if all else fails so thanks for that but ideally I’d like all the unnecessary equipment out of the living room.

@Dan_the_Van thanks that’s another good idea that hopefully the technician will consider too.

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

bmc — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:48:48 GMT

@AndyMillne

Problem with lifting the blocks is they'll never look the same again!!

I know people in the past have laid duct (a draw rope helps) and prepped the cable route to take the ONT where they want. In this case you'd be paying your money and taking a chance that the installer is happy to put the ONT in the garage.

Does the Hub2 support PoE?

Brian

Edit : If you do put a duct in consider putting all your ethernet cables in it as well (if possible).

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

AndyMillne — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:00:38 GMT

I was able to lift the blocks and lay them again last year for the ethernet cables and you can't really tell so I'm confident I can do this again and have time. The original plan for the ethernet was to lay in 20mm pvc trunking but 4 cat 6 was too tight of a fit. I believe I could run some 20mm flexi conduit in time for the install with a draw string in if they'll be happy using. I guess worse case I'll be out the cost of the conduit and a Sunday of my time.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/deta-tte-flexible-conduit-20mm-x-10m-black/234pv

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

DerekW — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 18:24:19 GMT

Where is the fibre equipment you will be connected to? In a pit in the road or?

The reason I ask is because your copper line comes into your house at point A it does not necessarily mean that your fibre cable will follow the same route to your house - I know mine didn't

When they did the small dig to bring the cable to my property they use a combination of, what looked to me like, PVC drainage pipes of differing sizes.

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

RealAleMadrid — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 19:01:31 GMT

@AndyMillne If you want to route the fibre to the garage you would have to provide a duct, however depending on who arrives for the installation will be significant. A contractor working for Openreach will want the quickest possible fix and probably insist on bringing the fibre into the house where the existing duct ends at point A. On the other hand an Openreach employee may be more amenable and agree to using another route. As @bmc says it just depends who you get on the day.

I have recently had FTTP installed after an unbelievable 100 day delay because Openreach were incapable of organising a dig team to repair a blocked duct in the pavement near the house. Used the ultimate email to the Openreach CEO to get it sorted.😁

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

bmc — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 21:26:15 GMT

@AndyMillne

If you run the Checker again (as per your other post) the first line of narrative will mention the FTTP install. Mine ended with "U/G duct provan clear" - I knew it was clear as the chamber is in my neighbours garden and I watched the network installers rod it to check. They then left a draw rope in place.

It's not clear from the picture how the ethernet cables get into either the house or the garage. The house end doesn't matter but going into the garage might. I thinking of the fact if no drilling is required and a duct with a draw rope is in place the chances of it being used might be high - after all they wouldn't need to do aby drilling themselves through walls (saving time!!).

I would also make sure the duct is at an angle so any water ingress drains out.

On another matter the Hub2 only has 3 Lan ports plus 1 red WAN port (for the ONT) so only 3 cables back to the house could be used.

Brian

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

mwwagain — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 23:13:52 GMT

I'll throw in an alternative if they insist on entering at A, but is a bit naughty.

Let them do whatever.

Buy a fibre extension and move the ONT to the garage yourself to join the router and UPS.

Fibre coupler in a blank backbox covering the entry point, extension straight back out the hole (or adjacent).

You'd want the external grade fibre of course, and the extensions come made up, so to a defined set of lengths.

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

Lawrencium103 — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 08:17:29 GMT

The checker reports this for Andy's house (same as mine, further up that estate): "Our records show the following FTTP network service information for these premises:-Single Dwelling Unit Residential UG premises served by 2.5 Inch plastic duct 56."

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

DerekW — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 08:49:29 GMT

With all due respect that information pertains to a different property and not yours, what does it say for your property?

Just because Andy's house is the same as yours does not mean that it will be the same for your property when it comes to getting fibre to your property.

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

Lawrencium103 — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 08:52:33 GMT

That is what the checker says for Andy's property.

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

DerekW — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 08:55:00 GMT

Apologies, I thought you were the OP

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

Lawrencium103 — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 09:40:52 GMT

No problem Derek.

I think the only way for Andy to guarantee what he wants is to lay another duct from the front wall of his lounge (below point A), under the block paving, to the outer wall of - or even into - his garage. The CSP would normally be fitted on the outside of the lounge wall where the existing duct and copper pair pops up at point A, but it might be possible to fit it on the garage wall at point B.

A 25 mm internal diameter duct with a blue draw cord to allow the fibre to be pulled through should be sufficient. If Andy wants to put the Ethernet cables in the duct too then I suggest 50 mm ID duct.

That's a lot of work, but would give a neat result. Alternatively, clipping the fibre to the wall from point A to point B at damp-proof course level, under the front door looks possible, is a lot less work and wouldn't look too bad.

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

AndyMillne — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 10:00:41 GMT

Thanks all, yes confirming the wholesale checker info shared by @Lawrencium103 is for my property (Not sure I know you @Lawrencium103 but I have a hunch ). Here's the duct. Left is openreach duct, right is for my 4 x Ethernet.

I'm thinking of running another length of flexi conduit as there's space to tuck it up behind the openreach duct under the cover. The technician can then hopefully just come out here and loop back down into my conduit to point B. Failing that I can let them install at A and use @mwwagain 's suggestion and run a fibre extension along my flexi conduit. That might actually be the best option anyway as then the ONT can be moved back to the living room in future if we move.

It's not clear from the picture how the ethernet cables get into either the house or the garage.

It's not in a conduit unfortunately so not really an option unfortunately. It's just tucked under the garage door frame corner. I can put new 20mm flexi conduit in though and bring it up at point B so they can then fit the outside box, drill through into the garage and the ONT can go on the other side of the wall. There's some internal trunking with plenty of room running from there to the other end of the garage where the UPS and router are if they're happy to fit it further into the garage.

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

bmc — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 10:27:29 GMT

@AndyMillne

Thanks for the pictures.

I don't really see any problem at the house end. Getting into the garage is another matter.

You just won't know until the day if the installer is happy with the access. You would really need to bring conduit into the garage itself and then perhaps wall duct to your desired point. That way the cable is protected. Others might have a better idea.

Brian

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

Baldrick1 — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 10:27:29 GMT

@AndyMillne

I have used that duct for Ethernet cabling. For long straight runs I used the solid version with adapters on each end to introduce gentle bends with the flexi stuff.
The easiest way for this to be used will probably be for the installer to fit the CSP at location A. Then with a draw rope ready installed persuade them that it will be easy to pull a long end tail from the garage through to the CSP without having to introduce sharp bends where the Openreach duct would need to feed into your 20 mm one.

Re: Preparing for FTTP install day, moving outside box

AndyMillne — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 12:22:43 GMT

I went ahead and put some 25mm flexi conduit in with a nylon draw rope. That should be any bigger work done that might be needed. Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'll update after the install.