topic Re: FTTC: engineer visit in My Order

FTTC: engineer visit

Seneca — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 15:57:36 GMT

Hi, I've just clarified with Plusnet that we need an engineer to visit because our new home isn't equipped for FTTC straight away. Two questions:

1. How will we find out when the engineer is coming?

2. We don't know whether or not the house is physically fitted with a telephone socket. If it isn't, will the engineer do this for us?

Many thanks.

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

jab1 — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 16:06:58 GMT

@Seneca (1) Did you not arrange the required visit while you were talking to the agent?

(2) I would imagine that the reason for the engineer visit is to install the required socket - that is all that is needed to enable a broadband connection.

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

jab1 — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 16:29:55 GMT

Scrub the above post - I now see you are actually going for a Full Fibre install. You will be advised of the planned date/slot when Plusnet have arranged it with BT/OR,but if you are not going to be available at that time, you will have to call and arrange a suitable schedule.

You don't need a phone socket for Full fibre - instead the engineer will instal an ONT (Optical Network Terminator), into which you plug the Hub - see your previous topic for details.

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

Seneca — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 16:42:08 GMT

No, it’s not full fibre any more. Plusnet belatedly found that it’s not available in my area. And the guy I spoke to said he didn’t have access to engineers’ times.

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

jab1 — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 16:54:21 GMT

OK. In that case, I would be very surprised if the house did not already have a phone line and socket already installed, even if it is a new build, although I suppose it may not be connected to the BT network in that case.

Still don't understand why the BT/OR visit was not planned during your call, though.

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

bmc — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:02:13 GMT

@Seneca

The other possibility is that an alternative supplier has supplied FTTP to your property in agreement with the developer. If so, OpenReach copper services may not be available at all.

Brian

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

jab1 — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:13:52 GMT

@bmc - Possible, but the OP has not said this is the case, whether it is a new-build, and if it is and an Alt-net has supplied FTTP, I would be amazed if they could get FTTC, as I doubt BT would be installing Phone/FTTC cabinets - but PN have obviously said they can supply FTTC - or is this another example of the shambles they have become?

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

Seneca — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:21:21 GMT

It isn’t a new build, but the current owner only has Virgin (for both Telephone and Internet) and Plusnet definitely said that an engineer was required to do something or other. So I guess both of my questions still stand really? Thanks for help so far though.

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

bmc — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:23:15 GMT

@jab1

It could be a PN shambles but I've just re-read the OP's first post. They stated they don't know if there's a socket installed or not.

They could have a look at the following. Enter your post code only and select the address from the drop down list. FTTC shows as VDSL and FTTP shows as WBC FTTP.

https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome

Brian

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

Seneca — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:25:22 GMT

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

bmc — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:27:17 GMT

@Seneca

Was typing as you posted.

If the previous owner used Virgin then it's possible FTTC has never been installed at the property but it should have a phone Master Socket. As such the engineer needs to "jump" a connection from the FTTC cabinet to the original cabinet to install FTTC.

As such, it's possible they don't need to visit the house - unless they find a problem during the install where they then need to access the MS to check things.

Brian

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

jab1 — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:27:50 GMT

@Seneca According to that, you should be able to get FTTP from PN, although the install procedure doesn't look like the easy 1-stage.

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

Seneca — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:29:47 GMT

Thank you @bmc this makes sense. But presumably we need to know when the engineer is coming in case they do need access to the house?

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

bmc — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:30:54 GMT

@Seneca

Once again typing as your posted.

OK, FTTC and FTTP are both available - unusual but does happen. This could be the source of PN staff confusion. You have a choice of which to go for but note that PN FTTP has no phone service and you lose any existing phone number.

If you look at the narrative you'll see the underground duct has been checked and a rope left in place to pull through the fibre cable if FTTP is ordered.

Brian

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

Seneca — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:33:39 GMT

So we’ve definitely ordered FTTC now; that’s for sure. And people have helpfully explained that if there isn’t a suitable telephone socket in the house then the engineer will install one, although there probably is one already.
only issue then is how we find out when the engineer will arrive…

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

bmc — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:35:24 GMT

@jab1

Can't see any problems for an FTTP install. The underground duct has been checked and a draw rope left in place to pull fibre cable through.

Brian

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

jab1 — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:36:00 GMT

@Seneca As I asked above, why was this not arranged when you were talking to the PN agent - I would have thought that would have been the sensible option?

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

jab1 — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:37:00 GMT

@bmc wrote:

@jab1

Can't see any problems for an FTTP install. The underground duct has been checked and a draw rope left in place to pull fibre cable through.

Brian

Neither can I.

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

Seneca — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:38:31 GMT

Yes, @jab1 , you did ask that above, and I replied that the guy I spoke to said he didn’t have access to engineers’ times.

Re: FTTC: engineer visit

Baldrick1 — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:40:08 GMT

@Seneca

New home, new start. Join the 21st century and go for the FTTP option. If you want a landline phone then sign up for a new one with a VoIP phone from a company such as SIPgate.

Hopefully a Plusnet staffer will come along soon and clarify.