topic Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job' in My Order

Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

jelli — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 18:36:58 GMT

Hi, I'm new to this, so hello all. I received a message from an engineer who is coming to install full fibre tomorrow. The time booked was confirmed as between 1pm and 6pm though he has said he will be coming in the morning up until early afternoon. Before 1pm isn't great timing for me hence setting it to the afternoon... very confused and fed back that my understanding was that he was coming at the times confirmed. He said it would really help if he could come earlier as it's a massive job. So I'm getting worried now! He said if I'm not in he will come in the morning and sort out the 'externals' without me there and then come back after 1pm to do the 'internals.'

I wondered if this is normal practice... I'm concerned about the 'massive job' as I thought they only need to drill a hole in the wall - which I already have from a previous supply...

Any feedback gratefully received

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

MisterW — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 18:45:24 GMT

If the appt is for 1 to 6 then they shouldn't expect you to be available before that! I suspect you are the first afternoon appt and they've possibly had one of their morning appts cancelled, so they want to move everything forward and finish early!

A normal FTTP install should take no longer than 2 hrs and the engineer won't know if it's going to be difficult until he gets there unless there's been a survey done before .

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

jelli — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 18:52:49 GMT

I did wonder if that was the case especially on a Friday! I didn't realise it was a 2 hour job though. Thanks for your help

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

MisterW — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 19:02:56 GMT

Is your connection underground or overhead ?

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

jelli — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 10:29:23 GMT

overhead

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

jab1 — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 10:32:36 GMT

In that case, what is the 'massive job'?

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

mystreet1 — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 10:49:14 GMT

Let's not forget, it's Poets day

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

jab1 — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 10:53:16 GMT

Dunno what you're drinking/smoking, @mystreet1 , but it's funny stuff.

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

MisterW — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:07:56 GMT

overhead

In that case, what is the 'massive job'?

@jab1 agreed.

@jelli it should be a simple matter of replacing the existing cable from the pole with a fibre one. The external fibre would normally take a similar route, attached to the eaves similar to the existing cable and then down the building to a new CSP ( grey box ) at ground level. The internal fibre then goes through a hole behind the CSP to the ONT inside. The engineer will need to drill holes to secure their ladder when working at height, they should fill them afterwards.

Not knowing how the property is laid out and where the existing cable and master socket are , its difficult to be precise but do you see any issues with what I've described above ? Note that , unlike the existing master socket, the ONT requires power and so needs to be within 1m of a power socket.

A straighforward overhead install should take around 90 mins.

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

jelli — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:33:01 GMT

crikey, that's quite a job... the replacement of the cable might be a pain as the pole is not in a direct line to my house and he'll have to fix it on my neighbour's - which is where the existing cable is attached. There's a hole in the wall where the current cable is though it's not at ground level. I wonder if he can still use that? There's a power source very near by.

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

RobPN — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:34:07 GMT

@jab1 wrote:

Dunno what you're drinking/smoking, @mystreet1 , but it's funny stuff.

@jab1

Fairly common knowledge in many circles ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POETS_day

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

jelli — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:34:21 GMT

I know, that's what worried me

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

jab1 — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:36:37 GMT

@RobPN wrote:

@jab1 wrote:

Dunno what you're drinking/smoking, @mystreet1 , but it's funny stuff.

@jab1

Fairly common knowledge in many circles ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POETS_day

Never heard of it miself, but you learn summat new every day.

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

MisterW — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:49:41 GMT

@jelli

the replacement of the cable might be a pain as the pole is not in a direct line to my house and he'll have to fix it on my neighbour's - which is where the existing cable is attached.

That might be a problem!. There must already be a wayleave in existence to allow routing via your neighbour but if the cable attaches to your neighbour at height ( I assume it does? ) then the engineer will need agreement from the neighbour to secure his/her ladder. Try and ensure your neighbour is available on install day.

There's a hole in the wall where the current cable is though it's not at ground level.

The external fibre is spliced to the internal one at the CSP. The splicing equipment cannot be used at height ('elf and safety') so the CSP must be at ground level. So the fibre would normally be clipped down the the wall from where it attaches at the eaves.

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

jelli — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 12:06:50 GMT

It is at height, yes, the existing one runs across below the gutter and then down my wall to the hole. Thankfully my neighbour is a total sweetheart so I'm hoping that things will go okay.

I'm guessing that's why he has said it was a massive job. I presume this happens a lot when properties are not in line with the pole...

One wonders what happens when the neighbour isn't in agreement.

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

MisterW — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 12:19:22 GMT

I'm guessing that's why he has said it was a massive job. I presume this happens a lot when properties are not in line with the pole...

I'd be surprised if the installation engineer knows about that in advance!.

What does the BTwholesale checker https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome say for your property. Particularly the narraitive below the availability results.

NB If you post the results then redact any personal information such as the actual address

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

jelli — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 18:16:01 GMT

Update. The installation didn't happen. The cable to my house and my neighbour's is 'sausaged' which means my connection cannot be changed without affecting the neighbour's. And for some reason they can't put in another line separately. So the engineer has requested a survey which he said shouldn't take long though I do wonder whether it will go ahead in the end. He has put in the internal fittings anyway so he was optimistic!

The consequence is that until it's installed and in order for me to have broadband plusnet advised that I continue with my previous supplier until it's sorted out. Because I'm out of contract this will cost me £43 per month, £14 more than I was paying before.

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

jab1 — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 18:27:24 GMT

@jelli That is something I've never come across before, and I've been around a long time.

@MisterW can you explain?

EDIT: @jelli can you post the results from here:https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL , if you still have a landline telephone service, or here: https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome - if you don't. In either case, obscure any personal details, and please include the narrative at the foot.

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

MisterW — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 18:42:19 GMT

It's a new one on me! Never heard that term before. The fibre is a new cable so I don't see what the problem is, yes It might have to go via the neighbour but why that's a problem I've no idea.

The installations are all done by contractors who are paid by the job. My guess is that he just didn't want the hassle and so kicked it back to OR

Re: Engineer says installation will be a 'massive job'

LexLex2020 — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 16:23:41 GMT

Never heard that term myself either to be honest.

I am in the department that deals with these exact delays and after looking at it all we can realistically do at this stage is await the survey.

Once we have the update from Openreach, hopefully we can shed some light on the cause of this.

@jelli, in regards to your billing, would you like me raise a complaint regarding this so we can revisit that once your services are installed?

Surveys typically get a response within 5 working days, we will update you once that comes through.

And of course let us know if you have any more information, always helps to see what you're being told or seeing.

Thanks,

Lex