Upgrade to full fibre - couple of questions

[#1]

Here's my situation briefly:
I currently have a phone line with ADSL.
I have about 1 1/2 years of contract left with Plusnet.
I want to keep my landline and number but don't want to go to EE.
I rarely make/receive calls.

Here's my current thinking:
I switch to Plusnet full fibre (it is available here).
Within 30 days, transfer my home number to a VOIP supplier. The cheapest I have found is A&A who charge an initial fee to transfer the number and about £1.44 (I think) per month with charges for each call.
I would have to get a phone adaptor to make my analogue phone work.

Does that sound reasonable, anything I've missed I should know about?

Can I keep my static IP I've had since the start (over 20 years)?

Regarding installation:
I have 2 copper lines coming to the house one of which was disconnected maybe 12 years ago (no longer required) but everything was left in place. It is on the first floor and access is via a rear flat-roof extension.
Would I be able to have the fibre installed at this location using the hole already drilled through the wall that goes to the old master socket?

Also, do openreach remove the old copper cables, if so would they remove both for me?

Thanks for any help.

[#2]

@Okay 

Your plan for moving is pretty standard. Just don't start the number port until you have FF in and running. You can set up A&A in advance with a generic number (slight extra cost)  so you can get your phone sorted. If you use house extensions a bit of work is required. Note phones don't wotk in power cuts without power backup.

From what you say the FF install may not be quite straight forward. As I understand it engineers won't go on a flat roof. If you can post a couple of pictures of the possible route we might be able to say more. The router is conencted by ethernet cable so doesn't necessarily have to go near the internal ONT. A power source is required.

They may remove the old cable, especially if you ask them to. You never know quite what is acceptable to them until the day of install when you talk things through before the work starts.

Brian

[#3]

Thanks for the idea about creating a test account with another number on A&A first, will do that when the time comes.

Disappointing what you say about not going on a flat roof. It's easy access down side of house then onto side of roof. They managed it no problem about 25 years ago when they installed the second phone line there so I don't know why they couldn't now.

I don't want the router downstairs in the front room nor do I want to pull up carpets and floor boards to route an ethernet cable. 

I've seen comments on the internet where people say "it's down to the engineer on the day" which seems bizarre to me.

Given that, I think it's safer to hang on to my ADSL line for as long as possible.

Thanks for you help though, much appreciated.

[#4]

@Okay 

Apart from ensuring your phone equipment works before the number port it will also give you a landline during the downtime that happens with the port (a few days!!).

All things being well you retain your static Ip address but you keep a cose eye on it when you move in case anything happens to it. If there's a problem the sooner PN Support get a call the better.

As to the install. It's always been the case with FTTP installs that it's down to the engineer on the day, especially if it's not quite straight forward. A good one will try to work with work so long as your plan is techncially feasible and doesn't involve them in a lot of extra work (they are only "allocated" a set period of time for each job they do. Some are quicker, some longer but the expectation is they get their allocated work done.

What does the following say about FTTP?

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

You should see WBC FTTP is the left hand column - what does it say to the right (available or KCI2 Assure)? Below the results window what does it say about the FTTP install.

Brian

[#5]

Thanks Brian,

Sorry, I didn't log in to reply yesterday.

Re WBC FTTP, on the right it says "available".

Under the results it says quite a bit, do you mean this bit?

Our records show the following FTTP network service information for these premises:-Single Dwelling Unit Residential OH Feed hoist required.

FTTP is available and a new ONT may be ordered.

As a fibre priority exchange, FTTP has priority over other products if available at the address

As a WLR withdrawal exchange, product restrictions apply

SOADSL is not restricted at the exchange

[#6]

@Okay

Thanks for the information. Two things stand out.

OR know it's not a straight forward install. Their notes state a cherry picker is required.

You cannot change your current product or change ISP without going to FTTP - you're on a Priority Exchange.

Have a read of the following thread. A cherry picker was called for and an internal CSP fitted. I'm hoping the OP responds with pictures of the install.

https://community.plus.net/t5/My-Order/FFTP-Installation-problems-with-flat-roof/m-p/2010873#M33436 

Brian

[#7]

Thanks again Brian.

"OR know it's not a straight forward install. Their notes state a cherry picker is required."

Does this mean at the pole or at the house itself?

I've been following links and reading other peoples experiences. Some say that an external box (can't remember what it's called) is sometimes not required. Is there a way to know beforehand?

If the engineer says he cannot go on the extension roof to fit the box where I'd like it then I'll have to have a plan B ready or they'll just stick it downstairs which is useless to me. Would they put the cable through an adjacent outside wall in the upstairs room and run the cable along the skirting to where I want the ONT box? This wall is on the side passage from the front to back of house. The cable would have to come through the bottom (near the skirting)  of the first floor. I could live with that though there's a power socket on the wall so I presume they check carefully where they're drilling.

Much prefer Plan A though.

[#8]

@Okay 

Unfortunately you just don't know until the day of install what might be feasible.

Unless the pole has a warning notice on it saying do not climb or unsafe I would assume the cherry pricker is for the house which might help with the incoming location. The pole will have a CBT (Connectorised Block Terminal) on it - did you see them install it?

I would look at every ONT location possibility so you're in a position to discuss it with the engineers on the day and then hope for the best.

A CSP (Consumer Splice Point) is always required as they need to join the incoming cable with the "pigs tail" that plugs into the ONT. Normally they are outside but can be indoors. The link I posted shows an internal CSP box attached to the old Master Socket base.

This is another type

Brian

[#9]

@Okay 

In relation to the flat, where is the pole located - front, back  or side?

Brian

[#10]

Sorry for not replying sooner, other things going on.

To answer your questions, I've seen open reach vans down the road on occasions but didn't pay attention to what they were doing.

The pole is out the front up the road a bit, the flat roof is at the back.

[#11]

Moderators Note

This topic has been moved from Full Fibre to Everything Else

[#12]

@Okay 

You'd be looking for something like this at the top of the pole. The number of ports depends on the number of houses to be provisioned.

I assume there's clear line of site from the pole to your house. The fibre cable will be attached in the first instance near where the existing copper cable is fixed to the wall.

If the cherry picker can get down the side of the property then there's a chance you'll get the install the way you want but you just don't know until the day.

Brian

[#13]

Thanks Brian.

I think there's something like that on top of the pole now, can't quite make it out from where I am.

The copper wire that goes to the rear goes from the pole to the corner of the house then the other one (that is in use) goes to about the middle of the house then down to the corner of the living room window where the master socket is.

I don't think they can get any kind of vehicle down the side, it's only a few feet wide.

Given that, I may as well just leave things as they are for as long as possible as if I can't have the router upstairs then it's just a backwards step for me.

Thanks for all the help though, much appreciated.

[#14]

@Okay 

You'll not know where the ONT can go until an actual install takes place.

If it cannot go in your desired location then consider running ethernet cable so you can locate the router where you wish. In particular think about an external cable run. From the ONT take it outside, up the wall, round the house and then down to the old master socket access point.

Not the cheapest solution but it is future proof in having a good strong signal at both locations - router downstairs wth an ethernet switch upstairs.

Forgot to ask - is the flat roof yours? Might be easier to persuade someone to walk on it if it is.

Brian

[#15]

Yes, the roof is mine. Can be walked on to clean windows. Was re 'felted' (not felt, but that better stuff that lasts for many years, can't remember what it's called) in 2019 I think it was.

If they don't want to walk on it then maybe they could run the cable to the corner and let me go up and put the cable through the wall then I can fix it to the wall in my own time. But I doubt it somehow.

I've seen a video where they installed it in someone’s loft. That must be more dodgy that a flat roof, but there you go.

Thanks Brian.