Deciding on upgrade to full fibre as existing customer but questions re installation

[#1]

Hi,

I recently received an email from plusnet as a customer offering me options to renew my service and upgrade to full fibre; current contract expires next march.

I have checked the openreach site and see that full fibre is ready to order.

I have three questions.

1. With reference to the attached image which is a plan of our first floor bedroom (green) that is at the front of our street situated home (we step out of the front door onto the pavement) and into which the current wires enter the building around the yellow area (near the front window [yellow]).

Previously the openreach engineer fitted a cable right to the rear of our home but now, we have our HUB1 located at X (on the landing [red]) and it is powered from the circle location (I have no power options on the landing).

My question is, having watched the plusnet installation video, is it likely that the openreach engineer will be able to install the broadband equipment at the circle location? (I suppose he will have to run the wires along the skirting and over the bedroom door? (cyan). Would I have any ability to influence where the equipment is fitted?

2. Is the wifi range of the hub2 router much improved over the hub1? This is why its on the landing to maximise reach to the rear of the property.

3. Not really related to the installation, but this would influence my decision to go full fibre or stay with what we have. Is the hub1 router likely to cause issues with a newer laptop (becuase it is old)? whilst my older laptop and older mobile fone work ok, the gaming laptop seems to have unreliable connectivity on both frequencies, even with a wifi dongle I tried, to eliminate/identify the problem. I beleive the hub1 to be abit of an antique by now.

Many thanks for your time.

[#2]

@Matt72 

I'm afraid you will only find out on the day. You talk to the installer to decide where the ONT will go - it's a case of the desiable against the possible.

While the installer can run the fibre cable from the window round the skirting board to fit the internal ONT near the circle this may not be necessary.

The router connects via ethernet cable so you could have the ONT where the cable comes in (if there's power) and then run an ethernet cable to the desired location of the router.

The Hub2 does have better WiFi than the Hub1 but you cannot split the WiFi bands. However, so long as you don't go for a reasonably high speed with FTTP then the Hub1 can continue to be used if so desired.

Brian

[#3]

@Matt72 

My brain wasn't fully in gear yesterday.

Is you current incoming copper cable supplied by an overhead or underground feed? This can make a difference to the install in your circumstances.

Brian

[#4]

Hi BMC, thank you for responding.

The current wiring is copper and it does come from the pavement (ground), stretched across two adjacent houses on our street.

I think our area is or was predominantly virgin fibre. There was a virgin fibre box outside the front of our house when we bought it 18 years ago.

[#5]

@Matt72 

The questions keep on coming. Are you saying the cable comes up outside a neighbours house, is taken up the wall and then along to your property? This might explain the Master Socket being upstairs.

The fibre cable follows the existing cable route. Any chance of posting a picture of the cable emerging?

Can you have a look at the following - https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

I'm interested in two things.

What does it say to the right of WBC FTTP - it may be "one stage" or "KCI2"?

There is a narratve below the results window about the FTTP install - what does this say?

Brian

[#6]

Hi BMC, thank you for your message.

Attached image shows A where the copper wire comes out of the ground, outside of the second house down, the wire runs up its the wall and then across over to ours. Strange, but it always worked. This image shows the box, that we did used to have outside of ours, where in image B you can see where the, I assume fibre cable did come out, into the box that has since long gone!

I went to the website as suggested and the information asked about is as follows

KCI2 Assure

Our records show the following FTTP network service information for these premises:-Single Dwelling Unit Residential UG Pre built to curtilage Hard.

FTTP is available and a new ONT may be ordered.

The exchange is not in a current fibre priority programme

As a WLR withdrawal exchange, product restrictions apply

SOADSL is not restricted at the exchange

For all ADSL and WBC Fibre to the Cabinet (VDSL or G.fast) services, the stable line rate will be determined during the first 10 days of service usage.

For all SOADSL services,the stable line rate will be determined during the first 10 days of service usage.

Actual speeds experienced by end users and quoted by CPs will be lower due to a number of factors within and external to BT's network, Communication Providers' networks and within customer premises.

If you decide to place an order for a WBC fibre product, an appointment may be required for an engineer to visit the end user's premises to supply the service

In order to be eligible for handback, downstream speed should be less than Downstream Handback Threshold values.

ADSL, ADSL2+ and SOADSL availability: If shown at FTTP or SOGEA premises,ADSL, ADSL2+ and SOADSL are not available to order due to WLR Withdrawal stop sell rules. CPs should order FTTP or SOGEA. Copper products are only available by exception.

Thank you for your interest

I have read up on what this interesting information means, and for clarity our outside front wall is right on the pavement, if that makes any difference

[#7 · Accepted solution]

@Matt72 

Thanks for the pictures. The information from the Checker tells us a lot.

KCI2 means a survey is required and if you're lucky enough to be there when it's done you get a chance to speak to OR. I'm not sure of the exact process but I seem to recall text messages are involved and if you text ACCESS then they do speak to you. Someone else may confirm this.

Pre built to hard curtilage suggests digging is required.

All in all it suggests the CSP will be at street level and the internal ONT may be downstairs. You just don't know until you order.

To a certain extent a full fibre install is a once in a generation opportunity to re-think your internet access around the house. For example, with the ONT downstairs you could run an external ethernet cable upstairs to feed a WiFi Access Point (WAP). You get what's known as Power over Ethernet, which although the Hub2 doesn't support it this can be used to power the WAP. You either buy a router which has PoE support or you can get power injectors (these need a power source).

Using this negates the need for a power source and the WAP could be installed high up the wall on the landing to cover upstairs.

It's worth thinking about. There are probably other options.

Brian

[#8]

Hi Brian,

Thank you for deciphering the technical terms for me to understand, this has been extremely informative.

To the extent...lol...I think we'll not bother, at least not for this renewal. Our house is odd in that our power outlets are in the most inconvenient places as regard to a potential full fibre install, not against the front wall but the opposite wall, ie between front room and the back room.

I will however keep a copy of this information for the next time we are offered renewal.

Power over ethernet wow, thats such a thing!

[#9]

@Matt72 

PoE uses 2 of the 8 wires in an ethernet cable. Reduces capacity of the cable but in a domestic situation this doesn't really matter so good for cameras, WAPs, ethernet switches etc.

You can upgrade at any time with PN - you just need to start a new contract.

If you still have your phone line then an upgrade of sorts is coming when PN withdraw from providing phone services and PSTN is switched off. Next year sometime.

Might be worth asking an electrician about the feasibily of adding new power sockets. The Full Fibre power requirements aren't going to change. The more I think about it the ONT installation will be downstairs (just don't quote me on that) though even if the wire comes in at the front the fibre can be routed round the walls to the existing power source.

Brian

[#10]

---

@bmc wrote:

PoE uses 2 of the 8 wires in an ethernet cable. Reduces capacity of the cable but in a domestic situation this doesn't really matter so good for cameras, WAPs, ethernet switches etc.

---

I don't think you've got that right @bmc ; how would you explain Gigabit PoE switches, which use standard Ethernet cables to deliver that speed?

[#11]

@RobPN 

I'll happily admit to a lack of knowledge on this subject.

I know they use 2 wires for the power and just assumed that if these wires are not available for data then the capacity of hte cable is reduced.

Brian

[#12]

Thanks Brian,

I appreciate your help on this matter, it's helped alot.

Matt72