Kitz Forum
Broadband Related => FTTP Rollout => Topic started by: kjw on May 19, 2021, 08:20:16 PM
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Evening All,
Long time lurker, 1st time poster!
My area was one of the early Jan 2020 areas announced for FTTP under the Rural Market Towns + Villages program and thought others might be interested in the timeline (I noted a few other areas have a similar thread going)
Ever since we was announced I have been an avid watcher of roadworks.org (not so much now they have nuked the detail the gits!) and the local neighbourhood watch on contractor activity around our footway boxes once things started happening :)
We currently have 3! FTTC cabinets all neatly lined up in a row (and yet we still have a never ending waiting list) so FTTP really cannot come too soon for us here.
The timeline from what I have witnessed where I live is as follows;
Late September: Initial surveying being completed where a lot of OR guys were down each footway box checking against a tablet (guessing checking routes?)
October-December: All ducts were fitted with blue rope by a 3rd party contractor
January-February: CBT's and splitters installed into the footway boxes by the same contractor
Then it went very quiet! Until late April where a lot of splicing activity was seen at the various splitters across the area as well as another contactor installing blue ropes from each property to the CBT locations via the ducting (mine was actually blocked, but someone came back out and managed to clear it, phew!)
Most recently I have seen OR back (first time in a while) who have been spending time at each splitter (possibly inspecting the work of the previous contractors?) and also some light testing being carried out at a few CBT's.
I am hoping (at least for our new build area) that we are getting close and the PON(s) are in the final commissioning/test phase (*** *** is mine) if anyone in the know has info to add I would definitely appreciate the update :)
I should add that both exchange areas have had a LOT of work done, outside of our new build estate most of the poles (around Minster at least) are now sporting a CBT so looks like at least in this area they are going for a pretty blanket coverage!
I will keep this thread updated as I notice things start to go live in case anyone else locally is interested.
For me this is going to be one of those big step changes, I will always remember going from dialup to 2mb ADSL, then from that to ADSL2, then for the last 10 years FTTC.
Bring it on.
-K
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Welcome, as an active member! :)
I have made an addition to your Subject line, (Sheerness), to assist those who are not well-versed in all the Openreach exchange areas.
Thank you for posting a synopsis of the installation work, to date. I am always interested to read such reports, as are other members.
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Welcome, as an active member! :)
I have made an addition to your Subject line, (Sheerness), to assist those who are not well-versed in all the Openreach exchange areas.
Thank you for posting a synopsis of the installation work, to date. I am always interested to read such reports, as are other members.
Oops missed that! Cheers.
Yeah I have learnt a lot from reading other peoples threads and experiences, not sure what I will do with my time once I actually have it :)
Interestingly CityFibre have now also added us to their phase2 roll out plans.. not sure why the sudden interest but hey can only be a good thing!
20/5 - MJ Quinn have been doing light testing on my actual CBT this morning... hope it went well :P
21/5 - Tracker updated to 1000/220
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Can I ask which tracker that might be as They tested light loss 3 or 4 weeks ago here and there is nothing seemingly happening now. I fear there is a problem maybe the ECI cab is being pulled or or the ultrafast checker and wholesale checker might not be the place to check
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Just the standard BT checker, it changed from the default 330/30 to 1000/220 normally indicating someone has touched a record hopefully meaning all went well!
Interestingly its only my street, the one leading off it and a whole cluster 5 streets away that has updated, yet I know CBT's are in the chambers across the rest of the estate as well.
https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome
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Moved from FTTP on demand to native FTTP.
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Thanks that is the one I've been using and checking daily for over 4 weeks :)
It's right outside my window on the pole that supplies my address
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You will know when it becomes available when it shows WBC FTTP 1000/220
Remember that the 'Cabs' have nothing to do with FTTP, in my case the fibre is connected to an exchange 12 miles away and not my local one 3 miles away.
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Really. I assumed it passed through fibre cab on circuit (eg where the fibre that supplies FTTC but then hooks up to over ground poles connection) for delivering over Poles eg bypassing copper cab : I know nothing like you lot though :)
Well I know what the checker will show when it is available to order
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Really. I assumed it passed through fibre cab on circuit (eg where the fibre that supplies FTTC but then hooks up to over ground poles connection) for delivering over Poles eg bypassing copper cab : I know nothing like you lot though :)
It passes through the same fibre aggregation nodes the cabinets connect to, but not actually the cabinets themselves.
This means that some time down the line they can remove all cabinets completely.
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That was how i understood they connected
So looking back I don't know why I mentioned the ECI cab
I wish it would hurry up though 47Mbps throughput today after an overnight drop
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At OP - got your PM - your PON has literally just been commissioned.
The 'grey area' now, is the time it takes to become CRFS (Customer Ready For Service). However that pans out though, you are at the end of the road where the FTTP build is concerned you lucky beggar. :)
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At OP - got your PM - your PON has literally just been commissioned.
The 'grey area' now, is the time it takes to become CRFS (Customer Ready For Service). However that pans out though, you are at the end of the road where the FTTP build is concerned you lucky beggar. :)
Appreciate the confirmation Black Sheep, your efforts are appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to check :)
As you say now just the wait to see if they wait on the rest of the estate PONS to be tested before releasing them all in one go!
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26/5 - We are live in the first postcodes, which includes mine :) Order placed!
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Crikey - that was quick to go to CRFS !!
Enjoy.
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Is there perhaps some merit to having people order while they are still working in the area, such as more fibre engineers around to do the installs? Or would that be entirely different contractors?
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Crikey - that was quick to go to CRFS !!
Enjoy.
Not going to complain! Around 50% of the estate flipped this morning so guessing the rest wont be far behind.
Is there perhaps some merit to having people order while they are still working in the area, such as more fibre engineers around to do the installs? Or would that be entirely different contractors?
Not sure it will make a difference, all the guys knocking around have plenty to do with regards installing the infrastructure.
I guess all the new CE's they have been recruiting will now get something to do :) Around here at least they are going big guns and installing on pretty much every street in the 2 exchange areas, that's a lot of fibre installs eventually. Interestingly we have a lot of GFast that went live a few years back, seems a waste now :)
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Had the fibre and ONT (Huawei) installed today, bit of an anti climax as currently waiting for the red LOS light to go...
The engineer was able to get it fired up in test for a light check (-14.7db) but seemingly there is some configuring to be done as it turns back off again.
That being said happy to see fibre in the house for the first time! :)
PON went live on Wednesday, and installed today.. definitely cant fault that for good service!
Just need my ISP order to catch up now as Zen are still showing waiting for KCI-2!
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Had the fibre and ONT (Huawei) installed today, bit of an anti climax as currently waiting for the red LOS light to go...
Congratulations. Was it an Openreach engineer or a sub-contractor?
. . . Zen are still showing waiting for KCI-2!
Isn't that just a marker which means "Keep Customer Informed, step 2"?
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Congratulations. Was it an Openreach engineer or a sub-contractor?
A couple of very nice Openreach chaps.
Instead of watching for workmen and roadworks I am now on PON light watch haha.
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I meant to add that had an interesting chat with one of the guys yesterday, due to the island nature of where we live (there are 2 road bridges) they have had to use a SHE in the local exchange rather than running back to the main head end exchange in Sittingbourne (like some of the earlier FTTP deployments all ready live do)
This was due to a lack of fibre running between the headend and the local area (only around 10-15km in distance) but guessing it would have been much more expensive to get a new fibre spine over the bridge or under the water :)
I wonder what this will do for eventual exchange closure later down the line though.
@Black Sheep: Is this a regular thing, or more an exception due to the geography?
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. . . due to the island nature of where we live (there are 2 road bridges) they have had to use a SHE in the local exchange rather than running back to the main head end exchange in Sittingbourne (like some of the earlier FTTP deployments all ready live do)
It's been a long while since I last visited that part of Kent and I am struggling to remember the local topography. ::)
Edit: Ah, yes. The A249. (Silly cat.) :-[
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Edit: Ah, yes. The A249. (Silly cat.) :-[
That's the one! I did wonder about the qty of fibres available as they are enabling pretty much the entire island (Sheerness/Minster) and they have now announced Eastchurch and Leysdown to complete the set by 2026.
I just wonder as to their long term plan as we have 4 exchanges covering those 4 areas, I wonder if the longer term plan is to consolidate all into 1 and close the other 3 to keep the subtended head end housed.. all interesting stuff regardless :)
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I just wonder as to their long term plan as we have 4 exchanges covering those 4 areas, I wonder if the longer term plan is to consolidate all into 1 and close the other 3 to keep the subtended head end housed..
Interesting, as you say, and all will become clear closer to the time. (Or when it happens!) ;)
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I meant to add that had an interesting chat with one of the guys yesterday, due to the island nature of where we live (there are 2 road bridges) they have had to use a SHE in the local exchange rather than running back to the main head end exchange in Sittingbourne (like some of the earlier FTTP deployments all ready live do)
@Black Sheep: Is this a regular thing, or more an exception due to the geography?
HE's and future Exchange closures are not my 'thang', I'm afraid. But the limited knowledge I have of SHE's ... I always thought they were installed at the Cab box utilising existing fibre, not the Exchange ??
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I always thought they were installed at the Cab box utilising existing fibre, not the Exchange ??
That's also my understanding.
Possibly connected to a cabinet right outside the exchange.
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That's also my understanding.
Possibly connected to a cabinet right outside the exchange.
I personally couldn't see that scenario occurring, tbh j0hn. The SHE's are deployed where there's a lack of spine fibres .... usually this would be on a veeery long run and/or having to avoid bespoke situations like the bridge mentioned in this post.
Running extra capacity from the Exchange cable-chamber to a Cab just outside said Exchange would cost pennies and easily achievable. :)
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I personally couldn't see that scenario occurring, tbh j0hn. The SHE's are deployed where there's a lack of spine fibres .... usually this would be on a veeery long run and/or having to avoid bespoke situations like the bridge mentioned in this post.
Running extra capacity from the Exchange cable-chamber to a Cab just outside said Exchange would cost pennies and easily achievable. :)
I find all this kind of stuff fascinating, if he ends up coming back ill see what else I can find out :)
Still a RED LOS light as it stands so we may meet again! Luckily I know the fibre is good as he fired the port up remotely with his laptop to get the light reading... but the port shut itself off again after a few minutes due to it not being configured for service yet.
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Still a RED LOS light as it stands so we may meet again! Luckily I know the fibre is good as he fired the port up remotely with his laptop to get the light reading... but the port shut itself off again after a few minutes due to it not being configured for service yet.
It's probable that the OLT port (to which the PON, of which your ONT is one member, is connected) will just need flipping from "testing mode" to "in service mode". Basically a few simple computer mouse clicks by the right person.
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It's probable that the OLT port (to which the PON, of which your ONT is one member, is connected) will just need flipping from "testing mode" to "in service mode". Basically a few simple computer mouse clicks by the right person.
Yeah that's pretty much what the OR guy said when he attended, he could put it in test mode but the port had not yet been put into service (mine was the first install) and he needed some kind of number to get it done. Anyway its with the right people, see what happens Tuesday when everyone is back at work :)
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Still a RED LOS light as it stands so we may meet again! Luckily I know the fibre is good as he fired the port up remotely with his laptop to get the light reading... but the port shut itself off again after a few minutes due to it not being configured for service yet.
The journey is over! LOS light just changed to solid green and PPPoE session came straight up :) Welcome to the fast lane!
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The journey is over! LOS light just changed to solid green and PPPoE session came straight up :) Welcome to the fast lane!
What? No obligatory speed test? ;)
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Haha was going to add one later, third world problems I know but only able to pull max speed from my own dedicated server! The speedtest.net servers are all over the place at the moment.
I do have a pretty graph direct from the router - https://pasteboard.co/K4UbR4J.png :)
Now its all sorted I guess its time to speak to PN about ceasing the last PSTN line.... end of an era!
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Yeah I think I will move mine to AAISPs VoIP service once I get FTTP (as its not tied to an ISP right now).
I was considering just putting it on sipgate but as my mum uses the landline when she wants to make a long call and isn't sure if she has enough credit on her phone, it makes more sense to keep it on a billing system rather than top-up credit.
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So it turns out when you have gigabit speeds a virtualised router is not what you need! Moved pfSense to bare metal and now hitting the top speeds :) also reduced ping by 5ms!
https://www.speedtest.net/result/11523216640
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So it turns out when you have gigabit speeds a virtualised router is not what you need!
Ah, I had failed to notice that small point. :D
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Hi,
I'm currently looking at buying a new build on the new minster beach development located inbetween southsea avenue and scarborough drive.
Trouble is looking at those roads they only appear to be getting a maximun of about 65mbp.
Is this correct and do you know if their are plans to increase this shortly?
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Hi,
I'm currently looking at buying a new build on the new minster beach development located inbetween southsea avenue and scarborough drive.
Trouble is looking at those roads they only appear to be getting a maximun of about 65mbp.
Is this correct and do you know if their are plans to increase this shortly?
With my limited vision of other areas, I can tell you that Minster has had most of its PON's surveyed back around the middle of last year .... under the 'Rural FTTP Programme'.
The area you are looking at falls under the 'New sites FTTP programme', which will automatically have FTTP installed as default.
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So it turns out when you have gigabit speeds a virtualised router is not what you need! Moved pfSense to bare metal and now hitting the top speeds :) also reduced ping by 5ms!
https://www.speedtest.net/result/11523216640
Due to posting in another topic regarding this, turns out you needed to pass through the NIC to allow proper performance (which I am now doing)
Hi,
I'm currently looking at buying a new build on the new minster beach development located inbetween southsea avenue and scarborough drive.
Trouble is looking at those roads they only appear to be getting a maximun of about 65mbp.
Is this correct and do you know if their are plans to increase this shortly?
As mentioned above there is no way this new development will be anything but full fibre... my brother in law lives in Southsea Ave and has a CBT but is not live just yet.. cant imagine it will be long though as 75% of households are now live.
I have been feeding postcodes to TBB since the rollout started, as you can see its quite advanced now! Its pretty much just that area of Minster that is still waiting.
https://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/broadband-map#14/51.4300/0.8020/geafttp/