Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[carlmagic]

Hi All,

Does this look like work to setup FTTP or maybe something else? (i'm hoping for FTTP!) It was done over the bank holiday weekend.

The only thing worrying is it says Company: VM on the cable?











Hopefully someone may know?

Thanks,

[Alex Atkin UK]

Its a bit strange it doesn't have the yellow line marking it as fibre, but I can't see Virgin Media (which seems likely given the VM) rolling out more COAX now their plan is to replace it all with fibre.

Also the shape of that pod looks like it could hold fibre splicing trays to me.

[timmy85]

I think the black pod in the first photo is some copper OR infrastructure....... There's a bunch of them around where I live and have been here for years but no sign of FTTP from OR even being considered here yet.

But yea, those cables defo look like they are Virgin Media or next Fibre. What does it look like on http://bidb.uk for the closest postcodes?

When Next Fibre/VM roll out, from what I've seen they tend to mount their CBT's on a bracket similar to this https://tinyurl.com/mvbb6nn2

[j0hn]

When Next Fibre/VM roll out, from what I've seen they tend to mount their CBT's on a bracket similar to this https://tinyurl.com/mvbb6nn2

That bracket is only necessary when a pole is congested. Openreach also frequently use them (your picture is 2 Openreach CBT's on the bracket).
For poles with little to no hardware at the top then the bracket wouldn't be needed.

[carlmagic]

Its a bit strange it doesn't have the yellow line marking it as fibre, but I can't see Virgin Media (which seems likely given the VM) rolling out more COAX now their plan is to replace it all with fibre.

Also the shape of that pod looks like it could hold fibre splicing trays to me.

I also thought that they would not roll out more copper. Having had a drive around the village going to work it seems some random telephone poles are the same they have the same extra cables now dangling so something is definietly going on.

I think the black pod in the first photo is some copper OR infrastructure....... There's a bunch of them around where I live and have been here for years but no sign of FTTP from OR even being considered here yet.

But yea, those cables defo look like they are Virgin Media or next Fibre. What does it look like on http://bidb.uk for the closest postcodes?

When Next Fibre/VM roll out, from what I've seen they tend to mount their CBT's on a bracket similar to this https://tinyurl.com/mvbb6nn2

Unfortunately cant see any work planned on bidb except 1 near by which is open reach i think needing a road closed to clear a duct? Unless they are doing it for then nextfibre/virgin to do their thing.

I'm sure that extra bracket is new but maybe i'm imaging it.

That bracket is only necessary when a pole is congested. Openreach also frequently use them (your picture is 2 Openreach CBT's on the bracket).
For poles with little to no hardware at the top then the bracket wouldn't be needed.

I'm sure that extra bracket is new but maybe i'm imaging it.


i tried contacting VM support to see if they are coming to the are but I dont think customer services even knew what day it is never mind what the plan is. So for now I guess i need to just be patient.

Was reading online though that they do support 2gbit symetrical so that could be interesting!

[carlmagic]

I've had a closer look today at the pole. Climbed a near by wall to get a closer look! Looking at this cable it has the same green line on the outside as the one in other pictures of XGS-PON. And the cable that is bundled also seems to be fibre optic with property of virgin media on it. So all things point to it being XGS.






Fingers crossed!! Any idea on that the time frame would be after seeing them put these cables on the poles to go live?

[dee.jay]

Depends on how all the poles have been fed but shouldn't be too long. Be lucky you aren't fed underground like I am. They dug past my house in October! Still can't order, haha

[carlmagic]

Jsut thought i'd post an update. Some of the poles have had the boxes fitted to the top now but not all. Still unable to order and it looks like they are still working in the area. Wouldnt be surprised if its a year at this rate!

[carlmagic]

Still no real update about nextfibre / VM. The box is still about chest height which points to still doing testing.

In other developments in the last couple of weeks openreach have been doing lots of work in the area and i've noticed now they have also got to the same phase as nextfibre in the last year. It looks like openreach are also testing / close to rollout. At this rate i would not be surprised if I cant order with an Openreach provider before VM sort themselfs out.

[dee.jay]

If I had no networks, I'd probably want Openreach of them all, so this is good news.

[carlmagic]

If I had no networks, I'd probably want Openreach of them all, so this is good news.

That is true i've not heard great things about virgin media.



In good news I had the email from Openreach today saying my area is now live for FTTP! I've just placed an order with Zen as i'm already with them for the FTTC connection and have a static IP. The price is a little more than others online but i've had a great experience with them so far. Gone with the 900 package for £50 a month. Hopefully it will be installed shortly. I'll make my final post in this thread when its all gone live

I feel a bit bad? for Virgin media / next fibre if thats even possible. They have spent months / a year in the area clearing blockages sorting collapsed conduits ext only for Openreach to sweep in after and run their own cables and get it to market before them. Of course the conduits ext are Openreaches and i'm not sure if they contribute to the cost it just seems like a massive loss for Nextfibre / VM?

Oh well in 18 months when this contract is up maybe Zen or others will be able to supply through Nextfibre to give me even more options.

[Alex Atkin UK]

I feel a bit bad? for Virgin media / next fibre if thats even possible. They have spent months / a year in the area clearing blockages sorting collapsed conduits ext only for Openreach to sweep in after and run their own cables and get it to market before them. Of course the conduits ext are Openreaches and i'm not sure if they contribute to the cost it just seems like a massive loss for Nextfibre / VM?

That's a turn up for the books, its usually the opposite that happens.
Here VM were installing their linking conduit and cabinets in anticipation of OR clearing the ducts so they rolled out much faster.

Not sure it paid off though, its all poles round here and its almost entirely OR FTTP that has been taken up, partly I think down to Sky pushing migrations from FTTC.

[dee.jay]

That is true i've not heard great things about virgin media.



In good news I had the email from Openreach today saying my area is now live for FTTP! I've just placed an order with Zen as i'm already with them for the FTTC connection and have a static IP. The price is a little more than others online but i've had a great experience with them so far. Gone with the 900 package for £50 a month. Hopefully it will be installed shortly. I'll make my final post in this thread when its all gone live

I feel a bit bad? for Virgin media / next fibre if thats even possible. They have spent months / a year in the area clearing blockages sorting collapsed conduits ext only for Openreach to sweep in after and run their own cables and get it to market before them. Of course the conduits ext are Openreaches and i'm not sure if they contribute to the cost it just seems like a massive loss for Nextfibre / VM?

Oh well in 18 months when this contract is up maybe Zen or others will be able to supply through Nextfibre to give me even more options.

Though having said what I said above, I actually have VM and OR FTTP connections - VM being the Nexfibre form, and despite all the things you hear, the service has actually been excellent. I do not intend to keep both past VM's renewal, however, or at least not at the top tier like I have, VM is not cheap.

[HPsauce]

It might be a bit of a digression, but do VM ever go overhead or use BT ducts and poles?
Round here almost all the BT cabling to premises is overhead and there are no plans for FTTP so FTTC is the best we can get.
BUT a cable company installed cabinets and roadside ducts many many years ago and this is now owned by VM.

The problem we (and others in the area) have is that connecting to VM usually means digging trenches across existing driveways etc. which is often not that easy or desirable.
In our case the BT pole is the other side of the road (as is their main duct), not a problem for the overhead drop wire, but the VM cable access is in the footpath by our front gate where the only nearby pole is a mains power one - don't think they'd be allowed to use that! There's no obvious underground route to our house that wouldn't involve significant landscaping work afterwards.   

[carlmagic]

Install scheduled for the 9th of July 

It might be a bit of a digression, but do VM ever go overhead or use BT ducts and poles?
Round here almost all the BT cabling to premises is overhead and there are no plans for FTTP so FTTC is the best we can get.
BUT a cable company installed cabinets and roadside ducts many many years ago and this is now owned by VM.

The problem we (and others in the area) have is that connecting to VM usually means digging trenches across existing driveways etc. which is often not that easy or desirable.
In our case the BT pole is the other side of the road (as is their main duct), not a problem for the overhead drop wire, but the VM cable access is in the footpath by our front gate where the only nearby pole is a mains power one - don't think they'd be allowed to use that! There's no obvious underground route to our house that wouldn't involve significant landscaping work afterwards.   

The work NextFibre are doing around here is a mix of both under and over. I think the NextFibre VM work (XGS-PON) is both over and under as they do seem to be using the poles here for the splitter boxes and I assume they are going to run the cables from them poles to the houses above ground like Openreach do.