FTTP cabling into home

[dickytwo]

I had a visit from a BT Openreach (Kelly's) engineer to install my new EE FTTP line. Due to him saying it wasn't possible, I then had a visit from an Openreach engineer the following day who sorted all the cabling to outside my house and said I would need one more visit to cable it to inside my house and connect to the ONT box.

The first engineer said it had to go directly into the front of the house even though all the other phone line points were at the back of the house. The external connection is at the front of the house however. Is this correct, can they not cable it around the house to the back and then in through a wall? It's only a typical town house so we aren't talking a mansion.

Just want to check as the first guy seemed like he wanted to get away asap (the Openreach engineer seemed to agree he was a jobsworth as he cabled it externally no problem).

Any advice welcome so I can tell him where to go if he tries it on when they come back to finish the job.

[XRaySpeX]

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@dickytwo wrote:

The external connection is at the front of the house however.

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A channel needs drilling in the outside wall where the external box is sited to connect with the ONT on the inside wall.

[dickytwo]

So, the other side of the front wall would be the kitchen.

Are you saying it has to go there? So the EE hub also has to go there and then I can't ethernet anything to it as all the stuff that would need connecting is in the back room? Seems crazy if they won't be willing to take the fibre cable round the house and then in to the back.

[Mustrum]

People need to give bit of thought about how to get the best out of the internet these days. Even with FTTC the position of the master socket in older houses tend not to be where internet is most needed, FTT P can be even more critical.

Modern houses have sophisticated distribution systems for all services including the internet.

Is it realistic to expect an OR tech to go out of their way, take more time and materials than they are allocated to keep customers happy to provide a service they pay no install costs for?

Did you even get the kettle and choccie biscuits out?

Just some things to think about..

[dickytwo]

Of course, normally I would offer tea, coffee etc, but the first guy who visited was straight on the defensive saying what he would or wouldn't and it was mostly what he wouldn't do. He's not getting jack.

It goes both ways.

The Openreach guy who came out after, now he was straight up and explained things, did most of the job the other guy didn't do and had more customer facing skills - he got the bourbon biscuits.

But anyway, what I really want to know is what are they contracted to do and if they refuse, what are my rights in terms of ONT location? This isn't something I can easily fix if it's in an impractical location.

[XRaySpeX]

They are not contracted to you but to the ISP sub-contracting them. Your contract is with EE who will determine the work necessary.

[Mustrum]

Not sure I agree about EE determining the work, apart from anything they have no means to do that on an individual basis.

However a google search gives plenty of practical examples, and includes a link to the OR site which is worth a read.

Google search.

But at the end of the day, getting the right guy, and treating them nice, and being practical will get the best results. The ONT does not need to be near the router, running an internal or even external Cat 5/6 cable might be your best long term option.

[dickytwo]

Thanks guys, I will quiz EE about it when they phone to book the final engineer visit in.

I think there is maybe no definitive answer, as @Mustrum mentions, engineers really do vary in helpfulness and that is what I have found so far.

I'll update this thread when done so it may help anyone else in this situation.

[XRaySpeX]

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@Mustrum wrote:

Not sure I agree about EE determining the work, apart from anything they have no means to do that on an individual basis.

I daresay at the end of the day they rely on the OR eng on the ground & how accommodating they are.

[pip11]

Openreach engineers normally place the ONT where you require it unless there is a very good reason not to.

EE have no power over the install other than to order the service be supplied.

Discuss your install with the engineer when he arrives.