Hot and cold messages from EE/openreach is this usual?

[Spik3y]

Hi all.

I'm just migrating from plusnet to EE with an engineers appointment for fibre install  for May 19th.  I'm getting opposite text messages on alternate days.  First day suggesting everythings on track, then next day saying sorry slight delay and repeat.  I just wondered if this is usual ?  The router and ATA came today, so at least thats here.

Fibre has only just become available here. (rural  low population area)

[XRaySpeX]

I confused how/why you got 2 contradictory results from the BTw Checker:

1. st: Must have been obtained using a landline no. as it shows your current BB from PN as 12 Meg ADSL. Is that right? No Full Fibre (WBC FTTP) is available there.
2. nd: Presumably obtained using the Address Checker. Full Fibre (WBC FTTP) is available there with no service yet laid on but there should be no difficulty doing so.

[JimM11]

@Spik3y You may find the link below helpful but if you do not have a CBT up your pole, or any sign of a new Fibre cable on the pole there may be a mix up with all the information. As you say the Engineer did prompt that it was done and can see why the wind farm would be looking to get Fibre for the remote control of the turbines... OR may have planned and pulled in a Fibre cable to cover the two cottages you just never know, they sometimes just leave a cable coiled up ready to do a quick connection.

How is Full Fibre Installed? Openreach

From the link above in case you miss it, Fibre availability | Openreach

[Spik3y]

I went out with the binoculars earlier and the pole in the farm road definitely looks to have newer cables/boxes, than the pole on our boundary.

[Spik3y]

The app is still saying  "the engineer appointment takes place on your service activation date ..........."  which is today  19 May between 1 and 6pm so will see what happens.   🤞 I've had no further texts.

My husband has unscrewed one of the patio roof panels to give access, to the gable end.  We've cleared a path in the loft where the cables drop down into the back room, and I've had a blitz in there so the engineer has room to work. Thats about all we can do until we actually see someone.

[JimM11]

@Spik3y You may find that the Installation Engineer may not go into the Loft space to run the Fibre same way as the old copper cable is going, the new Health and Safety Laws may stop that from happening, so be prepared for the talk with them when they arrive, tendency now is to come down an outside wall, fit a CSP box and drill a hole straight through, mount the ONT inside and double socket required for the new position of the Hub/ONT for power, have linked the on the day....

It is best if you can do as you have before position wise, i did so similar to you all the prep work, first contractor to OR refused the request marked the job as customer not ready, 21 day delay after that, OR Engineers came two off them and no issues with them doing the work, so off the pole to the roof line, up the roof truss and ONT installed inside the home dormer space with a lot smaller CSP all mounted on a board with a power socket to boot that i wired up. I Ran the Ethernet cable internal to the hub position, they connected it all up, tested the ONT and said your good to go, plug in the new hub, it connected did the needful and that was it, install was done i well under the hour, off OR trotted last one off the day for them...

Fibre cable is delicate, it cannot be bent at sharp angles like the Internal phone cable can but Engineer will explain, BUT if you can keep the Hub central were it is working and you should in theory have no issues, apart from possible wifi signal but that all depends on the hub you are getting etc. Watch the video linked below...

How is Full Fibre Installed? Openreach 

[Spik3y]

Given the position of the cottage , the outbuildings and 2 ft walls there are only 2 points of entry.    Theres just no  way of getting cables through from front to back of the cottage, or in through the garage side.  rewiring the electrics, was interesting to say the least and involved a very helpful cat with a harness and a bit of string at one point. Whichever way it comes in, there are gable roofs in the way, and no vertical access to ground

No sign of anyone yet.  We were hoping that with assistance  from husband to pass the cable through the loft it may be acceptable.    The access panel on the patio allows the engineer to screw his ladder for safety.   The back up position is a hole through a window frame which husband can drill at the time if necessarry, but the cable will still have to come in the same way overhead.    Wont know until someone actually turns up. 

From what you say I'm worried that the engineer will just look from the field and think  "Nah, leave it for some other idiot" without even speaking to us.

The copper cable at present comes over several poles, affixes to a gable end , trails across the flat roof, along the guttering down the wall, and under the floor through an air vent.  

[JimM11]

@Spik3y Norm is for EE to pass on all your mobile details to the OR Installation, OR normally start off texting, you are due an installation on x, we are working hard to connect you some off that work is just taken care off before the Engineer arrives, then were on our way to connect you up etc etc... All you can do is wait and see what transpires when/if someone does appear. Had a quick look back, see you have the Hub and the remote ATA for a landline so at least that has all been in hand EE wise.

[Spik3y]

I think if they dont appear in the farm road shortly its a no go as no doubt they wont work past 6pm   

 Its really frustrusting as I was planning on doing all this at plusnet contract end in November, but had no choice in the end it was no phone or EE now. We have some dates away, so will have to try and rebook around them if they dont show.

Will the plusnet contract continue until the day service is swapped if its postponed which looks likely now?

[JimM11]

@Spik3y I theory yes, the PN Broadband/phone etc should continue until you get transferred over to your new FF connection on EE service. If OR do fail to show they will report back to EE later and then EE reach out tomorrow or the day after to call them and arrange a reschedule for the Installation. Think the Engineers do go past the 6pm mark, mine turned up at 4pm on the 8am to 1pm but he did call saying delayed doing the first installation and would appear when he could.

[Spik3y]

Funnily enough the OR chap we spoke to up here 2 weeks back, reckoned they were twiddling their thumbs at the moment with not much to do,  so it was probably a good time to get it done.  I'm beginning to wonder if the actuation date appointment actually got through to them.