FTTP Installation in top floor

[goodvibes]

Hi, 

I have an engineer installation booked next week to install my full fibre connection with an eero 6 router. Previous tenants at my flat had Fibre 35 with TalkTalk, but I was not able to get a similar deal and they only offered me full fibre, given that it is available at my address and BT Wholesale Checker confirms that. However, another provider (community fibre) was unable to install at my location after multiple times (it was very frustrating) due to my flat being a loft conversion  on the top floor (4th floor). Does anyone have experience with this? I have a phone socket, so would TalkTalk have to 'downgrade' to FTTC if FTTP is not possible? If so, will I need a new router & another installation date?

Sorry for all of the questions, its been four weeks since I've tried to get wifi installed and I'm preparing myself for potentially more disappointment next week! I don't game, I work from home and do the normal streaming etc, so I just need internet that works! 

Thanks

[Michelle-TalkTalk]

Morning,

Thanks for the update 🙂

Thanks

[mrwrighty]

Wow, good job. Great to see the engineers doing that little bit extra. Enjoy.

[goodvibes]

UPDATE: Openreach came by today and successfully wired the cable inside my hallway and up to my flat. Took them about 4 hours but the job ended up being successful and the engineers were super friendly and my FTTP is now up and running! 

[goodvibes]

I will do, thank you! They said that they will call me on the day, so hopefully I'll hear from them... I'll keep an eye out on the day to see if Openreach do come, but they just confirmed my appt from 8am-12pm on Wednesday so fingers crossed. Will report back once they get here! 

Thanks!

[mrwrighty]

Report back after the engineer visit. Will be interested to hear what they say. One thing I will say is that the Engineer may not actually come in to your flat and will only do a visual inspection from the outside to determine accessibility. Keep an eye out for them and catch them before they leave if they have not checked internally.

[goodvibes]

Thanks a lot for all of this info, I really appreciate it! I'm now no longer hopeful that this will be resolved, but it's confusing me that at least 5 other flats on my street have cables going up and across their properties to the back so hopefully there's something that can be done. Otherwise, am I just stuck with no internet?!

It seems baffling to me that they want to withdraw copper services but then potentially abort installations for those who have properties higher up or properties that do have copper but may find cable access a bit more difficult, so does that mean we're just off-grid? I highly doubt I'm the only loft conversion flat, especially in London, so it just seems like a lack of forethought for 'non-traditional' apartments or houses... 

[mrwrighty]

It will depend on the property. I doubt very much a cable from a pole will go 4 floors up. It is likely to on the second floor then wired internally which also may be an issue if there isn't a service duct. If this is a rented/leasehold property you may also require the permission from the landlord to route cables over the property. BT have a habit of insisting on a wayleave when crossing property not belong to the service recipient. 

[goodvibes]

There's a pole right outside of my house (maybe 1 or 2 doors down) that runs cables across my street (including to my neighbours), and another one nearby as well, so I think it'll be overhead. 

My loft is on the 4th floor, so I suspect that's what they will need to get the cable up there. I also don't know where they will be able to drill as the ceiling is sloped, but maybe the engineer can tell me more once he's there. I suspect they wont be able to get it done all in one day, especially if the cherry picker is needed. Thanks!

[mrwrighty]

How many floors up is your loft apartment. You should be able to see from outside any cables running to the building from a nearby pole. If there are no poles in the vicinity then chances are it is underground. I dont think any engineers will go above 3 floors or maybe even 2 floors without a cherry picker which means access maybe limited if the service is by pole.

I had to have a cherry picker to run a cable over some overgrown trees belonging to a neighbour 2 doors away. Had this not been available my install would have been aborted.

[goodvibes]

Thanks Karl. I think the issue the other installers had was with access, as I live in a loft conversion and getting the cable into the property seemed to stump the other engineers as I have skylights facing the street but a dormer to the back of the telephone pole. I'm hoping Openreach can give me other options, or try and figure out a solution for me. 

Thanks a lot for your responses so far. Fingers crossed I get somewhere next week...

[Karl-TalkTalk]

Hi

My own FTTP is fed from a telegraph pole, so overhead.  If this is the case, I don't see why openreach would be unable to connect you via overhead cable to the outside of the property.

If underground, they would need to tack cable up along the outside, and that may impact other peoples property, so could cause complications.

Best see what the engineer advised on the day.

Karl.

[goodvibes]

Thanks! Yeah I hope they're more accommodating as it's been really frustrating to try and get anything installed here, and I would hope that Openreach would be responsible for getting me a service if they're withdrawing copper.

Sorry if I sound paranoid, but my experience with fibre so far has been so negative so I thought I'd see what other options I have as I don't know how much longer I can go without a stable connection & find it hard to believe that a loft conversion flat is fully impossible... 😓

[goodvibes]

It says on BT that its fed overhead, but I had 4 Community Fibre engineers come over and say it's "impossible" and that I will "never" get fibre in this apartment, hence my question, as I worry I will be told the same. Hopefully Openreach can figure out another solution for me...

[Karl-TalkTalk]

Hi

Difficult questions to answer until the engineer has attended and assessed the situation. Do you know if the property is fed via underground cables or from poles ?

Karl.

[mrwrighty]

Full fibre is the only option now as copper services are being withdrawn.

Wait for the engineer visit. Some are more accommodating that others and will depend on accessibility.

Having a telephone socket is not relevant as FTTP services terminate at an ONT, you then run an ethernet cable from the ONT to your router.