FTTP Installation Questions
Discussion
There are two phone lines running into the house.
Both physically enter on the ground floor.
One is the main "landline" which is a couple of metres from where the cables enter the ground floor and the other is one that was already installed when we moved in and it runs to an upstairs office where there is a BT master socket which was updated to a BT master socket 5C a year or two back by an Openreach engineer when the broadband was upgraded to GFAST.
The main landline is used for phone calls whilst the landline upstairs is only used for Internet there's no need for a phone number or landline apart from that the current Internet connection needs it.
Between the "digital switchover" and FTTP I'm not clear what needs to happen and when and if I wanted to upgrade the existing Internet connection to FTTP whether the connection would be run to where the upstairs master socket is or if the Openreach position is that they'll install where the line enters the building which would be downstairs.
Would anyone know please?
Both physically enter on the ground floor.
One is the main "landline" which is a couple of metres from where the cables enter the ground floor and the other is one that was already installed when we moved in and it runs to an upstairs office where there is a BT master socket which was updated to a BT master socket 5C a year or two back by an Openreach engineer when the broadband was upgraded to GFAST.
The main landline is used for phone calls whilst the landline upstairs is only used for Internet there's no need for a phone number or landline apart from that the current Internet connection needs it.
Between the "digital switchover" and FTTP I'm not clear what needs to happen and when and if I wanted to upgrade the existing Internet connection to FTTP whether the connection would be run to where the upstairs master socket is or if the Openreach position is that they'll install where the line enters the building which would be downstairs.
Would anyone know please?
It's totally separate to the phone line, so they will typically install it wherever is most convenient for them. Unless you speak to your installer nicely and tell him where you would like it.
The line needs to enter the property, which is typically via The most direct, easier route. Then terminated inside the property at the ONT. This can be fitted anywhere. Mine is under the stairs for example. Obviously it's preferable for the installer to fit it as close to the entry point of the line, as it's less work
Then connect your router to the ONT. Both the ONT and router will requires mains power, so somewhere near a double plug is sensible.
The line needs to enter the property, which is typically via The most direct, easier route. Then terminated inside the property at the ONT. This can be fitted anywhere. Mine is under the stairs for example. Obviously it's preferable for the installer to fit it as close to the entry point of the line, as it's less work
Then connect your router to the ONT. Both the ONT and router will requires mains power, so somewhere near a double plug is sensible.
Edited by TEKNOPUG on Sunday 14th January 10:19
Thanks both
TEKNOPUG this is where I'm unclear how much the OpenReach engineer will do. Both phone lines enter the house in the living room so the downstairs socket is pretty much the other side of the outside wall where the cables come in. The second cable then disappears off under carpet and through the under stairs cupboard and emerges somewhere upstairs from under the floorboards to where the second and new master socket 5C is - all before my time here so I'm not sure of the exact cable route.
megaphone yes two contracts both with IDNET. One is for the phone line (downstairs) which is used as a phone line and the other is for GFAST Internet (upstairs) and the phone line that is only required for the Internet connection.
TEKNOPUG this is where I'm unclear how much the OpenReach engineer will do. Both phone lines enter the house in the living room so the downstairs socket is pretty much the other side of the outside wall where the cables come in. The second cable then disappears off under carpet and through the under stairs cupboard and emerges somewhere upstairs from under the floorboards to where the second and new master socket 5C is - all before my time here so I'm not sure of the exact cable route.
megaphone yes two contracts both with IDNET. One is for the phone line (downstairs) which is used as a phone line and the other is for GFAST Internet (upstairs) and the phone line that is only required for the Internet connection.
Right , strange you pay for two when you could get both services down one line.
Anyway back to your question, are the lines on poles or underground? If on a pole they will usually just string another fibre cable across, they leave the existing in place. They are usually pretty flexible with where they enter the home, as long as it is practical. Often the work is carried out by sub-contractors.
Anyway back to your question, are the lines on poles or underground? If on a pole they will usually just string another fibre cable across, they leave the existing in place. They are usually pretty flexible with where they enter the home, as long as it is practical. Often the work is carried out by sub-contractors.
Yeah technically the second line has a phone number as I'm paying for a phone line as it's needed for GFAST.
But that line is never ever used for calls there isn't even a phone plugged in just the GFAST modem connected to the 5C socket.
It is strange but it's a legacy thing from when the second room was used as a dedicated office.
No poles visible anywhere all underground.
But that line is never ever used for calls there isn't even a phone plugged in just the GFAST modem connected to the 5C socket.
It is strange but it's a legacy thing from when the second room was used as a dedicated office.
No poles visible anywhere all underground.
Well if I go and look outside there's a grey BT branded box on the outside of the house with a thick looking cable disappearing off down the front of the house into a 1-2" diameter plastic pipe presumably to wherever it goes on the way back to the BT cabinet.
There's then a smaller thinner cable coming out of that box that run round the side of the house where it goes through the outside wall into the living room.
Main thing for now is understanding the physical carnage needed
There's then a smaller thinner cable coming out of that box that run round the side of the house where it goes through the outside wall into the living room.
Main thing for now is understanding the physical carnage needed
megaphone said:
If the cable is coming in underground it is likely to be a very old copper twin pair. If it's in a conduit they may be able to pull a new fibre through. If not they will need to dig up the front garden or mole across.
That is what they did with mine; i.e. poked the fibre through the existing under drive/garden ducting, drilled a hole next to the exiting landline and stuck the ONT next to the master socket. Then it's a short connection to my wireless router (as it was before). Plus I then ran ethernet cable to my office upstairs so I get the full speed of 1Gig. It sounds like the grey plastic pipe you describe is a conduit to the street/cabinet, so hopefully the new fibre will be able to be pulled through that. They will need to terminate the fibre in an 'ONT'. https://www.bt.com/help/broadband/whats-an-openrea...
This needs a power source, they usually drill through the wall near a socket, your router then plugs into the ONT via an ethernet cable, the router can be elsewhere in the home but does need an ethernet cable to connect to the ONT.
This needs a power source, they usually drill through the wall near a socket, your router then plugs into the ONT via an ethernet cable, the router can be elsewhere in the home but does need an ethernet cable to connect to the ONT.
Yeah what I'm hoping is that the 2" pipe goes down under the garden or drive to the pavement which is only about 5M in front of the house and into "BT land".
So the way I think I understand this is:
Step one is get FTTP installed which would mean an ONT in the living room as that seems the most non-disruptive place unless OpenReach can work a miracle inside the house - this renders the second phone line and unused phone number unnecessary.
Step two is get the phone number that is needed and used linked to the ONT that's now in the house.
That second part is what I'm a bit unclear on but I'm hoping that as the Internet and the existing phone lines are all with IDNET they would somehow deal with that part as the number is already with them.
I can of course ask them but my main concern was trying to understand the physical side of it first.
Have I understood correctly?
So the way I think I understand this is:
Step one is get FTTP installed which would mean an ONT in the living room as that seems the most non-disruptive place unless OpenReach can work a miracle inside the house - this renders the second phone line and unused phone number unnecessary.
Step two is get the phone number that is needed and used linked to the ONT that's now in the house.
That second part is what I'm a bit unclear on but I'm hoping that as the Internet and the existing phone lines are all with IDNET they would somehow deal with that part as the number is already with them.
I can of course ask them but my main concern was trying to understand the physical side of it first.
Have I understood correctly?
Edited by b
hstewie on Sunday 14th January 11:32
hstewie on Sunday 14th January 11:32It's FTTP; FTTC would still use your current phone line.
You can get a VOIP phone and port your current phone number to it.
This means you no longer need a dedicated phone line. If you get your fibre internet via BT, they will provide you with a VOIP phone. Or you can get a third party phone/contract.
If you have a power cut or internet is down, your VOIP phone won't work.
How important is 24/7 phone line? Or maintaining your phone number?
You can get a VOIP phone and port your current phone number to it.
This means you no longer need a dedicated phone line. If you get your fibre internet via BT, they will provide you with a VOIP phone. Or you can get a third party phone/contract.
If you have a power cut or internet is down, your VOIP phone won't work.
How important is 24/7 phone line? Or maintaining your phone number?
TEKNOPUG said:
It's FTTP; FTTC would still use your current phone line.
You can get a VOIP phone and port your current phone number to it.
This means you no longer need a dedicated phone line. If you get your fibre internet via BT, they will provide you with a VOIP phone. Or you can get a third party phone/contract.
If you have a power cut or internet is down, your VOIP phone won't work.
How important is 24/7 phone line? Or maintaining your phone number?
My router also supports VOIP, so all I did was connect my existing DECT phone to the router, then my ISP pushed the config to the router, and job's a carrot. No new phone required.You can get a VOIP phone and port your current phone number to it.
This means you no longer need a dedicated phone line. If you get your fibre internet via BT, they will provide you with a VOIP phone. Or you can get a third party phone/contract.
If you have a power cut or internet is down, your VOIP phone won't work.
How important is 24/7 phone line? Or maintaining your phone number?
Digital Voice / VOIP is supposed to happen in 2025 - hmm, it wont. (However, they will not now install new landlines).
I meant FTTP
The phone number matters more than the phone line but it's just used for voice calls nothing critical.
From a quick look on the IDNET site they can offer a VOIP service so I can ask them how porting the number would work.
Main thing is understanding the physical impact of all this and it's sounding like a FTTP connection with a single ONT box with my router connected and the existing phone number linked to via VOIP it is all that's needed?
Weird thing is I work in IT so if I'm having to ask this how the hell is the average customer meant to know where to start.
Snuffy you read my mind with the 2025 "switchover". No chance.
The phone number matters more than the phone line but it's just used for voice calls nothing critical.
From a quick look on the IDNET site they can offer a VOIP service so I can ask them how porting the number would work.
Main thing is understanding the physical impact of all this and it's sounding like a FTTP connection with a single ONT box with my router connected and the existing phone number linked to via VOIP it is all that's needed?
Weird thing is I work in IT so if I'm having to ask this how the hell is the average customer meant to know where to start.
Snuffy you read my mind with the 2025 "switchover". No chance.
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