Latest from BT

sobranie · Sep 13, 2011, 19:02:04

Here:
http://www.openreach-communications.co.uk/superfast/where-and-when/default.htm

I've an awful suspicion that my address is an underground connection and not served from a cabinet. If so, that's me done for infinity!
Does anyone know whether there's a site for checking this possible info. please?

Lance · Sep 13, 2011, 22:33:07

The lists have already been linked to by Griff here: http://www.idnetters.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,26052.0/nowap.html

Hopefully someone will know about how to check if your line runs directly from the exchange, but other than search for green cabinets I don't.

Niall · Sep 13, 2011, 23:22:09

Oo my exchange is on there for 2012. Yay?

Those lists have been updated. My exchange wasn't on that list a few months ago.

Polchraine · Sep 14, 2011, 08:06:31

Quote from: sobranie on Sep 13, 2011, 19:02:04
Here:
http://www.openreach-communications.co.uk/superfast/where-and-when/default.htm

I've an awful suspicion that my address is an underground connection and not served from a cabinet. If so, that's me done for infinity!
Does anyone know whether there's a site for checking this possible info. please?

Not perfect but will give a reasonable guess -Where is your exchange - Middle of a a town or a shed in the country? Where are you - inner city tower block or a stone barn? What attenuation do do have?

sobranie · Sep 14, 2011, 09:46:23

Quote from: Polchraine on Sep 14, 2011, 08:06:31
Not perfect but will give a reasonable guess -Where is your exchange - Middle of a a town or a shed in the country? Where are you - inner city tower block or a stone barn? What attenuation do do have?

Exchange (01326) Helston (small town edge)
Distance 820mtrs
Conn speed down 20329, Att 23.5db, Noise 4.6db
Conn speed up 1173, Att 10.5db, Noise 6.6db

Polchraine · Sep 14, 2011, 09:52:42

Gut feel is that you are probably through a cabinet. Is the 820m direct or cable length?

I'm sure that buying the right person a pint or two of Spingo Braggett will get you a definitive answer.

sobranie · Sep 14, 2011, 10:21:40

Quote from: Polchraine on Sep 14, 2011, 09:52:42
Gut feel is that you are probably through a cabinet. Is the 820m direct or cable length?

I'm sure that buying the right person a pint or two of Spingo Braggett will get you a definitive answer.

820 is direct, pretty sure that the 820 figure is fairly accurate as the new estates around here were built some 20 years after my present domicile.

Probably take a 45 gallon drum of Spingo to get one word out of the engineers around this area. They even deny they've dug a hole in the road when they're standing in it!!

Rik · Sep 14, 2011, 10:31:16

AFAIK, Rick, it's not possible to find out how your line is routed unless you get hold of a friendly engineer. Of course, if FTTC becomes available, you'll be able to check then.

Steve · Sep 14, 2011, 11:15:39

I think I'm on a cabinet although I'm a bit nearer at 720M. If I look at likely underground routes I've a new FTTC cabinet in between me and the exchange

Polchraine · Sep 14, 2011, 14:22:06

Quote from: sobranie on Sep 14, 2011, 10:21:40
820 is direct, pretty sure that the 820 figure is fairly accurate as the new estates around here were built some 20 years after my present domicile.

Probably take a 45 gallon drum of Spingo to get one word out of the engineers around this area. They even deny they've dug a hole in the road when they're standing in it!!

Never a problem for me, I had several teams of Technicians down there effectively under my control - they managed various services for us. I have been known to leave my credit card behind the bar and at the end of the night surprised how little had been consumed.

Just take a walk back along te old road route to the exchange ... and see where the cabinets are.

sobranie · Sep 14, 2011, 17:06:53

Walkies this weekend I think tho. I'm none to mobile these days as I have intermittent claudication amongst other things to contend with. Might send Romy out in her wheelchair instead!!

Glenn · Sep 14, 2011, 17:15:02

There is a cabinet at the bottom of Station Rd, Rick

Rik · Sep 14, 2011, 17:27:50

Quote from: sobranie on Sep 14, 2011, 17:06:53
I'm none to mobile these days as I have intermittent claudication amongst other things to contend with.

Sorry to hear that, Rick, I believe it can be very painful. At this rate, we'll all be held together with duct tape and string.

Niall · Sep 14, 2011, 17:42:24

Why does a direct underground connection mean a poorer FTTC service? The engineer I spoke to this morning that came out to fix my mums phone, said the same thing. I didn't have time to ask him why though as I was late for work.

Rik · Sep 14, 2011, 17:43:25

If there's no cabinet, Niall, you can't get FTTC.

Polchraine · Sep 14, 2011, 17:43:53

Quote from: sobranie on Sep 14, 2011, 17:06:53
Walkies this weekend I think tho. I'm none to mobile these days as I have intermittent claudication amongst other things to contend with. Might send Romy out in her wheelchair instead!!

What is it like these days? Not been down for a couple of years. I would stay, if I could, at the Nansloe Manor but if that was unavailable downgrade to the Gwealdues which I hear has closed down.

Niall · Sep 14, 2011, 17:45:21

Well now I'm confused. He said that streets with cabinets (in Chester) are overloaded and giving immense problems like packet loss, etc, and people with lines straight to the house were getting worse speeds than ADSL2. What did he mean if he wasn't referring to FTTC then, as he was talking about 'fiber' connections?

Glenn · Sep 14, 2011, 17:47:29

I think you are posting in the wrong thread, Niall.

Niall · Sep 14, 2011, 18:13:17

Quote from: Glenn on Sep 14, 2011, 17:47:29
I think you are posting in the wrong thread, Niall.

Eh, no I wasn't. I was replying to Rik

Rik · Sep 14, 2011, 18:17:07

Quote from: Niall on Sep 14, 2011, 17:45:21
Well now I'm confused. He said that streets with cabinets (in Chester) are overloaded and giving immense problems like packet loss, etc, and people with lines straight to the house were getting worse speeds than ADSL2. What did he mean if he wasn't referring to FTTC then, as he was talking about 'fiber' connections?

He has to be talking about fibre to the premises, FTTP.

Polchraine · Sep 14, 2011, 18:39:28

Quote from: Niall on Sep 14, 2011, 17:45:21
Well now I'm confused. He said that streets with cabinets (in Chester) are overloaded and giving immense problems like packet loss, etc, and people with lines straight to the house were getting worse speeds than ADSL2. What did he mean if he wasn't referring to FTTC then, as he was talking about 'fiber' connections?

The Technician (almost certainly NOT an Engineer if he is repairing phones) is talking rubbish. It is not possible to overload a fibre cabinet - they have a maximum loading and that cannot be exceeded, lines straight to the house - they will only be ADSL/ADSL2/ADSL2+ and not FTTC so again rubbish.

There is a good chance he was a non-Broadband trained technician and does not understand how it all works.

Polchraine · Sep 14, 2011, 18:40:38

Quote from: Rik on Sep 14, 2011, 18:17:07
He has to be talking about fibre to the premises, FTTP.

If it was FTTP, how would they get speeds lower than ADSL2? Not possible as there is no noise or interference which would cause it.

Niall · Sep 14, 2011, 18:45:16

I dunno, I'm just parroting what the engineer said to me

Rik · Sep 14, 2011, 18:45:49

Quote from: Polchraine on Sep 14, 2011, 18:40:38
If it was FTTP, how would they get speeds lower than ADSL2? Not possible as there is no noise or interference which would cause it.

I don't know, I'm just trying to explain the only interpretation that made sense of what Niall was told. I suppose that, if the backhaul is inadequate, it could happen, provided that speed referred to throughput, not sync.

Polchraine · Sep 14, 2011, 18:48:23

Quote from: Rik on Sep 14, 2011, 18:45:49
I don't know, I'm just trying to explain the only interpretation that made sense of what Niall was told. I suppose that, if the backhaul is inadequate, it could happen, provided that speed referred to throughput, not sync.

What Niall was told, just does not make one iota of sense. Not disbelieving him, but I have heard all manner of things from some BT Techs trying to evade questions.

Rik · Sep 14, 2011, 18:53:14

I wouldn't argue with you on the subject of BT techs.

Polchraine · Sep 14, 2011, 18:59:22

Quote from: Rik on Sep 14, 2011, 18:53:14
I wouldn't argue with you on the subject of BT techs.

I know some good ones, some very good ones (including quite a few around Helston!- but not BB trained or involved in lines) along with some bad, very bad and awful ones!

Niall · Sep 14, 2011, 19:31:02

They weren't avoiding questions. He actually told me that when I asked if he knew anything about a date for FTTC around Wrexham. It seems that the engineers weren't even aware of this latest update as the last they knew of it, Wrexham weren't having FTTC for at least 3 years. He said the thing about Chester as he was surprised Wrexham would get it any time soon due to the issues Chester ARE having.

sobranie · Sep 15, 2011, 00:09:13

Quote from: Glenn on Sep 14, 2011, 17:15:02
There is a cabinet at the bottom of Station Rd, Rick

Doesn't really look like a fttc cabinet does it! Around 1940 I'd guess!

Suppose to be going fttc in December, don't really think so at my end of Helston somehow. Watch and wait over the next 3 months I guess.

sobranie · Sep 15, 2011, 00:12:06

Quote from: Polchraine on Sep 14, 2011, 17:43:53
What is it like these days? Not been down for a couple of years. I would stay, if I could, at the Nansloe Manor but if that was unavailable downgrade to the Gwealdues which I hear has closed down.

I'd recommend Strathallan Guest House at the bottom end of Coinagehall Street, 4 stars too.

kinmel · Sep 28, 2011, 13:48:03

Rumour has it that BT Wales will announce today that FTTC will be available before Easter to another 25,000 premises including the north Wales coast between Prestatyn and Llandudno.

Nothing published yet, but here is hoping

Niall · Sep 28, 2011, 15:43:05

Hopefully that'll cover Wrexham too.

With regards to my comment of Chester issues, I've been googling around in the last week whilst mulling an ISP switch, and I haven't actually found any reports of problems in Chester. Maybe I'm using the wrong combination of search terms but the only thing I kept finding was people asking about it's availability in that area. I suppose it's possible that they are issues the engineers know about but report back "no fault on the line" because it isn't running at 28.8k speeds

kinmel · Sep 28, 2011, 16:10:24

Only BT - Prestatyn and Abergele are part of the Rhyl 01745 dialling group, they are both getting FTTC in the Spring, while their parent exchange, Rhyl, is not ! Even the very small Tywyn exchange is getting FTTC

The largest exchange in the area gets left out again

http://www.btplc.com/News/Articles/Showarticle.cfm?ArticleID=E147C2A8-8BD9-4679-9C93-1FF0B047144C