FibreX - how do I know if my home is pre-cabled?

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › FibreX - how do I know if my home is pre-cabled?

Stevo316

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#207930 19-Jan-2017 20:46

I had a Vodafone sales rep visit tonight and signed up for the FibreX 200/20 upgrade. I'm on ADSL and speeds are about 10mbps so this should be a considerably better connection, and I'll be paying less than I was previously. All in all, a good deal.

My one main concern is that when I enter my address into Vodafone's address checker, the 'Fastest' section is not highlighted, and there's a message saying they can't confirm if those services (FibreX / Fibre) are available and to call them. The sales rep claimed that when she checked, it was available, but I got the feeling she didn't know for sure. I do know that actual UFB fibre is available as when I check on the websites of other providers, it says I can get it.

I live in a building that one house downstairs and one upstairs. I am upstairs. When I put in the downstairs address, the option for FibreX IS available for them. It seems strange that they would have it and not me, because the houses were obviously built at the same time, and by the same developer.

So the point of all this is (a) is there any way I can physically check if the house is pre-cabled (sales rep mentioned a grey box somewhere, which I cannot locate)? and (b) if it is not pre-cabled, does anyone know how much it might cost to put in the cables required? I signed this deal to save money so do not want to spend on any installation. The rep also said if the house wasn't pre-cabled, I might have to pay $20 a month more, which obviously makes the good deal I have signed, less good ($10 MORE than I am currently paying).

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692 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1706097 19-Jan-2017 21:04

Have a look around your house and see if you can find a connector for Vodafone cable. They use an "f-connector", the same as a Sky satellite connection - example below. I've also included a photo of a "grey box". You can see the cable enter and exit at the lower right corner.

I don't know about the pricing, sorry.

Guide: Installing Network Cabling in New Zealand Homes

Stevo316

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1706102 19-Jan-2017 21:13

Thanks froob.

I think I have located the mythical 'grey box' on the side of my house - presumably only one such box would be required for a situation such as this (one flat downstairs, one flat upstairs)?

Here are my connections - is the one to the right of the Sky likely to be the cable? I did wonder what it was for...!

Oblivian

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#1706106 19-Jan-2017 21:21

This is where you start to hope you don't need permission for any external work from the below owners.. cause the change has probably initiated the cutting of the ADSL and those will cause dalays ending with likelyhood of no services.

froob

692 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1706110 19-Jan-2017 21:26

It could be. I have seen Vodafone install cable onto a PDL faceplate like that. But, it also might be a connector for a UHF antenna (for Freeview) or something else.

Not sure whether there would be one grey box or two in that situation. Ours has one cable going in, and two coming out. So, if there are more than two cables coming out, I would say it probably serves both flats.

Sorry, I can't think of a way to get a definitive yes, beyond actually having the Vodafone technician visit.

Guide: Installing Network Cabling in New Zealand Homes

Stevo316

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1706114 19-Jan-2017 21:35

A technician will be coming to (hopefully) install it within 3 days so I'll find out then. Just trying to set my expectations.

I don't think we'll have any trouble with the neighbours downstairs, depending on the extent of any work (surely wouldn't be too much?). As far as I can tell, there is no UHF aerial on this house at all so can only think that wall connector is for cable...probably.

Sideface

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#1706115 19-Jan-2017 21:39

Stevo316:

<snip>

My one main concern is that when I enter my address into Vodafone's address checker, the 'Fastest' section is not highlighted, and there's a message saying they can't confirm if those services (FibreX / Fibre) are available and to call them. The sales rep claimed that when she checked, it was available, but I got the feeling she didn't know for sure. I do know that actual UFB fibre is available as when I check on the websites of other providers, it says I can get it.

<snip>

If you can get real fibre, I would strongly advise you to forget about "FibreX" cable and get UFB instead.

There is a huge difference in in real-world performance. "FibreX" is cheaper for a reason.

EDIT As a matter of policy, Vodafone won't install fibre at a "cable" address - you would have get fibre from another ISP.

Sideface

antoniosk

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#1706117 19-Jan-2017 22:26

Stevo316:

I had a Vodafone sales rep visit tonight and signed up for the FibreX 200/20 upgrade. I'm on ADSL and speeds are about 10mbps so this should be a considerably better connection, and I'll be paying less than I was previously. All in all, a good deal.

My one main concern is that when I enter my address into Vodafone's address checker, the 'Fastest' section is not highlighted, and there's a message saying they can't confirm if those services (FibreX / Fibre) are available and to call them. The sales rep claimed that when she checked, it was available, but I got the feeling she didn't know for sure. I do know that actual UFB fibre is available as when I check on the websites of other providers, it says I can get it.

I live in a building that one house downstairs and one upstairs. I am upstairs. When I put in the downstairs address, the option for FibreX IS available for them. It seems strange that they would have it and not me, because the houses were obviously built at the same time, and by the same developer.

So the point of all this is (a) is there any way I can physically check if the house is pre-cabled (sales rep mentioned a grey box somewhere, which I cannot locate)? and (b) if it is not pre-cabled, does anyone know how much it might cost to put in the cables required? I signed this deal to save money so do not want to spend on any installation. The rep also said if the house wasn't pre-cabled, I might have to pay $20 a month more, which obviously makes the good deal I have signed, less good ($10 MORE than I am currently paying).

Is there anything outside that looks like it could be cable from the street? telecom wires are quite small and thin, vodafone cable is relatively chunky.

________

Antoniosk

Equinox IT

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Stevo316

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1706121 19-Jan-2017 22:38

If I owned the home and didn't have a shared driveway etc I would absolutely go for real fibre. As it is, that appears (from what I have read) to be a major hassle with a lot of hoops to jump through.

Surely the cable at 200mbps (even if all downloads don't hit that speed) will be a substantial improvement on my ADSL?

I don't use the internet for gaming or the like, just general surfing and TV streaming.

I've signed to FibreX for 12 months so if it's not great I'll can it in a year.

Linux

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#1706123 19-Jan-2017 22:39

Fibre X will be much faster than ADSL

Linux

Stevo316

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1706127 19-Jan-2017 22:43

antoniosk:
Stevo316:

I had a Vodafone sales rep visit tonight and signed up for the FibreX 200/20 upgrade. I'm on ADSL and speeds are about 10mbps so this should be a considerably better connection, and I'll be paying less than I was previously. All in all, a good deal.

My one main concern is that when I enter my address into Vodafone's address checker, the 'Fastest' section is not highlighted, and there's a message saying they can't confirm if those services (FibreX / Fibre) are available and to call them. The sales rep claimed that when she checked, it was available, but I got the feeling she didn't know for sure. I do know that actual UFB fibre is available as when I check on the websites of other providers, it says I can get it.

I live in a building that one house downstairs and one upstairs. I am upstairs. When I put in the downstairs address, the option for FibreX IS available for them. It seems strange that they would have it and not me, because the houses were obviously built at the same time, and by the same developer.

So the point of all this is (a) is there any way I can physically check if the house is pre-cabled (sales rep mentioned a grey box somewhere, which I cannot locate)? and (b) if it is not pre-cabled, does anyone know how much it might cost to put in the cables required? I signed this deal to save money so do not want to spend on any installation. The rep also said if the house wasn't pre-cabled, I might have to pay $20 a month more, which obviously makes the good deal I have signed, less good ($10 MORE than I am currently paying).

Is there anything outside that looks like it could be cable from the street? telecom wires are quite small and thin, vodafone cable is relatively chunky.

This is the box attached to my house, which I'm assuming / hoping serves me and downstairs-

Stevo316

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1706130 19-Jan-2017 22:55

Having found the box and looked at the wiring as best I can from inside, I think the worst case scenario might be that the cable doesn't go from that box to my house (i.e. to that socket). I *assume* that should be easy enough for a tech to fix up? Unclear if this means my house is 'intact' or not.

Will update with what happens. Thanks for replies so far.

Sideface

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#1706135 19-Jan-2017 23:15

Stevo316:

<snip>

Surely the cable at 200mbps (even if all downloads don't hit that speed) will be a substantial improvement on my ADSL?

<snip>

Yes, it will be much better than ADSL, but slower and less reliable than UFB fibre.

I'm on "FibreX" 200/20 - my speed tests are good, but real-world performance is much slower.

The fastest download I've ever had from overseas was 100Mbps, but typically I get about 20Mbps.

Sideface

Stevo316

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1706136 19-Jan-2017 23:29

That will still be double the speed for $35 a month less than I'm paying now. Still, I will be slightly disappointed if 20mbps is all I end up with on average.

richms

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#1706184 20-Jan-2017 07:50

Address checkers do not always handle cross leases and unit titles that well, so there is a good chance you are all ready to go as well, but since there is just one piece of land that is the only address that they know about.

Feedback I have had on cable - both the old plans and the new fiber x ones has been passable recently, so dont get too hung up on the old threads about years long sagas about poor performance. Just know that if it starts to suck again that is how long they will take to fix it.

Richard rich.ms

Stevo316

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1706200 20-Jan-2017 08:37

Cheers ??

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