Telecom UFB not available because my phone line is overhead wire.

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54 posts

Master Geek
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#790704 2-Apr-2013 14:12

None of these questions were asked by the Telecom operator. The fact that it is an overhead line was enough for her to cancel my order. It is in fact a single span line which cuts across the corner of my neighbours property, but they don't know that.

I was going to do a chat with Telecom to confirm that my overhead line was ok. But no, I'll wait for the Chorus guys to make the decision on the ground where they can see the actual setup.

googlyeggs

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#790709 2-Apr-2013 14:18

Just spoke to Telecom on 123. "Definitely no UFB via overhead". Its dig your own trench and pay them to lay the cable.

Nuwanda

54 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#790721 2-Apr-2013 14:39

googlyeggs: Just spoke to Telecom on 123. "Definitely no UFB via overhead". Its dig your own trench and pay them to lay the cable.

Hmm, just called Chorus to ask if they have any policy regarding installation via overhead lines. They say no. They say that when the tech comes out to evaluate the situation things are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Now, I concede that could mean that my particular overhead situation is not suitable for installation and that they need to go underground, and that could cost me.

Frankly, I'm glad I'm getting a visit from Chorus instead of a flat no from Telecom.

Googlyeggs, could this be related to your particular area? Perhaps there are other contracted parties that disallow overhead. I'm in Timaru and the Telecom guy checked out my installation address before we proceeded.

Here's the Telecom UFB install info page:

http://www.telecom.co.nz/internet/ultrabroadband/moreaboutfibre/

In the "What you need to know about the Telecom Ultra Fibre installation", it clearly states:

"Your phone line will either be underground or overhead from the street to your house. Please note that in most instances, Telecom Ultra Fibre is only currently available if your telephone line is underground. You can choose to convert to an underground cable before getting fibre, but this will be at your own cost. If you are uncertain, the Local Fibre Company will check on the first visit and discuss your options with you."

It seems that in your case, you don't get the courtesy of a visit.

[Note: in other places on that page there seems to be intimations that digging trenches and cabling up to 200m is included in the free standard installation. But that might just be my reading of it.]

Lorenceo

904 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#790723 2-Apr-2013 14:40

As others have suggested, get UFB with an ISP who can offer voice services without copper?

googlyeggs

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#790729 2-Apr-2013 14:45

Lorenceo: As others have suggested, get UFB with an ISP who can offer voice services without copper?

That's my next option. I think I will wait and see if others find it a blanket ban from Telecom.

paulspain

417 posts

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#790764 2-Apr-2013 15:20

My connection (Vodafone UFB trial) was via overhead fibre connection - wasn't a drama at all.

Paul Spain
Founder: Gorilla Technology, NZ Tech Podcast

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plambrechtsen

1948 posts

Uber Geek
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Inactive user

#790795 2-Apr-2013 15:57

googlyeggs: Telecom have cancelled my order for UFB because my phone line comes as an overhead wire from the street to the house. WTF?

I've been away for the majority of the day today doing stuff (day job and all that) and missed this thread.

If you want to email me pl at telecom.co.nz with some further details about your situation.

Normally UFB installs are underground but I believe that Chorus do overhead but that is the exception rather than the rule. It could be as others have said because you currently have overhead cables traversing other peoples property or are in a MDU (Multi-Dwelling Unit) with a shared access driveway etc where permission from all house owners is needed.

It's a bit complex what it could be without further details, but do flick me an email and I will get it looked into.

quentinreade

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2degrees

#790822 2-Apr-2013 16:23

As I understand it, some councils insist on the copper coming down when the fibre goes up as they are worried about visual pollution.
It hasn't been an issue for us as we use Genius as our CPE, and can offer the phone service via that.

Comms chap

2degrees

DarthKermit

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#790823 2-Apr-2013 16:24

RalphFromSnap: We have struck this a few times where we have opted to keep in a copper circuit for backup scenarios, but due to pole loading constraints, and in other cases council guidelines, Chorus's only option was to remove the copper as they could only have 1 cable from the roadside to the house. - so of course we had to have the copper removed to provide the fibre service.

Would that be for crappy old wooden poles that have a "do not climb" warning label for contractors on them?

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

chevrolux

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#791807 2-Apr-2013 17:08

Good work Telecom.

I still say UFB should not go on poles. Fully endorse a councils view point of 'visual pollution'. Ditch Witches exist for a reason and should be towed behind the Chorus vans doing the installs.

DarthKermit

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#791811 2-Apr-2013 17:15

googlyeggs: Just spoke to Telecom on 123. "Definitely no UFB via overhead". Its dig your own trench and pay them to lay the cable.

Are you prepared to get ya shovel out and start digging?

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

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allanm

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#791834 2-Apr-2013 17:54

DarthKermit:
googlyeggs: Just spoke to Telecom on 123. "Definitely no UFB via overhead". Its dig your own trench and pay them to lay the cable.

Are you prepared to get ya shovel out and start digging?

Sorry not in Mt Eden i'm not... ditch witches will be killed on my street due to solid rock at any depth from 15 cm. I cant see any other option than overhead.

cr250bromo

222 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 81

#791845 2-Apr-2013 18:17

I have an overhead UFB connection in Grey Lynn (as power/copper are overhead UFB is also until it gets to a pole across the road). I asked them to leave the copper connection in and they did. My flatmate also has a copper connection so we have 2x 2 pair copper runs plus a separate UFB run overhead to the house.

I guess they will underground if/when power is undergrounded here, would seem a bit crazy to dig everything up just to underground UFB and leave the other services overhead.

I find pole loading concerns a bit difficult to believe. Many years ago when I ran a BBS I had 5 phone lines and moved around a fair few houses and each one I had multiple phone lines installed - I've gone past those houses many years later and they still have multiple overhead runs from my old BBS lines. Poles still seem to be standing. :)

/ben

DarthKermit

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#791847 2-Apr-2013 18:19

allanm:
DarthKermit:
googlyeggs: Just spoke to Telecom on 123. "Definitely no UFB via overhead". Its dig your own trench and pay them to lay the cable.

Are you prepared to get ya shovel out and start digging?

Sorry not in Mt Eden i'm not... ditch witches will be killed on my street due to solid rock at any depth from 15 cm. I cant see any other option than overhead.

That's unfortunate. I suppose they must get heavy machinery in to dig trenches for things like water and sewer pipes that have to be under ground?

According to Chorus, telecomms conduit must be a minimum of 450 mm below unfinished ground; smack bang in the middle of where you think is going to be solid rock.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

Dratsab

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#791857 2-Apr-2013 18:47

paulspain: My connection (Vodafone UFB trial) was via overhead fibre connection - wasn't a drama at all.

This is good to hear!

plambrechtsen: Normally UFB installs are underground but I believe that Chorus do overhead but that is the exception rather than the rule. It could be as others have said because you currently have overhead cables traversing other peoples property or are in a MDU (Multi-Dwelling Unit) with a shared access driveway etc where permission from all house owners is needed.

When I want to get UFB installed, hopefully someone will actually come out and assess my property rather than dismiss an install via pole out-of-hand.

chevrolux: Good work Telecom. I still say UFB should not go on poles. Fully endorse a councils view point of 'visual pollution'. Ditch Witches exist for a reason and should be towed behind the Chorus vans doing the installs.

A decent stream (well, not at the moment due to drought) flows between my property and the road. The stream bed is a good 7 metres below the level of the road, so I think a ditch witch might struggle. The stream is also prone to flooding in heavy rain years and a neighbours bridge has been washed into mine in years gone by so ducting beneath my access bridge (about 2.5m below road level) is probably not recommended. I get what you're trying to say, but one-size-fits-all approaches don't work.

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