Chorus fibre install in Auckland - are there alternatives?

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TeMorituri

49 posts

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#2295175 12-Aug-2019 22:30

toejam316:

First and quickest for you would be to pop down to bunnings, buy a length of string, and run it through the pipe. If the pipe's continuous, you should be able to tie a plastic bag (but don't let the Government know!) to one of end of the string, and suck it through the pipe with a decent shop vacuum at the other end. I wouldn't recommend a house vacuum, but I also wouldn't stop you, just don't blame me if you get a vacuum filled with dirt.

Second option, and probably a tad more involved, would be to talk to the local contractor and advise them how much in length your total run from boundary to building is, and ask them how much microduct you'd need, then ask them if they'd kindly supply you with the microduct to pull through yourself. Once the microduct or a string is in, the contractors can come in, use the string to pull in ducting, or join the duct straight onto the network duct and blow the fibre. I can't think of many subcontractors that wouldn't let you do the hardest part of the job for free.

As for your Spark costs - I'm pretty sure there's cheaper plans available from them (unless you've got some extra stuff beyond Unlimited VDSL?), and I'd recommend touching base with them and asking to move to a cheaper plan in the interim.

As with all things, YMMV, but hopefully if you can swing one of my above suggestions, your life will get a lot easier.

Regarding your easement, as long as it's relatively up to date and refers to telecommunications, you should be right, but in all honesty I'd recommend just trying to avoid mentioning it at all to the contractors, as it'll make things more complicated potentially, and you'll probably need to supply a copy of the easement to the contractor/Chorus to proceed. Again, YMMV.

Will definitely try option one - just bought a new vacuum so the old one suck dirt for all I care. A plastic bag and string? I was thinking cotton ball and fishing line...but thanks for the idea. I had been mulling over options to at the very least identify my telecommunications duct at the pole

My Spark plan is Home Broadband Unlimited Data with free national calling $132 ...I guess i better look intom it. If they cannot get this fibre thing going then Vodafone are offering a $93 plan for same ( but VOIP for me landline )

toejam316

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#2295183 12-Aug-2019 22:43

TeMorituri:

My Spark plan is Home Broadband Unlimited Data with free national calling $132 ...I guess i better look intom it. If they cannot get this fibre thing going then Vodafone are offering a $93 plan for same ( but VOIP for me landline )

I'd suggest you read a bit about Vodafone before you jump ships to them - if you're running away from Spark because you're frustrated, well... there's a saying, don't cut off the nose to spite the face.

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

Jase2985

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#2295244 13-Aug-2019 05:25

dont change till you get fibre installed

Sideface

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#2296365 13-Aug-2019 10:05

toejam316:

... I'd suggest you read a bit about Vodafone before you jump ships to them - if you're running away from Spark because you're frustrated, well ... there's a saying, don't cut off the nose to spite the face.

Another saying: "Out of the frying pan into the fire".

If you think that Spark is inefficient and bureaucratic, then you will be truly appalled by Vodafone, who are worse. 😕

I intend to switch from Vodafone (HFC cable) to Spark (fibre) at the earliest opportunity (at the end of my VF contract).

Sideface

wratterus

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#2296412 13-Aug-2019 11:11

Following this with interest, but also agree with the previous comments - don't change to Vodafone, and especially not in the middle of this issue. Spark are pretty good. If you are still not happy with the price/service after the upgrade is complete, have a look at 2Degrees. If you want as cheap as possible, look at Skinny/Bigpipe and porting your landline number to a VoIP service like 2talk.

Chorusnz

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Chorus

#2296509 13-Aug-2019 14:03

I’ll admit there are certainly contractors out there who can make the job more difficult than it has to be. It’s an unfortunate reality of the sheer scale of this undertaking, rolling out a new network to such a large portion of the country.

In saying that however, a job is almost never as simple as it first appears. It may seem like a simple factor of dragging some cables up a pipe, but there are a great many external factors that can prevent this from happening.

Remember that our field teams and contractors get paid per job completed. So they are doing their very best to get the Fibre installed for you.

From the photo’s and description it appears this is ROW (Right of Way) build work. If so, even if you had an easement we still need to go through consenting processes before undertaking any work and if any designs change. That is a requirement set out by the Government as part of the UFB scheme. If the technicians are encountering issues hauling cables through the ducts as well then that will easily drag out the time to complete.

If you want to send us a DM with your address I would be happy to look at things in more detail with you.

Also as has been said above, don’t switch providers yet. Wait until the install is completed then switch if you wish. If you switch now you will simply start the process from scratch. ^Richard

TeMorituri

49 posts

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#2296631 13-Aug-2019 15:59

From what you guys have told me I should be thinking fibre is a loooooong looong way away in a galaxy far , far away.

Thanks for the advice though from all !

Phase 1 ..try vacuum at my end to identify duct at pole end ....commencing ....

FAIL!! Poor vacuum just whining like its sucking a lemon. No sounds at bottom of power pole

Phase 2 . Visit Kennards and rent 40psi air compressor and probe ( and get good advice regards use of probe )

SUCCESS! Place compressor at home /terminus end of duct and then watch about 4 litres water geyser out at power pole end . Have now definitely identified my telecommunications duct on the pole.

Pull UTP black cable (from inside telecommunications duct) back and forth with one person at each end…it feels like I could easily just pull this copper line through ….but that would defeat the purpose of my exercise today

Insert probe and pass the probe slowly and patiently

– no ramming just steady passage( this was good advice from Kennards because sometimes it slowed and I began to sweat ) ….and Voila…it emerges at the other end

SUCCESS!

Then carefully tape guide wire / builder tape to probe and retrieve probe (no yanking..steady traction)

Phase 3 Confirm you have pulled draw wire through then perform short but manic dance with neighbouring builder watching on and wondering whether to call for help….Carefully walk back up the drive as though you haven’t being talking illicit substances or are having a metal breakdown.

Now wondering how to coax a Chorus tech out to pull fibre though.

Suggestions ?

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wratterus

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#2296632 13-Aug-2019 16:04

Nice work!

I do agree that you're going Chorus's job for them, but I had to dig my driveway up to get a decent quality install so this is pretty sweet.

Chorusnz

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Chorus

#2296637 13-Aug-2019 16:11

I’ve found that a little peanut butter on a teaspoon works quite well.

Alternatively you can get in touch with your broadband provider. They have processes in place to forward on any such requests on to the right people.

I’ve also heard that you can flick Chorus a DM with your address and that Richard guy can get in touch with the right people. But that’s just hearsay. ^definitely not Richard from Chorus.

Delphinus

611 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2297639 13-Aug-2019 17:05

I can vouch for that Richard guy. Found him pretty useful with the complicated install I had.

Cannot say if a little peanut butter on a teaspoon would encourage him or not though. Some people say nutella?

@TeMorituri, well done!

dfnt

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#2297669 13-Aug-2019 19:08

Nice persistence on sorting that out, a shame you have to go to such lengths yourself to do that

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