NZHerald running story on shoddy Chorus contractor installation work

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tehgerbil

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#198335 5-Jul-2016 08:43

Ultra-shoddy broadband: exposed cables worry residents

"My biggest concern is the substandard installation and lack of accountability between Spark and Chorus for these installations," he said. "My fibre connection is now both my telephone line and internet access. It is essential infrastructure and should be treated in a similar way to water, power and previously copper telephone lines."

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#1586094 5-Jul-2016 08:45

Obviously some contractors out there that have no pride in their work.

Ours was done really well, very nice tidy job (can't even see where they came in).

sidefx

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#1586107 5-Jul-2016 09:06

Must admit while the contractors who did mine were very prompt and helpful in getting it installed, in hindsight they did a very poor job of laying the cable. In the grass nearest the road I've found it's basically not even buried at all - It's just sort of shoved into the grass - asking for an accident with the lawnmower, and closer to the house I'd say it's barely buried even 5cm under the ground. Not ideal. And if I'd know it was standard for them to just lay the fibre cable naked I'd probably have tried to lay some sort of conduit of my own in advance...

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Raine

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#1586110 5-Jul-2016 09:07

good on the herald - i know some of their writers are pretty good at doing the 'dog with a bone' thing too so lets hope they keep on it.

for us non geeks i've only just realised what a mammoth task getting this fiber rolled out is. it's been around for a while hasn't it and i thought it was as simple as flipping a swith. yea yea, i know.

what are the chances this story will keep the cowboys in line?

gwh

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#1586157 5-Jul-2016 09:39

Raine:

good on the herald - i know some of their writers are pretty good at doing the 'dog with a bone' thing too so lets hope they keep on it.

for us non geeks i've only just realised what a mammoth task getting this fiber rolled out is. it's been around for a while hasn't it and i thought it was as simple as flipping a swith. yea yea, i know.

what are the chances this story will keep the cowboys in line?

None whatsoever. The copper network was designed and installed over decades by highly skilled engineers, technicians and linesmen. The fibre network is being installed in less than a decade by what's left of those highly skilled people plus just about anyone they can find who can run a cable or hold a shovel. The horror stories coming out of my former colleagues about what they are finding is highly entertaining but in the back of my mind I do know it's tax payer money that's being wasted and that someone is going to have to pay to rectify this disaster.

Raine

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#1586190 5-Jul-2016 10:30

gwh:

Raine:

good on the herald - i know some of their writers are pretty good at doing the 'dog with a bone' thing too so lets hope they keep on it.

for us non geeks i've only just realised what a mammoth task getting this fiber rolled out is. it's been around for a while hasn't it and i thought it was as simple as flipping a swith. yea yea, i know.

what are the chances this story will keep the cowboys in line?

None whatsoever. The copper network was designed and installed over decades by highly skilled engineers, technicians and linesmen. The fibre network is being installed in less than a decade by what's left of those highly skilled people plus just about anyone they can find who can run a cable or hold a shovel. The horror stories coming out of my former colleagues about what they are finding is highly entertaining but in the back of my mind I do know it's tax payer money that's being wasted and that someone is going to have to pay to rectify this disaster.

bugga. nice dream for an hour or so. guess the kiddos and grandies will deal with that eventually.

chevrolux

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#1586193 5-Jul-2016 10:38

This is great. People are just accepting that this is how it is with many jobs because they simply don't know what it should look like.

There are plenty of guys doing great work out there, but there are also plenty who are doing a terrible job. These days it's all about the bottom line, and I totally understand that, but it shouldn't be an excuse for hiring inexperienced contractors and letting them get away with sub-standard work. This article draws attention to that.

The only bit I don't like is the link they have drawn with Spark with that quote from "a resident" - it's really nothing to do with them, they just unfortunately have the volume so wear the brunt of the bad stuff like they always have.

DarthKermit

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#1586195 5-Jul-2016 10:41

Will this turn into another leaky homes type situation in the future? Probably.

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chevrolux

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#1586205 5-Jul-2016 11:06

None whatsoever. The copper network was designed and installed over decades by highly skilled engineers, technicians and linesmen. The fibre network is being installed in less than a decade by what's left of those highly skilled people plus just about anyone they can find who can run a cable or hold a shovel. The horror stories coming out of my former colleagues about what they are finding is highly entertaining but in the back of my mind I do know it's tax payer money that's being wasted and that someone is going to have to pay to rectify this disaster.

Nailed it. The copper network was installed by trained engineers. There are plenty of areas where they took shortcuts, but then 10-20 years have had to go back and fix them up because they have failed.

Now we are making these mistakes all over again. Accept now the guys doing the work is literally anyone that can use a power drill or pick up a shovel.

One thing that I couldn't believe is direct burying microduct joints. They seal them in a sort of tube thing but it isn't a waterproof, heatshrink thing. I guess there is "no corrosion" but still can't be that good for it surely - time will tell.

daparrot

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#1586221 5-Jul-2016 11:18

Its a shame that its so hard to convey to Chorus management the bad quality of the installs that are going on

I have tried repeatedly to get Chorus to acknowledge that dodgy sub standard installs are going on, basically

as a company they just dont seem to care or have any pride in what they do.

Their usual statement is that the installs are being done to their standard but I never knew companies could

have such low standards, as you said someone somewhere sometime is going to foot the remedial bills.

Gone are the days of trying to do it right first time, its become just do enough if that...

As a side note does anyone actually have the standard they are meant to be installing to?

MikeAqua

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#1586222 5-Jul-2016 11:23

Our UFB was (in the end) done well by Chorus's contractor Transfield.

It took a while to get them working with accurate info and then on-site.

But the work was done carefully and the install (ONT in internal cupboard on upper level of house) is tidy.

Mike

jonb

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#1586226 5-Jul-2016 11:29

Surprised it's taken this long for a story to appear about it.

Kraven

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#1586282 5-Jul-2016 11:41

daparrot:

Its a shame that its so hard to convey to Chorus management the bad quality of the installs that are going on

...

have such low standards, as you said someone somewhere sometime is going to foot the remedial bills.

Current management/board will have moved onto other things by the time this becomes a real issue and as long as they're making a profit and shareholders are getting a return they must be doing a good job, right?!?!

One from Palmy yesterday too.

And let's not forget: https://www.facebook.com/CNUIT/

andrew027

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#1586305 5-Jul-2016 11:52

What got me about that Herald article were these two quotes:

Wiring could be seen running down the side of two neighbours' fences - held up by duct tape - while others had cables sticking out of the ground. Calls to Chorus to bury the cables were dismissed, Mr Thornley said, and he was told the installation was within guidelines.

Chorus communications manager Nathan Beaumont said: "It's clear that on this occasion we haven't met our own standards. Running cables over gardens and using duct tape is simply not acceptable and we will be returning to rectify our mistakes as soon as possible. The cable mounted to the fence also fails to comply with our standards.

So it's within guidelines but doesn't comply with standards? Chorus should randomly check installations. Start with a high percentage (say 1 in 10) and reduce that over time as installers demonstrate competence. Where an installation is not up to scratch the contractor has to rectify it at their own expense. One of the the best ways to get something done right the first time is often making someone suffer the cost of rework.

I have no data to back this up but I suspect that while many contractors are doing a good job, the longer the project goes on the worse the average install quality gets. In the beginning it was all due care and responsiblity. Now it's about getting fibre to the house by the quickest and cheapest means possible.

DarthKermit

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#1586323 5-Jul-2016 12:13

I was told by my install guy back in Feb that someone would come along and audit his work within a few weeks or so. Never did happen.

quebec

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#1586326 5-Jul-2016 12:16

I had UFB installed yesterday and can confirm that the contractors were very professional and the job was neatly done. Only thing that concerned me a bit and I wasn't expecting it was a white pipe going from the ETP up to the soffit going into the attic. I believe this is normal? I will post some pictures when I get home. ONT was installed neatly as far as I can tell as they use the cables are all hidden behind it. One more thing which has nothing to do with Chorus. After ONT was up and running we both had no idea that setting in the Fritzbox have to be changed. 2D never said anything in advance about it but a phone call to them resolved the issue though the wait was too long.

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