Chorus - What Can I do? UFB install

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Shindig

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#207422 23-Dec-2016 15:09

Hello there,

I arranged for a UFB install, with the Install Scope date scheduled for yesterday. The Chrous tech came out and hit an issue.

The issue appears to be a blockage of some description between the "UFB pitt" (see UFBPitt.jpg) and the end of the conduit that meets the property. The Chorus tech who came out yesterday was able to feed a rod down the conduit, until about 30cm from the other end, where the UFB pitt is (see UFB-Pitt-to-Property.png and Pano-Blockage.jpg). My question is, how do I go about organising and investigation into what is causing the blockage, the Chrous tech and I suspect that there is concrete crushing the conduit, or when the UFB pitt was being completed the conduit was broken. The distance between the ufb pitt and the property is probably less than 10 meters, but due to circumstances I'm unable to be connected to UFB. I need some advice on how to approach and organise an investigation, I will not accept the fact that I can only receive a DSL service, when I walk past the UFB pitt each day, knowing that 10m and some concrete stand in my way! Advice, comments more than welcome. Thanks for reading. UFBPitt UFB-Pitt-to-Property Pano-Blockage

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Jase2985

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#1694376 23-Dec-2016 15:17

get a borescope camera and have a look?

DarthKermit

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#1694377 23-Dec-2016 15:18

Could you lift up some of those driveway pavers and check the state of the conduit near that end?

chevrolux

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#1694381 23-Dec-2016 15:39

Honestly, it is just not your problem to worry about this. Chorus just need to get it sorted. I understand you probably want to get your fibre installed but at the end of the day it's just not your problem.

The issue is they have woefully untrained techs going out tod these jobs that require a bit of understanding and experience dealing with situations like this.

Just last week I had Chorus turn up to one of my customers and they proceeded to tell them they needed to cut 30m of extra thick conduit because 'there was just no way the conduit would be clear'. To which I said, give me your road and lets try. Sure enough, started firing the rod down and it stopped. So we pull the rod out, lay it in the general direction of the conduit and find it stops right on the edge of the boundary in the grass verge. Told him to dig it up there and sure enough just a dodgy tee. Install complete.

So I guess if you really wanted to do something, get yourself a cable snake (they are just a short version of the fibre glass rods) and fibre it down your conduit and see where it stops. The just lift pavers/dig the garden.

webwat

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#1694952 25-Dec-2016 21:18

DarthKermit:

Could you lift up some of those driveway pavers and check the state of the conduit near that end?

Any possible solution involves a shovel. If there is concrete poured around the pit then you may be able to see from the pit end before you attempt to break the concrete. But yeah the chorus contractors get this all the time and they have probably scheduled a civil team to come back and sort it.

Time to find a new industry!

Yorkshirekid

193 posts

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#1694962 25-Dec-2016 22:18

I had a similar problem just last week. It really is up to Chorus to sort it but I couldn't wait and got my shovel out and helped the guys. We found that two pipes were misaligned. You will find something similar - bottom line - you will have to dig whatever else you do. Good luck.

Shindig

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#1695223 26-Dec-2016 17:47

Cheers for the responses.

The issue is definitely where the concrete is, so I wouldn't be able to use a shovel. I could image that the ufb pitt itself doesn't all need digging up, just the small section where the conduit 'elbow' or the block age is. I wonder if a civil contractor could dig just in that section and leave the top of the concrete intact.

With a small amount of effort I believe the cause of the blockage would be ascertained, and a solution put in place.

@chorusnz ( I dont know how to tag a user) , please help me sort this!

The little things make the biggest difference.

Jase2985

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#1695233 26-Dec-2016 18:04

Jase2985:

get a borescope camera and have a look?

borrow one and take a look then you know what you are up against

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chevrolux

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#1695243 26-Dec-2016 18:43

Shindig:

Cheers for the responses.

The issue is definitely where the concrete is, so I wouldn't be able to use a shovel. I could image that the ufb pitt itself doesn't all need digging up, just the small section where the conduit 'elbow' or the block age is. I wonder if a civil contractor could dig just in that section and leave the top of the concrete intact.

With a small amount of effort I believe the cause of the blockage would be ascertained, and a solution put in place.

@chorusnz ( I dont know how to tag a user) , please help me sort this!

The pit is so close to the garden you should be able to just dig in the garden and then undermine the concrete until you find the ducting. The best thing to do is a cable snake and throw that down at the house end, mark where it stops on the cable snake, and then lay it out on the ground in the general path of the duct line and see where it stops - of course a well prepared Chorus tech should do this. The next step would be chuck a locator on the existing copper so you can establish exactly where the duct runs, then employ the same technique with the cable snake to see where it stops. If you open the pit you will see where the ducting enters the pit which will give you a better idea - again though, you aren't allowed to enter that pit, so up to Chorus to sort it out. Unfortunately though, they will just send the same untrained, underpaid, contractor to come and sort it out.

..... and yea, I am sick to bloody death of dealing with UFB installs like this hahaha.

Shindig

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#1695251 26-Dec-2016 19:27

Sounds like this is quite a common occurrence.

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Shindig

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#1696423 30-Dec-2016 08:53

Just got off the phone to Chorus, they are going to come and inspect the blockage!

This is good progress... we shall see what is concluded.

The little things make the biggest difference.