Who covers material costs for surface-mount fibre installation?

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hntrx

1 post

Wannabe Geek

# 243711 27-Dec-2018 12:57

We're trying to get fibre installed. After three scoping visits, the fibre technician wouldn't budge on doing a surface-mount (on fence) type of installation. We've now agreed to do this on the condition that they install a pipe/conduit to add some level of protection for the cable. Reasons being the space right next to this fence is being used for parking, and there's already a damage (hole) on one of the slats that's been caused by our very active neighbour.

When I've asked the fibre technician of this, he outright refused as he will be charged for the extra materials (PVC pipe/conduit). Otherwise I'll have to supply the material. It's fairly cheap so I can perhaps get one but as the conduit is 4M long we won't have transportation means for it.

Now my question is, has anyone been told this for the same type of installation? And is this accurate?

As per Chorus' page: Sometimes we'll surface mount our fibre cable inside a pipe where there's a risk of impact or more protection needed such as for a school or where there's multiple fibre cables needed like in a rights of way.

As we're requesting it for protection purposes, I can't get my head around the technician's unwillingness to provide the material which I think is pretty standard.

nickb800

2298 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

# 2151115 27-Dec-2018 13:11

3 people support this post

They will argue that it's ruggedized duct so doesn't need any more protection.

I'd just buy the conduit and move on, easier than fighting chrous however right you may be. If you buy it at a hardware store, they can cut it in half for you to fit in your car

Wellingtondave

65 posts

Master Geek

# 2151130 27-Dec-2018 13:59

In my latest install the Chorus guy agreed to install the microduct in conduit in a couple of areas where it would be visible but this was more for cosmetic purposes and not protection, for a large portion of the run it was mounted to the bottom of a fence with plenty of mounting clips. A small part was direct buried underground so I dug the trench to 300mm deep, though he only wanted 200mm. That was about as good as it was going to get without spending a lot more time and money trenching in a difficult area or going out and buying pipe just for the sake of it. I did have to supply internal capping to make it look tidy (I know they can't accomodate everyone's requirements but I didn't want to risk a sloppy job), else the internal cable was to be stapled / mounted to the wall. Overall for a 'free' install it's fine.

They left a piece of microduct behind so I took some shears to it, it's really hard to crush in the direction that had the reinforcing steel wire (presume that's there for the aerial installations) and only slightly less so in the other. I'd think the only real chance of damage to the fibre that's blown through it would be from a snag or if the duct is really yanked - mount it down low where it's not going to get hit and that should do it.

JeremyNzl

273 posts

Ultimate Geek

Subscriber

# 2151144 27-Dec-2018 14:34

2 people support this post

Transporting conduit is easy in a vehicle,

electrical tape bundle to mirror, and hang a small strop/tiedown in the car boot and wrap round and tape also.

Not 100% on the legality of this,but have bought hundreds of meters home this way

quickymart

4658 posts

Uber Geek

# 2151212 27-Dec-2018 18:03

They don't usually supply conduit - if you want it in conduit, you'd be best to supply it yourself and have the fibre blown through it.

David321

127 posts

Master Geek

# 2151267 28-Dec-2018 06:08

I had fibre x installed years ago, they used a machine which took the cable underground right to the edge of my house, the guy used a metal detector to track the machine under my front lawn and the cut the asphalt path at the edge of my house and ran it up about one foot in conduit then drilled threw the side of the wall to under my house, he then got under my house and drilled it up the internal wall and mounted an adapter plug/socket thing to the skirting board inside which is what I plug my modem into.

You can not see the cable anywhere and it is a very very neat and discreet job all done for free, after reading this post it seems they do not go to such efforts anymore?

quickymart

4658 posts

Uber Geek

# 2151271 28-Dec-2018 06:54

Different network (cable vs fibre), different installers (and probably different serco doing the install), different installation method. No comparison really.

David321

127 posts

Master Geek

# 2151273 28-Dec-2018 07:03

quickymart:

Different network (cable vs fibre), different installers (and probably different serco doing the install), different installation method. No comparison really.

Obviously different cable and different installation method lol, may not be different installers or could well be, my point is surely they can do a better job than what is being described on this thread when you look at how they did my place, the cable could go underground and under the house so it is not seen surely.

quickymart

4658 posts

Uber Geek

# 2151275 28-Dec-2018 07:34

The fibre installs tend to follow the path of the copper line where possible - cable didn't have to do that (although they possibly did). I can't remember my own install, it was a long time ago now. And yes it would be different installers, as Downer do the cable installs for Vodafone, but I don't believe they're doing fibre installs currently.

My fibre install was a surface mount on a fence, but it works fine and no one has touched it. No complaints with the service/connection so far.

cyril7

6960 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

# 2151316 28-Dec-2018 09:26

One person supports this post

Don't forget these guy's get paid pittance to do the install, if you want something more you will need to do it yourself, or in the least supply the conduit and possibly install or assist yourself.

Cyril

David321

127 posts

Master Geek

# 2151317 28-Dec-2018 09:28

Interesting, I must admit I would prefer underground any day, imagine trying to do maintenance on your fence, or if you had a really nice new fence, the last thing you would want is a cable running along it, seems a bit backwards with today's capabilities.

How does it go from the fence to your house? as the only way that comes to mind is either suspended in the air or running along the top of the ground, but I am sure it would not be either of those options.

nickb800

2298 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

# 2151392 28-Dec-2018 12:25

David321:

I had fibre x installed years ago, they used a machine which took the cable underground right to the edge of my house, the guy used a metal detector to track the machine under my front lawn and the cut the asphalt path at the edge of my house and ran it up about one foot in conduit then drilled threw the side of the wall to under my house, he then got under my house and drilled it up the internal wall and mounted an adapter plug/socket thing to the skirting board inside which is what I plug my modem into.

You can not see the cable anywhere and it is a very very neat and discreet job all done for free, after reading this post it seems they do not go to such efforts anymore?

Sounds like a pneumatic mole - was very common with Saturn/TelstraSaturn cable installs. Worked well in sandy soils on the Kapiti Coast. I haven't seen it used since for cable (FibreX) or fibre. Perhaps the risk/cost of hitting other services meant it wasn't viable.

Yabanize

2157 posts

Uber Geek

# 2151426 28-Dec-2018 13:15

nickb800:

David321:

I had fibre x installed years ago, they used a machine which took the cable underground right to the edge of my house, the guy used a metal detector to track the machine under my front lawn and the cut the asphalt path at the edge of my house and ran it up about one foot in conduit then drilled threw the side of the wall to under my house, he then got under my house and drilled it up the internal wall and mounted an adapter plug/socket thing to the skirting board inside which is what I plug my modem into.

You can not see the cable anywhere and it is a very very neat and discreet job all done for free, after reading this post it seems they do not go to such efforts anymore?

Sounds like a pneumatic mole - was very common with Saturn/TelstraSaturn cable installs. Worked well in sandy soils on the Kapiti Coast. I haven't seen it used since for cable (FibreX) or fibre. Perhaps the risk/cost of hitting other services meant it wasn't viable.

Yeah it broke our stormwater so they had to cover fixing it..

quickymart

4658 posts

Uber Geek

# 2151705 28-Dec-2018 23:04

David321:

Interesting, I must admit I would prefer underground any day, imagine trying to do maintenance on your fence, or if you had a really nice new fence, the last thing you would want is a cable running along it, seems a bit backwards with today's capabilities.

How does it go from the fence to your house? as the only way that comes to mind is either suspended in the air or running along the top of the ground, but I am sure it would not be either of those options.

It's clipped to the fence, then buried underground for the last part and comes in through a wall. It's not a nice new fence but it's not a piece of crap either. I rent the place, so it would be up to the landlord if it needed fixing or replacing, but the cable can be unclipped and clipped back on.

They tried the underground route (there is conduit) but it couldn't be used as they couldn't locate where it came up on the street, so had to do the surface mount. As long as it all works (which it does) I'm not fussed really. Drilling underground would have been far too difficult due to my neighbour being a complete jerk about the install, there's no way he would have let them do any drilling.