Digger required for install ???

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xpd

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#298449 18-Jun-2022 03:32

FIL moved up near us recently, and property has copper running underground by looks of things. Didn't matter in the end anyway, he went with Skinny wireless.

Apparently in the last few days, someone came door knocking and said if he wants fiber, he's got to cough up "thousands" for the install and a digger will be required to perform the install.

He told them to bugger off but cant remember who/where they were from.

He is in a well developed area, everyone around him has fiber and none of them had to shell out $$$ and have a digger to do the install...... his property is only 30m off the road if that.

I could do the install with a couple of mates in a day easy with a shovel...... his house is just to the left of that garage at end of the drive. (behind the one you can see)

I'd love to know who it was and get an actual quote from them for the work.

Obviously some clueless sales people out there or some scam artists.....

XPD / Gavin

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gregmcc

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#2931261 18-Jun-2022 05:55

I'd never use a digger on this job, use a directional drill, a small hole at the end to patch instead of a whole driveway

Delorean

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#2931276 18-Jun-2022 08:29

Why would they need a digger?

Even legitimate Chorus techs wouldn’t suggest that!

Scam artists or Cowboys would be to lazy to get a digger and just string the fibre cable against that fence as a clothesline 😂

On a serious note. You would find the copper conduit and just re-run the fibre through that.
(assuming is not broken over time with tree roots)

Agree. Would take half a day to run. Then you need a nice chorus tech to connect it to the network.

Edit: Typo

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nztim

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#2931289 18-Jun-2022 09:36

Mine is about the same distance from the street, used copper cable as a draw cable no digging

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

quickymart

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#2931290 18-Jun-2022 09:43

It depends if the copper does indeed run underground or not - I've come across people who thought it did, and were astonished to see they had an aerial connection from the pole into their roof once I pointed it out.

However if it is indeed underground, there may be an issue if there is existing conduit and it can't be used (blockage, etc), which may explain why the digger was suggested.

Intravix

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#2931296 18-Jun-2022 10:23

If he can't remember who they were or where they were from, perhaps he hasn't gotten the story straight. Maybe he was told about a directional drill, or using a digger for just part of the works.

It could've been someone from an RSP or Chorus/LFC door-knocker. They might not have necessarily had much knowledge in install methodology.

raytaylor

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#2931614 19-Jun-2022 13:16

It wouldnt be worth the thousands for the job setup cost of a drectional drill.

Chorus recently did a slot cut up the concrete of our driveway which is much longer.

Alternatively if its a fence on a boundary and the rear homeowner also owns the driveway land, then a conduit along the fence would be an alternative.

I dont think you could get a digger bucket to fit anywhere in there without breaking some concrete.

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Behodar

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#2931665 19-Jun-2022 13:40

Another possibility is that a digging company has been trawling through Chorus records to find copper properties and try to make work for themselves.

Wheelbarrow01

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#2931850 19-Jun-2022 22:28

Sounds like someone somewhere has the wrong end of the stick.

Under the UFB reference offer, all residential properties in any fibre available area are entitled to a free standard install for any dwelling up to 200 metres from the street (excluding some new builds/infill housing).

A standard install can be carried out using any of the following methodologies (or a combination of them) as determined/recommended by the technician in consultation with the customer: aerial feed, using an existing duct, direct bury in shallow trench (ruggedised), slot trenching (ruggedised), open trench (installed in new duct), or affixed to an object (eg fence - ruggedised).

I don't believe that anyone from Chorus or our service companies would knock on anyone's door unsolicited to advise a fibre install will cost thousands and require a digger. And I don't think any legit doorknocker acting on behalf of any RSP would be doing that either. Emphasising a high install cost is not exactly a great way to sell a service, especially when we generally don't charge for installations at all.

It is true that there are Chorus door knockers working in selected areas where copper is being withdrawn. However they are only targeting residences and businesses with active copper connections that will be directly impacted by imminent copper withdrawal. These copper customers are being actively encouraged to switch to fibre (or wireless) as soon as possible, and we certainly aren't charging in this scenario. As your father in law is already on Skinny wireless, this situation seems not to apply anyway.

As someone has suggested above, it could well be some dodgy excavation contractor touting for business so I think it can safely be ignored. If they come back, ask to see their credentials (all our staff and contractors have Chorus ID) If they claim to represent Chorus but you aren't sure, give us a call on 0800 600 100 to verify/check their identity.

The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of my employer Chorus NZ Ltd

K8Toledo

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#2931901 19-Jun-2022 23:01

nztim: Mine is about the same distance from the street, used copper cable as a draw cable no digging

Assuming Chorus used conduit. :P

I've seen examples where contractors laid bare cable at premises' with rural postcodes because "conduit isn't required in rural areas".

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#2931905 19-Jun-2022 23:37

K8Toledo:
nztim: Mine is about the same distance from the street, used copper cable as a draw cable no digging

Assuming Chorus used conduit. :P

I've seen examples where contractors laid bare cable at premises' with rural postcodes because "conduit isn't required in rural areas".

My house was built in the NZPO days where conduit was used and it was a solid 450mm deep using the old copper lead-in as a drw wire was no problem:)

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Bung

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#2931918 20-Jun-2022 06:45

The crew that did our install claimed they had to leave the copper intact but they had a coil of fibreglass rod that they pushed up the conduit and pulled the fibre through with that. I had found the existing conduit and dug a trench from that to where the street duct appeared. They had planned to run down the drive on the surface (microtrench).

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nztim

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#2932185 20-Jun-2022 14:33

Bung: The crew that did our install claimed they had to leave the copper intact but they had a coil of fibreglass rod that they pushed up the conduit and pulled the fibre through with that. I had found the existing conduit and dug a trench from that to where the street duct appeared. They had planned to run down the drive on the surface (microtrench).

That will be because whoever placed your original fibre order noted down "retain copper" on the order - This is an option when placing a fibre order (but not for much longer I suspect)

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.