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changing providers - Installation of router in loft

Bilz19

Casual Member
Hi All,

My current copper line from the pole in the street comes into my house at loft level :

IMG_20240503_140403_054.webp


The cable goes through the soffit into the eaves and then connects to my master socket in my converted loft room. My existing router connects to the master socket and my local PC and work laptop are wired connections to the router. The rest of the house is wireless.

I'm on the verge of signing up to a 500MB package from a different provider (probably Sky or Vodafone) but have a few basic questions:

1) If I want the same configuration with the router in the loft, I assume I'd have to remain with fibre from the pole rather than Co-ax (virgin) which I believe they only bring in at ground level to your hallway from the pavement?

2) Will I need an engineer? Will they remove the existing copper line from the pole and replace with a fibre line from the pole? Will they install an ONT unit?

3) I believe the normal practice is to install the new equipment in the hallway / main entrance. Will the engineer install the new equipment in my loft if I want them to, rather than in the main entrance?

Thanks,
Bilz
 
1. Virgin are likely to focus on ground floor delivery. However my coax termination is in the loft, but that's because I moved it there myself during renovations.

I suggest most forum members would be encouraging most on the forum to go for an FTTP service rather than VM in general if consistency and latency are things that you worry about.

2. You will need an engineer visit. They will usually not remove the copper line at the same time. You might be able to persuade the engineer to do it on the day if you ask nicely but don't expect it.

3. It might be good for you to review an older thread of mine. The basic answer is yes, but there's a big bit of "it depends", but if you make it easy for the engineer on the day and avoid them needing to monkey around in unboarded loft or near fibre glass insulation then your chance of success will be higher. See this thread... https://www.ispreview.co.uk/talk/threads/openreach-fttp-install-ont-in-loft.37693/#post-292852

Hope that's useful
 
CityFibre and Openreach will do a non-standard install if you ask in advance. They may need to do a survey first before installing and they may charge you more for this non standard install.

The best thing I would suggest is making it as easy as possible for the installation engineer so he would be prepared to do this for you.

I would say in advance get Openreach to remove the copper line completely from your house. Read this topic to see how I did it


Then maybe drill the hole that was being used for the copper cable out a bit bigger and put some ducting pipe through the hole yourself. Get some 25mm Diameter ducting for the hole.

If you do that for them they will likely be more willing to put the ONT box in the loft for you.

In the meantime get yourself a 4G or 5G router and get an unlimited sim card for your internet till the FTTP is installed.
 
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