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How does Fiber installation work?

Hello.

I am currently on an ADSL connection. According to this website my house is fiber ready.
https://www.homeandwork.openreach.co.uk/when-can-i-get-fibre.aspx
Exchange status: Fibre enabled
Cabinet number: 135

Now, if I was to upgrade from my ADSL connection to Fiber, would I still need an engineer visit? I was doing some research, and a lot of different information is provider, and it seems that things changed over the years.

My master socket in my house, has only 1 output where you can plug something. So right now I am using an ADSL microfilter. When I googled the fiber installation process, apparently, back when fiber became new, you would get an engineer who would upgrade the master socket to a vdsl one, and give you a openreach modem. Then I read, that in 2016 this has changed, and you don't need the master socket upgrade or a modem anymore, as all you will get is just a vdsl microfilter so no engineer is needed at all (apparently this is called self-install).

Could someone confirm for me what the actual process is nowadays?

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Hello Triple to answer your question as long as the master socket is a NTe5 which yours sounds like it is then FTTC can be installed without an engineer visit. BT now install this the same way they do ADSL you connect your VDSL router into a DSL filter set up the router connect and surf away.

BT will sometimes say they need engineer visit this is normally because they need to update the master socket. They cal this either self install or wires only both methods are completed with just the engineer going to the green cabinet you are on.
 
Generally most "fibre" (FTTC) broadband providers today will do a self-install, which means that you just need to plug a router/modem and VDSL filter into the master socket and no engineer needs to enter your property. You just wait for the kit to arrive and the go-live date, easy.

However I would say that if you have an original Master Socket then it may still benefit from the installation of a filtered faceplate, which could boost your speeds. But that's a separate consideration.

UPDATE: Aww Kits beat me to it :)
 
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Hi, thanks for the replies.

Here is a picture of my master socket - I assume this is one of the old ones?
http://imgur.com/a/OzDtk

Even if fiber would work with this, how much would the speeds be slower than when using a filtered faceplate?(I'm mostly interested in about upload speeds). Also, how easy is to install something like this myself? Is it as simple as unscrewing the old one and putting it the new one, or would I need to do something with the wires as well?

According to http://www.dslchecker.bt.com/adsl/ADSLChecker.AddressOutput
These are my speeds possible:
http://imgur.com/a/SO42j


Thanks
 
It's a bit newer then the old ones, a MasterSocket with the Openreach logo on like that may or may not have its own filtered faceplate. Either way it's hard to tell you what the performance would be like until you get it activated (can't easily account for the quality of home wiring), although BT's estimate suggests anything from around 16-35Mbps (download) and even at its worse that's still a lot better than your ADSL.
 
Hi,

I see. Well I decided to order, went with BT for various of reasons. Once Im up and running, maybe then some tweaks can be possible to get most speed possible. Download speed of even 16mb would make me happy, it is just im a bit worried about the upload speed. Im hoping I can get at least solid 3mb.

Thanks for help again.
 
Upload rates tend to be a bit more resilient so you should be fine, provided the package offers a good upload speed.
 
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