How do NTL install cable?

LaFleur

Some advice required please.
My apartment block is about 5 years old. Phone, Gas, electricity is piped underground into the block.
I’m being told that NTL cable will be installed in my estate early next year.
There is an estate about 30 metres away with it.
My question is, how exactly do they install the cable. Will they have to dig up the road outside everyone’s home and lay then that way? How will it be run into the apartment?
Or will they use the existing network of underground networks and just pipe it in with that?
Thanks for explaining!

bk

It will depend on the specifics of your apartment building.

They will probably run the cables as far as the building in existing ducting. From there it would depend on the design of the building. Do you have coax cable for satellite/aerial TV in your apartment already, if yes then they could use that from the basement comms room.

If not then they will probably just run the cables into each apartment from the outside wall.

LaFleur

Thanks for that BK.

No Basement. Just a cubbard with with ESB metres for all apartments in the unit. I'm guessing they could place their own unit outside the apartment, like Bord Gais?

bk

LaFleur wrote: »

No Basement. Just a cubbard with with ESB metres for all apartments in the unit. I'm guessing they could place their own unit outside the apartment, like Bord Gais?

In that case, yes, that is more then likely what they will do.

Cupart

One would think that an apartment block no older than 5 years would have been made /planned ready for running cables (NTL/SKY/BB etc).

Ask the facilities company that "runs" your block. They should know or at least have access to the blue prints

bk

Cupart wrote: »

One would think that an apartment block no older than 5 years would have been made /planned ready for running cables (NTL/SKY/BB etc).

Many new apartment buildings are badly wired.

In particular some are wired with unshielded Cat5e only for fancy IPTV services from the likes of Smart and Magnet, that unsurprisingly doesn't end up working out and needs to be wired by Sky/UPC later in unusual ways.

LaFleur

bk wrote: »

Many new apartment buildings are badly wired.

In particular some are wired with unshielded Cat5e only for fancy IPTV services from the likes of Smart and Magnet, that unsurprisingly doesn't end up working out and needs to be wired by Sky/UPC later in unusual ways.

Hi Guys,

I'm only new to my apartment. Ive had a look at some covered over points beside my plug stocket beside the tv area. Seems that there is a cable currled up inside ready to be used! I can only assume this is what NTL would use. All i need now is for NTL it make my estate live...

Here's hoping it doesnt take them too much longer, given the time frame them mentioned to me in my original post!

surf board

LaFleur, where abouts in Dub are you? Sounds v similar to my apt block & that is less than 2 yrs old there were no actual points but UPC came & removed some of the white covers (they looked like phone points) & attached the black coax cable to a splitter & placed a cover over it. took no longer than 15 mins for 2 wall points.Is ur apt not ready to go if all you need are the UPC wall points? I wud have thought all the cables would be hooked up underground outside & ready?

LaFleur

surf board wrote: »

LaFleur, where abouts in Dub are you? Sounds v similar to my apt block & that is less than 2 yrs old there were no actual points but UPC came & removed some of the white covers (they looked like phone points) & attached the black coax cable to a splitter & placed a cover over it. took no longer than 15 mins for 2 wall points.Is ur apt not ready to go if all you need are the UPC wall points? I wud have thought all the cables would be hooked up underground outside & ready?

Hey surf board, i'm in Balbriggan.

It is strange that we're not connected up underground at this stage.

surf board

Ye for sure, v strange. Why have the cables there if no services are available? I would have thought that it would mean more work & expense to put underground cables in after the building has been wired!!

Bazzy

Op

Take a picture of the cable in the wall and post it and i will be able to let you know what type of cable it is eg will it provide upc services.

Bazzy

jonny_b1

Hey all,just about to move to Balbriggan and I cant bring my UPC services with me to the new house. Any insider info on when they might have a full service in Balbriggan?? I cant bear to live too long without my cable BB

LaFleur

Bazzy wrote: »

Op

Take a picture of the cable in the wall and post it and i will be able to let you know what type of cable it is eg will it provide upc services.

Bazzy

Here you go Bazzy...

Just seems to be a single metal wire in the cable...sorry i dont know the tech terms!

Bazzy

Yup your apartment will work with upc its not the same quality as the cable they use but you should be ok.

All you will have to do is wait until they release it and you are away.

Basically when they built the apartment the builder would have done a "deal" with one of the tv companies

Then the electricans will wire your apartment for tv service in this instance they used Co Ax cable which will work with most providers excluding magnet and a few others who broadcast IPTV the cables is similar to the lan cable used on your pc if you use one.

Now when you bought the apartment you took ownership of said cable, Because the builder and cable company had a "deal" in place the builder will only let one company in.

This was the practice back when it was booming but it is now changed due to the recession and the management company want to keep themselves quiet so there letting upc etc set up systems along side the one thats there already they can all use the same cable and in theory the management company/ Apt owner own the cable.

Now hope all that makes sense!

LaFleur

Bazzy wrote: »

Yup your apartment will work with upc its not the same quality as the cable they use but you should be ok.

All you will have to do is wait until they release it and you are away.

Basically when they built the apartment the builder would have done a "deal" with one of the tv companies

Then the electricans will wire your apartment for tv service in this instance they used Co Ax cable which will work with most providers excluding magnet and a few others who broadcast IPTV the cables is similar to the lan cable used on your pc if you use one.

Now when you bought the apartment you took ownership of said cable, Because the builder and cable company had a "deal" in place the builder will only let one company in.

This was the practice back when it was booming but it is now changed due to the recession and the management company want to keep themselves quiet so there letting upc etc set up systems along side the one thats there already they can all use the same cable and in theory the management company/ Apt owner own the cable.

Now hope all that makes sense!

Thanks Bazzy,

So with the cable, i should be able to avail of UPC broadband, HD TV etc?

Bazzy

if upc feed you from the main fibre network bb + hd shouldn't be a problem at all