Eir rural FTTH thread

Dr. Nick

chris_ie wrote: »

Can you send them up my way when they're done? Cheers. Tell them I have tea and scones.

Nah, I'm closer.....and I have beer

Gonzo

Dr. Nick wrote: »

Nah, I'm closer.....and I have beer

Im wondering tho there has to be other locations on the Eir rural blue line scheme started since last Friday? There are no other reports on this forum of work taking place anywhere else.

Or else there is work taking place in other areas, just nobody from those areas use this forum to let us know!

I'd like to read about reports from other areas. Tara hopefully will start soon. It is by far the largest zone in the rural blue line scheme in County Meath for Phase 1 with over 1100 premises compared to the 570 in Dunshaughlin althought the housing there is more spread apart over a much wider area.

ED E

Userbase of this sub is pretty minuscule to be honest, they could be operating two dozen build zones without anyone on here happening to be local.

snowstreams

I live on one of these blue lines between athenry & oranmore in Galway.
I haven't seen any work on my road but I did see kn doing digging on the main road just 1km away. They were digging holes, and local rumour was that it's fibre. I haven't seen them in over a week but there signs are still there.
Funnily enough though the blue line doesn't go to the part of the main road that there working on.

The holes are about 150m apart I'd say and are coming from the derrydonnell cross up to the pin in my map below.
https://goo.gl/maps/9Pekucvezmo

Shyboy

Where I am between Tuam and Athenry in County Galway, KN were doing work about 2 months ago digging holes and putting down manholes about 50 metres apart plus a cabinet (slightly different to a regular fibre cabinet).

This is about 1km from where I live and on a small road which have no houses. They haven't been back since...

Interestingly enough, KN did a huge job last year in our area replacing all of the poles and cabling. Where we only had thin cable between the poles, we now have 3 cables, 1 thin cable and 2 thick cables. Would they already have the fibre in place?

We are down for FTTH between Autumn/Winter 2016.

ED E

Shyboy wrote: »

Interestingly enough, KN did a huge job last year in our area replacing all of the poles and cabling. Where we only had thin cable between the poles, we now have 3 cables, 1 thin cable and 2 thick cables. Would they already have the fibre in place?

Do the cables run down some of the poles into black potheads ( Plastic cylinders with rounded tops)? If so it probably fiber. If its on all poles its for GPON, or if its just on one main road then that could be for an RSU (That new cab your mentioned).

daraghwal

ED E wrote: »

Do the cables run down some of the poles into black potheads ( Plastic cylinders with rounded tops)? If so it probably fiber. If its on all poles its for GPON, or if its just on one main road then that could be for an RSU (That new cab your mentioned).

There's a thick fibre cable going down my road with 2x black potheads every few kilometres. (I presume they are potheads - About 40cm high with little ridges in the plastic with a rounded top - I couldn't find a picture). They put it in about 5 years ago (which is strange because FTTC was only activated last month) before there was any mention of FTTH. Looking at the map on openeir my road is roughly along the core fibre network route. It appears to be going into my local village to the exchange. Maybed if ShyBoy has a look they'll find one along their road too.

Also do you know what the potheads actually do?

Shyboy

ED E wrote: »

Do the cables run down some of the poles into black potheads ( Plastic cylinders with rounded tops)? If so it probably fiber. If its on all poles its for GPON, or if its just on one main road then that could be for an RSU (That new cab your mentioned).

Yes, the cables run down into exactly those plastic potheads that you mention (I wondered what those things were?)

They are on nearly every pole (bar a few) in our village and a few villages around, all served by the blue lines on the same exchange.

ED E

Originally for copper connections, as they're an upside down cup shape so water couldnt ingress into the joint. They appear to be using something similar for the fiber network, its just a passive junction.

Shyboy

Shyboy wrote: »

Yes, the cables run down into exactly those plastic potheads that you mention (I wondered what those things were?)

They are on nearly every pole (bar a few) in our village and a few villages around, all served by the blue lines on the same exchange.

Here is a photo of where this cabling meets in our village. If it is fibre, I assume that they will not have to run any new cabling into the village for FTTH?

The Cush

This is one of the copper/fibre potheads that were installed in my area last year when KN were doing some post storm repairs.

daraghwal

The Cush wrote: »

This is one of the copper/fibre potheads that were installed in my area last year when KN were doing some post storm repairs.

Those are the ones I was talking about in my previous post. Couldn't find a picture!

What do those actually do?

The Cush

daraghwal wrote: »

Those are the ones I was talking about in my previous post. Couldn't find a picture!

What do those actually do?

As Ed said above they're just passive junction boxes where cables are split, in this case they appear to be dual copper/fibre optic capable. In the picture above the box is located at a road junction where the cable from the local exchange is split to 2 roads.

Dr. Nick

Regarding the much talked about blue lines, a friend of mine has a business employing around 70 people down our road. Eir were out with him last week and showed him excactly where the FTTH would stop, which is exactly where the blue line stops on the map - right before a small river.

He's another few hundred meters on and is not happy......but I'm sure in his case it will be sorted, he needs it more than we do after all (he's relying on mobile b/band which is crazy since he deals with Lidl/Aldi/Dunnes etc.)

TireeTerror

Dr. Nick wrote: »

Regarding the much talked about blue lines, a friend of mine has a business employing around 70 people down our road. Eir were out with him last week and showed him excactly where the FTTH would stop, which is exactly where the blue line stops on the map - right before a small river.

He's another few hundred meters on and is not happy......but I'm sure in his case it will be sorted, he needs it more than we do after all (he's relying on mobile b/band which is crazy since he deals with Lidl/Aldi/Dunnes etc.)

That is not good news. My area has no broadband at all, not even dialup. The blue line stops exactly 350 metres from my house.

legocrazy505

TireeTerror wrote: »

Dr. Nick wrote: »

Regarding the much talked about blue lines, a friend of mine has a business employing around 70 people down our road. Eir were out with him last week and showed him excactly where the FTTH would stop, which is exactly where the blue line stops on the map - right before a small river.

He's another few hundred meters on and is not happy......but I'm sure in his case it will be sorted, he needs it more than we do after all (he's relying on mobile b/band which is crazy since he deals with Lidl/Aldi/Dunnes etc.)

That is not good news. My area has no broadband at all, not even dialup. The blue line stops exactly 350 metres from my house.

NBP will serve you then hopefully. Depending on who gets the contract you might still get 1gbps yet. If NBP meets the requirement the people need then you'll probably have it as quickly as you would Eir's FTTH anyway so it won't make much difference either way.

ED E

Looking on the bright side you'll either get 1Gbps or nothing Tiree, no way you'll be stuck on ADSL.

daraghwal

ED E wrote: »

Looking on the bright side you'll either get 1Gbps or nothing Tiree, no way you'll be stuck on ADSL.

Would Imagine not end up providing the minimum 30Mbps if they won? Also do you know how likely is it that they could win? I would hate to see them having control over rural broadband!

legocrazy505

daraghwal wrote: »

ED E wrote: »

Looking on the bright side you'll either get 1Gbps or nothing Tiree, no way you'll be stuck on ADSL.

Would Imagine not end up providing the minimum 30Mbps if they won? Also do you know how likely is it that they could win? I would hate to see them having control over rural broadband!

To be honest I see Eir winning at least one section. There's no way they wouldn't get anything given the fact they are the ones with an existing infrastructure ready to go day one. Siro might get another but I really don't see any company offering to do the bare minimum or provide wireless solutions will actually get anything.

Grumpypants

Ok dumb question amnesty

Does FTTH lose speed over distance in the way copper/FTC does?

My connection now is a copper 5mbs line. I get 1.2mbs when it gets to my home, as it is 4.5km from the cabinet I actually consider that pretty good. I read that FTTC only goes 2km max. But I am on the magical blue line FTTH roll out plan, expected in the "next 6 weeks" and in the list of villages set to get it this year.

But can I expect the full 1gbs when it does come? Or will it drop off? Or worse not really get to me unless they build a new cabinet.

Also I am presuming from the photos posted that it runs partially under ground and partially across the poles? The village was dug up and cabling put in before Christmas, it just gets to the edge of the village, and then the real rural road (where I live) I presume will just get it run along the poles.

I've never been so interested in telegraph poles in my life

gflann

Question:
The blue line from my exchange stops 100 yds from my house as seen in picture.
You can see in the pic, where the blue line stops and and the house is 3 doors up.

Does this mean I am screwed?
We are on one of the exchanges due for FTTH this year.

plodder

Grumpypants wrote: »

Ok dumb question amnesty

Does FTTH lose speed over distance in the way copper/FTC does?

Nothing like to the same extent. I think fibre can be run up to 20km without needing repeaters.

My connection now is a copper 5mbs line. I get 1.2mbs when it gets to my home, as it is 4.5km from the cabinet I actually consider that pretty good. I read that FTTC only goes 2km max. But I am on the magical blue line FTTH roll out plan, expected in the "next 6 weeks" and in the list of villages set to get it this year.

But can I expect the full 1gbs when it does come? Or will it drop off? Or worse not really get to me unless they build a new cabinet.

You should get 1Gbit anywhere on the blue lines.

@glflann. I don't think anyone knows for sure, but it seems there's no reason to believe the maps are cast in stone and won't be adjusted later.

gflann

Thx plodder.

daraghwal

gflann wrote: »

Question:
The blue line from my exchange stops 100 yds from my house as seen in picture.
You can see in the pic, where the blue line stops and and the house is 3 doors up.

Does this mean I am screwed?
We are on one of the exchanges due for FTTH this year.

I doubt they would bring fibre all the way to that first house and then leave the other four that are left there. It wouldn't make sense but then again, you never know!

Johnboy1951

gflann wrote: »

Question:
The blue line from my exchange stops 100 yds from my house as seen in picture.
You can see in the pic, where the blue line stops and and the house is 3 doors up.

Does this mean I am screwed?
We are on one of the exchanges due for FTTH this year.

Is there an underground duct to that first house?
If so that would explain the line stopping there.
The houses might then be fed from over head lines.

Alternatively is it possible that there is only sufficient fibre available at present to go the first house and the others might have to wait for an extra run?

In your position I would be very hopeful that all four get connected at the same time.

Be nice to that neighbour and they might share the connection if you do not get your own

ItHurtsWhenIP

Grumpypants wrote: »

Ok dumb question amnesty

Does FTTH lose speed over distance in the way copper/FTC does?

My connection now is a copper 5mbs line. I get 1.2mbs when it gets to my home, as it is 4.5km from the cabinet I actually consider that pretty good. I read that FTTC only goes 2km max. But I am on the magical blue line FTTH roll out plan, expected in the "next 6 weeks" and in the list of villages set to get it this year.

But can I expect the full 1gbs when it does come? Or will it drop off? Or worse not really get to me unless they build a new cabinet.

Also I am presuming from the photos posted that it runs partially under ground and partially across the poles? The village was dug up and cabling put in before Christmas, it just gets to the edge of the village, and then the real rural road (where I live) I presume will just get it run along the poles.

I've never been so interested in telegraph poles in my life

As plodder pointed out FTTH can run to 20KM before requiring amplification, however I don't believe there will be a massive loss in speed even at that range (I'm open to correction though).

Others have posted their gig speedtests and it never quite gets to 1,000Mbps. I think we've seen ~935Mbps. There have been explanations as to why this is the case, but I don't recall right now - might be the GPON protocol they're using.

Where there is underground ducting, eir will blow the fibre through those, but after that it'll get strung along the telegraph poles.

Gonzo up in Meath is saying that KNN guys seem to be installing ducting out along his road and he is down for FTTH this year. If you're 6 weeks out, I'd guess they'll be taking the overhead route for you.

ED E

GPON will run up to 20km with no degradation but do not expect OpenEir to regularly go that far. The exchange network is based on the range of a POTS phone line which is 8km on a good day. It will be very rare that you'll need to run 14km from your west when there's an exchange 2km to the east.

Simply, everyone is in range once all exchanges are done. That does NOT mean everyone will be connected.

I think we've seen ~935Mbps. There have been explanations as to why this is the case, but I don't recall right now - might be the GPON protocol they're using.

This can be attributed to gigabit adapters. If you stress test a consumer grade 1Gig NIC you'll rarely get more than 960Mb effective rate. And even if your laptop happens to have a very expensive server grade NIC in it, the CPE provided probably doesn't.

Gonzo

does FTTH have overheads similar to what DSL has?

Gonzo

MMFITWGDV wrote: »

Gonzo up in Meath is saying that KNN guys seem to be installing ducting out along his road and he is down for FTTH this year. If you're 6 weeks out, I'd guess they'll be taking the overhead route for you.

The 1km of ducting is now complete up to where housing/poles start. Ive noticed no KNN guys today or any of their signs/cones laying around so I reckon a different team will connect all the poles up from here on. Can't imagine them doing that sort of work today, real nasty day. I presume as well they wont need to dig manholes every 150 meters from here on either!

ED E

Gonzo wrote: »

does FTTH have overheads similar to what DSL has?

DSL Itself does't really have a significant overhead, its the ATM link on top thats noteworthy then IP on top of that.