Our street is finally getting NBN over Feb/March and I just wanted to know from others what my rights are to where the internal communications box is installed. I understand the outside box is going to be a bit out of my control but do I have any say in where the internal boxes go, like in a garage or somewhere discreet in a lounge room corner? Currently our Telstra box sits right outside our front door, it's one of those thin grey boxes, we are in a townhouse (one of two). Also when they come out to do the work at the premises, do they take hours to do the install, a full day? I just want to be home when they do all of the drilling and wiring. Be interested in people's experiences and what I should look out for and ask the installer on the day. I own the townhouse. Thanks.
NBN Installation - What Are My Rights with The Install?
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The install is in two parts. The first is when NBN puts the box in and the second is when your chosen service provider connects it up.
Each session, which are not on the same day, takes about two to three hours.
You definitely can say where you want the inside box put, I did, and they will fulfil your request, as long as it is suitable.
One place it can not be installed is in a dusty area.
From mine and several friends experiences the NBN installer will put the box wherever is convenient for them / easiest to install. If you don't want it there you will need to arrange to get it moved at your own expense / inconvenience.
A friend attempted to get NBN installed the other week. The installer wanted to put the box in their master bedroom because it was the closest to the street. They refused as they didn't want it there. The installer left without completing the install.
Which nbn technology are you getting? If it's run of the mill FTTN there won't be any installation at your house. You just plug your new VDSN into your existing telephone port.
Hfc and fttp are different, though.
It says online that it is HFC
You say you already have a "Telstra Box" right outside your front door, but I'm not sure what that means. Is it for your fixed line telephone, or do you already have cable Foxtel?
If you're getting HFC, your street must already have Foxtel cable. Is the Foxtel cable in your street underground, or is it strung between power poles? If the Foxtel cable is underground in the street, and you already have Foxtel, then the cable between the street and your house is almost certainly underground. If you don't already have Foxtel, you may get an underground connection, or you may get an overhead cable.
If the Foxtel cable is strung between poles in your street, you'll almost certainly get a new overhead cable to your house, most likely connected to the closest and/or easiest point on your roofline. The external NBN box will be installed right at that point, or below that point near the ground.
If you already have cable Foxtel, the internal NBN modem will be installed where your Foxtel box is now. You won't get a choice.
If you don't already have Foxtel, the internal NBN modem will be installed on the inside of the house close to where the external box is mounted. Again, you're unlikely to get a choice. Well, that's not strictly true - your choice will be to have it installed where they want, or the installer will leave without doing the job, and you may have to engage a cabler at your own cost.
The NBN installers will always do the minimum amount of work that they possibly can. It might be a good job, or it might be a real mess.
The Telstra box is small grey box at the front door with the phone wire in it, so just telephone. I believe Foxtel is in the street and I'm pretty sure it's strung up on the power poles. We have a Foxtel connection point in the house but I believe it just goes to a satellite dish on the roof, I don't believe the cable goes out into the street. There are guys in the street currently cutting up the pavement and doing some wiring, have no idea what that's about… said they were checking gas lines in preparation for NBN install??
It'll be back-to-back within 1 metre from the PCD that is on the outside.
As I have Foxtel cable in the front lounge room - will this be used for NBN?
Is a new box needed?
Yes as long as it's HFC.
You will get a new NBN router and will need new modem.
NBN will install a coax splitter to your existing Foxtel cable outlet, with one cable going to your existing Foxtel box and another cable going to the new NBN modem. You won't get a choice.
Your NBN router will connect to the new NBN modem.
OK this is the deal. If you want it where you want it and not where the installer wants to put it in then you may have to put up with a lengthy delay if the installer refuses to install it. So do you want it now or want it later. We took 6months to battle underground connection rather than overhead with our HFC connection. The installer rolled his eye when we told him to locate point in middle of house. They did it though. So also really up to the installer. So we nice and be home.
As for the connection externally. Just horrible what some installers have done no care. Had a work colleague who wasn't informed when the installer came and they ran all this conduit all along the external walls to get to the point where they could get it in. OMG.
End of the day Ombudsmen if it all goes wrong. Also look up the NBN website and look up install notes about your rights. The installers and CS have no idea.
Had a work colleague who wasn't informed when the installer came
The notice may be send out 20 weeks in advance of the installation day.
Explains why the rollout is behind schedule. 😀
this scenario is exactly what I'm afraid of
It might all go well. Just be home and put in your request to the installer. You may be the first and be happy. Offer him a drink or coffee. Post an update on how you go. What kind of connection is it. HFC. Should be straight forward if overhead. Not like what we wanted.
It says HFC on the website…. what does that mean for us. We are a townhouse, one of two but are behind a house at the front.
We also have a Foxtel cable port in the main lounge (however it connects to a dish on the roof….not via overhead cable). Have never used the Foxtel since living here.
Are there advantages to putting it in the lounge behind the TV for streaming boxes, Apple TV's etc. Or with WIFI doesn't really matter?
ImO As I'm no expert you want it central to the house or where you can hook up a computer to the modem to check settings. Central for better wifi around house. If near TV point might be ok. Is there a room far away from there that you use wifi. Signal there might not be great.
As for connection. I suspect they'll pull in a new overhead cable from street. Assume the dish was just easier to install at time. I didn't want the possum freeeways into my house hence the battle for underground connection. Plus the fact it was a simple task as the phone line coming in where the pit and pole was. Nbn just made it difficult for us. Glad we fort it out with them.
You have the right to request the box to be practically anywhere but you may forfeit your rights to support.
There is a clause (can't remember where as I read it about two months ago) if you request for something against the advice of the installer, NBN is within their rights to not provide support as the install is essentially botched by the home owner.