Looking to get a unit in an FTTN area.
Some ISPs offer the option to have an additional copper lead-in installed.
Would this help with speeds and reliability of the FTTN network? I'm coming from a 100/40 HFC area which has been pretty reliable and I understand that FTTN is a huge downgrade from HFC.
This guy sounds like he knows what he is talking about. I should get scubaholes to come round to my place once NBN has been installed. Have been getting under 5 down on ADSL :(
Is it free?
An additional phone line (what you refer to as an additional copper lead in) would effectively double your speed. Of course, you need to then pay for another FTTN NBN service so it starts to become quite expensive. Some homes already have an additional phone line already, back from the dial up days or needing to run a dedicated fax line.
lol at someone down voting this - my guidance is 100% correct
Can I get another downvote, hallelujah? XD
Superloop says the fee is $300…which is chump change when spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to purchase the unit.
How do you find out how far the copper is to the pillar and node?
My reasoning is that additional copper lead in = fresh new wiring that can be located somewhere accessible…
FWIW the suburb is mostly HFC but the complex and another adjoining complex (based on the NBN map) seem to be the only few FTTN areas. Not sure if that makes a difference.
Sounds suspiciously like the new development fee!
Are you sure this is a service to run an additional lead in?
Ask Superloop for an estimate on the line length.
Alternatively look here
http://nbnmtm.australiaeast.cloudapp.azure.com/
then walk the suggested route looking for Pits.
In my case this site estimates my line length as 400m, when in reality it's 800m because the pits don't follow the suggested path.
300 seems ok. Will it be aerial or underground?
Have Superloop actually directly told you that they will run a new lead in for only $300 despite the premises already having a lead in?
I don't think they will do any such thing for that cheap if there is an existing lead in!
In old areas, pre 80's, the copper to your Utility pole will be underground.
The lead in will connect at around waist height of the utility pole in a junction box and then go up the pole and across to your house.
In a "new" area you may or will have underground conduit to the pit or utility pole (if the pit is across the road).
Yeah it's $300 as it's a new connection/line fee. You're effectively running a second phone line to the property.
I don't believe that NBN allow second lines for FttN (the network isn't designed for this capacity).
Exceptions exist, but for non-commercial use, you get one line only AFAIK.
I believe the new connection fee exists to reactivate old, unused, lead ins or to run a new lead in to a property that has no pre-existing lead in.
I'm not sure about the rules with now requesting an additional line to be installed but there are a number of Whirlpool users that had two phone lines pre NBN who now have two active FTTN services. You could also do it back in dial up days - Windows XP allowed the connections to be meshed together which was pretty cool seeing download speeds of approx 13kb/s.
Here is an old source thread on Whirlpool - there's since been newer threads but you'll note that it's even possible to run two FTTN services from the same RSP (which is essentially what the OP is asking). https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2529782
@akyeeeahdude: This example is for a pre-existing second line, not a new post-Telstra line.
If you want a second NBN lead in to a residential address, you need an ABN and the account will need to be in the name of the business, and due to it being a business service, I expect that you will likely pay more than the (heavily subsidised) $300 new development fee.
@ESEMCE: Not strictly correct. This explains how to do it and even has a user who had a second FTTN service activated post NBN. You don't even need to run a second dedicated phone line as many homes have a second pair already run to the property (sitting unused).
Thanks for all the replies.
I haven't gotten in touch with superloop as they are hard to get a hold of. Info I have is from here:
https://www.superloop.com/documents/nbn/SuperloopHome%20Broa…
It shows there is an option to get an additional copper lead in for fttn…for $300.
Also:
http://nbnmtm.australiaeast.cloudapp.azure.com/
Does not provide me an estimate on line length.
Yes, the NBNMTM Azure map is quite outdated too. My area has had FTTN since 2016 and still shows no speed estimate.
To calculate the length of the line, you'll need to request the relevant maps from council and also through Dial Before You Dig. It can be a bit of a pain but this is how I calculated my length to the node. Many providers actually have a speed estimate tool now anyway so working out for your distance to the node, really is irrelevant.
That site provides a map to your pillar/node by which you can make an estimate.
Looks like you're right according to that Superloop SHeet.
$300 is a bargain!
Estimating is OK but if you check the cable maps (sourced through DBYD and/or council), they don't always run how you'd expect them to so your estimated figure could be hundreds of metres out. That NBNMTM Azure doesn't even have the Nodes marked in my whole suburb despite the NBN FTTN rollout being completed in 2016. A better way to check is by using a RSP's tool - like this one.
Type in the service address and you'll receive an estimate.
I was able to chat with future broadband with good news.
Can get NBN 100/40 at the unit.
Their line length estimate is under 200m. So hopefully we can get some better speeds in the future knock on wood
Congratulations on winning Node Lotto!
Now all you need to do is hope like hell that the in-ground copper is in good condition.
still, even if it's in the worst condition, you'll have a better chance at fixing it when it's that short.
As always with FttN, it depends…. and you probably wont know the answers until the place is connected.
1) How long is your copper to pillar + Node? (If it's less than 300m, you'll probably be fine with the existing lead in, if you're 300-500m it might be worth it, if you're greater than 500m, you're already looking at ~80mbps max theoretical speeds and any new copper will help get closer to that max)
2) How old is the copper in the area (therefore how corroded and shitty is the copper)?
3) How wet is the area (therefore how corroded and shitty is the copper)?
4) How old is the unit's internal wiring (therefore how corroded and shitty is the copper)?
You'll have to pay out of pocket whether the ISP arranges it or you do, so get connected and find out.
Nobody can really answer the question as the theoretical speeds cannot account for the myriad of issues that can dramatically affect speed for an individual line.
Also be aware that speeds can fluctuate wildly on FttN. My connection maxed out at 49/20 after I replaced my internal line, it then mysteriously dropped to 38/16 and reduced around 1mbps per quarter from there. I disconnected NBN after it had decreased to 30/8 and NBN had told me "there's no problem with your line".
I now pay less on Optus 4G for same (peak) or significantly faster (off peak) speeds. Fortunately our usage falls well inside our 200Gb allowance - again YMMV.