nbn FTTN to FTTP Upgrade Questions

Hopefully FTTP will become available in my area in the next 12 months - currently FTTN.

Just wondering if anyone has any tips when making the transition to FTTP?

I heard from someone that got FTTP installed. Presumably this is done by a third party contractor working for NBN, and not an NBNCo staff member. The recipient was not happy, as a new hole was drilled through their double brick house to get the cabling in, despite already having existing phone cables entering the premises.

I can understand that contractors will do whatever is required to get the job done fast, and it is easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission.

Any feedback or tips greatly appreciated.

I do understand that FTTP makes the modem component of existing FTTN modem/routers obsolete. I am hoping stability and speed greatly improves. I know of another customer that got FTTP when it was first rolled out, and they were unable to get 100mbps speeds, which I hope is no longer an issue.

Do people with FTTP have many technical issues? I am planning to get the NBN equipment installed where the cabling first enters the premises, so as to eliminate providers from blaming household cabling as a cause for issues when troubleshooting.

I currently have 2 identical modems so that when providers blame a faulty modem for connection issues, I simply switch from one to the other. I am hoping all the issues I have experienced over the years are resolved by this NBN upgrade.

Comments

  • I had an NBN tech come out and do the install. I got him to install the box where my old FTTN phone line was. Very simple process. The tech didn't put a tile back properly after install, NBN were quick to get this rectified. Same guy came back next day or two to fix it.

    You most likely will be able to use the same modem you use now, as it would most likely be a Modem/Router. Unless you have some sort of different setup

  • Hey mate,
    I owned and lived in a house that has FTTP. The FTTP was installed during the build phase of the house, and was done very neatly. Small box near the gas meter on the outside of the garage, and they went through the slab (maybe) as the cables were going to the base of the house.
    There is then an NBN modem wall mounted on the inside of the garage, where you plug your router in to get wifi. This new modem has an optic intake, so yes, it makes your FTTN modem obsolete. Your router may still work (if its seperate and connects via ethernet), though you may want to upgrade since you can usually get faster speeds with an FTTP connection.
    0 technical issues. Best and most stable connection I've ever had (currently with Opticomm and its not as good).

    I would recommend getting them to come scope it out before you make a payment so you know where the cables are going to go and can decide accordingly.

    • I would recommend getting them to come scope it out before you make a payment so you know where the cables are going to go and can decide accordingly.

      There is no payment for the FTTP upgrade (unless you are spending a few thousand on the tech choices program), and you've got 2 chances of getting them to come out and discuss the scope of the install with you ahead of time.

    • The FTTP was installed during the build phase of the house, and was done very neatly

      An install doing during the build is different to doing an FTTP upgrade.

      The install can be made so easy when there is just framing etc.

    • nbn are upgrading eligible FTTN and FTTC homes to FTTP for $0.

      nbn charges for FTTN/FTTC to FTTP at apartments and units that are managed by a body corporate and charges for HFC to FTTP.

  • I had two places with the FTTP upgrade done. First place, fantastic job, awesome Tech. Second place absolutely shit job. Techs drilled extra holes they never used in my roof, left crap and dust everywhere, didnt even bother running cable through the wall they just stuck a conduit outside my house. NBN did nothing to rectify either.

    Have to fix all the issues myself

  • I'm wondering how long it will be before it becomes a requirement to switch to FTTP once it is available at a house (for existing FTTN connections)? Is it still possible to switch to FTTC method and use your existing copper cabling for the last leg? I ask this as there may be difficulty with some installs, gardens, double storey houses etc and in regards to positioning of the modem within the home.

    • It will be ages till they force an upgrade, and they may use the existing copper conduit.

    • No you won't be getting FTTC. FTTP from mid 2029 onwards however this could change. Selected homes with really slow FTTN get this message now.

      DISCONNECTION OF THE LEGACY COPPER NETWORK
      With nbn Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) technology now available at your premises, existing copper phone and internet services are likely to be switched off within 18 months of the nbn FTTP being available to order.

  • The tech did a good job with mine. Asked me where I wanted things, and kept it tidy.

    Only problem is now now I get regular (several per week) drop outs which can last over an hour. Didn't have that when I was on FTTC.
    And the ISP says they can't escalate to NBNCo until it's a certain number of dropouts per 24 hours :(

  • +1

    The main issue is that most consumer want the modem installed in the center of the house as its then easy to place the wifi router next to it and get good coverage.
    This will mean drilling holes etc. Nbn worker are not magicians.
    Ideally for minimal drilling, have the placement of nbn box / modem in the garage and the get your own tech/electrician to route network cabe to where you want to place the wifi router. more expensive bu you get to choose how you want to route the cables etc.

  • Do people with FTTP have many technical issues?

    FTTP is far and away the fastest and most reliable connection.

    I am planning to get the NBN equipment installed where the cabling first enters the premises, so as to eliminate providers from blaming household cabling as a cause for issues when troubleshooting.

    I currently have 2 identical modems so that when providers blame a faulty modem for connection issues, I simply switch from one to the other

    The NTD (inside box) is the hand-off point, anything up to the UNI-D (ethernet) port on the NTD is the responsibility of NBN, anything after that is yours. If you need to do troubleshooting you can just plug your PC directly into the NTD to eliminate any concerns about cabling/routers/etc.

    If you want to decide where the NTD is installed, the best option is to have conduit in place before the NBN tech arrives.

    • If you need to do troubleshooting you can just plug your PC directly into the NTD to eliminate any concerns about cabling/routers/etc.

      Can you do this if the provider uses PPPoE where a username / password is required?

      Also worth noting that the NTD also doesn't have a firewall, you will be relying on whatever software firewall you have configured in Windows.

      • +1

        Can you do this if the provider uses PPPoE where a username / password is required?

        Yes, windows has had a built-in PPPoE client since XP.

        Also worth noting that the NTD also doesn't have a firewall, you will be relying on whatever software firewall you have configured in Windows.

        Which, as long as you haven't gone messing with things, will be fine by default. Also, most ISPs are putting new connections behind CGNAT unless you explicitly opt out so even if you don't run a firewall there is a good chance you aren't directly exposed to the internet.

        • Yeah didn't consider the CG-NAT thing too.

  • a new hole was drilled through their double brick house to get the cabling in, > despite already having existing phone cables entering the premises.

    Fibre is not as flexible as old copper or RJ45 cables, so the old holes may not have met specification. Try to identify a location that avoids tight 45 degree turns.

    I do understand that FTTP makes the modem component of existing FTTN modem/routers obsolete. I am hoping stability and speed greatly improves. I of another customer that got FTTP when it was first rolled out, and they were unable to get 100mbps speeds, which I hope is no longer an issue.

    That sounds like an RSP capacity issue, or a customer hardware issue. We have had 1000mbps since day 1, all day every day.

    Do people with FTTP have many technical issues? I am planning to get the NBN equipment installed where the cabling first enters the premises, so as to eliminate providers from blaming household cabling as a cause for issues when troubleshooting.

    Get it installed where it best suits you. Using your logic, anything downstream of the NTD could be your issue, so you might as well get the NTD where you want it and NBN will be responsible for it all the way to the NTD. We had ours installed in a broom closet in the central hallway in the house, super central and convenient for us, the installer had to enter the roof and run fibre through the roof cavity. We had to install a dedicated GPO for the NTD and a bathroom extraction fan to meet NBN specs for airflow, it's on their website. Once those requirements we met, the installer had no option but to install it where we wanted it. Broom closet NTD install

    I currently have 2 identical modems so that when providers blame a faulty modem for connection issues, I simply switch from one to the other. I am hoping all the issues I have experienced over the years are resolved by this NBN upgrade……..

    The only downtime we have ever had are the RSP doing scheduled network upgrades and maintenance, or me periodically resetting all the hardware every 3 months just because… There has never been any downtime associated with the FTTP technology itself.

    • 45 degree turn means jackall to the cable, if you opened the internal ntd cover you will see how tight or a radius the cable be rolled into, the inside cable is so tiny so unless you bend it to 0 degree at the point of breaking off the plastic outer layer it still works fine.

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