No main socket in house

FreshlyCutFlowers

Hello everyone,

I've purchased a house which turns out has no main socket installed. There is a brown virgin box on the wall outside but Vodafone and others using BT would need to attach a new box to the property. Some questions :

New to homeowning and drilling holes all feels a bit invasive, how can I ensure a good job is done? Worried about unsightly cables hanging across walls etc.

Also I would ideally like to place the main socket on the 1st floor to help create reach on 2nd and ground floor.. Can they do that?

If I get virgin, I feel 'stuck' as I believe only virgin operates on that line, meaning they will charge me much more after initial contract and I can't easily swap away..? 

onomatopoeia99

OFCOM allow Virgin Media a monopoly on their local loop infrastructure so the only ISP you can get on their line is Virgin Media.  To swap away you would need to go to a provider using a different local loop.  Most of the alternatives use the BT Openreach infrastructure, aside from mobile internet and some niche providers that cover very limited areas (e.g. Hyperoptic).

For a traditional BT line no external box on the property is needed, the dropwire needs to enter somewhere and find its way to the master socket.  The technician doing the install can't spend all day being Bob the builder just so you can avoid "unsightly" wires, so if you want it on the other side of the house from where the cable comes in and the wires all hidden, you're going to need to do anything that needs doing to clear the way and grant access before they arrive so they can easily run the cable and hook it up and then make good yourself after. 

FreshlyCutFlowers

Thanks! Keen to avoid being in a monopoly situation as I'll get charged so much more after initial contract ends with virgin.

So the standard entrance was quoted as front room ground floor but I'd ideally have the socket in the back, 1st floor. Seems much better to lay a cable around to the back of the house rather than drilling in 3 internal walls to get the cable there..?
I've seen loads of otherwise great homes look much more poorly due to cables loosely hanging over the front wall and across their roofs.. There must be a better way than this surely?  Maybe a question for the dyi forum. 

ann_droid

Hi
Just s a matter of interest, try this to see what OpenReach may be able to supply.
https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome

JJ_Egan

Is this a new house or a new old house ??

Neighbours do they have wires from telephone post to the house ??

BT box is a small box inside not outside the property .

FreshlyCutFlowers

ann_droid said:

Hi
Just s a matter of interest, try this to see what OpenReach may be able to supply.
https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome

Hey, this is what comes up. Any chance you can help me interpret? I need a solid connection, at least 50mb +, not really sure what I'm looking at in these images..! If possible I'd love to no longer be on the flimsy copper wires. 

FreshlyCutFlowers

JJ_Egan said:

Is this a new house or a new old house ??

Neighbours do they have wires from telephone post to the house ??

BT box is a small box inside not outside the property .

Old House. I see some having wires from poles, and some of those hanging across their front walls over the roof. but for many of the houses I don't see any cables..! Maybe because like mine they don't use / have it? 

JJ_Egan

Why do you need 50+  .

If this is for business then you need a business contract with service level agreements  .

milgo

A local independent "ex" telecommunications engineer would probably be able to advise and or install a BT master socket in the location of your choosing, and run a cable back to the point on the house where the BT cable from the street would likely enter. Check your local newspaper, Gumtree, Internet etc for someone able to advise you on costs. 

FreshlyCutFlowers

JJ_Egan said:

Why do you need 50+  .

If this is for business then you need a business contract with service level agreements  .

I do some wfh and expect that to continue, so does my partner.

We also have kids who use the Internet so 50 + is what I consider minimum for the devices and our usage. 

Neil49

If you end up with the line coming in on the ground floor then I suggest that you consider installing a decent mesh network with points on each floor. This avoids any issues regarding trailing cables and drilling of walls.