NBN Wants to Drill Holes All over My Apartment

[Deactivated] on 15/01/2019 - 10:38
Last edited 16/01/2019 - 19:50

I had a chat with the strata manager who told me that NBN need to install new cables to each unit.
Therefore NBN will drill holes from the electricity room (where the street fibre cable ends) to each units.
They will drill through every floor in the building (4 in total) to the floor common area, from there it will be split into each unit front doors, which then will be taken over by the ISPs, whom will drill the wall into the inside of the unit.

I was shocked with so much drilling involved, and how ugly and messy it will look. I can't understand why they can't use the existing Foxtel cables or Telephone (Cat6).

I am campaigning for another alternative, even if it means ditching Foxtel forever (who needs them anyway when you have NBN). I'm not very techy, do you know if it is the only solution?

Edit: The plans from the nbn check address site showed that it is using HFC network.

TLDR: NBN wants to install new cables (hfc) inside the building and therefore need to drill holes through every floor and walls to each unit.

Internet Broadband nbn

Comments

  • ratoloko on 15/01/2019 - 13:13
    +2

    I don't know how NBN works but if you already have Cat6 available, they should be able to use it.

    Where I live in Mascot, I have TPG 90Mbps FTTB, oh man, that shit is a dream - I saw the technician installing it.
    The fiber cable goes to a box somewhere in the garage, from there, he jumps to that Cat6 to your unit. I really don't understand why they need new holes.

    It seems like is just NBN doing their amazing shit job….

    • [Deactivated] on 15/01/2019 - 13:25

      That's what I thought too.
      Although High And Dry pointed out that Cat6 may be slower in the future.

      • ratoloko on 15/01/2019 - 13:29
        +2

        In the future?? Cat6 is up to 1000Mbps or gigabit and it cuts down interference. Cat6 has been used with servers out there for ages and it still has a long life ahead. I still don't understand why this strange job. There is no need.

        • Rockets84 on 16/01/2019 - 15:19

          CAT6/6a/7 is limited to 100M for 10Gb ethernet. With fibre you can get 10Gb to go 10Km, 40Km or 80Km with off the shelve hardware right now easily. 25Gb to 10Km isn't as easy yet but still very achievable. Using fibre isn't just about speed it's also about the distance you can run the cables which is where it's real benefit is.

          • Jackson on 16/01/2019 - 22:08

            @Rockets84: Good thing it's not 80km between his basment and his unit then

            • Rockets84 on 22/01/2019 - 13:03

              @Jackson: But a big high rise apartment block will have apartments more than 100M's from the basement. whiiiskyy was saying that CAT6 is plenty good enough for FTTB because it can support 1 or 10GB, but it's not always the case ie distance. But from what I understand NBN don't use fibre for these types of buildings but use VDSL2 over the phone pairs and have a VDSL DSLAM (mini node) in the basement which is rubbish.

      • ratoloko on 15/01/2019 - 13:34
        +2

        Just an update, if we are talking about Cat6a instead of Cat6, or even Cat7, we are no longer talking about 1000Mbps, but 10000mbps or 10Gbps :)

        • [Deactivated] on 15/01/2019 - 13:37
          +1

          I have to check, but pretty sure it was normal Cat6.

          The NBN check said it will be HFC, I don't understand if it's HFC why they need to use fibre to the units.

          • whooah1979 on 15/01/2019 - 13:45

            @[Deactivated]: How old is the building?

            • [Deactivated] on 15/01/2019 - 13:46

              @whooah1979: 5 years old. The builder did a bad job obviously.

            • ratoloko on 15/01/2019 - 13:49

              @whooah1979: Good point. Where I am living now, the building is quite new.

          • ratoloko on 15/01/2019 - 13:48

            @[Deactivated]: Ohhh I got it now. HFC stands to hybrid fibre coaxial, so basically NBN will have a fibre connection to their node, and from there they will use a coaxial cable to the apartment. So basically as I understood, they are making holes for the coaxial cables.

            I didn't like the speed tho, I haven't see one friend having at least 70Mbps with NBN. With FTTB you can go easily above that.

            • Mrbean007 on 22/01/2019 - 13:11

              @ratoloko: HFC Optus customer here happy with 100/40 never seen it go below 90/35
              Maybe on peak down to 70/30 but hardly ever even on peak.

          • ozjuz on 17/01/2019 - 09:10

            @[Deactivated]: NBN may be coming to your complex to install a new PDH (Premise Distribution Hub) and which will take the HFC connection from upstream (communications pits from public roads etc.) and thereafter install fibre within the complex that you reside in from the PDH - thus providing you with FTTP service.

            Although this solution is not a true FTTP solution as you it is still part HFC - that is essentially FTTN (fibre to the node).

    • hunterhalo on 16/01/2019 - 16:10

      and im in vietnam, still on holiday, enjoying fibre 300Mbps

    • Magus on 17/01/2019 - 21:42

      He is getting HFC, so all brand new coax. It would be far cheaper to install fibre. Cost per m is less, and it uses the same size conduit.
      No power connections to build, and splitters are dirt cheap.
      There is an upgrade path. Actually the paths. It starts from 4x1Gbps at no cost to nbn.
      Lower cost to operate, and with fewer active components, longer expected life.

  • trilby on 15/01/2019 - 14:26
    +4

    You're lucky to get them to come.
    Twice I've taken a day off work and they have not shown up.
    Told I would be charged $225 if I wasn't there, but they didn't even bother to phone to say they weren't coming - had to ring around to find out they had rescheduled.
    Very poor service.

    • Gaz1 on 15/01/2019 - 16:31
      +10

      Pity you can't charge them $225 each time they are not there…

  • bugman on 15/01/2019 - 16:52
    +1

    Please come and install NBN at my place. Make the walls Swiss cheese for all I care. My area first planned for 2014 and…..still waiting and still not started in my area. 5 years delayed must be some kind of record.

    AND when it is finally done… I'm still getting the poor mans version FTTN..

  • Findo on 15/01/2019 - 17:10

    Make sure you watch them closely, the NBN people installed their stuff inside my friend’s spice cabinet above her stove: https://imgur.com/15w9ueA

    • mattyman on 16/01/2019 - 21:59
      +1

      OMG it looks like the evil electricians installed the switchboard there too!

      Seriously?

      They do give you options on where these things can be installed but if it's FTTP then there are a few caveats.

      There cannot be more than 3 bends in the fibre cable.
      It must be installed near a power socket. I'm guessing your friend is in a small apartment and NBN were limited in their choices.

      • Jackson on 16/01/2019 - 22:12

        I dont know about you but that looks like coax to me?

        • Findo on 16/01/2019 - 23:12

          She’s getting HFC, apparently the NBN people just ran cables as close to existing openings. The power socket is where the kettle and toaster are plugged in, and the spice cabinet is right above the stovetop. I can confirm it wasn’t there before, because I look after her kids on a regular basis and access the spice cabinet.

    • McFly on 17/01/2019 - 16:47
      +1

      I want to connect to the National Bay-leaf Network too!

  • Ridiculous Panda on 15/01/2019 - 17:35
    +12

    If it is HFC, it will have nothing to do with fibre or cat6. You can't mix HFC with any other technology.
    To be honest, you sound like a PITA. Just let NBN do what they've got to do, mate. Don't try and force your clueless suggestions on either strata nor nbn.

      • mattyman on 16/01/2019 - 22:02

        It's one hole in your apartment wall mate. They'll install a wall plate to make it pretty. All of the other "holes" will be hidden within the crawlspaces. You won't see any wiring.

        • Jackson on 16/01/2019 - 22:13

          Except in the common areas wgere it will be a mess

  • Desertsyd on 15/01/2019 - 18:03
    +1

    In this heat, free ventilation holes

  • UNO on 15/01/2019 - 19:37
    +1

    I wish I didn't have to wait to 2020 for NBN.

  • psylence on 15/01/2019 - 19:49
    +1

    Don't let them do it if you do your apartment will fall over like that opal tower within 5 years

  • Salty Pretzel on 15/01/2019 - 19:59
    -1

    Complaining that you're getting fttp? People really do find ways to complain about everything.

    • [Deactivated] on 15/01/2019 - 20:04

      Hfc

      • tranter on 15/01/2019 - 20:58

        What type of cable are they running through the building?

          • tranter on 15/01/2019 - 21:17

            @whooah1979: I'm confused. OP said it's probably fibre optic that's being installed in the building and there's fibre optic connected to the building from the street. Yet OP is also saying it's an HFC connection?

            • whooah1979 on 15/01/2019 - 21:26

              @tranter:

              I'm just confused.

              You're not alone.

              OP have stated that the building is already serviced (FOXTEL HFC), but NBN still wants to construct conduits to every floor. It doesn't make sense that Telstra would approve this.

              • Jackson on 16/01/2019 - 22:19

                @whooah1979: It makes perfect sense. Telstra makes money off foxtel, they dont make money if someone takes over the foxtel connection for broadband internet.

                • Magus on 17/01/2019 - 21:46

                  @Jackson: Actually they do. about $800 per user, and they get to keep foxtel there, and no longer need to pay to operate or maintain the cable.
                  In fact they go the contract to maintain the cable. They are now paid to do what was a cost to them before!

              • McFly on 17/01/2019 - 16:53

                @whooah1979: What doesn't make sense is Telstra wanting someone other than Telstra to muck around with their cables.
                What's more, the NBN don't need to seek permission from Telstra to connect customers.

                • whooah1979 on 17/01/2019 - 16:58

                  @McFly: NBN is constructing the network, but Telstra is one does the QC.

            • McFly on 17/01/2019 - 16:50

              @tranter:

              OP said

              OP also said "…I'm sure I can make NBN do what we want…"

    • [Deactivated] on 17/01/2019 - 21:49

      NBN is running heaps of new Coaxial cable through apartments, it's not FTTP. It's just bonkers that they're doing all this drilling, digging up footpaths etc and at the end of the day not only will it be HFC, but they're using the newer DOCSIS 3.1 tech to avoid doing as many line splits, so to upgrade speed in the future they'll have to make line changes, not just equipment changes.

  • spoonmugen on 15/01/2019 - 20:36

    why are they drilling holes? to feed through cable? if so they will just chaulk/putty up the holes afterwards…

    u might be making something out of nothing…

    • Jackson on 16/01/2019 - 22:22

      Going through a similar thing, they will want to attach multiple conduits along the ceiling and then branch each connection through a separate conduit through the wall above each doorway, and then have another contractor connect from above the doorway in that unit with more conduit to where it needs to go. Each unit will only have one conduit but the common area will end up a mess with stuff everywhere

  • star-ggg on 15/01/2019 - 20:38
    +4

    They won't need to drill holes if you tell them to run the cables under your front door and along the skirting boards =)

  • spoonmugen on 15/01/2019 - 21:05

    they will drill a hole to put the lead in…
    might even be behind the closet/ thats where my gf's nbn connection is in her apartment

  • RedMed on 15/01/2019 - 21:36
    +1

    They undertook this installation at our 1960s unit block, much as you describe with white trunking being run up brick walls of the internal common stairwells and drilling straight through each floor's concrete landings from the basement electricity room. The trunking sticks out about an inch from the stairwell wall which is a nuisance. Doesn't sound like much but we have narrow corners and landings so every inch is necessary to get larger furniture up or down.

    We were told by the strata manager that the NBN Co can do what it likes for these installations. It looks ugly but you get used to it (or stop caring). If anyone could be bothered we could paint it to match the red brick colour so it doesn't stick out as much.

    I was lucky for my unit connection. I'm on the top floor so instead of going through the unit wall I had it run up through the roof cavity.

    • Jackson on 16/01/2019 - 22:27

      Again this is just sheer laziness on the part of the contractors. In the words of Tony Windsor "do it once, do it right". When renovating I chased walls for ever cable that went in from power to Ethernet to HDMI. Why anyone should settle for less in what is likey the biggest investment they will ever make is a shocker. Every potential buyer who ever comes through that block will see that conduit and think WTF?

  • diceman99 on 15/01/2019 - 21:40
    +2

    Go live in a mud but. You don't deserve electricity cables either

    • melbstheburn on 16/01/2019 - 19:07

      Hahahaha mud butt, gold

  • diceman99 on 15/01/2019 - 21:41

    Get your strata manager to do all the drilling

  • bmerigan on 15/01/2019 - 21:55

    It won't be ugly and messy, your imagination is getting the best of you.
    This is how it needs to be installed - stop being the annoying neighbour

  • DarkOz on 15/01/2019 - 23:23

    You are lucky your strata is approving and arranging this to happen. I know of someone who had to pay $3,000 to repair the nbn installation drillings because he didn't have permission from strata to do so.

  • Velocita on 16/01/2019 - 00:03
    +1

    Cry me a bloody river. Refuse to have it done and go on wireless then.

  • Faulty on 16/01/2019 - 00:34

    Paging NBN: Give OP a taste of that new shitty satellite Sky Muster Cluster f***. He'll be begging for more holes and FTTB

  • Herbse on 16/01/2019 - 00:44

    Property value will increase when it's done. Just do it.

  • jerjergege on 16/01/2019 - 07:23

    Reading your previous comments, just wow.
    Have fun with your theoretical cat 5 speeds on ADSL2+ which you never get anyway LOL!

    • [Deactivated] on 16/01/2019 - 07:54

      Thanks, that did cross my mind.

  • abb on 16/01/2019 - 10:51

    Since you don't actually own the walls, you need strata to take up the fight.

    If you actually do have Cat-6 wiring from each unit to a central hub, they might be able to use that, but probably not as they're generally required to leave the previous phone service active to enable a transition period (among other technical reasons).

    The installers will try to get away with the cheapest & nastiest install, but if strata pushes back, you should be able to get a better result.

    edit: wait, you have existing Telstra cable? The NBN should use that… check out the NBN website and any documents they've sent to see if they're planning to use the existing HFC cabling.

  • Relapse on 16/01/2019 - 10:55

    They are useless - Instead of using the wall cavity in our apartment block they decided they would drill through the stairwell and run conduit everywhere. Looks like crap - they don't care. I have a TIO complaint open.

    • drfuzzy on 16/01/2019 - 15:52
      +1

      You can pay to move it if you want.

  • BartholemewH on 16/01/2019 - 10:58

    I've had FTTH (ie FTTP) for 8 years. There are people still out there that would kill for a FTTH connection. I have a cable hanging across my yard and a box hanging off the brickwork of my house. Doesn't phase me tbh.

    • [Deactivated] on 17/01/2019 - 21:53

      Except OP is getting HFC with all the drilling. I'd kill for FTTP but am getting the same as OP. I'd still maim for that considering what it's like at the moment. But it's an enormous waste of effort given they've dug up every footpath in my suburb to lay NEW HFC.

      • whooah1979 on 17/01/2019 - 23:09

        they've dug up every footpath

        Hmm.. HFC is SDU. The lead-in conduit goes from the pit to the property. There is no need to dig up footpaths to construct the lead-in.

        • [Deactivated] on 18/01/2019 - 12:28

          They're clearly doing more than just lead-ins in terms of rectification. In my area, there are about 90% unit blocks 10% houses. Most of the houses have lead-ins, but only about 30% of the unit blocks have lead-ins. They have both dug up footpaths to run new cable (eg, no lead-in, or just to bring cable to where there should be a lead in because that street had no prior HFC), as well as digging up people's driveways etc to lay lead-ins. Some lead-ins are still overhead, in which case they've dug up the footpath and left some HFC taped half-way up the power poles ready for lead-ins to be done some other time. The unit blocks are 4-15 dwellings approx so they've decided not to do FTTB :\ It's like they've given the whole suburb over to HFC with little consideration to if it makes more sense to to FTTB / FTTC or FTTP in a particular situation. It seems like they're only re-using 40% of the existing HFC in the street at best.

          • whooah1979 on 18/01/2019 - 12:56

            @[Deactivated]: What you are describing is link pipes.

            Do you've images of the works?

            • [Deactivated] on 18/01/2019 - 13:54

              @whooah1979: Nah, it was a couple of months ago, lots of concrete cutting with NBN logo on the signs blocking footpaths. Some places had the same but within their properties. The coax roll that's taped half-way up the power poll is probably still there though.

  • cupcake on 16/01/2019 - 14:03
    +1

    Jeebus. How about trying to guess your neighbour's wifi password?

  • kaleidoscope on 16/01/2019 - 14:39

    Howcome is this a concern …

  • Dreamcast on 16/01/2019 - 14:45
    +1

    Don't waste your time. I know for a fact that nbn will not make any changes. HFC with unit blocks is done one way.

    You'll have to live with ugly ducting in the common areas and across the walls in your unit. If you refuse, you'll simply pay thousands later.

    You're only option is tech choice. You will have to get all owners involved. That'll be the hard part as it costs an arm and 3 legs to switch to fttp. Then the wait time to deliver it.

    So do I a blame you for having a whinge? No. Just letting you know that resistance is futile.

    Again, it's horrible, ugly, an eye sore, etc, but it simply won't change

    • [Deactivated] on 17/01/2019 - 21:44

      For HFC in multi-floor apartments, do you know whether they generally install one of those grey boxes inside or do they just duct the cable drop straight to a new HFC outlet?

    • [Deactivated] on 17/01/2019 - 21:54

      There's no tech choice option if they've chosen HFC for your address. The option to even pay for another technology was another government lie. They won't even let you get a quote.

  • mousie on 16/01/2019 - 15:00

    With all these extra holes OP won't need to ponder the answer to their previous poll
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/414367

  • drfuzzy on 16/01/2019 - 15:51

    Do you own the apartment?

  • billy77 on 16/01/2019 - 15:52

    On top of the incompetent politicians, this is why we can't have nice things.

  • cryptonoob on 16/01/2019 - 16:03
    -1

    Do you know if this was actually proposed by NBN or some third-party company contracted by NBN?

    The result can be very different.

    • [Deactivated] on 16/01/2019 - 16:16

      Third party. Interesting question. Different how?

  • LookAtMeow on 16/01/2019 - 16:30
    -1

    Wow, you must be the first person in Australia to complain about getting FTTP. Everyone with crappy line sync due to receiving a FTTN VDSL2 solution wants fibre.

    You can't blame NBNCo for having to drill new holes to run the new cabling now, it's the developers who built your apartments fault for not leaving empty conduit with spare cable draws for running future cables at a later date.

    • [Deactivated] on 16/01/2019 - 16:34
      -1

      Hfc.

      • LookAtMeow on 16/01/2019 - 16:36
        +1

        Well considering you currently have ADSL2 it's still a massive upgrade.

        You should amend your TLDR as it states FIBRE.

  • netsurfer on 16/01/2019 - 17:58

    why they can't use the existing Foxtel cables or Telephone (Cat6)

    They cannot use existing Foxtel cable probably it is too slow. Current telephone cable is not Cat6 and since you are HFC, existing telephone cable is useless.

    In case you haven't realised yet, the whole NBN is a joke. Instead of two choices currently for most people (either cable or ADSL), you are generally left with just one and due to monopoly (only NBN), you have no choice. Except in rare cases where some broadband vendors decide to implement FTTB on top of whatever NBN decided.

    • tranter on 16/01/2019 - 18:39

      They are going to use the existing Foxtel cable when we are connected to NBN HFC later in the year.

      • netsurfer on 16/01/2019 - 19:46

        Hence, this whole NBN thing is a joke. Using "existing" Foxtel cable yet still need to wait for the rollout. Was overseas a few weeks ago. Their normal phone line / VDSL is already capable of our NBN speed. Standard phone line remains working (you can keep your phone) and my mate there wasn't even on the highest speed VDSL plan.

        HFC is a lazy way to implement NBN. NBN 12 is really dumb - that's slower than my current ADSL.

        • tranter on 16/01/2019 - 20:38

          Yes, they are using the existing Foxtel cabling into my unit but there has been extensive NBN work done at street level in my area for the last 18 months. There were also plenty of premises that didn't have Foxtel cable already installed.

  • melbstheburn on 16/01/2019 - 19:04
    +3

    Logged on to ozb, read Op's first five comments, there goes my daily negs

    • [Deactivated] on 16/01/2019 - 19:28
      -1

      Thanks

      • melbstheburn on 16/01/2019 - 19:41
        +1

        Most unreasonable sh*t I have ever heard. People would kill for FTTP. I really hope you are trolling and aren't serious

        • [Deactivated] on 16/01/2019 - 19:49

          Hfc

  • aussieprepper on 16/01/2019 - 19:40

    Are you living in the Jetsons house wireless power only? lol

  • diceman99 on 16/01/2019 - 23:31

    Cat6 is only rated for 100m. In large buildings this gets used up pretty quick. So fibre cabinet to ground floor. But top floors wouldn't be in the 100m limit

    • LookAtMeow on 17/01/2019 - 08:56

      Cat5/cat6 is only rated for 100M if you're using it for ethernet. A lot of developers/builders use cat5/cat6 from the apartments themselves to the buildings MDF and only use a single (the middle blue) pair. NBNCo would then deploy buildings like this with FTTN/FTTB using the same VDSL2 technology on both. Considering the huge copper runs on some streets for FTTN, an internal buildings clean new cabling even up to 300M would still get full VDSL2 100/40 line sync.

  • Numbfeeling on 17/01/2019 - 00:28

    Just have those cable via wireless. Problem solved

    • diceman99 on 17/01/2019 - 09:41

      Wrong. Wireless spectrum and properties inherent in broadband spectrum mean congestion

  • Cletus vandamme on 17/01/2019 - 02:35
    -1

    Holes = nbn
    No holes = no nbn
    Quite simple really.

    • gimme on 17/01/2019 - 08:35
      +2

      lol you're every govt's dream. Nothing is that black and white. If I had adopted that approach in life, I'd have very little of what I wanted and a lot of what others thought I should get for various self serving or lazy reasons.

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