topic Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer? in Broadband

IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

greenbike — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:17:21 GMT

I am currently on copper (fibre to cabinet) for both phone 24/7 and internet.

I am moving over to full fibre 300 tomorrow

I have a sky engineer visit booked

This is what it says on my sky account "A Sky engineer will visit your home within the confirmed time slot to install your Sky Broadband." (my slot for arrival! is 1-6pm!!)

BUT in order to install full fibre they will need to climb the nearby telegraph pole and run a new cable from there to my house (25m) then down the side of the house (8m).

Can a Sky engineer do that or shoud they have also booked an open reach engineer?

Thanks for any help

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

GD1 — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:34:46 GMT

@greenbike It's likely an Open reach engineer or a subcontractor

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

greenbike — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:43:49 GMT

Many thanks GD1.

On my sky order it says Sky engineer. But perhaps that's a generic term for the engineer who will install.

Any idea how long it takes to get up the telegraph pole and fix a cable and fix it to a house 25m away? To me that sounds like it would take say 3 hours? Just an uninformed guess.

BUT if they plan to arrive any time between 1 and 6pm they might not have enough time to do it. After all it gets dark early evening. If they arrive at 6pm I doubt it's possible to do the install.

Or am I being unduly pessimistic?

Thanks again and best wishes

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

GD1 — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:50:00 GMT

@greenbike With Glass fibre cable check need to done.

From the pole to house would be fairly quick timewise.

Yes you are being pessimistic, the slot you have allows for owner runs at a previous job.

I doubt it would take more than 1 hour for the full install.

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

greenbike — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:50:56 GMT

Thanks again. Sorry I don't know what you mean by a check needs to be done for glass fibre?

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

GD1 — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:54:23 GMT

@greenbike Glass fibre allows light to flow through it, any blockage or damage would need rectifying otherwise it would impact the

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

greenbike — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 23:08:41 GMT

Sorry. Now I think I understand. After the install they need to check the cable.

IF all goes well tomorrow and the install gets done I shall come back and tell you how long it took.

Thanks again for all of your help. Much appreciated.

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

Chrisee — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 06:31:59 GMT

@greenbike & @GD1 actually on single stage overhead installs some Sky engineers are trained to work from the connection on the pole running the drop cable etc. Sky and Openreach have an agreement that Skys engineers are trained to work to Openreach standards. Given the run down in satellite installs Sky have redeployed teams to fibre work. These enginerrs already had the core skills including working at heights, handling cables etc so it makes sense to skil them up to do fibre installations.

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

JimM1 — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 07:43:10 GMT

@greenbike Ideal way. the Fibre gets installed from pole to home, placed where both you/OR Engineer agree too, mostly outside wall and the inside locaction is near a double power socket or power extension that you will need to deal with!. Once installed the NEW ONT is checked out and activated/FW updated etc by the visiting Engineer, Three Green lights Power on solid, Pon on solid, and your Lan will start flashing when the Engineer goes to connect your hub, upto this point the Broadband has still all been working on the old Copper fttc connection.

Engineer is happy the new gear is fine, then swap over from the Copper to the Fibre, Fibre goes live and Copper starts to Die off. You Cannot have both, Phone landline if you are using takes a little time to swap over, so you may have the phone in the OR Master socket for a period off time, it NEEDS to move and be connected into the back off the sky Hub, that switch over is variable and can be 24-48hrs before everything gels together, incoming calls and outgoing calls are seperate, same as all the various calling networks.... If you are using Landline then make sure after period that it all appears to be working, if not call sky and they need to look at why not!👌

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

greenbike — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 07:56:32 GMT

Thanks very interesting! Best wishes

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

Sayek — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 07:58:18 GMT

@greenbike

I had FTTP installed few months back via overhead pole. It was a subcontractor that completed both exterior and interior boxes.

I would suggest you plan in advance where you want both external CSP and internal ONT placed and the path of the cable.

Don't leave these guys alone for a moment because they will take the easiest option.. Once the job is complete it will be very tricky to change things.

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

greenbike — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 08:06:06 GMT

Very helpful, thank you.

My plan? if acceptable to the engineer is:

1. pole to house. the new cable to be fitted one metre to the right of the existing copper cable. i am guessing? that they shouldn't both be attached to the same anchor point (or am i wrong?)

2. from anchor point along front of house to left by about 1.5m then down the facade near a rainwater down pipe about 2m. then left along wall to attached garage.

3. i have made a hole for the cable to go from outside to inside garage. this is also how the copper cable is routed (different hole).

4. the csp to be installed inside the garage about 0.5m from where the cable enters. is that ok??? inside csp?

5. from the csp the pigtail runs along the wooden beam between wall and roof (as the copper cable does). about 2m left, 1m back, 3m left, 3m forward, 1m left then drop down 1m and into a hole i have drilled into the current location of router.

6. the ont to be installed on inside wall about 0.5m from the hole. 4 power sockets available.

What do you think? Does that sound reasonable to ask the engineer?

Any advice will be gratefully received.

Thanks again

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

JimM1 — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 08:26:01 GMT

@Sayek That's the Disclaimer, once the Fibre is in and running at the preset package speed, user's responsability for the rest off the home, OR Engineers are not Wi-Fi specialist, and take the tack, Hub takes care off the rest which normaly is going to be a big NO, you cannot shove a wireless wi-fi signal through a couple off brick walls or foil lined plaster board and expect it to work, if the Hub is all working great or thought to be great where it currently is then that is where you want it to be, but it is far easier to do that position via Ethernet Cable than Fibre, OR/Contractors Keep the Fibre as Short as possible and that Protects it as much as possible!

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

Sayek — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 08:29:14 GMT

@greenbike My setup was from pole to near roof drain pipe. Cable ties along the drain pipe until ground..no nails on wall..

Then the cables was followed under the bay window so you don't see much cables on wall. I also had a hole ready as i have seen these engineers blowout a chunk on the wall.

The standard setup for CSP is ground level and exterior so they can work on CSP without enter customer property.

The cable from the CSP to ONT is pre-cut to 10M.

You may need to make a donation to the engineers evening drink charity for any complex job 😉

Watch this video for internal CSP. The important part is the CSP must be ground level for service...not on ladders. I would think internal CSP is even better for engineer as they are away from weather when making the spice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BHaKeT9xsQ

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

greenbike — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 08:54:06 GMT

Many thanks for your reply

I was planning/hoping for CSP about 2m from floor and just inside garage. Will they refuse?

If they insist on ground level (is 1m above ground = to ground level?) then they will have to go down to CSP then back up the wall to the hole in the garage.

It's a bit more than 10m from CSP to the router location. Current location has been for decades (was the original BT socket years ago).

Is more than 10m ok or will they refuse?

Thanks again

EDIT: if the engineer doesn't want to install the ONT near the current router location what can I do? Can I refuse the install or discuss with a superior? Is there a procedure in place to deal with this?

Many thanks again

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

JimM1 — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:04:48 GMT

@greenbike Outside may be ok, inside is probably refused, so if you want it there, see if you think running a Ethernet cable is possible, if you can do that then way to go, OR will NOT want the delicate fibre all over the ship, and there are minimum bend radius on it. ONT can go anywhere, i have mine plus its csp all up in the Dormer off the roof space, but took care of running the Ethernet cable to the Asus Router position. Did have a 21 day delay because of the OR Contractor he did not want to play ball, but OR requested 2nd visit no issues and happy to do! So for me right off the pole, into the soffit, up the roof truss internal. mounted board with power, OR stuck the CSP and ONT on the board and happy as larry, 1Hr install and off they went!

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

greenbike — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:08:06 GMT

Thanks again. I shall hope for the best.

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

Sayek — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:20:56 GMT

Just remember to offer engineers some drinks 😊

They just normall guys working and appreciate a good tip.

17 years ago I had Sky TV dish installed on the chimney. I asked the contractor if he can also fit a TV aerial at the same time.

Yes he agreed subject to a donation to his drink fund. Obviously after 17 years the freeview aerial is pointless now.

It also depends on the person that visits your site. The young guy that visited my property did not even secure the ladder against the wall using a strap. He just run up the ladder without any fear.

Good luck

Re: IS install possible by just Sky engineer?

greenbike — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:26:46 GMT

Many thanks, I've just had a text message to tell me to expect the engineer between 1pm and 6pm.

6pm would be impossible. I would imagine the latest time to manage this install would be about 4pm depending on what time they finish.

I'll let you know what happens.

All the best