More on FTTP protocols (geeks only)

Surprisingly hard to find the info you want amidst the plethora of information you don't but I did find this buried in a long document on GPON

Traffic Mapping - Ethernet ================= - Resolves Ethernet frames and directly maps the *data* of Ethernet frames into the GEM payload.

- GEM frames automatically encapsulate header information.

- 1:1 alignment between an Ethernet Frame and GEM Frame.

So it is in almost all respects pretty much 'ethernet over fibre'

Which is a surprise, but when you think about it, perhaps not. Its pretty simple way to do it

I wonder how the ISP actually receives it.

Yes, you can get SFP modules that connect to GPON, ie a GPON to copper converter that plugs into an existing networking device - it means you can bring GPON into a router or PC as just another ethernet connection.

(I'm sure they are a bit more complicated than a laser in a box, but there's not much space or power budget for protocol conversion in an SFP)

As above - you just have all the signals concentrated in a single port at an OLT:

Theo

That (or a denser version) will be how openreach receives it/

I'd expect the ISP just gets it over their 21CN WBC pipes as per DSL?

Not much more. There's level measurement and a few other management functions on the extra pins, but basically it's A/C coupled digits at

That was what I was thinking, and that because of that, preserving Ethernet framing might be a waste of time...

I am rather glad I retired from all this s*it. Mostly its plug, follow simple instructions, and play - its when that doesn't work....

Turns out there are 'smart' PON modules (with a heatsink poking out the back): https://pon.wiki/xgs-pon/ont/bfw-solutions/was-110/ and firmware written by people who want to pretend to be their ISP's ONT: https://pon.wiki/ for example, Virgin Media: https://pon.wiki/guides/masquerade-as-the-virgin-media-o2-hub-5x-with-the-bfw-solutions-was-110/ Theo

They're talking bollox, but PN do do throttling from their end, so it's possible the they take their time altering the throttling from your old DSL speed?

I hope they are talking bollocks

Mine was there on the instant it connected

That won't (shouldn't) be an issue as it's a new order, not an upgrade.

My Master Plan is:-

Openreach install 8th Nov.

Existing POTS/VDSL 18 month Plusnet contract expires 11 Oct. I will port out the phone number to A&A VoIP the same day, thus cancelling the line.

Seems the safest way, with the best continuity of service. I'll let you know how I get on.

In message snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com, Graham. snipped-for-privacy@mail.com writes

Ha Ha! Openreach here on Tuesday installing fibre. Service ordered 100Mb with anytime calls. Bit of a struggle finding a working connection but connection appears to be 300Mb and there is no working telephone service. Contract with Plusnet had already expired. BT coming to sort out this afternoon. I suspect the phone number has been allocated to a circuit other than the one they gave me....

If you want to check that your proposed timing is optimal it might be worth phoning A&A sales to check. John

I emailed them about the timing at the end of August as I knew the industry was changing to One Touch Switching procedures which also affects porting. I got a reply from Victoria Acres and she intimated that they did not yet know the full implications of OTS.

I will ring her on Monday for advice. It can't occur before 12th Oct as my current contract runs till the

Incidentally I'm indebted to you John as your post reminded me to check my messages, and I realised I hadn't sent the DD mandate back to accounts. So much for my "Master Plan".

I’ve just done what you are proposing, by switching to PN FTTP from FTTC, and porting the landline number to A&A.

I avoided the OTS system because I didn’t like the look of it, and used the facility whereby I paid the £11 up front. This was on Thursday. The next day I had confirmation that the port would take place at the end of my phone contract, in a few days. So far, that’s gone smoothly[1] as did the changeover to FTTP.

Hope yours goes well.

PS: There was no ‘settling in’ period for the FTTP connection, it ran at full contract speed straightaway.

HTH

Thanks Spike, that was exactly the sort of reply I was hoping for. on

"Hello Graham, We're sorry to hear you're thinking of leaving us. Here are some things you need to know about switching your Unlimited Fibre Extra to Andrews & Arnold Ltd." and went on to warn me about the early termination fee.

I resolved that discretion is the better part of valour, and didn't probe the A&A web form further at that time.

Can you give me a better idea why OTS should be avoided? Is the option even still there? OFCOM seem to be keen on it. I've got the 29 page PDF from TOTSC and it's complex.

I’m sorry to say the sign-up process is a bit of a blur in my memory, I originally clicked the OTS option but on reading a bit more about it in their notes, decided to do it manually and pay the £11 up front. I can’t recall the minutiae as I wanted to crack on and get things done.

I got the impression that having my dosh up front speeded things up, and so far it’s gone well.

Interesting that you got the same ‘sorry you’re leaving’ message that I did, as I said I did call PN about this and wondered if there‘s a bit of a cover-up going on. So far today my FTTP is working well and only expected amounts have been taken from my bank.

I have set up A&A to switch straight to voicemail and email me the MP3, to an email address I set up for it. It was a simple process on the appropriate A&A page. It avoids having an actual phone and an ATA and yet more passwords and setting up…

Hint: they give you a secure password to log on, make sure you select and copy it *before* accepting it, as you can’t recover it later. DAMHIKT…

I embraced the VoIP paradigm about 20 years ago, at least for outgoing calls, and the copper telephone line is exclusively for incoming. So I've got the whole Rasperry Pi Astrisk/ FreePBX & multiple ATAs set up, it's a hobby in of itself.

The phone number came with the house when we moved in 40 years ago, and AFAICT has been associated with this address during the entire post-war era.

Apart from all that, my wife would kill me if it was lost.

Was there any significant pause between your number leaving the copper pair, and being availible on A&A?

That’s why I took the voicemail route…much simpler!

I can see where you’re coming from…

I wasn’t aware of any hold-up, I filled in the form online on Thursday, and Friday morning received an email from A&A telling me that the port had been accepted; it’s showing in my Control Panel as ‘pending’. Strangely, I still have a dial tone, but when I ring the number it tells me that it hasn’t been recognised. A&A had said in a previous email that the port would take place on my PN phone contract end-date, a few days from now, so there’s a few days of no apparent service on the line.

I ported phone number to A&A last week. Just the phone moved to A&A VoIP ceasing a Plusnet copper connection for both phone and internet. I had preconfigured an ATA to connect to A&A, and thus it transferred automatically. There was a period when the phone number was unavailable, but it was no more than one hour.

Just a quick FU to say that the number port has now gone through, earlier this morning and on the day stated.

I’ve tested the voicemail-to-email system, and it works perfectly, with the email arriving within a few seconds.

Well done, A&A!