Nope, they'll send you a pre-paid return envelope if it's current, but they'll go through that when you call.
Downtime when switching from VM to Plusnet (+Sky)
- Thread starter Scam
- Start date
Nope, they'll send you a pre-paid return envelope if it's current, but they'll go through that when you call.
They didn't for me!
Another question, what exactly is the BT engineer going to do in the house? I have a phone line coming in (the VM one, obviously). Will he just flip a switch in the exchange or something? It'll takeover the same phone line right?
Another question, what exactly is the BT engineer going to do in the house? I have a phone line coming in (the VM one, obviously). Will he just flip a switch in the exchange or something? It'll takeover the same phone line right?
He can’t legally touch the VM cable/master socket, it’s VM’s property, he’ll run a brand new feed to a suitable location agreed with you in advance (within reason) and unless you arranged for a number port, you’ll be given a new number.
Hmn well obviously the phone line itself is on its own "master" socket, separate from the VM cable sockets. Surely he can use that? I don't want him fitting another master socket only for my VM phone line to be deactivated two weeks later and sit there empty?
Again, no. The master socket backwards belongs to Virgin Media, legally speaking OR can't touch it in the same way that VM can't use an OR master socket, extensions are fair game, but the master socket is not. The only exception to this would be switching from one OR based provider to another where it would literally be a cabinet only job.
Soldato
- Joined
- 20 Oct 2008
- Posts
- 12,082
I can't see any reason why you can't remove all of Virgin's internal cabling once you aren't using it anymore. I'm pretty sure it doesn't have the same protection as an Openreach line/socket.
I removed all of mine and sealed up the holes the first time I decorated after cancelling. All that's left is the external box with their cable ends (wrapped in self-amalgamating tape to keep them waterproof).
I removed all of mine and sealed up the holes the first time I decorated after cancelling. All that's left is the external box with their cable ends (wrapped in self-amalgamating tape to keep them waterproof).
Well, firstly I'm in a rented property so not sure I should be doing all that. When the landlords refurbished the flat they got the cabling for VM done (no aerial, BT line apparently). Oh, they're going to be rather unhappy if I end up with two more hold in the wall for Sky and BT 
They are licensed in the same way and enjoy the same legal status afaik, the only major difference in the licenses is the way the line can be supplied (no poles for VM and restrictions on the entry to property being from front/side), I suspect it may vary slightly from one franchise area to another.
Well, firstly I'm in a rented property so not sure I should be doing all that. When the landlords refurbished the flat they got the cabling for VM done (no aerial, BT line apparently). Oh, they're going to be rather unhappy if I end up with two more hold in the wall for Sky and BT
Surely you have checked your tenancy agreement before doing this or at least run it by the letting agent/landlord?
We deal directly with the landlord and believe me we've had a lot of discussion regarding getting the Sky dish install. However I honestly thought that a phoneline was a phoneline and that the BT engineer can just take ownership of the existing one coming into the property from VM as I won't want it anymore. Seems rather stupid to run another cable when there's one sitting there doing nothing once my VM account is closed
I mean, surely it goes to the same exchange, we're transferring the number!
Soldato
- Joined
- 20 Oct 2008
- Posts
- 12,082
Virgin's phone line is routed with the coax for the broadband/cable TV. I believe that the two cables are actually physically joined in the same way shotgun satellite cable is. The two cables are both routed to Virgin's street cabinets and are completely separate from BT's network.
They might have equipment in the local exchange, but there's no reason why they would need to.
They might have equipment in the local exchange, but there's no reason why they would need to.
We deal directly with the landlord and believe me we've had a lot of discussion regarding getting the Sky dish install. However I honestly thought that a phoneline was a phoneline and that the BT engineer can just take ownership of the existing one coming into the property from VM as I won't want it anymore. Seems rather stupid to run another cable when there's one sitting there doing nothing once my VM account is closed
No. VM has its own private network, they provide it via fibre and cable (CATV), it has separate cabinets, ducting, hardware, access pits, fibre/copper cables, method of entry and is 100% privately owned by VM and nothing to do with OR. VM can’t use OR’s network, ducting, cabling or indeed touch it’s equipment and vice versa.
Pretty much every other provider on the UK mainland (other than the current wave of localised private FTTP, rural WISP/Sat etc.) sells it’s products with OR providing the last mile. You are moving from a cable network, to the OR network, It’s not like switching from BT to Zen or TalkTalk etc. who all use OR and would do as you suggest as they can all use the same OR socket. Irrespective of who provides your services, the master socket onwards is fair game, but up to the master socket is considered part of the providers network, legally speaking, you shouldn’t be doing anything to it. So yes, two phone sockets and yes Sky will have to run shotgun cable into the property, and no they can’t make two feeds and a VM feed fit your faceplate as it only has two outlets.
You might get lucky and find a Sky/OR engineer who DGAF and will be happy to risk loosing his bonus based on wiring into your existing faceplate/socket rather than running new, but no matter what you do 3 coax feeds will not fit into a twin outlet. If Sky has opted for FBC rather than WBC LNB’s it’d be a different story, unfortunately they didn’t.
*edit* The same was said in post #4 & 5 of this very thread.
Last edited:
I understand what you're saying in reference to the cable socket but I was talking specifically about the phone socket here. If you were suggesting the BT guy would have to install a new phone socket in my flat (which was what I was asking) then you're wrong. I had the install yesterday and all went swimmingly. The Openreach guy migrated my existing phoneline (including socket in my lounge) from VM to BT/Plusnet. No new socket needed, thank god. He migrated my phone number which started working immediately, and the Plusnet followed shortly afterwards. Brilliant. He showed me that there was a VM box outside, and a BT box. He just moved the cable from one to the other. Easy.
The Sky engineer was great too. Dish is out of sight from the front and back of the house practically and he tacked the cable very neatly against the external wall. Can't see my landlords complaining. My other question was if the second socket on my VM cable faceplate was for Sky, but he tested that and had to drill a new hole through. Which was expected, and fine.
So, happy days. Now I just need to sit down and reprogram my Harmony remote etc. before I go away for work for 3 weeks and leave my girlfriend to it
I understand what you're saying in reference to the cable socket but I was talking specifically about the phone socket here. If you were suggesting the BT guy would have to install a new phone socket in my flat (which was what I was asking) then you're wrong. I had the install yesterday and all went swimmingly. The Openreach guy migrated my existing phoneline (including socket in my lounge) from VM to BT/Plusnet. No new socket needed, thank god. He migrated my phone number which started working immediately, and the Plusnet followed shortly afterwards. Brilliant. He showed me that there was a VM box outside, and a BT box. He just moved the cable from one to the other. Easy.
The Sky engineer was great too. Dish is out of sight from the front and back of the house practically and he tacked the cable very neatly against the external wall. Can't see my landlords complaining. My other question was if the second socket on my VM cable faceplate was for Sky, but he tested that and had to drill a new hole through. Which was expected, and fine.
So, happy days. Now I just need to sit down and reprogram my Harmony remote etc. before I go away for work for 3 weeks and leave my girlfriend to it
If by ‘wrong’ you mean (as I said above) you might find someone who DGAF and is prepared to ignore civil law, then yes, that’s exactly what I said, but surely that makes me right
The coax feeds could only be connected if your landlord had provided suitable feeds in place of ducting.I think we're getting confused here. I'm only saying he used my existing phone socket. I agree with you regarding the cable/coax. The Sky guy did not use the existing ones. And I totally understand why (I was just hopeful he could)
However the OR guy did use my existing phone socket. Afterall it's nobody's property but the landlords -- they put in those sockets when they refurbished the flat. VM or OR didn't. Anyhoo no need to go over what's done and dusted.
However the OR guy did use my existing phone socket. Afterall it's nobody's property but the landlords -- they put in those sockets when they refurbished the flat. VM or OR didn't. Anyhoo no need to go over what's done and dusted.
Soldato
- Joined
- 20 Oct 2008
- Posts
- 12,082
So you aren't talking about a master socket?
If the socket is one installed by the landlord then it should only be an extension from the master socket installed by Virgin or BT. It's quite possibly installed in some service area outside of the actual flat.
If that is the case things start to make more sense.
If the socket is one installed by the landlord then it should only be an extension from the master socket installed by Virgin or BT. It's quite possibly installed in some service area outside of the actual flat.
If that is the case things start to make more sense.