Fibre Installation Troubles!

[MaxKool]

Hi everyone! Hoping there is someone in the forum who might have a solution to my fibre problem! I recently took the plunge to get fibre at home. Metrofibre is the supplier and their technicians came out today to install the fibre line in my house.

Much to my disappointment they were unable to do so... The conduit in the complex which carries the telkom line to my unit is blocked!

The technicians tried different avenues but none worked... The only option they gave me is to dig up a fair chunk of the paving in front of my house for them to open up the conduit... Which I am hesitant to do.

Does anyone know of any non-evasive solutions to unblock a conduit?

Any advice would be helpful!

Thanks.

 

[ThatOtherDude]

PVC or metal?

if the ground sagged or moved at some point then the PVC would have cracked. (hello water, sand)
forget about getting anything through there now.
check the paving for sagging.



to check if the conduit is open, play music at one end with a cell phone. (stick the speaker right over the opening)

someone needs to listen at the other end of the conduit.

you should hear the music VERY clearly. (be bale to identify the song)

if the music's muffled then the conduit collapsed and sand/water/mud entered.

if you can't hear anything at all then it's either completely blocked .. or you have the wrong conduit.

Just because a conduit points in your unit's direction doesn't mean it actually goes there.


also.
do you still need the Telkom landline wire?
if not, attach a new draw wire to the telkom line and pull

Pull in a new draw wire than can be used for both a new Telkom line and your fibre.

The fibre cable's pretty damn strong.

If the existing conduit is buried deep AND blocked for sure, then maybe it's better to just install a new (shallower) PVC conduit, maybe even using a different path?

You can also pin fibre to a wall, on top, inside the gaps between bricks.
in conduit, outside conduit.
paint it.
etc.

I personally don't like the "fibre-on-the-wall" thing but it's popular at many complexes. (keeps costs down and it's quick)

some guys pin the cable to the walls just to get online.
they then later do a proper underground conduit jobby.

 

[MaxKool]

PVC or metal?

if the ground sagged or moved at some point then the PVC would have cracked. (hello water, sand)
forget about getting anything through there now.
check the paving for sagging.



to check if the conduit is open, play music at one end with a cell phone. (stick the speaker right over the opening)

someone needs to listen at the other end of the conduit.

you should hear the music VERY clearly. (be bale to identify the song)

if the music's muffled then the conduit collapsed and sand/water/mud entered.

if you can't hear anything at all then it's either completely blocked .. or you have the wrong conduit.

Just because a conduit points in your unit's direction doesn't mean it actually goes there.


also.
do you still need the Telkom landline wire?
if not, attach a new draw wire to the telkom line and pull

Pull in a new draw wire than can be used for both a new Telkom line and your fibre.

The fibre cable's pretty damn strong.

If the existing conduit is buried deep AND blocked for sure, then maybe it's better to just install a new (shallower) PVC conduit, maybe even using a different path?

You can also pin fibre to a wall, on top, inside the gaps between bricks.
in conduit, outside conduit.
paint it.
etc.

I personally don't like the "fibre-on-the-wall" thing but it's popular at many complexes. (keeps costs down and it's quick)

some guys pin the cable to the walls just to get online.
they then later do a proper underground conduit jobby.

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

The ground hasn't sagged as is level. I think it blocked woth sand, as they guys pour water down one end and it did come out slowly on the other end. I plan on having a look this weekend and tying to see if I have any luck unblocking it. Unfortunately theres no other way for me to run a new conduit... As there is paving everywhere.

Might have to considered ADSL since the telkom line is already there

Regards.

 

[ThatOtherDude]

You can also look at going the "Roto Rooter" route.

It's a bit of a hassle but almost guaranteed to work IF it's only sand/muck blocking the conduit.


a) buy a X meter section of "blou draad" (thick fence wire available at farmers hardware stores, maybe at Builders?)

b) take the "draad" & bend one end around (with pliers or a vice grip) so the sharp end of the wire doesn't puncture the conduit.

c) Stick the bent-tip end of the "draad" into the conduit & work it back-and-forth + twisting (with a vice grip) until it punches through the blockage.

make sure you get the correct wire.
wire that flexes easily simply bends when it hits the blockage.