Re: Expand the cable network
 

Not sure but a lot of companies plainly built networks cheaply to sell on to someone else.
ntl inherited the problem.

Re: Expand the cable network
 

The networks built in this area were built really well. From what I have been told Nynex built the best networks.

Re: Expand the cable network
 

Compared to who?
Theres no doubt some companies put money, quality and planning into their networks. Some put the cheapest tat they could get.

Re: Expand the cable network
 

I know of areas where cable is available on one side of the street and not the other. This is probably down to the way that the areas were broken down fundamentally before any build was started. It could be that there is a natural boundary between the cabled and non-cabled areas - like a railway line or main road/dual carriageway where you'd want to make the minimum number of crossings due to expense. Normally you'd find that in such areas the houses on either side will be fed from different nodes, or even different fibre rings or hub. The main reason for stopping will be money (or lack of it!) But I would be surprised if there are areas which were constructed by ntl and not activated, the exception being new developments and footways/roads which have been resurfaced by the local authority which have ducts in them where, in all likelyhood, the intention was to expand the network to include these areas at that time.

Re: Expand the cable network
 

There can be very many reasons,

Wayleaves, Streets may not be adopted by the council.

Expense, it might have been to expensive to build the streets but they had build the trunk through the other street to close the ring.

Node topology, the street may have been planned to be served from another mux that has not been built.

Re: Expand the cable network
 

Compared to ex-Videotron areas. These are cack, the way they planned things changed from one month to the next hence no standardisation. Throw it in quick and cheap. Unfortunately a lot of SE London was Videotron.

Re: Expand the cable network
 

Diamond Cable seem to have built a good network round here. :)

Re: Expand the cable network
 

I have heard they were pretty gash!

Re: Expand the cable network
 

This is a really daft question but how do they shape the big green ducting or is it flexible?

Re: Expand the cable network
 

Hey, I used to live in Hertford Drive! Just think, if I was still there I might never have been able to get ntl ... :erm: :D

Re: Expand the cable network
 

The ducts come in 4m straight lengths which slot together. There is a bit of flexibility, but not much so there are a selection of bends which are used (90°, 45°, 22° & 11°) Normally, though, a chamber in the road/footway is used to negotiate sharper bends.

Re: Expand the cable network
 

Is that why when doing like my street (as good as straight) it was a lot easier than doing bendy roads? Are like the old victorian terrace houses quicker to put ducting in?

I suppose its also easier because older houses tend to have flagged pavements outside rather than tarmac (round here anyway).

Re: Expand the cable network
 

As Pierre said earlier terraced houses are cheaper because they are so much closer together than detached properties or modern housing developments so you pass more properties per metre of dig.

Sometimes the flagged pavements are a pain, I think it's quite easy to break a slab when lifting it. Not too bad if they're modern concrete slabs, but expensive if they're the old pennant paving slabs.

Re: Expand the cable network
 

I recon they should put a system in place which allows people who don't live in cables streets to pre-register their details. In that way it shows where there is demand for the service and if it would be finantially viable/possible to cable that area in the future.

Re: Expand the cable network
 

Is it set in stone that cables must be buried? Are there any areas where cables are above ground like telephone cables?

Many years ago I lived in Birstall, West Yorkshire (my birthplace) and the area was cabled above ground by Reddifusion (I think). Don't know what happened to that system. In the same area now NTL have cabled part of a large estate but most of it is uncabled. Could they not finish the job off by above ground cabling which must be far cheaper to provide.