Comparing FTTP and Virgin in the same street
 

More out of interest than anything else, and I'm sure some people might find it informative.

FTTP was rolled out here 12 months ago and I have now got a willing pingtest victim.

First, Virgin:
https://www.cableforum.uk/images/local/2021/09/3.png

Modem mode on a USG

Now BT FTTP:
https://www.cableforum.uk/images/local/2021/09/4.png

BT Smart Hub 2 with a Raspberry Pi to respond to pings (and also run Smokeping as the ADSL was shockingly bad a while back)

Compared to the ADSL on a good day:
https://www.cableforum.uk/images/local/2021/09/5.png

Re: Comparing FTTP and Virgin in the same street
 

Pretty much as expected. MY VM TBB quality graph is usually slightly better than that, but not by much. VM could only match BT FTTP if they strip out all their cable and replace it with fibre. I'm sure someone will argue that the basic VM network architecture is at the root of the problem too.

BTW I was going to display my graph but TBB isn't working properly for me. The log in page isn't responding atm.

Re: Comparing FTTP and Virgin in the same street
 

Yeah the login page was really slow earlier.

VM are ripping everything out and replacing it with fibre, though no doubt they'll sell it as a super expensive upgrade for the first few years whilst giving away for free to new customers.

Re: Comparing FTTP and Virgin in the same street
 

I stand to be corrected here, however VM are not ripping out the existing network, fibre will be rolled out along side it. I suspect eventually they may do that but not this decade I would think.

Re: Comparing FTTP and Virgin in the same street
 

There's no need for them to do so ATM as DOCSIS 3.1 is capable of 1Gb speeds.

Re: Comparing FTTP and Virgin in the same street
 

My graph is better than this.... the only mass spike was when I was downloading a lot earlier.

https://www.cableforum.uk/images/local/2021/09/8.png

Re: Comparing FTTP and Virgin in the same street
 

It is the upload speed of 52Mb that is the problem. Would deploying DOCSIS 3.1 on the upstream improve that? With VMs particular network architecture would FTTP enable higher upstream speeds or not?

Finally accessed my quality graph. Pretty much what I have always had from VM.

https://www.cableforum.uk/images/local/2021/09/9.png


https://www.cableforum.uk/images/local/2021/09/10.png

Re: Comparing FTTP and Virgin in the same street
 

No you're right, I went a bit superlative.

I suspect in some areas they might have to replace stuff just given space constraints, but mostly it's an overbuild.

Re: Comparing FTTP and Virgin in the same street
 

Project Mustang, the replacement of the HFC network with fibre, will be a lng and arduous piece of work. There are several trials and surveys ongoing. They hope to use as much existing infrastructure (cabinets and duct) as possible but obviously depending on the legacy architecture there are differing amounts of both.

The removal of the TDM voice network will free up space in cabs and duct as they remove Krone blocks and twisted pair copper, but the two projects may not be in total sync to capitalise on that.

IIRC, and I can confirm quickly, the HFC shut off is scheduled for around 2035-2040, and they’ll continue to upgrade that until switch off.

XGS-PON will implemented across the FTTP network, replacing RFoG, and across the Mustang overlay.

Make no mistake VMO2 are investing a monumental amount of money to deliver this.

Re: Comparing FTTP and Virgin in the same street
 

Yeah I imagine part of the issue with the FTTP upgrade is that VM's network is a hodgepodge of networks built by various different predecessors to various different specs (e.g. ducted vs direct buried, etc etc)

Re: Comparing FTTP and Virgin in the same street
 

There's no direct buried, It's all ducted.

The difference is the type of HFC architecture. Different types of cabs, no. of cabs etc.

Re: Comparing FTTP and Virgin in the same street
 

@roughbeast is there a setting in the ax11000 that allows think broadband quality monitor to function properly? I just have a solid red background on mine.

Re: Comparing FTTP and Virgin in the same street
 

Go to advanced, select respond to pings from WAN.

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/atta...1&d=1631812584

Re: Comparing FTTP and Virgin in the same street
 

Thanks, that did it.

Re: Comparing FTTP and Virgin in the same street
 

Using existing ducting to install fibre from optical nodes to premises via distribution cabinets is only part of the work that Virgin Media needs to do. Unless the hub sites will contain the OLTs (unlikely for various reasons) VM will need to distribute with more virtual hub cabinets in the field, and each will need to be powered.