Forum Discussion

agustint's avatar
agustint
Just joined
4 hours ago

What should we expect in the Virgin Media external wall brown box

I recently purchased a house in Haringey, London and requested the Gigabit Broadband package from Virgin Media. After following the guide and install the router, I didn't manage to have any internet. I checked the external wall brown box and this is what I found. The box had no lid, and it looks like the cable has been cut. Is this normal? 

Could you please advise? Thanks in advance. 

6 Replies

  • goslow's avatar
    goslow
    Alessandro Volta

    The box should have a lid on it to protect what is inside. It is not uncommon for the splitter to be outside in the external omnibox.

    There may have been a different arrangement of equipment with the previous VM customer (e.g. broadband and TV in different rooms, two TV boxes etc.).

    A VM tech will work out what needs to be done and where to take the cable from (very likely a plastic cover in the pavement near the property boundary) and how/where to install splitters, if needed.

    First though, you need a supply cable to be installed. Without that you won't be able to connect to VM.

  • Okay, so to summarise, we have a Technetix 2-way splitter. The input is missing and we don't know where the closest Virgin Media cabinet is (I am assuming the cable should come from there). There are two outputs, one with a reduction of 3.6dB going into the property (to the modem as this is the strongest signal) and one with 4.0dB going to the TV (I am assuming). A couple of questions: If the broadband modem and the TV are inside the property, why is the splitter not inside the property? This splitter, Technetix ESI 2-way splitter series, is not as weatherproof as the more modern CSX series. Since the splitter has been out in the rain, should it be replaced by a CSX series? 

  • goslow's avatar
    goslow
    Alessandro Volta

    Looks like your external cable has been removed.

    Is there any sign of where the external cable from the street cable used to be (maybe see if you can find a plastic VM cover in the pavement)

    Call the pre-installation and delivery team on 0800 052 1734 explain the problem and request a visit to install a new cable.

    Be aware that there can sometimes be some long delays to install a new cable as much of this worked is dished out to sub-contractors.

    • agustint's avatar
      agustint
      Just joined

      I can't find any sign of where the cable should come from. Is there a map of Virgin Media street cabinets in Haringey, London? What is the third connection (facing up in the photo) that is not connected to anything? The device joining both cables says "2-way splitter" and it looks like it is from a company called Technetix. 

      • Adduxi's avatar
        Adduxi
        Very Insightful Person

        The top connection is "in" I would suspect.  The bottom two are "out".  So, one "out" is going into the property, the second one is cut off.  The cable for the "in" is nowhere to be seen, so this will need to be a repull from the street.