Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Aug 08, 2007 4:46 pm what's the normal cost for having someone to come and dig the phone trench? Is $300 sounds normal? Re: phone trench 3Aug 08, 2007 5:11 pm We got quoted $260 for the trench to be dug and $65 to just mark it out. [sneakersss] Re: phone trench 4Aug 08, 2007 6:29 pm I was quoted $270. But I think this is quite simple to do, and I'm planning to do it myself.
What you need to know is where the trench needs to run from and to. For this you can ring one of the Telstra's 'approved contractors' and ask the question. I was advised trench depth needs to be 300 mm min. Re: phone trench 6Aug 08, 2007 9:28 pm Best to get an approved contractor to do it I think.PD charged us $265 to trench and cable to soft dial tone with one one phone point.
Then Telstra came along and charged us a further $299 for connection because the cable from the house had not been joined in the Telstra pit so they sent out a tech to join the wires. Another thing was that instead of going to the closest pit as per Dial Before You Dig,(the line apparently had already been pinched) they dug all the way down the length of the block to the back corner. So a trap for the unwary. Either way we ended up paying. I have a sneaking suspicion we seemingly got screwed. Re: phone trench 7Aug 09, 2007 2:05 pm The quote from our builder's recommended telecommunication guy is also $300 and that includes 1 telephone point, they charge $80 for extra telephone point after that. Re: phone trench 9Aug 10, 2007 12:30 pm thanks for the reply guys. we just got a quote from a telstra contractor for $280. not a bad deal i guess Re: phone trench 10Aug 10, 2007 12:49 pm Don't forget that if you going to install:
1. back to base alarm system, you need extra telephone point. 2. ADSL internet connection, you may share the same or have extra telephone point. Note: other points need to install a filter. Re: phone trench 11May 15, 2008 11:31 pm HELP, HELP, HELP, HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We just recieved the call from the Telstra Contractor (Vision Stream) who said it would be $300 for the trench up to 20m's. Now we had someone out to pre-wire the house for the phone point and they have the cable leading directly to the nearest possible point to the Telstra pit- which runs alongside the house and is located half way down the house. But after speaking with the contractor tonight, I was told that the cable point needs to be protruding from the house in an area within 1 metre of the meter box so that surge supression can be linked to the earth stake??? Has anyone heard of this or have you had this done at your place????? So anyway, this guy wants to dig the trench which was going to be 3m's tops to where the cable currently sits protruding from the house, to now make it about 10-12 m's long to the meter box from the Telstra Pit (we're assuming) At a cost of $300 = <20m's of trenching plus cable hook-up to the house. Obviously PLUS the $299 for Telstra to hook it up inside the house to 1 point. But the other thing is, he said that he doesn't necessarily need to attach it to the pit? He needs to find the run and where the wire ends??? That he has an electronic thingamy bob to locate the wire and that's why its so complex a job? Now i don't know if this guy is spinning me a load of crap or what???? So i turn to you, the masses, what happened with your connection???? What do they do when they come out to dig the trench??? Urgent advice needed - please help!!!! The install was set for this Saturday!!!! Re: phone trench 12May 16, 2008 7:35 am My trench and lead-in wire were all done by my builder. I double checked with my site supervisor before I got the phone hooked up that there was nothing left for me to do and he said I just had to call Telstra and tell them to plug me in. So I did. The Telstra contractor called me when he finished the job. He noticed that the house wasn't occupied yet so he gave me his mobile number and said if I have any troubles once I plug in the phone, to give him a call and he'll come out and fix it.
So, no, I didn't have any of the trouble you're having. Has someone pre-wired your telephone points in your house? To my knowledge, the person who does that has to be a Telstra approved technician, so maybe ask your s/s for that person's name and get his/her opinion? Received keys to my new home on 16/5/08 Re: phone trench 13May 16, 2008 7:43 am We got our builder M to do the "trench" which cost $330 (inc GST). We then rang Telstra earlier in the week to arrange connection and they said plug in a phone - if there is a dial tone, no probs, if not a tech will have to come out and connect it up for a cost of $300.
Thank goodness when we tested it last night there was a dial tone!!! No use paying $300 for the trench and another $300 for connection. There is a "Telstra" small box under our meter box on the side of our house so we assumed it was fully connected. Ray. Second Time 'Round Re: phone trench 14May 16, 2008 10:48 am Phoenix the Madison box gets mounted below the meter box, your electrical contractor or whoever did your internal phone wiring should know this. I suggest you get onto your builder to get it moved if it's in the wrong spot.
The lead-in cable is coiled up in the pit with your lot number on it; they will feed this through the Telecom conduit and terminate both this and the cable from your house in the Madison box. Re: phone trench 15May 16, 2008 10:51 am That's what the Beeman telecom guys charged us as well, $300 for digging the trench, but ours is only about 10M.
So for us there are 3 charges for connecting the phone lines: 1. our own network guys for wiring inside the house 2. Beeman $300 for digging the trench and connecting the cables. 3. Telstra $300 for activating the lines. Re: phone trench 16May 16, 2008 11:51 am Thanks everyone, especially Kiwi, that's exactly the information i was looking for.
This guy said he had to search underground for the wire using his electronic gadget....that it was not located at the pit......what crap!!! Ian will head down there this afternoon and check the pit to see if the cable is there. If that's the case we were told access to the cabling in that pit was at 400mm and the trench needs to be a shovels width and 300mm deep to the Madison box( now we know that to be the truth too.) Now, does the Telstra contractor install the Madison box or should that have been done by the person we had pre-wire the house? Just need to tie up a few ends here. Damn all we want to do is save some money on the trenching!!!! What a complete pain in the **** So - now we have to move the pre-wiring where it exits the house and have it moved to within 1m of the meter box. Fine..... Then re-book the contractor to return and hook it up to the cable that should be sitting in the pit. And then, get Telstra to come in and hook it up internally after hand over. OK and lastly IS there any saving IF you actually dig the trench yourself after all that??? Or do they still charge $300 to come out and hook you up from the pit to the Madison box anyway regardless whether you've dug the trench or not???? The contractor said he'd charge $100 just to inspect the site if we wanted to do it ourselves???? So is that utter crap too???? Anyone know??? Seriously i wonder whether its all worth it!!!! (LOL, can you tell i'm in a foul mood?????) Re: phone trench 17May 16, 2008 11:58 am **Phoenix** Now, does the Telstra contractor install the Madison box or should that have been done by the person we had pre-wire the house? The madison box is installed by the person who digs the tench and installs the conduit... **Phoenix** So - now we have to move the pre-wiring where it exits the house and have it moved to within 1m of the meter box. Fine..... This must be a new rule. Most people connect the telephone cable near the metre box as that where all the services run in .... as for having to have it there I dont think it is mandatory at all? I stand to be corrected however... Re: phone trench 18May 16, 2008 12:41 pm Phoenix
Have a read of this document... http://telstra.com/countrywide/smartcom ... SESSION=NO Page 10 is probably what you're looking for. Re: phone trench 20May 16, 2008 1:52 pm Point 5.1.2...
They prefer the point in a location but it does not HAVE to be in that location... 2 3525 |