BT Tower - An exclusive inside look

[@dominicallen7839]

Started my BT career in the local exchanges at the base of the tower...631, 636, 637 and 580. Fabulous canteen there not to mention the Christmas dinners where the managers used to put aprons on and serve up the dinners !! Very different now !!

[@sallyjones4557]

I came to the BT tower today!! had such a fabulous experience and special thanks to BT, thank you so much, will treasure the memories. Still feeling the effects of the revolving floor!! incredible views and you can watch and feel the revolving floor go around!! hopefully we see the tower again when it turns into a hotel in a few years!

[@tbeard5458]

At 5:00 it's mentioned that sabotage just doesn't happen. I work in a few datacentres across the country and it's very easy to just walk to someone else's rack and unplug something if it's not locked. I think it's a form of professional courtesy between engineers that you don't touch eachother's stuff.

[@reaperkit]

There is an element of that, a professional engineer should never damage anything intentionally without permission to be working on it, but there is also the small matter of the OBASS system electronically tracking site access. If the link is found damaged at 14:00 and you unlocked the building or room at 13:55, and nobody else was in until the next day, good luck explaining it wasn't you...

[@MikaelLevoniemi]

Sure way to get your company booted out from a DC if you do snoop around. There's one chinese isp device manufacturer who did get themselves banned from several around here.

[@pqrstzxerty1296]

Yep, very true. If you lose you job, you may be working for the other. All engineers talk to each other regardless of employer.

[@donaloflynn]

@@MikaelLevoniemi Huawei presumably?

[@tyronenelson9124]

Sabotage does not happen, It's more than likely an excuse not to say which rack belongs to whom, service providers always have something to hide from the public just like the government.

[@chrispenn715]

I used to host occasional corporate customer events in the Tower - people loved it. The food was fabulous too!

[@bapsmcginty4782]

He's not kidding. 40 years I have worked for BT and have never been allowed to visit the tower. Bummer!

[@theiet]

Harsh!!!

[@uzaiyaro]

I’d happily go onto all the nitty gritty detail. I live for that stuff.

[@felixthecleaner8843]

awesome.....I work just around the corner from the Tower and never fail to look up in awe ...it might only 'be a tower' but what a tower it is! It's a shame this video wasn't longer and a bit more in-depth.

[@leecanfil3066]

Don't know how I came across this but was very interesting!

[@theiet]

Glad you liked it :-)

[@dct1]

Popped up on my feed today. Good watch @IET

[@christschinwon]

Still the most iconic tall structure you witness heading west in London. Glad it's still in use

[@marksinthehouse1968]

To me the best building in London I was small when I looked out of my window and saw its lights at night this was 1969 I was 2 so it was nearly new then and called the GPO tower ,still looks modern today way ahead of its time

[@deltafoxtrot2]

I am ex BT and found the video absolutely Fascinating, thanks for sharing...

[@wysiwyg2006]

in the 90s i spent my two weeks of work experience there, was during its anniversary, good memories. went right to the roof a few times and saw the exchanges inside as well as what was the rotating restaurant

[@sophiemac1632]

I worked there from 92 to 94.

[@kay110]

Had a meal in the revolving restaurant in April 1969, which I believe was closed to the public in 1980. Went on to work for PO/BT but never got back to the 'Post Office Tower' as it was called then!

[@edwardalexander9486]

Went at age 6 (1969) and always remember the well-detailed model of the tower - green perspex with a black plastic base, about 4 inches tall - my mum bought as a memento. It came with us on many house moves but of course was sadly lost eventually. Anyone else remember the model?

[@one2nd1]

Found interesting was how the broadband links off the MDF which only used to route to IDF and uniselectors, great rare insight of the tower.

[@albear972]

Very interesting, the tour guide gentleman explained things very well.

[@jeniferallan6693]

Probably the most exciting tour i have been on

[@jacksugden8190]

Would loved to have seen the former revolving restaurant again, as not seen it since a visit with my late parents, sometimes after it opened in the 1960’s.

[@peaceandlove2931]

it is my favourite tower in London ❤

[@hiyaimamelia]

PEACE AND LOVE I agree peace and love! :)

[@369abe]

PEACE AND ulike

[@dallascrofton5957]

This was a very good description well explained. I like very much back in the sixties i use to go to the viewing galleries once a week but to see the wiring is privileged to see very much mervyn Gloucestershire.

[@bennyceca]

Got invited for lunch once by the BT Account manager at the Tower revolving restaurant, very nice! They really should make the restaurant public, it's in a great location, could make enough money to upgrade all connections to fibre ;p

[@7rorre]

In the 1980's I was the biggest BT RedCare provider in the UK. I was invited to the tower but didn't take up the invitation at the time. How I wish...

[@markkerry5840]

What a great video, thank you to all involved in producing and sharing it.

[@theiet]

Glad you liked it

[@craigthomson3621]

I worked for BT, and my last job before retiring in 2018 was based in the BT Tower.

[@petermartin3268]

Thank you, it is very interesting, the story about the bt tower, I can still remember going up in the lift before they closed it to the public, I still have the coin as a keepsake. Once again, many thanks

[@theiet]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@eliotmansfield]

i think his description of the microwave links between towers as the early warning system by planes flying through them is conflating facts. The 4 minute warning was based on the two speaking clock rings running round the country and the microwave towers formed a system known as backbone which was an alternative path in case the cables were attacked

[@mavcek]

Went up there in the early 90s, for someone scared of heights it was a bit hairy, and the fast lift was terrifying!!

[@rob379lqz]

At minute 1:26, if you look 1 down from the top bundle, between the black-upright and its same-yet-different clone to the right (your left), and focus on the white wire with the 1/4 and 8/15ths twist, and under that mass is easily found the white wire to my house. Pretty cool technology. Thanks for sharing.

[@theiet]

Glad you like it

[@markhodgson2348]

Hello any videos of below the post office tower please

[@TIMBOWERMAN]

Post Office Tower, l used to believe as a child that letters were microwaved Star Trek style to distant posts.

[@smellybum3607]

tim bowerman You were right they did do that and still do if the queen needs to send a Christmas or birthday card out in an emergency.

[@lesmoor001]

proper trainers voice.........

[@illygah]

At 2:28, some kind of radiation is being emitted from the twisted pair, the CMOS in the camera is responding to the invisible radiation like it were a photon and you can watch this sensor anomaly moving with the flow of electrons. (I think) Correct me, please, someone from this facility?

[@illygah]

It's near the right side of the frame, halfway between the top and bottom.

[@arbutuswatcher]

After working in both AT&T (Bell System) offices, as well as GTE (General Telephone) Offices, in the United States, I found this video very interesting. It would have been nice to have a little more in-depth footage, but I understand why that wasn't allowed. Building & Network, as well as Nation's Security, would make divulging such things very unwise.

[@theiet]

You are right, there was a lot more rooms and items we got shown on our tour but we weren't allowed to film for security reasons

[@sharkheadism]

Governments love servile buffoons who don't ask questions such as yourself

[@arbutuswatcher]

​@@sharkheadism Good, bad, or indifferent, certain things are kept on the hush. If you served in the military, this concept would probably make more sense. Also, when the job is the means by which we support our families, you're motivated not to kick the hornet's nest. It's called common sense & self preservation my friend.

[@OZCamperTravels]

What happened to floors 13 to 23 where the real work happened?

[@theiet]

Not included in this tour I'm afraid. However we did shoot a profile video on an awesome engineering apprentice who does work on those floors you mentioned kzbin.info/www/bejne/nILQhnR_f6yLj6M

[@pqrstzxerty1296]

This is where the BT money (in used notes) is stored in cardboard boxes, that they overcharged customers and don't put onto account books. 🤣

[@johndufton9686]

They should reopen the tower to the public again.

[@theiet]

I hope they do someday!

[@philsimpson3556]

But when are we going to see the 1st Code Selectors

[@dahamsta]

Yeah, but which one's the GCHQ room?

[@dougle03]

All of it...

[@Yasin_2312]

Cant believe that was London's first skyscraper

[@robtyman4281]

European cities (up until the 1960s) didn't feel the need to 'shout' and tell people how great they were, as people already knew this. Also until the 60s cities in the UK and elsewhere in Europe didn't define themselves by how many skyscrapers they had, they defined themselves on their history and culture.

[@shakaama]

I just won a contract to construct buildings for a video game. I was searching for a post office, bank, and stores. I kept seeing this in my post office search, so here I am. Maybe BT could sponsor me to put it in the video game, which help ME out immensely and they'd have marketing in a major video game. The team of game developers have literally spent months on just one neighborhood. It's a huge project.

[@batman6621]

getting ahead of yourself saying its a "major video game" Whats the game called

[@UXXV]

That was very interesting!

[@rjy8960]

I live close to Birmingham and it always saddens me to see the lack of microwave links on our BT Tower now.

[@theiet]

Perhaps we should do a tour there too!

[@almostanengineer]

IET if you can, it would be nice to know why they decided square for that one.

[@danielmarshall4587]

WOW great vid thank you.

[@fahimaih]

Cool view

[@marklechman2225]

To think of the man-hours spent to assemble all of this is mind-boggling.

[@dav01kar]

Did not see the cable chamber.

[@theiet]

There was a lot we couldn't show unfortunately, all very hush hush in there

[@dav01kar]

Understand, was a cable jointer for many years, trunk junction, mains cable,loading pots, pcm routes, transverse screen etc.

[@tompirozek4490]

He probably didn't have his GDU with him

[@hooper7735]

@@dav01kar Did you work on the 60mz route... London - Birmingham - Manchester?

[@dav01kar]

@@hooper7735 no

[@rockabyebaby6111]

there was 2 viewing platforms open to the public, one enclosed in glass, and one open to the elements, I went up to the open platform and the floor was covered ankle deep in snow, it was freezing cold , the only other tall building I remember in London was Center Point. The Monument had a nice view at the top , for 6 pence you could climb up the spiral staircase , I believe this also closed to the public now .

[@theiet]

The Monument is still open to the public, costs a little more then 6 pence now though sadly. Maybe one day BT Tower will open the viewing gallery up to the public again although I don't think its likely any time soon

[@davarosmith1334]

I remember seeing it for the only time I saw it. I asked a woman is that the BT tower I seen on the telly? She didn't understand my Scottish accent so I had to say it slowly like being in a foreign country! Then I asked her where kings cross station was! I was lost!

[@asa1973100]

What happened to the fabulous rotating restaurant?

[@hiyaimamelia]

That would be amazing to look around, they should come up with a way to make it so you can have tours there as I bet it would make alot of money! :)

[@klanzadumas2962]

It's part of the Shadow Gov spook network they're not interested in tour revenue that's small pickings for them .

[@douro20]

More than 90 percent of the tower is still Official Secret.

[@WinrichNaujoks]

Irritating camera work. Whenever you want to look at something it goes out of focus and on to something that's not interesting.

[@uhadme]

Anybody still have those unused jacks in your house? I spackled over all mine, decades ago.

[@steuk6510]

I have programed switch board for voip ect

[@batchint]

when it was first built I got an invitation to go up there then the IRA created a security problem and the visit was cancelled

[@theiet]

Ah that's a real shame!

[@silverone8398]

I went up there in the days when it was open to the public. My folks were not wealthy and consequently could not afford it but a friend of mine had a meal with his folks in the revolving restaurant which was also open to the public. It was a very fashionable spot.

[@pqrstzxerty1296]

and all this will go by 2030, IP6 routing, the frame will just be a "local loop to loop data servers", using VOIP.

[@handsoffmycactus2958]

A likely story. It won’t.

[@robtyman4281]

This is the UK, and everyone knows how iconic the BT Tower is. Besides I believe it has 'listed status'. This means that technically it cannot be dismantled or even altered (updated) as this would ruin its listed status, and it would no longer represent a classic piece of post-war British architecture. If it were in an American city, it would probably have been dismantled years ago. Of course it can updated on the inside (but with guidance), but cannot be altered on the outside.

[@pqrstzxerty1296]

@@handsoffmycactus2958 More than likey not as its UK slow can't decide Government. Its more than likely we be having in 2030 clockwork windup Broadband so over capacity the speed won't be a factor, it be the Server capacity at the other end that can't supply and bad latency.... Google properly will be a subscription service, it nearly is at the moment with KZbinRED and GoogleONE; and the GoogleTV project starting up again soon. My assumption is the Internet will be come a fragmented Extranet with some connections being subscription. Ie, we be going back to AOL and Compuserve-GO days. Www. format we be old hat, browsers hardly being used, and we all be using Internet by Apps (Billy Gates (who said publically he doesnt use Windows but uses Linux) predicted this in 2015).

[@philipbrit13]

It’s an operational building. With the football on the goggle box in the back ground.

[@theiet]

It is still completely operational. In fact we made a film about one of the apprentices who work there kzbin.info/www/bejne/nILQhnR_f6yLj6M

[@yappymat549]

3:02 old mate seems stuck

[@danchisholm1]

23 cm ?? that's insane! before he said the answer i was guessing a few millimeters

[@Yasin_2312]

I find the BT Tower to look more magnificent than most skyscrapers and towers in London. Just wish the BT Tower was more closer to Central London or the City

[@dylannnnnnnnn]

True

[@ryminsta]

Didn't know there was a frame down there. Let me in THRXP40

[@nemisis200792]

Actually there are 14 BT Towers which use to carry the microwave backbone.

[@ronmccullock1407]

Fantastic

[@K1W1fly]

I thought it had been pushed over by a giant kitten...

[@theiet]

2019 was a crazy year but i don't think that's happened.....at least not yet

[@K1W1fly]

@@theiet It was in a "Goodies" episode back in the day...

[@johnberntson1669]

Yeah, but what about The War Machines? Doctor Who had to go to quite a lot of trouble to get them out of the tower.

[@theiet]

Well the Doctor did a good job, we didn't see any when we were there

[@cigmorfil4101]

And giant cats of the Goodies?

[@Gee4747]

If u set your camera right . You won’t need annoying flash mate .

[@eliotmansfield]

odd to suggest someone sabotaging a competitor. When you work in IT datacentres they are full of ‘competitors’ - but you wouldn’t dream of touching it

[@markhodgson2348]

Probably not allowed to go into detail attenuation racks

[@lunes-1]

Modest ☎️BT response to France🗼 Eiffell tower🤤

[@johnmuldowney]

If ya could imagine

[@markhodgson2348]

Will accept questions lol i have a question 🤔

[@Good0Music0for0you]

amazinggggggggggggg

[@almostanengineer]

Anybody else gutted this was BT Tower London and not BT Tower Birmingham 😣😆

[@theiet]

Sounds like a good video idea for this year...

[@chrisross1703]

'Feet' per seond?!

[@two8250]

That African women is killing me with laughter the guy is there giving everyone a tour she’s there doing her own thing walking off 😅😂😂😂

[@BondoFox]

Like those people are listening to a word that guy says with a match on the TV going on behind him.

[@ricklane8554]

Is this Aussie land ??

[@theiet]

London, UK

[@ricklane8554]

@@theiet Yeah sorry I reacted too soon, but there is much of Australia in it lol.

[@TIMBOWERMAN]

You are confusing Telecom Tower (AKA Post Office Tower) with Sydney Tower which is observation only - no communication.

[@zaperfan]

RF INTERFERENCE GENERATING LAW BREAKERS

[@tomstephens7201]

And here we are in 2020 and in the UK, that shitty old copper twisted pair is still the bulk of the BT network.... Well almost everything besides the backhaul.

[@dougle03]

4 years later, and FTTC and FTTP is really taking over. The backhaul needed doing first...

[@WillyJunior]

A pendulum underneath the building? I can't find any other info on that... seems like he made that bit up

[@klanzadumas2962]

Why would the building supposedly need an underground pendulum ?

[@WillyJunior]

klanza dumas not a clue

[@jgroenveld1268]

@@WillyJunior I heard of a building in Taiwan where a pendulum is used to counteract the wind force on the tower. I think it might be the same principal for the BT tower.

[@1981MJD]

Its probably a small pendulum hanging against a wall, it shows the tilt/sway of the building on windy days.

[@CyclingSteve]

He did seem like a bit of a bulls#itter, however there is something called a tuned mass damper which counteracts the movement of tall buildings, not quite a pendulum under a building.

[@markhodgson2348]

Haha knowledge request

[@theresapierce3934]

I will always call it the Post Office Tower. Paid for by the public and stolen by BT.

[@harryjohnson615]

BT couldn't possibly have stolen the Post Office Tower because it was 20 years old before the Government sold off BT

[@trollface1994]

audiojungle......audiojungle......audiojungle......

[@charlesachurch7265]

Does it still have a revolting restaurant?

[@theiet]

Unfortunate not, they closed it in 1980 because of security threats. They do hold the occasional corporate function up there though

[@twinsonic]

Not sure if it was revolting, but revolving it was..

[@adk4986]

Bt have shit wifi

[@catherineoconnell3213]

Microwaves 5G 01/12/2020

[@pauli6570]

An exclusive inside look.......more like man talking about the tower..............

[@wklim2201]

😡👎 I hate BT much! I hoping another companies will take over this tower when BT will enter administration in one day!

[@steuk6510]

I have a degree in armature radio communications

[@DrQuadrivium]

Ste Uk.. That's alright. Don't feel bad about it. It's not a crime.

[@steuk6510]

It's very interesting I have a degree in electrical engineering and programming physics

[@davidlewis1787]

It’s not that interesting Ste, but the tower is.

[@photosphotos]

The earth is flat and stationary, the BT tower in Birmingham has a direct line of sight to the BT tower in London. The earths supposed mean radius is 3959 miles, this mathematically proves the distance line of sight would not be possible if the earth was a sphere. 8” x miles SQ

[@theiet]

I think we met a couple of people who agreed with you when we filmed this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/naqVl4aaetWipck

[@DrQuadrivium]

photosphotos ... That is demonstrably untrue. The real question is... who's bullshiting who?

[@Frank-om4fc]

God this guy loves the sound of his own voice......

[@chriswhitcomb5507]

He’s explaining a very complicated subject in reasonably simple terms for his audience although he himself was a very intelligent man. If you are half the man he was you wouldn’t have made that comment.

[@MrGashden]

Yawn, Yawn!

[@christschinwon]

what did you come here to see?