Nice! If you have Sprint, they give you this for free:

Status
Not open for further replies.

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,395
1,187
126
Airave Access point / Range extender

33226984-2-440-OVR-1.gif


My first-world problem is that my new apartment gives crappy reception for my phone. I read from a sprint forum you can request an access point device for free! So I confirmed the details with a rep and it arrived in mail today.

I set it up, it uses my existing broadband and hooks into my Comcast modem. It only uses 700kbps up/down and now my phone has full 5 bars! Awesome! I can call/surf INSIDE the elevator, inside the laundry room. Good stuff.

The range is up to 5000 sq ft, and I can whitelist just my phone to work for it. Great stuff.

Do other carriers do this?

Edit: It looks like they do (I see one for VZW), but I don't know if they're free like Sprint


Mod edit: wrong forum. -Admin DrPizza
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Narse

Moderator<br>Computer Help
Moderator
Mar 14, 2000
3,826
1
81
Yup AT&T does it also. They call theirs a microcell. I got mine free after moving and complaining of no signal in my house.
 

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,395
1,187
126
Yup AT&T does it also. They call theirs a microcell. I got mine free after moving and complaining of no signal in my house.

I'm surprised VZW customers have to BUY the device for $150. LOL.
 

Narse

Moderator<br>Computer Help
Moderator
Mar 14, 2000
3,826
1
81
I'm surprised VZW customers have to BUY the device for $150. LOL.

AT&T normaly charges 150 as well. I only got mine free because I tried to cancel my service.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,403
30,487
146
shit, I wonder what kind of free stuff I can get from T-Mobile for threatening to cancel?

My reception is fine in my apartment, but I am off contract paying a low monthly fee. They've been calling me constantly (I ignore) to offer me who the fuck knows what.

I bet they are desperate as hell to keep every last customer they have, right now.



Think I could get a few phones and maybe a tablet for free?

:hmm:
 

foghorn67

Lifer
Jan 3, 2006
11,883
63
91
I'm surprised VZW customers have to BUY the device for $150. LOL.

VZW will provide you one if you are post contract obligations and going month to month. And threatening to cancel on top of that. They will not do it if you are locked in.
They do not guarantee reception indoors.
 

Mojoed

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2004
4,473
1
81
This thing is crap. I live in an area with zero to one bar of service, so Sprint sent me this device.

It doesn't work at all because the cell signal isn't strong enough. wtf. I thought the entire point of these things was to provide bars in areas with little or no signal.

Free or not free, this device is utterly useless for me
 

HNNstyle

Senior member
Oct 6, 2011
469
0
0
Are you sure it's free? I had the same problem a year ago and they told me it was free for the first 3 months so i switched to Verizon.
 

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,395
1,187
126
Are you sure it's free? I had the same problem a year ago and they told me it was free for the first 3 months so i switched to Verizon.

I made sure. It's 100% free, no monthly fee. You are only charged if you don't return the device after quitting being their customer.
 

TheKub

Golden Member
Oct 2, 2001
1,756
1
0
This thing is crap. I live in an area with zero to one bar of service, so Sprint sent me this device.

It doesn't work at all because the cell signal isn't strong enough. wtf. I thought the entire point of these things was to provide bars in areas with little or no signal.

Free or not free, this device is utterly useless for me

I think you dont understand what this device is. It isnt a repeater (grab signal outside repeat inside), you connect it to your internet and basicly enable VOIP with your cell.
 

Wonderful Pork

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2005
1,531
1
81
While femtocells are a fantastic piece of technology, it REALLY irks me that the cell carriers don't offer me some type of monthly discount for removing my usage from the towers.

They expect me to pay for the device, pay for (in my case, metered) internet and still deduct the minutes out of my plan. No thanks, I'll switch to somebody who has coverage in my area.
 

sourceninja

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2005
8,805
65
91
AT&T charges you $10 a month to use a microcell and it still costs you your minutes and bandwidth.
 

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,395
1,187
126
I think you dont understand what this device is. It isnt a repeater (grab signal outside repeat inside), you connect it to your internet and basicly enable VOIP with your cell.

I don't think that's correct. My particular device repeats the signal from nearby cell tower. That's why it came with a GPS unit I had to attach to nearby windows.
 

slag

Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
10,473
81
101
I got one last year. Its free, but it shows up as an additional line. Mine is in the basement because that's where our broadband comes into the house. I was able to take the GPS antenna and snake it along the wall up to the basement window and pin it between the glass and the screen. Not sure how its picking up the satellite signal from there, but it is and I'm happy.

Now when we make calls from the house, we get 3 beeps first to show we are using the unit.
 

slag

Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
10,473
81
101
I don't think that's correct. My particular device repeats the signal from nearby cell tower. That's why it came with a GPS unit I had to attach to nearby windows.

If you have one of the Sprint units, its not a repeater. It uses your broadband to place the call. The GPS is there just to show where you are making the call from (which geographic location).
 

jersiq

Senior member
May 18, 2005
887
1
0
I don't think that's correct. My particular device repeats the signal from nearby cell tower. That's why it came with a GPS unit I had to attach to nearby windows.

It's mostly correct, as you need GPS for timing in CDMA.
However, it's not enabling VOIP on your phone. It simply tunnels to a "server" in the MTSO (via IP, I'll grant) for call completion.

It is not a repeater though.
 

Dulanic

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2000
9,951
570
136
All depends on the rep you get. Some will give you one some won't.
 

TheKub

Golden Member
Oct 2, 2001
1,756
1
0
I don't think that's correct. My particular device repeats the signal from nearby cell tower. That's why it came with a GPS unit I had to attach to nearby windows.

AIRWAVE USER GUIDE said:
The AIRAVE connects to Sprint’s network through your broadband Internet connection. Outgoing calls go
from the AIRAVE over a secure connection to Sprint’s network; incoming calls reverse this route.

Ive never used this device and Im unsure of why since its just a VOIP adapter it would need GPS. My only though it so that location services and services like 911 give location.
 

jersiq

Senior member
May 18, 2005
887
1
0
Ive never used this device and Im unsure of why since its just a VOIP adapter it would need GPS. My only though it so that location services and services like 911 give location.

Again, the Base Stations (the femtocell is acting in the function of a base station) require strict timing via GPS. It's a requirement of the CDMA standard.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.