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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA | Re: Handsets form the nation's leading carriers? Roaming?  | |
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| jimk
Premium
join:2006-04-15
Raleigh, NC
 ·AT&T Southeast
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| said by Matt  :Are they stating it will work with, say, a Sprint phone? If it is set to open access, in theory it could work with another CDMA carrier's phone, if that carrier has a roaming agreement with Verizon Wireless in that area. The femtocell simply broadcasts using the SID for the area it is in (for example, mine broadcasts SID 69 - same as VZW uses for their regular cell sites here), so any phone that has that SID in its Preferred Roaming List should be able to see it. It looks just like any other cell site to the phone.
I haven't tested this theory, but it sounds from their web site like it would in fact work.
The femtocell would still have to be linked to a VZW account. | |
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burgerwars
join:2004-09-11
Northridge, CA
 ·voip.ms
·RoadRunner Cable
| said by Matt :Did anyone notice this blurb on the features page? (» www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/stor···Features)
100 Percent Compatibility
The Network Extender is compatible with all Verizon Wireless phones as well as some handsets from many of the nation's leading carriers.
Are they stating it will work with, say, a Sprint phone? I don't know, but it says the word "handset," not network. If I was betting on this I would think it's a reflashed/unlocked CDMA handset you got on Sprint that you're now using on Verizon's network. | |
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Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| Re: Handsets from the nation's leading carriers? said by burgerwars :said by Matt :Did anyone notice this blurb on the features page? (» www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/stor···Features)
100 Percent Compatibility
The Network Extender is compatible with all Verizon Wireless phones as well as some handsets from many of the nation's leading carriers.
Are they stating it will work with, say, a Sprint phone? I don't know, but it says the word "handset," not network. If I was betting on this I would think it's a reflashed/unlocked CDMA handset you got on Sprint that you're now using on Verizon's network. Right, but why say "carrier" then? Why not form the leading "manufacturer's?" I thought unlocked at first too, but roaming makes a lot more sense. Especially if they can still charge for it! My guess is they are shipping it in "Open Access" mode for a reason ... | |
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| | | jester121
join:2003-08-09
Lake Zurich, IL | Re: Handsets from the nation's leading carriers? My guess would be, because the marketing drones at Verizon and other carriers don't think customers pay attention to who manufactures a phone, but rather which network a cool new phone is on. Or at least they wish that were the case. | |
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sholling
Premium
join:2002-02-13
Hemet, CA
| What a rip off. For a $250 charge to the customer Verizon saves itself from adding cell towers and capacity at existing towers and doesn't even give the customer any free minutes for their trouble and investment. If it were $15/mo with unlimited minutes I'd have considered it, but not $250 for nothing. I also want to control access to who is using up my bandwidth.
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"Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else."
--FREDERIC BASTIAT-- | |
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yeah98989
@verizon.net
| Re: Handsets from the nation's leading carriers? Actually go read your contract. They do not guarantee signal indoors. After applying a radiant barrier to our attic we got horrible coverage. This will be great.
Also dont blame Verizon. Chances are AT&T and Sprint all share the same tower. Cities regulate where towers go and even where I live Verizon wanted to get a tower up another 10 feet, but the nimby's complained and some of us who would of gotten improved coverage lost out.
The only real benefit to Verizon is that when people are home they'll not be hitting the towers so much. | |
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tm
@sperry-marine.com
| Ordered it yesterday. If it works I'm off Verizon landline for good.
You have to be within 15 feet of this device for it to initially work with your phone. After that it works anywhere within the 5000 square foot range. That should thwart squatters. | |
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BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
| Re: Handsets from the nation's leading carriers? said by tm :
Ordered it yesterday. If it works I'm off Verizon landline for good.
You have to be within 15 feet of this device for it to initially work with your phone. After that it works anywhere within the 5000 square foot range. That should thwart squatters.
Why? It's not like they give your free minutes or anything. I mean if you minutes that you used while on teh phone didn't count toward your useage then yeah this might be worth it. $250 and ZERO benefit? the irnoic thing is that if you are in an area where your cell coverage is so bad you need this you most likely don't have access to broadband which is required to use this thing. | |
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| | | jimk
Premium
join:2006-04-15
Raleigh, NC
·AT&T Southeast
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Handsets from the nation's leading carriers? said by BF69 :Why? It's not like they give your free minutes or anything. I mean if you minutes that you used while on teh phone didn't count toward your useage then yeah this might be worth it. $250 and ZERO benefit? the irnoic thing is that if you are in an area where your cell coverage is so bad you need this you most likely don't have access to broadband which is required to use this thing. 1. Convenience of having just one phone number, and not having to mess with call forwarding.
2. Many areas with broadband service available can have poor wireless service. Terrain, population density, building construction, etc.
When you look at a VoIP plan, figuring the typical Vonage prices for the unlimited plan plus taxes, this pays for itself in less than a year. Of course, this isn't true for everyone - just depends on how you use it. | |
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BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
| Re: Handsets from the nation's leading carriers? said by jimk :said by BF69 :Why? It's not like they give your free minutes or anything. I mean if you minutes that you used while on teh phone didn't count toward your useage then yeah this might be worth it. $250 and ZERO benefit? the irnoic thing is that if you are in an area where your cell coverage is so bad you need this you most likely don't have access to broadband which is required to use this thing. 1. Convenience of having just one phone number, and not having to mess with call forwarding. Um you can have nothing but cell service now without using this. My friend has been cell only for 3 years now. I'm not sure how you think this helps you in dicthing your landline. Having unlimited minutes while using this WOULD help in that though.
2. Many areas with broadband service available can have poor wireless service. Terrain, population density, building construction, etc. SOME areas not many.
When you look at a VoIP plan, figuring the typical Vonage prices for the unlimited plan plus taxes, this pays for itself in less than a year. Of course, this isn't true for everyone - just depends on how you use it. This isn't VoIP like Vonage dummy. Try actually READING what this device actually does. | |
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enigma69
@optonline.net
| Re: Handsets from the nation's leading carriers? More areas than you think, have poor cell service and broadband, in my area we have both fios and optimum online
I myself get 30/5 service, with 0 problems from opt online but my verizon cell service sucks in the house, the phone works but 95% of the time will drop the call within 5 minutes. When I have some extra cash I might pick up one of these too, then I could drop my cable voip phone, so their are some benifits. | |
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AstroBoy
join:2008-08-08
Parkville, MD | wow All rates and policies associated with your chosen calling plan also apply when connected to the Network Extender.
So, I pay $250 to extend the Verizon network and get no discount on usage? Calls should be free while connected to this thing. | |
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neufuse
join:2006-12-06
Indiana, PA | Won't let me order every time I try to order it, it just comes back with "Sorry we can not process your order at this time" | |
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| jimbo2150
join:2004-05-10
Youngstown, OH
| Re: No ongoing fees; but it still uses up minutessaid by TKJunkMail :So basically you will get voice access and maybe low speed data and it won't cost Verizon anything while reducing their costs. Looks like they dropped the suggested monthly fee for the device. Guess they realized that:
user paying for the phone service (monthly - Verizon)
+ user paying broadband service (monthly - Other)
+ user paying femtocell box fee (one-time - Verizon)
+ user paying femtocell service (monthly - Verizon)
---------------------------------------------
= user gets ripped off
It would reduce costs for Verizon since their customers would be using less cell-tower bandwidth and moves the cost over to the user. So creating a monthly service fee for the box would not only increase their profit margins from the cell phone service fee, but the femtocell service fee would be almost pure profit (no costs associated).
Wonder if AT&T will realize it...
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- "Techie" Jim | |
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DaveNJ
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey | There is no benefit to this, If Verizon had a clue, they would offer unlimited calling, even if it cost $10 a month, they would make out like bandits. | |
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| | rmdir
join:2003-03-13
Chicago, IL
| Re: No ongoing fees; but it still uses up minutes Why on earth would I spend $250 just to reduce the load on their towers. They want money and I'm still burning my minutes with the thing? Thank God I already have MagicJack, which works just fine. If I'm at home, I use it during prime time instead of the cell phone. Just one more reason to hate Verizon. | |
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ablack6596
join:2005-01-28
Scarsdale, NY | Re: No unlimited calling? The Verizon one only gives selected users priority, anyone can still use it though. | |
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tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Floral Park, NY
| correct me if i'm wrong.. Verizon's first failure as a merged company?
Well, probably not, but it won't be the last.. dropped the ball on Voip, Customer Service, Billing, deployments, Video Franchises, Cable Video On Demand Boxes/design(let's just say the cable-tv need much improvement compared to established markets where they deployed), etc, etc. Though, the bigger they are.. the harder they fall.. | |
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cableties
Premium
join:2005-01-27
 ·Verizon FIOS
| Re: correct me if i'm wrong.. Yep. Verizon's Voicemail greeting should be optional/customizable (No, I don't want to page the person. Why must I use 30 secs to hear the same thing, let me bypass!), Yeah and VoIP: why can't I go to my verizon account and d/l my messages (VM) like Vonage?
I'm worried over the $250 to allow someone else to jack onto my connection. Verizon pays some good bucks to setup a tower and shed on a lot, They should be paying ME $250/yr to allow the use on my connection and AC 
--
Weeeeeeee! | |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| No way to block access to other users Their managed access Q&A says that you can make up to 50 users priority users, but your extender remains open to anyone if your signal is stronger than a nearby regular cell tower. Meaning your broadband connection can be used by others(though not at EVDO speeds) and you can't turn it off.
»support.vzw.com/faqs/Equipment/n···l#item32
Under Managed Access, you have the ability to prioritize access to your Network Extender to up to 50 Verizon Wireless callers you select. Where a compatible cell tower is unavailable, callers that do not appear on your managed access list may access the Network Extender when not in use by priority callers. I really wouldn't want a product that I couldn't limit to my own and my families phones.
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My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page | |
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SquareSlinky
Premium
join:2004-05-25
Tampa, FL
·Verizon FIOS
·ViaTalk
1 edit | Re: No way to block access to other users Yeah, I have a problem with that as well. Although it does not seem to have great range so it would seem that it might be rare, depending on your situation.
Then again, it might not even be an issue. If the signal can't make it in through my concrete walls, than I doubt its making it out very good either. | |
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nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
·Speakeasy
| Re: No way to block access to other users said by SquareSlinky :Yeah, I have a problem with that as well. Although it does not seem to have great range so it would seem that it might be rare, depending on your situation. Which is fine, if you don't live where there's any kind of housing density (e.g., townhouse, condo, apartment, closely spaced single-family homes, etc.) But, given the number of such housing in many of Verizon's markets, it seems like there's a good probability of getting your bandwidth leached by local callers.
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The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell | |
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BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | It covers up to 5000 square feet which is 40 feet in every direction from the femtocell. Of course things like walls will shorten that range. So unless you live right on top of your nighbors that shouldn't be an issue. | |
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RickNY
Premium
join:2000-11-02
New York
| Expensive
This device is the exact same device as the Sprint Airave, and it is priced $150 more than what Sprint is selling it for.. Yes, different casing - but inside, its the exact same product manufactured by Samsung.
I wonder if Verizon will offer it at no charge with free service for customers that have problems receiving service in their home like Sprint does if you ask them | |
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| LJGoose
join:2008-08-31
Middle Island, NY | Re: Expensive I really see not point in this product at all. Well maybe not for us in Built up areas anyway. | |
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SquareSlinky
Premium
join:2004-05-25
Tampa, FL | Re: Expensive Cellular signals do not penetrate concrete very well. I my area there are many block homes, and tall condo's. This would be an ideal solution to using your cell phone and not having to stand outside or next to a window. | |
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simlesa
Premium
join:2006-04-14
Astoria, NY | Works internationally? What happens if I connect the unit in Europe, for example? Does that mean I can use my Verizon phone to make and receive cheap calls to the USA from anywhere in the world as long as I have an internet connection?
--Luko | |
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mxmumtuna
join:2000-08-11
Ashburn, VA | Re: Works internationally? it requires a GPS signal, and won't work outside the U.S. | |
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slash
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-01
Boston
clubs: | No. There is a GPS dongle that needs to be hooked up to it to prevent this. | |
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| | scrawnyb
join:2004-05-18
Johnstown, PA | Re: Works internationally? Kinda makes you wonder if someone will crack the GPS dongle for this sole purpose, haha | |
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| | | 
I Use Dial
join:2004-01-04
Morgan Hill, CA
clubs: | Re: Works internationally? Seems like it would be easier to just make a false GPS signal device in a shielded enclosure.
--
Time... beckoning me. | |
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| jimk
Premium
join:2006-04-15
Raleigh, NC
·AT&T Southeast
·RoadRunner Cable
| GPS is needed for e911 and to be sure you are using in a Verizon licensed coverage area, which means it won't work even in some places in the USA. Because it is broadcasting on licensed frequency, unlike WiFi, usage is not legally permitted in all areas - or anywhere outside the US.
Even if you could fool it into working, you would have problems with interference with whoever is authorized to use the frequency it tries to transmit on.
Even in the US, it has to know exactly where it is to know exactly what frequency to transmit on. VZW may be on Cellular A in one town and PCS B in the next town. | |
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beaups
join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH | Depends... Depends whether or not they use IP or GPS to prevent you from doing that. Reading on the ATT device that's coming, it has GPS built in. | |
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| averagedude
join:2002-01-30
Mesa, AZ | Re: Depends... Are you saying that the unit has GPS unit with in the femento cell? Isn't that "cell" supposed to located in doors where there isn't a signal? This whole GPS thing sounds silly to me. | |
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| | cghh
join:2001-01-15
Milpitas, CA
| said by averagedude :Are you saying that the unit has GPS unit with in the femento cell? Isn't that "cell" supposed to located in doors where there isn't a signal? This whole GPS thing sounds silly to me. I thought GPS units generally don't work indoors? Particularly if your house has bad indoor cellular coverage due to walls blocking the cellular signal, then you have NO chance of getting the GPS satellite signals... | |
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| | | beaups
join:2003-08-11
Hilliard, OH | Re: Depends... I'm referring to the online "rumors" on the ATT femtocell having a gps built-in to specifically keep you from using it abroad, although it could conceivably be also used for 911 location, etc. | |
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| | | jimk
Premium
join:2006-04-15
Raleigh, NC
·AT&T Southeast
·RoadRunner Cable
| said by cghh :]I thought GPS units generally don't work indoors? Particularly if your house has bad indoor cellular coverage due to walls blocking the cellular signal, then you have NO chance of getting the GPS satellite signals... It depends on why you can't get a cell signal. Since GPS is satellite based, the signal only has to be able to pass through the roof. On many structures, it can. Further, GPS is not as likely to be blocked by trees or other structures (though it could happen). Very often, problems with cell reception at home are because the signal is already poor outside, and only gets worse inside. GPS is less likely to have this problem.
If there are problems getting the GPS signal, it has an antenna cable that can be used to extend it and place it near a window, which should work unless there is some kind of coating on the window that kills the signal. | |
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alpra
@ga.us | Are you kidding me??? VZ can kiss my A**! $250 to save THEM money? No...I'll just stick to Vonage and deal with bad cell coverage at home. | |
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TomClancy
Freedom isn't free
join:2003-04-23
... | Wow... I thought Verizon was better than this... 
I think T-Mobile has something similar on the shelfs.
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Freedom isn't free! | |
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See 6 replies to this post |
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Verizon Launches Femtocell Device
Handsets from the nation's leading carriers?
No ongoing fees; but it still uses up minutes