femtocell/Sure Signal using non-vodafone broadband?

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › femtocell/Sure Signal using non-vodafone broadband?

blair003

557 posts

Ultimate Geek

#108529 31-Aug-2012 11:48

Hello,

I'm currently with telecom mobile and Snap VDSL.

At my house I get patchy XT coverage (but it works at least for sms in most places) and worse vodafone coverage. For non-related reasons I'm looking at switching from XT to vodafone.

Can I use vodafone's Sure Signal with my snap VDSL connection?

1 | 2

4055 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#679663 31-Aug-2012 11:53

Short answer is no

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#679672 31-Aug-2012 12:04

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/services/femtocell/

What do you need to use Sure Signal?

Vodafone fixed line broadband with a speed of at least 1Mbps

cisconz

cisconz
1337 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#679676 31-Aug-2012 12:11

Not wothout a VPN and even then it is a pain

Hmmmm

blair003

557 posts

Ultimate Geek

#679677 31-Aug-2012 12:12

Thanks.

Sometimes there are workarounds (supported or not) for these types of limitations which are not advertised to the general public, so despite having read the information on the vodafone website I thought I would ask the question to see if anyone had first hand knowledge.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#679679 31-Aug-2012 12:14

The only workaround is a VPN - but that's a lot of effort to go to.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#680550 2-Sep-2012 21:13

You never mentioned approx where you are?

oxnsox

1923 posts

Uber Geek

#680582 2-Sep-2012 22:04

Do you know what the VF coverage is like where you are? Because Telecom coverage is marginal doesn't mean VF will be....you may not even need a Sure Signal if you change.

blair003

557 posts

Ultimate Geek

#680588 2-Sep-2012 22:44

Yeah I do anecdotally -- my flatmates on vodafone have had the same or worse results than me on telecom over the years. Both are marginal, but telecom seems slightly better. I have not done any scientific testing (ie same handset/radio swapping sims out) to verify which is worse, as both are not great where I live.

Regardless you kinda need to be at certain locations on my property to make/receive calls. My fixed-line internet on the other hand is now first class. So if I were able to buy a device to make my mobile coverage better with vodafone, it would make a move to vodafone more appealing.

I live in a bit of a valley between Whakatane and Ohope beach.

Jaxar

383 posts

Ultimate Geek

#680945 3-Sep-2012 16:28

It is with that sort of scenario in mind that VF brought this product to NZ. My parents live in the middle of Auckland where the coverage at the top of their long drive is perfect go down the hill into the valley and it is pretty poor.

I am surprised Telecom hasn't matched this product somehow.

Please note: I have a professional bias towards Vodafone.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#680960 3-Sep-2012 17:01

blair003 have you checked the Vodafone NZ RBI page to see if any planned new coverage is coming?

https://www.vodafone.co.nz/about/media-centre/rural-broadband-initiative/coverage/

blair003

557 posts

Ultimate Geek

#681010 3-Sep-2012 19:48

I'm a bit surprised you need to be on a vodafone connection to use it as I assume that you still pay vodafone mobile for any services you use via the femtocell. Maybe its for technical/security reasons.

I wasn't aware of the rural broadband thing (I assume they are talking about mobile broadband?) but it seems to exclude where I am anyway.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#681011 3-Sep-2012 19:52

blair003: I'm a bit surprised you need to be on a vodafone connection to use it as I assume that you still pay vodafone mobile for any services you use via the femtocell. Maybe its for technical/security reasons.

Correct and QoS end to end

John

blair003

557 posts

Ultimate Geek

#681015 3-Sep-2012 20:09

Yeah it's understandable they would specifcy that as a requirement if they have to support it. But thats exactly why I asked here. I'm kinda interested in what the VPN solution would look like, but getting the impression its not worth the trouble.

oxnsox

1923 posts

Uber Geek

#681032 3-Sep-2012 21:16

Maybe one day, into the future, you might be allowed to be a Telstra customer or a Vodafone one.....
Buy I wouldn't wait to see how far away that may be.

blair003

557 posts

Ultimate Geek

#681051 3-Sep-2012 21:55

Yeah the possible switch to vodafone which prompted the question has come about because we use telstraclear at work and obviously they have been using vodafone for mobile for a couple of years. But whether or not the vodafone->TCL deal goes through (I'm sure it will) I can't switch to TCL at home for VDSL so that doesn't really help.

1 | 2