Vodafone FemtoCell / Sure Signal

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PhantomNVD

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#113641 23-Jan-2013 00:35

Hi all,

been browsing about and thinking of trying one of these out. Have access to a UK one with the same alcatel/Lucent 9361 (v2) as used in nz...

any way I can get this working on my home line ADSL (VFNZ) and VF mobile?

i.e. flash to local firmare, ring up VF and live the 3G 5Bar dream?

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#749291 23-Jan-2013 08:54

The way things are locked I don't think Vodafone would connect a parallel imported femtocell to their network.

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johnr

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#749320 23-Jan-2013 09:27

freitasm: The way things are locked I don't think Vodafone would connect a parallel imported femtocell to their network.

Correct we will not allow a imported femtocell to connect

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Geektastic

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#749445 23-Jan-2013 12:02

I have one of these (a NZ one) and it works reasonably well.

The phone does drop the call when you walk out of range rather than seamlessly switching to 3G though.

PhantomNVD

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#749472 23-Jan-2013 12:24

Geektastic: I have one of these (a NZ one) and it works reasonably well.

The phone does drop the call when you walk out of range rather than seamlessly switching to 3G though.

Any good reason why you wouldn't want people to extend your network for you 'for free'?

I mean, that's like saying you wont allow foreign cellphones on your network, even when they are the same frequency/model AND BRAND as the ones your own (local) stores sell... how is it a bad thing to increase your business at my expense?

*edit for typo's

Geektastic

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#749476 23-Jan-2013 12:28

PhantomNVD:
Geektastic: I have one of these (a NZ one) and it works reasonably well.

The phone does drop the call when you walk out of range rather than seamlessly switching to 3G though.

Any good reason why you wouldn't want people to extend your network for you 'for free'?

I mean, that's like saying you wont allow foreign cellphones on your network, even when they are the same frequency/model AND BRAND as the ones your own (local) stores sell... how is it a bad thing to increase your business at my expense?

*edit for typo's

I'm not really sure what you mean?

My Suresignal is a NZ VF supplied one. It works just fine. My main issue is that if I am mid-call and walk out of my office and into the garden and out of range, the phone won't just transfer to the 3G network outside - it just drops the call and I have to ring back.

johnr

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#749477 23-Jan-2013 12:29

Geektastic: I have one of these (a NZ one) and it works reasonably well.

The phone does drop the call when you walk out of range rather than seamlessly switching to 3G though.

You can check with the fixed line support team if your Sure Signal unit is running the latest software and if not it can be pushed out to the device early hours of the morning

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#749478 23-Jan-2013 12:29

PhantomNVD: Any good reason why you wouldn't want people to extend your network for you 'for free'?

Because how will they know this specific unit is compliant with local regulations? How would they know the power sources are safe and provide what is needed? How would they know if the unit has the specific firmware version needed for local use?

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PhantomNVD

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#749479 23-Jan-2013 12:31

Geektastic:

My Suresignal is a NZ VF supplied one. It works just fine. My main issue is that if I am mid-call and walk out of my office and into the garden and out of range, the phone won't just transfer to the 3G network outside - it just drops the call and I have to ring back.

sorry! mis 'quoted' you, meant to quote the post before that JohnR left?

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#749480 23-Jan-2013 12:32

freitasm:
PhantomNVD: Any good reason why you wouldn't want people to extend your network for you 'for free'?

Because how will they know this specific unit is compliant with local regulations? How would they know the power sources are safe and provide what is needed? How would they know if the unit has the specific firmware version needed for local use?

To be fair, any unit from the UK will more than likely exceed local NZ regulations because in all circumstances I have ever come across they are less stringent than UK and EU regulations.

The firmware issue might be true though - but I guess you should be able to update the unit to NZ firmware easily enough since the internal gubbins are the same.

knoydart

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#749481 23-Jan-2013 12:33

PhantomNVD: Any good reason why you wouldn't want people to extend your network for you 'for free'?

I mean, that's like saying you wont allow foreign cellphones on your network, even when they are the same frequency/model AND BRAND as the ones your own (local) stores sell... how is it a bad thing to increase your business at my expense?

*edit for typo's

It will be to do with the management of their network and their spectrum. There is only finite spectrum (and I'm guessing Vodafone use a specific part of their management right for femtocells as to not interfere with their macro cells). They need to link in the femto cell to the core network and link into wider control systems eg billing.

If the experience of the femtocell was poor, then Vodafone (or Telecom or 2degrees) would lose customers and good will.

Geektastic

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#749482 23-Jan-2013 12:33

johnr:
Geektastic: I have one of these (a NZ one) and it works reasonably well.

The phone does drop the call when you walk out of range rather than seamlessly switching to 3G though.

You can check with the fixed line support team if your Sure Signal unit is running the latest software and if not it can be pushed out to the device early hours of the morning

Thanks Jon - I will.

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#749483 23-Jan-2013 12:33

Yes, I agree with you. I am not saying they should block, I am making a list of possible reasons they would present for not doing it.

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PhantomNVD

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#749485 23-Jan-2013 12:35

freitasm:
PhantomNVD: Any good reason why you wouldn't want people to extend your network for you 'for free'?

Because how will they know this specific unit is compliant with local regulations? How would they know the power sources are safe and provide what is needed? How would they know if the unit has the specific firmware version needed for local use?

Because they can easy check this by logging into it, though the router , and line, they requireme to use?

[all VF modern hardware had hard coded backdoor access for this express purpose - unfortunately publicly
available too (!) but that's another issue]

and if it didn't work... THEN I would have to buy a local one?

To go back to the tourist Cellphone analogy, how would it be seen if they denied all tourists to connect their phones here unless they bought Vodafone one "to ensure it would meet the local standards and work in NZ'"?

PhantomNVD

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#749486 23-Jan-2013 12:37

freitasm: Yes, I agree with you. I am not saying they should block, I am making a list of possible reasons they would present for not doing it.

took to long for me to type my riposte, seems we agree here after all :D

freitasm

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#749487 23-Jan-2013 12:38

Think of this way: one thing is connecting a mobile to their network. Another is having a piece of equipment that behaves as their network, accepting phone connections.

That piece of equipment behaving, impersonating their network is for all effects authenticated and they're responsible for everything that happens.

If your foreign phone doesn't work, too bad, it's your problem. If a customer sees a Vodafone signal and it doesn't work then that's their problem.

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