Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


Filter this topic showing only the reply marked as answer View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic
1 | 2 | 3 
Bluntj
556 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #2239688 17-May-2019 09:00
Send private message

freitasm:

 

@crusader2015 check this page for more information.

 

 

It is a general expectation these days that your mobile phone will work satisfactorily almost everywhere. If your home, workplace or vehicle does have poor coverage, you may decide to search online for solutions and find yourself at a website offering mobile boosters or repeaters to cure the problem.

 

Many of these devices can cause interference and dropped calls across the wider cellular network. This is why network operator approval is essential for the installation and operation of such equipment.

 

If approval is not given, the equipment is then not authorised by the required licence. The user of unlicensed equipment is subject to infringement offence penalties and possible prosecution. If interference is caused, it may also result in a damages claim from the network operator.

 

Overseas web sites such as www.mobilephonesignalbooster.co.nz, www.signalbooster.co.nz and www.mobilebooster.co.nz give the impression of being a New Zealand site and suggest their products are approved for use in New Zealand by the service providers, Spark, Vodafone and 2degrees. This is not the case.

 

Careful study of the “Conditions” on these websites may find a disclaimer to the effect that “Using this equipment may require a licence. It’s your own responsibility to check with the governmental authority having jurisdiction prior to use… “ etc.

 

If you are having coverage problems with your mobile service, always check with your service provider for one of the approved solutions.

 

 

More work needs to be done by providers to fix dead spots in urban areas let alone rural areas. Ive ended up in a dead spot in a normal urban area and it sucks big time. I do not blame the poster for trying to seek solutions that may be fringe.

 

You might get a visit from the police and be fined if using illegal/unlicensed radio equipment in New Zealand.

 




BioNz
80 posts

Master Geek


  #2243246 22-May-2019 17:57
Send private message

hi 

 

 

 

please stay away from the boosters that are offered for sale at sites like mobilesignalbooster.co.nz or aliexpress.

 

 

 

in nz the only approved booster for the public is the celfi units. 

 

the problem with the ones from mobilesignalbooster and the likes are what are called unauthorized units( they have not been given the ok to be used by the licence holder eg spark and vodafone)

 

 

 

my job is an interference hunter for a couple of the networks and we come across these boosters all the times. the reason we are called in to look for them is because it has gone faulty and is now transmitting on the receive band. this is then impacting the local cell site and causing issues to the customers on the network. the problem with the devices are they are normaly made of cheaper less qual components. the boosters that are approved have a ramping system so they will slowly ramp up to a level that is needed and no more. the cheap chinese ones are 100% power all the time. we have found the ones that have gone faulty have only lasted around 6-8 weeks before causing issues.

 

 

 

we report any boosters that are unauthorized to RSM
your best best is to apply for one through the celfi website


Chrusty
4 posts

Wannabe Geek


#2268690 2-Jul-2019 18:38
Send private message

Lucky I found this discussion, I reckon! 

 

I was about to inquire at mobileboosters.co.nz re a 1500m2 kit for our large home but I'll get onto the CelFi peeps instead.

 

I admit I was always suspicious of their offers but supposedly they're based in Jowers Rd, West Melton. Just around the corner from me! Haha!

 

I was initially going to get an enterprise solution SureSignal from Vodafone but they don't do them anymore.

 

We have a standard one and it works well but the coverage over the house is nowhere near enough. Still missing important business calls and text messages sometimes never arrive.

 

And only 2.4Km from the West Melton tower.

 

Hopefully CelFi can do the trick. Cheers.

 

 

 

(Don't get me started on the RBI service! Or lack thereof 😠)




Linux
11428 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #2268715 2-Jul-2019 18:41
Send private message

@chrusty just confirming are you actually going to buy one or not?

hio77
12999 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Trusted
Lizard Networks

  #2268729 2-Jul-2019 19:01
Send private message

Given my estimation of your location.... Have you tried spark? Network is pretty well covered there.





#include <std_disclaimer>

 

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

 

 


Chrusty
4 posts

Wannabe Geek


  #2268846 2-Jul-2019 21:37
Send private message

Hi Linux

 

Chances are good that I'll be buying one.

 

Just so happens that the Sky installer that is coming to replace my dead MySky box tomorrow happens to be a Cel-Fi installer!

 

I'll wag work for an hour or two to pick his brain first :-)

 

 

 

Hi hio77

 

I'm pretty sure Spark comes from the same tower. Any visitors with Spark phones seem to have similar issues :-(

 

 


Chrusty
4 posts

Wannabe Geek


  #2324162 24-Sep-2019 18:52
Send private message

I'm happy to report that I have installed a Cel-Fi unit and it works really well!

 

And I picked it up on TradeMe for half the new price and with a good aerial and cable to boot!

 

I've installed it myself but I did gain a lot of confidence from my conversations with Brian Gee (local Cel-fi and Sky guru) when it came to biting the bullet and wiring the aerial in.

 

It sort of worked without the aerial but it was too flakey to put up with.

 

We now get 3 bars on all cell phones just about over the whole house. 

 

I did get a good deal but I'd still be happy with the performance even if I'd paid full price.


 
 
 

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).
knoydart
904 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

  #2324746 25-Sep-2019 18:45
Send private message

Reading between the lines on this page (from the NZ distributor), you may need to let Spark know that they have a cel-fi running at your location and connected to their network. As I suspect their network management team likes to keep a track of deployed devices.

 

(edited for typos)


Chrusty
4 posts

Wannabe Geek


  #2324921 25-Sep-2019 22:35
Send private message

Good advice and yes, I did that. Vodafone though.

BioNz
80 posts

Master Geek


  #2325603 26-Sep-2019 21:44
Send private message

the old version didnt require you to register the product so to speak. i do believe the newer version that use the wave app make you register the location or they turn off after 15mins.


coffeebaron
6233 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #2325606 26-Sep-2019 21:49
Send private message

The old version you had to register before you could purchase. You're also suppose to update register if you move it or it gets sold. New version is automated registration via the app.




Rural IT and Broadband support.

 

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71 
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

 

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com


1 | 2 | 3 
Filter this topic showing only the reply marked as answer View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic





News and reviews »

Air New Zealand Starts AI adoption with OpenAI
Posted 24-Jul-2025 16:00


eero Pro 7 Review
Posted 23-Jul-2025 12:07


BeeStation Plus Review
Posted 21-Jul-2025 14:21


eero Unveils New Wi-Fi 7 Products in New Zealand
Posted 21-Jul-2025 00:01


WiZ Introduces HDMI Sync Box and other Light Devices
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:32


RedShield Enhances DDoS and Bot Attack Protection
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:26


Seagate Ships 30TB Drives
Posted 17-Jul-2025 11:24


Oclean AirPump A10 Water Flosser Review
Posted 13-Jul-2025 11:05


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: Raising the Bar for Smartphones
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01


Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Brings New Edge-To-Edge FlexWindow
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01


Epson Launches New AM-C550Z WorkForce Enterprise printer
Posted 9-Jul-2025 18:22


Samsung Releases Smart Monitor M9
Posted 9-Jul-2025 17:46


Nearly Half of Older Kiwis Still Write their Passwords on Paper
Posted 9-Jul-2025 08:42


D-Link 4G+ Cat6 Wi-Fi 6 DWR-933M Mobile Hotspot Review
Posted 1-Jul-2025 11:34


Oppo A5 Series Launches With New Levels of Durability
Posted 30-Jun-2025 10:15









Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.



Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.