How can I get phone through 4G wireless or extend my cellphone antenna?

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NectarBomb

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Geek

#228579 12-Jan-2018 19:39

Hi there,

Where we live we do not get any services as we are rural. Luckily I have been able to rig up some internet by using a 4G Wireless Huawei B315 and a standard cellphone sim card. I have a water tower on my property which is high enough to get reception so I have attached an antenna at the top and using a long coax cable connected it to the modem giving our house some much needed internet.

What I am trying to do now is get some phone services. So we can get reception but only on the water tower. Was wondering if anyone either knows of a way to connect a antenna to a cell phone or a way to connect a phone (landline or voip) to a Huawei B315 and be able to make calls to and from it. Or if anyone has any other ideas.

Much appreciated!

G4m3r

77 posts

Master Geek

#1937835 12-Jan-2018 20:05

From memory the Huawei B315's are capable of VOIP just needs to be added to your plan and will work on most landline phones.
Boosting/Amplifying cell phone reception can be done but needs to be done right if you want to avoid the possibility of a fine.
Have a read on the rsm website can give you a idea of where to look for some of this stuff.
https://www.rsm.govt.nz/consumers/mobile-phone-boosters
https://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/70805731/how-to-get-a-better-mobile-signal-at-home

EDIT: On a closer inspection it looks like VOIP availability for this modem depends on the service provider. Best to check with them.

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hio77

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#1937855 12-Jan-2018 20:50

http://cel-fi.co.nz/

i would recommend looking at these folks. they are the only ones that sell approved repeaters.

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knoydart

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#1937888 12-Jan-2018 21:43

I've seen Vodafone on their low power off grid demo site in Wellington, use the B315 to provide broadband connectivity and then use that as back-haul for their femtocell product (sure signal). Although this is only 3g, it would meet your requirements to boost the cellphone coverage locally.

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#1937899 12-Jan-2018 22:52

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kiwigander

225 posts

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#1938820 14-Jan-2018 23:11

OP: What I am trying to do now is get some phone services. So we can get reception but only on the water tower. Was wondering if anyone either knows of a way to connect a antenna to a cell phone or a way to connect a phone (landline or voip) to a Huawei B315 and be able to make calls to and from it.

Easily done. I assume you are pre-paying for your data on your SIM card's account. If you're presently paying for data only, add a calling plan. Then plug a regular (landline-type) phone into the "TEL" grey RJ12 jack on the B315. You'll have a landline-type phone that behaves like a cellphone.

It's not quite so convenient as a cellphone; if you want to send or receive text messages you have to login to the B315 as the administrator.

But it's cheap ($8 a month from 2 Degrees; other carriers have similar very basic plans) and it works.

NectarBomb

25 posts

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#1996687 16-Apr-2018 00:16

kiwigander are you sure this works? I will be very excited if it does because this is exactly what I am looking for. The model of the B315 I have is a skinny one does not have SMS options so I do not think it will work. However I have seen other providers with ones that have the SMS options. If I get one of these you believe it will work through my normal sim?

kiwigander

225 posts

Master Geek

#1996756 16-Apr-2018 09:10

It most certainly does work. I just got off the phone.

My B315 came from Vodafone. I have never used the included Vodafone SIM, though, and I have not had any contract with Vodafone in the time I've had the B315.

If you're not on a Skinny 4G plan but you're able to get Internet service, your B315 is presumably running over 3G. Mine is, I know; had some trouble with it early on until I set it to use 3G rather than 4G. One of the Skinny or Vodafone people on the forum may be able to confirm that unless you have a plan - and you have to be within a specified coverage area to have one - you can't use 4G. That doesn't matter; all cellular phone calls right now operate over 2 or 3G, while 4G is for data only. (I know that cellular telephony service is migrating to VoIP over 4G but that does not appear relevant to the OP's enquiry.)

I believe that the B315's RJ12 port does not connect to an ATA for VoIP service but somehow provides the transceiver for 3G cellular service.

When you login to your B315, what options do you see on its landing page? I see Home | Statistics | SMS | Update | Settings | More. The SMS functionality is there, although it's cumbersome to use; I have to keep logging back in to keep the inbox open, and an incoming SMS doesn't give any alert. The Skinny B315 may have been configured differently.

What kind of SIM are you using right now? (Which telecommunications company; pre- vs post-paid; etc)

Have you got a plain old landline-type phone to plug in to your B315 to try out? If you can borrow one, that should tell you whether the B315 is going to allow you "ordinary" cellphone reception. You do NOT want a SIP or VoIP phone for this.

hio77

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#1996790 16-Apr-2018 09:16

out of the box, the spark b315s may not provide 3g voice.

also be aware it risks you dropping down to 3g rather than enjoying 4g.

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