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Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
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#1
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Posted to sci.electronics.repair,alt.home.repair,alt.internet.wireless
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THEORETICAL question (not a legal question!):
Given there are *huge* gains to be made in cellular signal strength... https://u.cubeupload.com/RUsTGy.jpg Q: Would T-Mobile *know* if I *moved* the femtocell and/or repeater to a different location altogether than my own house? https://u.cubeupload.com/RU3rGl.jpg I live in the Santa Cruz mountains, where all cellular carrier signal sucks, and I have a big house ... hence, my cellular carrier, T-Mobile, provides me a free femtocell, and since my Internet comes from about 5 miles away over the air via WISP from another mountain, T-Mobile also gave me a free cellular repeater. Here's a picture of the repeater and femtocell: https://u.cubeupload.com/sSOph0.jpg Here is a picture of just one of my many access points inside my house: https://u.cubeupload.com/EZvpx3.jpg Given that there is unquestionably a *huge* signal strength advantage: https://u.cubeupload.com/jqV5cR.jpg The question came up in another discussion by "The Real Bev" whether the repeater or femtocell can "realistically" be "moved" to a second or third location. https://u.cubeupload.com/RLxLv5.jpg Ignoring the legality, since, as I recall, T-Mobile made me agree verbally over the phone that I would inform them if I move them, and knowing that the output of both transformers are 12VDC at 1.5 and 2.0 Amps, the question is *theoretical* only! https://u.cubeupload.com/RJ3cs6.jpg Theoretical question: Q: How would T-Mobile *know* if I *moved* the femtocell and/or repeater to a different location altogether than my own house? |
#2
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Posted to sci.electronics.repair,alt.home.repair,alt.internet.wireless
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![]() This is a response from "The Real Bev" brought over from the other thread so that we can keep the answers together in one related thread. The "" denotes "Harold Newton", while lack of "" is "The Real Bev". The repeater (which basically just picks up a weak signal and amplifies it) has a power supply whose secondary is 12 VDC at 1.5 Amps, which is *perfect* for a cigarette-lighter adapter, don't you think? Exactly. Does it have a wall-wart with a USB socket? OTOH, I have a couple of converters... The femtocell, which has to be attached to a router, has a power supply secondary output of 12 VDC at 2.0 Amps - which is also within the range of a car. Of course, they work in hotels too, and camping, so, you *could* get away with it - but I wonder if they could tell? For the repeater, they might not be able to tell, unless the repeater itself sends a signal *back* to the tower since I've already seen using the debugging tools on the Android phone that the repeater just repeats the *same* tower information to the phone. Why would they bother? Why would they even care? That is, the Android debugging tools I've used show clearly that the repeater itself, does not seem to provide the phone with any other number but the nearest (strongest) unique tower number. However, when my Android phone picks up the femtocell, the *unique* number of the femtocell *is* displayed on the phone (this test can't work on iOS even though the iOS Apple Apologists "say" it can, sans any proof). In summary, for the free T-Mobile cellular repeater: a. The free repeater use 12 volts DC input at 1.5 Amps of current b. Hence, the repeater could be used in a car, theoretically (I assume) c. Certainly it could be used camping or at a hotel d. But would T-Mobile know that you moved it? e. Maybe not. The repeater just strengthens the local tower strength f. Does the repeater report back to T-Mobile? I don't know. In summary, for the free T-Mobile cellular femtocell: A. The free femtocell uses 12 volts DC input at 2.0 Amps of current B. But it needs to be connected, via Ethernet cable, to 'something' C. In a car, I don't know of that 'something' to connect to (do you?) I have USB and earphone sockets, but no ethernet :-( Does it normally plug into 110V with a wallwart? I have a converter. Doesn't solve the ethernet problem, though, which presumes a router :-( Never mind... You'd think they'd provide a simple cigarette-lighter plug-in unit. It's to their advantage that you be able to connect with T-Mobile as often as possible -- otherwise you might choose Verizon. Maybe even a rechargeable battery-operated unit so I could phone from the ski slope :-) D. Certainly it could be used camping or at a hotel if you have an AP E. But would T-Mobile know that you moved it? F. Probably. The femtocell has a unique tower number & your IP address G. However, you can change your IP address so, maybe T-Mobile won't notice? H. But the IP address has a "geolookup" location - which they 'could' see Perhaps run a VPN on your phone. No idea how practical this is. Dunno enough about this, but I added sci.electronics.repair because smart people like Jeff Liebermann know this stuff far better than I do. All I know is that T-Mobile gave me both, even though they normally only give you one, because I have a large house and I get my Internet over the air via WISP which Jeff Liebermann is intimately familiar with, so they gave me both, for redundancy, for free, with zero deposit required. I NEED to visit the T-M store. |
#3
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This is a response from " brought over from the other thread
so that we can keep the answers together in one related thread. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/misc.phone.mobile.iphone/aLtBm7k2UO0 ***** OK - on the off-chance that you are actually serious about your question, and yet have no capacity for internal thought or logic, a condition proven repeatedly. a) The repeater *does* report back to the tower, just as your cell-phone. How do you think cell-calls are traced? This is not just 'movie' stuff, but everyday stuff. Not just cell phones, but your car, your FitBit and much more. The point of this device is that you are in a poor coverage area. Otherwise, you would not need it. Meaning, it acts as an amped-up link for your phone. b) Therefore, the moment you moved this device onto another tower, your provider would know it. They live for jackasses, cretins, donkeys and assorted other detritus - such as you - who somehow feel that agreements made in good faith are to be ignored for their personal benefit. Let me put it another way - if you can figure out an angle to cheat, they have entire staffs dedicated to thwarting idiots like you. You really do need to get a life - and/or invest in learning about critical thinking as you are, clearly, a tick on the soft underbelly of society in your present state. |
#4
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In the other thread, "The Real Bev" wrote:
Does it have a wall-wart with a USB socket? OTOH, I have a couple of converters... It's 12VDC at 1.5 Amps but we don't know how well regulated it needs to be. However, the end of the wall wort looks like the standard circle:dot plugs. So it's trivial to wire the power to work in a vehicle. (This assumes the EMF isn't too high nor automotive voltage fluctuation.) For the repeater, they might not be able to tell, unless the repeater itself sends a signal *back* to the tower since I've already seen using the debugging tools on the Android phone that the repeater just repeats the *same* tower information to the phone. Why would they bother? Why would they even care? Heh heh heh... because everyone would want to carry around their own personal cell tower, I suspect. But I really do not know why they made me agree, over the phone, as I recall, to not moving it without telling them. Dunno why they would care, but, they did give them to me based on my particular location and they have to cost them money - so - it seems consistent that they'd want me to use it for the same purpose that they gave it to me for. I'm not arguing against their rationale at all. I'm just wondering what you wondered, which is whether it would *continue* to work, longer term, while traveling. I feel it's almost certain, if not certain, that it would work anywhere, short term, just as putting a SIM card into a smart phone on the olden days on AT&T would work for a while and then AT&T would slam you with data charges even though you have a data block on the line. It would just depend on how long T-Mobile would take to catch that you moved it, and whether they cared that you did. Can they remotely turn it off? The femtocell, probably. The repeater? Probably not. In summary, for the free T-Mobile cellular femtocell: A. The free femtocell uses 12 volts DC input at 2.0 Amps of current B. But it needs to be connected, via Ethernet cable, to 'something' C. In a car, I don't know of that 'something' to connect to (do you?) I have USB and earphone sockets, but no ethernet :-( Does it normally plug into 110V with a wallwart? I have a converter. Doesn't solve the ethernet problem, though, which presumes a router :-( Never mind... The wall wart isn't the problem, as long as you end up with reasonably well regulated 12VDC at about 1.5 to 2.0 Amps without too much EMF. The femtotower would work wonders anywhere where you have a WiFi access point handy, and 120VAC, but if you want it to work inside a vehicle, then the femtocell isn't your first choice becuase it requires an Internet connection via RJ45. So, for your purpose, of working in a car, only the repeater is potentially viable. You'd think they'd provide a simple cigarette-lighter plug-in unit. It's to their advantage that you be able to connect with T-Mobile as often as possible -- otherwise you might choose Verizon. Maybe even a rechargeable battery-operated unit so I could phone from the ski slope :-) I'm not going to argue with you. Probably the FCC has something to say about "roving cell towers" though, as that's what it would be. BTW, *anyone* can connect to the repeated amplified cellular tower that is in your house ... (even the femtotower), so in the case of the femtowoer, you're offloading T-Mobile's cellular traffic onto your ISP and in the case of the repeater, you're acting as a free cellular tower for T-Mobile's customers to use. It doesn't go all that far though. Maybe a few hundred feet, at best for those high-decibel signal strengths I posted earlier. D. Certainly it could be used camping or at a hotel if you have an AP E. But would T-Mobile know that you moved it? F. Probably. The femtocell has a unique tower number & your IP address G. However, you can change your IP address so, maybe T-Mobile won't notice? H. But the IP address has a "geolookup" location - which they 'could' see Perhaps run a VPN on your phone. No idea how practical this is. VPN at the *router* would probably "confuse" T-Mobile, I agree. All I know is that T-Mobile gave me both, even though they normally only give you one, because I have a large house and I get my Internet over the air via WISP which Jeff Liebermann is intimately familiar with, so they gave me both, for redundancy, for free, with zero deposit required. I NEED to visit the T-M store. I've had these things for a few years, so here's all I can tell you. T-Mobile offered me three choices, of which I took two (but normally you only get one choice): 1. Free no-deposit Wi-Fi router, or, 2. Free no-deposit Femto tower (connected to your router), or, 3. Free no-deposit cellular repeater (two units, one window, one tower). The first one "is" a router, while the second connects "to" a router and acts like a tower inside your house, while the third grabs a signal from a tower outside your house and re-broadcasts that signal as a "tower" inside your house. Anyone in the vicinity on T-Mobile can use that signal. I don't know more than this, and even some of this "can" be wrong, which is why I asked the folks on s.e.r and a.h.r for additional advice for you. |
#5
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" wrote:
OK - on the off-chance that you are actually serious about your question, and yet have no capacity for internal thought or logic, a condition proven repeatedly. Rest assured I'm of average intelligence, very highly educated, and of rational thought, where my belief system is based purely on facts that support it - hence - if you show facts otherwise - I have no problem changing my belief system. Let's reserve judgment based on what we learn in adult discourse below... a) The repeater *does* report back to the tower, just as your cell-phone. Let's first use the Covey Principle, of reflecting what you're saying (seek first to understand - then to be understood). Is this what you're saying: 1. The weak cellular signal comes from distant "real" cell tower #100. 2. That weak cell tower #100 signal is picked up by my Window Unit. 3. The Window Unit broadcasts that signal to my Home Unit. 4. The Home Unit acts as an amplified "repeater" for cell tower #100. 5. I can easily *see* this on my Android phone, which reports the tower #. 6. Then my phone connects to the Home Unit ... 7. Which connects to the Window Unit ... 8. Which connects to the "real" cell tower #100. 9. Such that, the "real" cell tower #100 "sees" your phone connected to it. Is that what you're saying? (Please correct where I err.) How do you think cell-calls are traced? This is not just 'movie' stuff, but everyday stuff. Not just cell phones, but your car, your FitBit and much more. The point of this device is that you are in a poor coverage area. Otherwise, you would not need it. Meaning, it acts as an amped-up link for your phone. I already know, from extensive use of software on Android that Jeff Liebermann told me about, that the cellular repeater picks up and repeats *different* "real" towers, only one at a time, but which one depends depends on which window in the house that I face it and which real cell tower has the best signal (as I can log that it changes even when it's in the same window). This is the advantage of the Android free software that Jeff and I tested extremely thoroughly, which allows you to conclusively show what unique tower ID is being used (whether or not that tower is in an Internet database - because it uses the actual tower CID - and not some geolocation guess based on an Internet lookup like OpenSignal does). The only real question, which is NOT a legal question, is the pragmatic question, of whether T-Mobile *could* that the *repeater* was moved, say, 100 miles from where it's supposed to be. That's the question. a. Could they notice the *repeater* moved? b. Note they'd have to KNOW that the repeater moved - not the phone! c. Note they do know the *phone* moved - but that's not the question! b) Therefore, the moment you moved this device onto another tower, your provider would know it. Attempting to seek first to understand, and then be understood... Is this what you're saying, comes *after* step 9 above: 10. Now you *move* the Window/Home Units to a location 100 miles away. 11. The "new" cellular signal comes from new "real" cell tower #200. 12. That new cell tower #200 signal is picked up by my Window Unit. 13. The Window Unit broadcasts that signal to my Home Unit. 14. The Home Unit acts as an amplified "repeater" for cell tower #200. 15. I can easily *see* this on my Android phone, which reports the tower #. 16. Then my phone connects to the Home Unit ... 17. Which connects to the Window Unit ... 18. Which connects to the "real" cell tower #200. 19. Such that T-Mobile "sees" your phone connected to new cell tower #200. Is that process what you're trying to explain to us? They live for jackasses, cretins, donkeys and assorted other detritus - such as you - who somehow feel that agreements made in good faith are to be ignored for their personal benefit. Let me put it another way - if you can figure out an angle to cheat, they have entire staffs dedicated to thwarting idiots like you. Let's remove the needless vitriol and stick to the technical topic. Let's act like adults, using normal adult words and discourse. First off, it's not my question but I'm repeating "The Real Bev's" question, which I found interesting - and which - I said - from the very beginning - is being asked for theoretical purposes. If I had wanted to do this, I would have tested it long ago, as it's my service on the line if I actually do it. It's easy to test - but I don't want to test out T-Mobile's patience. I just want to know the answer to the technical question. It's sort of like asking what it's like to climb Mount Everest ... where it doesn't mean that you have to climb it just because you find out the answer. You really do need to get a life - and/or invest in learning about critical thinking as you are, clearly, a tick on the soft underbelly of society in your present state. Needless insults aside, the question is whether T-Mobile "sees" the *repeater* or the *phone* connecting to real cell tower #200. If all T-Mobile sees connecting to the new cell tower #200 is the *phone*, then theoretically, T-Mobile has no way of knowing that you "moved" the repeater; however, if T-Mobile can actually see the *repeater*, then they do know, instantly, that you moved it. Do you know the answer to this question? |
#6
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I laid a logic trap and you stepped into it with both feet.
a) A local cell device connects your cell phone to your isp. NOT A TOWER. Gee, how could highly educated person of average intelligence miss that? b) Your ISP is unique to you. Much as each cell tower is unique. And why I laid such a broad hint given the fact that you are looking for validation of a pre-conceived notion, not of actual facts. Making your IP address unique. T-Mobile is entirely aware of this. c) The moment that your *CELL* is reporting to a different ISP, the IP address connected to your phone will be DIFFERENT. T-Mobile will know this, also instantly. Your cell phone is unique. When you are able to make the most basic connections to how things actually work as compared to your desire to game the system, you might be a happier person. As it is, you are the slime that the cleaning help removes when bleaching the toilet - and about as useful. If you enjoy being shown for the waste-of-air that you are, keep right on posting. Otherwise, go away. |
#7
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Posted to sci.electronics.repair,alt.home.repair,alt.internet.wireless
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On Tue, 23 Jan 2018 14:35:25 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:
The question came up in another discussion by "The Real Bev" whether the repeater or femtocell can "realistically" be "moved" to a second or third location. https://u.cubeupload.com/RLxLv5.jpg For me, that question is moot: "T-Mobile 4G LTE CellSpot is available to current postpaid and simple choice customers. Prepaid customers cannot currently request a 4G LTE CellSpot." I assume this is the repeater. https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-24269 Supposedly there's a deposit, and you have to return the thing when you cancel service. Yes, there is "supposedly" a deposit, just like there is a SIM card fee of something like $15, but T-Mobile has *never* charged me either, and I get a *lot* of SIM cards from them, and two of these "cell spot" devices. BTW, from a branding perspective, "Cell Spot" is sort of like "iPhone". They use that "cell spot" name for *different* things. Both of my devices are *called* a "personal cellspot:, but they're different. https://u.cubeupload.com/RU3rGl.jpg One is a repeater. The other is a femtotower. Both make an astoundingly huge difference in signal strength! https://u.cubeupload.com/RUsTGy.jpg I assume this is the repeater. https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-24269 No. That's the free femtocell that plugs into your router. The "repeater" is the two-piece unit called "4G LET Signal Booster": https://u.cubeupload.com/sSOph0.jpg You see two of them in that photo because I complained to T-Mobile about it not working and they sent me a new one by next-day delivery. The femtocell is the one on the right called "4G LTE CellSpot". Supposedly there's a deposit, They "waived" the supposed deposit for me and for *every* one of my relatives who got it (more than one). So I don't think there "is" a deposit, in practice. and you have to return the thing when you cancel service. I think they said they'd charge me $400 if I didn't return it when they ask for it, e.g., when they sent me a second repeater (aka signal booster). |
#9
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On Tue, 23 Jan 2018 17:55:24 -0800 (PST), wrote:
I laid a logic trap and you stepped into it with both feet. I am responding *kindly* and *gently* in response to your insults, Snit, which I will ignore completely because I gain nothing of value by embarrassing you in front of everyone. I just want the answer to the basic technical question of how T-Mobile would know the *location* of the cellular repeater unless the repeater somehow tells the cellular tower that its signal is being "repeated" by the repeater. a) A local cell device connects your cell phone to your isp. I think you may have accidentally inadvertently misunderstood the question. The ISP is not involved in the least. The cellular repeater works completely *outside* the ISP. HINT: These devices are *completely different* in functionality. https://u.cubeupload.com/RU3rGl.jpg The ISP is *not* involved with the repeater. Period. NOT A TOWER. It seems you accidentally inadvertently misunderstood the question. Again... Please read what I wrote. The TOWER *is* involved with the cellular repeater. The ISP is *not* involved with the cellular repeater. HINT: Nobody is talking about the femtocell wired to the router. ![]() Gee, how could highly educated person of average intelligence miss that? I'm not sure why me being educated and yet still of average intelligence upsets you so much, Snit. Anyway, ignoring the untoward insults from you, I just hope that you realize this thread isn't a contest of who is smarter than whom. OK. You're smarter. I have no problem admitting that. In fact, Jeff Liebermann is far smarter than both of us, combined. I don't care who is smarter. I really don't. I just care about the answer to the question. It's OK if you don't know what a cellular repeater is, and it's even ok that you don't know the answer to the question in the last post. But please don't try to insult someone like me simply because *you* want to feel smug - as it doesn't add any value to the conversation. a. It doesn't help me. b. It doesn't help anyone else. c. And it's certainly not becoming of you. b) Your ISP is unique to you. Much as each cell tower is unique. And why I laid such a broad hint given the fact that you are looking for validation of a pre-conceived notion, not of actual facts. Snit, Once you slow down, and stop trying to prove an intellectual mastery over me, who is only of average intelligence, you will realize (if you read what I wrote and that which you are responding), that I asked you a question about the cellular repeater. Remember, Snit ... I didn't ask the question about the femtocell. 1. I asked if the repeater works the way I said it did, and, 2. I asked you *how* T-Mobile would know *where* that repeater was. It's perfectly fine if you do not know the answer to those questions, but it's really not becoming for you to intimate you "laid a trap" when you don't even seem to understand the questions. Really. I'm trying to be as gentle with you as I can. I am. Making your IP address unique. T-Mobile is entirely aware of this. Let's repeat that nobody ever said otherwise, Snit. You appear to be talking about the femtocell - which ties to the ISP - which absolutely nobody disputed. Ever. The question you are responding to wasn't about the femtocell. The question was about the repeater. Please read the post you are responding to again. Maybe one more time after that. If, after that, you still don't understand the difference, that's fine. But please don't immediately resort to insults merely because you don't know the difference so you misunderstood the question. Snit: It's OK that you misunderstood the question. The only thing I care about is the *answer* to the question. Do you know the answer to the question in the post you're responding to? If so, please let us all know. c) The moment that your *CELL* is reporting to a different ISP... The ISP is not involved in the least with a *repeater* (aka booster). Look at these pictures. They're *not* all the same device! https://u.cubeupload.com/sSOph0.jpg Until you understand the difference between a repeater and a femtocell, you won't be able to help anyone. You writing untoward self-serving insults isn't helping anyone either. ![]() the IP address connected to your phone will be DIFFERENT. We're talking "cellular" signal, where there is no IP address involved. There "is" a carrier-derived IP address for data, but that's different. My ISP is completely out of the loop with this cellular repeater. Until you understand that, you won't be able to help anyone. T-Mobile will know this, also instantly. Yes. We *always* said the femtocell is tied to the router which is tied to your ISP which is tied to an IP address. Nobody *ever* said otherwise. We aren't asking about the femtocell; we're *clearly* asking about the cellular repeater (aka the cellular booster). Your cell phone is unique. Yup. IMEI. When you are able to make the most basic connections to how things actually work as compared to your desire to game the system, you might be a happier person. I'll be nice again, Snit, and just say you might want to reconsider that statement in light of the facts presented very clearly to you above. As it is, you are the slime that the cleaning help removes when bleaching the toilet - and about as useful. Again. I'll be nice in saying that your remarks are untoward, and therefore I will merely ignore the insults. If you enjoy being shown for the waste-of-air that you are, keep right on posting. Otherwise, go away. Again, I'll be nice in just asking you to re-read the post you are responding to, and if you know the answer to the question posed, then please let us all know. If you do not know the answer to the question, or if (as it seems) you don't even *understand* the question - it's best for all concerned (including yourself) if you refrain from posting in this thread again. Thanks! And good luck. I wish you the best, Snit. I just wish *someone* (a) understands the question, and (b) knows the answer to the question. -- BTW, you acted *exactly* like you did in this rather humorous video: https://youtu.be/7QaABa6DFIo |
#10
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On 1/23/18 10:30 PM, Harold Newton wrote:
I am responding*kindly* and*gently* in response to your insults, Snit, Get it through that thick skull of yours ****head. Neither I nor Peter is snit. Moron. -- "I am a river to my people." Jeff-1.0 WA6FWi http:foxsmercantile.com |
#11
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On Tue, 23 Jan 2018 22:48:39 -0600, Fox's Mercantile wrote:
I am responding*kindly* and*gently* in response to your insults, Snit, Get it through that thick skull of yours ****head. Neither I nor Peter is snit. Moron. Hehhehheh... do you realize what you just accidentally did? You responded, as Fox, to the post to your *other* nym, pfjw. ![]() You really need to get your nyms straight, Snit. I suggest you work on that before respoonding as the wrong nym again. Seriously Snit ... I'm being very gentle with you, where I'll just note that you haven't added a single iota of technical value to this thread, so I suggest you stop posting to it, as the rest of us are trying to get something answered. Thanks for understanding the gentle request to stay on topic. If you *understand* the question, please do answer it. If not, please refrain from posting as it adds nothing of value for anyone. |
#12
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On 1/23/18 10:57 PM, Harold Newton wrote:
On Tue, 23 Jan 2018 22:48:39 -0600, Fox's Mercantile wrote: I am responding*kindly* and*gently* in response to your insults, Snit, Get it through that thick skull of yours ****head. Neither I nor Peter is snit. Moron. Hehhehheh... do you realize what you just accidentally did? You responded, as Fox, to the post to your*other* nym, pfjw. In addition to being a ****head, you're an ignorant liar as well. -- "I am a river to my people." Jeff-1.0 WA6FWi http:foxsmercantile.com |
#13
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On Tue, 23 Jan 2018 17:44:12 +0000 (UTC), Harold Newton
wrote: Theoretical question: Q: How would T-Mobile *know* if I *moved* the femtocell and/or repeater to a different location altogether than my own house? You do the grunt work this time. Dig into the instructions for the Femtocell box and see if it has a GPS inside. If it's not clear, grab the FCCID and look it up on the FCCID site. If it has a GPS, T-Mobile will know where you're located. Whether they do anything about a change in location is unknown. I've moved a Verizon femtocell box about 50 miles without any problems. However, that was inside Verizon territory. If you move your T-Mobile femtocell to some location where T-Mobile doesn't claim to have service, I have not idea if they will thank you for improving their footprint, disconnect your service, or something in between. Good luck. -- Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 |
#14
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On Wed, 24 Jan 2018 09:46:53 -0800, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
Q: How would T-Mobile *know* if I *moved* the femtocell and/or repeater to a different location altogether than my own house? You do the grunt work this time. Dig into the instructions for the Femtocell box and see if it has a GPS inside. If it's not clear, grab the FCCID and look it up on the FCCID site. If it has a GPS, T-Mobile will know where you're located. Whether they do anything about a change in location is unknown. I've moved a Verizon femtocell box about 50 miles without any problems. However, that was inside Verizon territory. If you move your T-Mobile femtocell to some location where T-Mobile doesn't claim to have service, I have not idea if they will thank you for improving their footprint, disconnect your service, or something in between. Good luck. Hi Jeff, Thanks for that input. It's not a big deal because I was answering the question for "The Real Bev", where I'm pretty sure (but not positive) the answer is thus. 1. Repater 2. Femtocell The Repeater "probably" does not report back to the cellular provider anything as it's likely just a "bridge" of sorts that just passes the MAC address (among other things) straight through. In that case, the cellular provider probably can't tell that you moved the repeater because it likely doesn't even know that the repeater is involved. The Femtocell is *completely* different. They know *everything* about the Femtocell; so it's interesting you were able to move it. Perhaps the IP geolocation isn't great enough, in your test, to flag their "movement" algorithm. Thanks! |
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In alt.internet.wireless Harold Newton wrote:
The Repeater "probably" does not report back to the cellular provider anything as it's likely just a "bridge" of sorts that just passes the MAC address (among other things) straight through. I found repeaters to be useless junk for weak signal areas. I think they would be fine for repeating a signal through a steel walled building or something of that sort. The Femtocell is *completely* different. I had an AT&T Femtocell... still do. But I don't have an AT&T account, so I can't test it in my current location. Wonderful thing. I noticed that Kaiser Hospital has Verizon Femtocell. You can see them in the hallways, and a little house icon appears above the full-bar cellular icon on my phone. They know *everything* about the Femtocell; so it's interesting you were able to move it. Perhaps the IP geolocation isn't great enough, in your test, to flag their "movement" algorithm. "Everything"? How do they know Everything? I disagree with Jeff L occasionally, but, he's never wrong. As I recall, my AT&T Femtocell did have a GPS, and setup advice included positioning it near a window if it didn't activate correctly. I didn't have a problem activating it, so I don't know if it needs GPS after a power failure, or IP change, etc. -- Clarence A Dold - Santa Rosa, CA, USA GPS: 38.47,-122.65 |
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On Thursday, January 25, 2018 at 2:56:42 PM UTC-5, Harold Newton wrote:
Why did they ask me to plug that GPS unit in *only* during setup? Perhaps because they were naive enough to take you at your word that you would not move the device, once installed. Once its location is established, they need not waste the bandwidth any further. |
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Harold Newton posted for all of us...
https://u.cubeupload.com/RU3rGl.jpg This site is blocked in Malwarebytes -- Tekkie |
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On Thu, 25 Jan 2018 19:56:36 +0000 (UTC), Harold Newton
wrote: Agreed that Jeff is usually on the money Hardly. I probably make more mistakes than others. The difference is that I usually admit being wrong. Feel free to trust me, but it pays to verify. and that you have a point which is that the femtocell comes with a GPS contraption, which you only use during the initial setup. You can see the stick-on GPS unit bottom right in the photo below. https://u.cubeupload.com/RU3rGl.jpg Why did they ask me to plug that GPS unit in *only* during setup? Good question. It didn't take much for me to find out what happens if one doesn't have a GPS signal with a Verizon nanocellular box: https://www.verizonwireless.com/accessories/samsung-network-extender-scs-2u01/ This is 3G only, no LTE. From a cold start, it takes 15-30 minutes for the unit to boot to the point where it will accept calls. If the GPS has a good view of the sky, 10 minutes is about the fastest I've seen. If you have a partial or marginal view (as most of my customers do), much longer. If I take a working unit (all lights blue), and pull the plug on the external GPS antenna connector, it remains functional for about 20 minutes. It then starts flashing the GPS lock light and will not accept or receive calls. After loss of lock, if I plug the antenna back in, it locks faster than a cold start. I didn't time this, but my guess(tm) is about half. If I take a working unit (all lights blue), and remove power at the wall wart, it will recover lock in about 5 minutes. However, if I leave it unplugged for over 15 minutes, it will take 10-30 minutes, as in the initial cold boot, to lock again. So, my guess(tm) is that: 1. There is no non-volatile storage in the unit to store the GPS position and to provide a faster cold lock. 2. There is a BFC (big fat capacitor) inside to help deal with power outages. 3. Without a GPS signal, it will make phone calls for about 15-20 minutes before it quits, after which it will refuse to make or accept phone calls. Not all devices are created equal. As micro/nano/pico/femto/extender cellular devices go, this Verizon unit is rather old. The T-Mobile devices are much newer and may have improvements in the GPS area, such as battery, supercap, or NVRAM backup. Dunno. Testing is easy enough. Set it up so it works, cover the GPS antenna, and wait for the device to complain. -- Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 |
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