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Sprint Will Update Airave Femtocell for 3G Access

Article Comments  16  

Apr 6, 2010, 8:35 PM   by Philip Berne

IDG News is reporting that documents recently revealed by the FCC point to an update for Sprint's Femtocell device, the Sprint Airave. While the current Airave, made by Samsung, supports only the CDMA 1xRTT networks and slower data speeds, the new Airave, which will be made by Airvana, will also support up to 6 users on Sprint's 3G EV-DO network. Pricing and specific availability have yet to be announced, though AT&T and Verizon Wireless have both announced their intentions to offer femtocell devices. The user manual submitted to the FCC also mentions VoIP capabilities, a feature the original Airave lacked.

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mbrenner

Apr 7, 2010, 10:37 AM

Not Good, it still requires a GPS signal to work

If you don't get a good signal because you are in a building with poor sprint coverage this device is useless unless you can get a GPS signal, which you can't unless you are near a window with a good view of the sky!

So you cant use the old or the new Airave in basements or in buildings that don't have a good view of the sky (like many apartments etc.

They really need a device that can operate free of GPS signals. They need to get location and timing from the network not GPS so they work!!!!
But the whole point of the device is to boost coverage in weak/dead spots by using a wired internet connection. If it could establish position from the network (requires 3 towers, I believe), then you probably wouldn't need the thing in the first pla...
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This is a good point. I've always heard that one reason the GPS sensor is there is to detect whether you're in the U.S. Otherwise, you could take the Airave to Europe, plug it in and use your Sprint service over IP, just as if you were still at home.
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...Most American homes come equipped with windows. If I needed one of those things, I'd put it near a window, not downstairs in the basement.
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cellgeek82

Apr 7, 2010, 12:48 AM

Verizon next?

So I guess it's safe to say Verizon will be next to get a 3G-CDMA femtocell? I mean, shortly after Sprint got the Samsung femtocell Verizon had one too. So I'd imagine Verizon will get one too or something similar. If good ol' American competition is still the same then Verizon will see this as a must to stay up to par with the other carriers.

Frankly, I don't know why they didn't release 3G femtocells to begin with. I don't care who the carrier is, 3G is where it's at. By the time 3G femtocells are on the shelves 4G-LTE will be everywhere.
I thought only weak carriers need these, isn't Vzn supposedly the Jesus network. If Vzn is so perfect then they wouldn't need these.

Besides, once 700mhz LTE is deployed there shouldn't be any need for these, cause 700mhz has great bldg penetration...
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Ok after digging around the internet I found out that Verizon is in fact getting a 3G femtocell too!

It's made by Samsung and looks alot better than the 2G Network Extender. Same color and size but looks more modern and of course has 3G.

Here's...
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bluecoyote

Apr 6, 2010, 10:15 PM

How this will work

Currently, Sprint has the Airave broadcasting on both CDMA-3G and CDMA-VOIP. By re-configuring the broadcast impedance it creates- you guessed it- a 3G network.

Of course, if you don't want to wait for 3G access from the Femtocell, it's possible to enable 3G coverage already. All you need is an internet connection, a spare 3G enabled phone, and of course the FemToCell.

Follow these steps:

1) Restart the Airave 3 times, allowing it to complete a full power cycle. This will enable a diagnostic mode.

2) Pair your phone with with the Airave by placing a test call to #777 (the same number as PCS Power Vision tethering)

3) If you're under the Airave's network, your phone should automatically connect. If you're not under the Airav...
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bluecoyote said:

If you're still going off of a Sprint tower, you may need to move to where there is no actual nearby coverage.



Ha! I like that one.
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