Comments on: Verizon's Femtocell Is Pretty Lame

By: Vic Barry

Vic Barry — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:00:19 +0000

Here's the deal...the Femto does NOT boost a signal. It creates its own signal that is back-hauled via broadband. So this is not what you want if you have a 2-bar signal that just needs boosting. This is what you want if you have 1-bar or no signal, and need to, or want to, use your cell phone.

I don't own a cell phone, yet, because I live in a place with ZERO signal. But I'll get a Femto, and a VZW phone and be reasonably happy with my ability to talk with others.

Or, I'll throw it all away and be blissfully unable to communicate wirelessly!

By: Kate Williamson

Kate Williamson — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:16:28 +0000

No one can give the straight talk on how the network entender works ,, do i have to have DSl or will it work off satellite, like Hughes net???

By: dave

dave — Fri, 28 May 2010 23:25:26 +0000

bitching for the sake of bitching.. mobile video is such a waste. it's a phone, people. the only reason people need it to be other things is because they spend all of their money on it and thus, feel the need to justify using it ALL THE TIME.

By: Like Fixed-Mobile Convergence, Femtocells Are on a Road to Nowhere

Like Fixed-Mobile Convergence, Femtocells Are on a Road to Nowhere — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:29:34 +0000

[...] Verizon’s Femtocell Is Pretty Lame. [...]

By: bigdawg

bigdawg — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:32:22 +0000

problem is, Verizon for god knows what reasons didn’t include Wifi on the new Blackberry Tour. extraordinarily frustrating. using UMA with T-Mobile, which I did previously (with a Wifi equipped curve) was a vastly better experience.

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:50:59 +0000

I just got my Verizon unit (talked my way into a $100 discount) and I love it. I almost ignored the “place next to a window sticker) but did see it before installing. The unit had four blue lights in under 15 minutes. Reception in our office is great now. Our people love the difference.

By: EJ

EJ — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:40:04 +0000

The service fees that Sprint charges are to allow you to make unlimited calls using the femtocell. Instead of upgrading to a plan with unlimited minutes, you can pay ~$10/month and get unlimited minutes while you’re at home. That’s a much better deal than this, where you don’t get any additional minutes.

And as for not being able to use EVDO or 3G through the device, just turn on WiFi as any device worth using EVDO or 3G on is most likely capable of hooking up to your wireless router and using your broadband connection which is even faster. In fact, for any browsing/streaming while at home, you probably should be using WiFi over EVDO/3G whether you get this device or not.

By: FM

FM — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:12:01 +0000

I recieved the Actiontech Router and it worked flawlessly. I removed the old DLINK DI-624, the additional bridge to support the Motorola (COax – Ethernet converter) and connected everything up to the Actiontech. By the time I had all the wires back in place the router was connected to the WAN port and saw the Internet Gateway. I connected the Network Extender and it set up without issue in 35 minutes. I believe the firmware on the DLINK supplied by Verizon did not support the 802.1q tagging or the Qos which might be required to control the traffic accross the ethernet cloud to the VzW switch with priority. It was a well worth while investment. Since my carrier Voicewing is closing up shop, this is a viable option compared to the Verizon Hub. With the Verizon Hub, you are locked down to an expandable cordless set and must purchase an additional digital voice plan. With the Network Extender I kick up my minutes a little bit (less than the $39 for digital voice) and I’m set.

Great product!!! I’ve advised Vz Wireless and the project leader of the conflict with the D-Link, hopefully a flash will be released amoung their Tech support to advise the customer’s to contact the ISP.

By: FM

FM — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:49:55 +0000

It appears the Samsung Network Extender may not work with the 2005 Vz FiOS DLINK DI-624 router. The router acts as though it is filling it’s buffer with errors and which then become full and resets the router. I have contacted VzFiOS tech support and they are shipping me a new Actiontech Router. I will keep you posted if this resolves the issue.

By: With Hub, Verizon Dresses Up Femtocells

With Hub, Verizon Dresses Up Femtocells — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:48:21 +0000

[...] contrary to the first reports, it’s gonna cost you. The hub will set you back $249.99 (there’s a $50 rebate). [...]

By: Frank Montalbano

Frank Montalbano — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:57:03 +0000

I am extremely disappointed with the out of the box experience. I am a loyal customer of Verizon / Verizon Wireless and a Network Engineer. Thus, I have compassion for the occasionaly configuration issue. But, considering the limitations placed on the insight on how this thing works has prevented my rom troubleshooting my $250 + network element. The last time I spent this much money was on my last Laptop. Out of the box I expect this thing to work right away. I’ve set it up on my network and waited 2 and 1/2 hours for a GPS signal. In the meantime this damn thing has taken my network down ever five miniutes. So not only can I not use this benefit for Verizon Wireless, I’ve been prevented from using my network for 5 hours as I’ve had to try this damn thing in various locations around my home. Sorry, but for twice the price of an economical GPS device (TOM TOM) which can acquire a GPS signal in my home within 5 minutes, this thing is a gross disappointment. So, I get to wait 48-72 hours for a network escalation ticketfor resolution. I bet I’ll receive a status on this escalation while I’m at work and cannot do a damn thing with this hunk of plastic.

By: chuck

chuck — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:16:17 +0000

i don’t think you get this.

the femtocell is meant to provide coverage for those who get a bar of signal outside their house, but when they walk into the house they lose it. Places like rural maine are a perfect example of this. Verizon is a carrier of choice due to using CDMA and better reach of their network. However you reach a massive point of diminishing returns as you try to provide good coverage to these communities inside as well as outside.

It also has a good application for large buildings that lose service in the basement or center of the building.

If you are getting mediaflow you aren’t part of this customer base. because you’re probably getting fantastic coverage already. btw, it hooks up to your broadband, so if you are using it, load up your laptop, or turn on the wifi on your blackberry to surf the net.

By: HSK

HSK — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:35:14 +0000

One of the biggest differences I see with the VZW version vs Sprint and ATT (I believe) is that VZW does not currently seem to have additional minutes for this device. With Sprint’s, you can pay an additional $10/mo for unlimited minutes for up to 3 lines on a family plan (or $5 for an individual plan). This could be a good deal if you call a lot from home. VZW, being typical VZW, keeps using your normal cell minutes.

By: Doug Mohney

Doug Mohney — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:47:27 +0000

Given the number of times I have been personally and professionally screwed by Verizon/Bell Atlantic, I don’t need to get lectured on how bad the company acts …

MediaFLO is a SEPARATE NETWORK from the 3G network. Basically Stacy, what you want is for the femtocell to contain a separate radio for a marginal improvement to how many users???. Slap on another $20-30 bucks to that $250 box, plus 3-4 years of NAB protests of a device potentially capable of polluting the DTV airwaves.

Not really a win for anyone. Maybe you’d feel better if Verizon threw in some jelly jars or a set of Ginzu knives…

By: VZW Femtocell in the house! at Mobile Barbarian

VZW Femtocell in the house! at Mobile Barbarian — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:30:33 +0000

[...] instead over the user’s broadband connection. See Is Verizon Wireless Network Extender a Ripoff?, Verizon’s Femtocell Is Pretty Lame and jkOnTheRun’s take. I sympathize, though this criticism may not be correct in all cases, such [...]

By: Stacey Higginbotham

Stacey Higginbotham — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:38:50 +0000

Kar, I do know that and even explain that in the post, so looking at it, I’m not sure what I meant.