Develop Bugs

T-Mobile CelFi extender, short review

I just moved from Verizon to Tmo with a new job. At home, coverage was spotty. Unlike verizon, Tmo has no femtocell. Picked up a CelFi on ebay for under $200.
In short, the CelFi works well and I now have a good signal at home. The CelFi is basically the same as the Wilson or zboost signal boosters, except that the link between the antenna and base station is wireless, 5 GHz, instead of 50ft of coax cable. I don't think there's a reason to pay up for the CelFi if you can hide the coax, but in my case there wasn't a good way to run it.
In my experience, femtocell > booster, and booster = CelFi unless you don't have a good way to run coax. Hope his helps a Tmo user.

I have one of those and it work's great!!!
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

It does work well, but frankly the fact that Tmo doesn't have a femtocell that connects to broadband is a big disappointment. I suspect they bet on wifi calling instead, which has had mixed reviews by some. I'm on Net10, which is tracfone/same as walmart Straight Talk, and it appears wifi calling is for direct tmo customers only. Fortunately I found the CelFi.

Do any of you guys using Cel-Fi have the units disconnecting every few minutes? Mine works well for a few minutes, then they disconnect (status light flashes green on both units for about 15 seconds) and then they reconnect again for a few minutes. I've tried shutting off all wireless devices in my house thinking it is experiencing interference but it still keeps happening. The window unit has a solid 2-3 bars all the time and the coverage unit has an 8 or 9 when connected. I'm wondering if my system is defective?

Straight Talk and Net10
appletechsupport said:
It does work well, but frankly the fact that Tmo doesn't have a femtocell that connects to broadband is a big disappointment. I suspect they bet on wifi calling instead, which has had mixed reviews by some. I'm on Net10, which is tracfone/same as walmart Straight Talk, and it appears wifi calling is for direct tmo customers only. Fortunately I found the CelFi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have an Iphone 4 GSM(AT&T) with Straight Talk..I did not see my Cell provider on the CelFi list..
Will the CelFi still work with my phone?

I have one of the T-mo linksys (older) [email protected] routers, which has 2 sim slots. for home phone lines if necessary. Which is basically VoIP and works good.

cisco3280 said:
I have an Iphone 4 GSM(AT&T) with Straight Talk..I did not see my Cell provider on the CelFi list..
Will the CelFi still work with my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Straight Talk is an MVNO on T-Mobiles and AT&Ts network. It will work if you are on Straight Talk T-Mo.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

theandroidrooter88 said:
Straight Talk is an MVNO on T-Mobiles and AT&Ts network. It will work if you are on Straight Talk T-Mo.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a s2 from tmobile on straight talk and can say that the WiFi calling option does not function. Says unsupported sim. Called ST and they said it won't work

T-Mobile gives you a CelFi unit for free if your a customer and have truly poor service indoors. I've had my unit for 2+ years (I beta tested for TMO) and it works really well. Without the unit I have at most 1 bar of 4G. With the unit I have 3-4 bars of 4G and decent speeds. Also by default this works on those people using Simple Mobile (TMOs MVNO).
Can't complain although im moving to Silver Spring, MD this week from Miami, FL and the coverage in my new place is even worse than in Miami.
Wifi Calling and CelFi to the rescue!!!

How does that happen??? Post some pictures I use to live there.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

KRAZYADROIDMASTER said:
How does that happen??? Post some pictures I use to live there.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium
Click to expand...
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Who was that in reply to?

quailallstar said:
Who was that in reply to?
Click to expand...
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To you sorry. Just wondering how that area looks now.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

KRAZYADROIDMASTER said:
To you sorry. Just wondering how that area looks now.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RE: Pics of Silver Spring, MD
Google maps, street view... next best thing to being there..
BACK on TOPIC.
.
---------- Post added at 08:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:28 PM ----------
quailallstar said:
T-Mobile gives you a CelFi unit for free if your a customer and have truly poor service indoors. I've had my unit for 2+ years (I beta tested for TMO) and it works really well. Without the unit I have at most 1 bar of 4G. With the unit I have 3-4 bars of 4G and decent speeds. Also by default this works on those people using Simple Mobile (TMOs MVNO).
Can't complain although im moving to Silver Spring, MD this week from Miami, FL and the coverage in my new place is even worse than in Miami.
Wifi Calling and CelFi to the rescue!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Appreciate you mentioning T-Mo Signal Booster does 4G (Data and Voice).
( Unit linked to by T-Mo if you don't qualify links to http://cel-fi.com/ , it only talks about 3G)
My situation is Outside get decent signal, inside due to house having old plaster walls, with a extra layer of drywall over them, PLUS Aluminum siding on outside of house signal is pretty iffy.
Hoping T-Mo Signal Booster on it's way to me will help.
Open Signal Maps v?
Inside 4G?
-109dBm, 3asu
Fluctuates between t-MO'S 4G
UMTS =
EDGE = -91dBm , 11asu
Outside:
-99dBm, 10asu or better. (Varies)
2-3bars average - via 4.04 Android signal indicator. (T-Mo plat maps show me in green area, very close to dark green (BEST?) IIRC.
.

WeAreNotAlone said:
RE: Pics of Silver Spring, MD
Google maps, street view... next best thing to being there..
BACK on TOPIC.
.
---------- Post added at 08:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:28 PM ----------
Appreciate you mentioning T-Mo Signal Booster does 4G (Data and Voice).
( Unit linked to by T-Mo if you don't qualify links to http://cel-fi.com/ , it only talks about 3G)
My situation is Outside get decent signal, inside due to house having old plaster walls, with a extra layer of drywall over them, PLUS Aluminum siding on outside of house signal is pretty iffy.
Hoping T-Mo Signal Booster on it's way to me will help.
Open Signal Maps v?
Inside 4G?
-109dBm, 3asu
Fluctuates between t-MO'S 4G
UMTS =
EDGE = -91dBm , 11asu
Outside:
-99dBm, 10asu or better. (Varies)
2-3bars average - via 4.04 Android signal indicator. (T-Mo plat maps show me in green area, very close to dark green (BEST?) IIRC.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guess I'll respond to my own post.
Cell-Fi T-Mo branded signal booster definitely improved the signal and increased standby/talk/data standby use time.
Called T-Mo Feb 4th 2013 or so to obtain one for a family member..
T-Mo says they are out of stock until JUNE 2013.
They said there is no way to pre-order.
No way to reserve.
No way to pre-pay
No way to place a order, then have unit shipped out, billed
Only way to get one shipped is to call back, hoping you call when they have items in stock.
Way to run a business T-Mo.
(If I was running things I'd what to know how many units to order. How the heck do you get a handle on projected sales /persons interested in your product if you don't take orders?)
I guess that is why they don't have any in stock, eh?
T-Mo management session:
Q: How many Cell-Fi boosters do we need to ORDER?
A: Just a few, no one calling in has placed a "order".
.

Wow I had no idea this existed. Very interesting, thanks!

mtdang said:
Wow I had no idea this existed. Very interesting, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good:
I will say my unit is a little wonky (my second one) and sometimes drops my bars from 5 to none. This is probably due to the window unit only having one or two bars at best. I'm in a true dead zone here in 20901 :/

Can anyone with a IR Thermometer, or via finger method check TEMP of second unit?
To all T-Mobile branded Cel-Fi Signal Booster units:
Unit is comprised of a receiver /transmitter which is positioned near a window /area of greatest signal signal. A secondary unit is positioned away from this unit to create a "signal bubble".. within that bubble signal being boosted.
(Second unit is all black- Curved on top - approx 10x6 x 4 inches tall.)
My secondary unit runs very HOT - when it is positioned flat (As it is supposed to be.)
I'd estimate bottom plate of unit to be 120-130 degrees.
I say "estimate" as currently I have second unit *tilted at 45 degrees.
Tilted via a IR thermometer @Ambient temp 72, unit runs at 100, signal showing as "8".
*Tilting the unit- back section raised at 45 degree angle brings temps down. Before it was pretty toasty (HOT!).
Q: Can anyone with a IR Thermometer, or via the finger method check your second unit to see how HOT it's running?
Before tilting the unit- which really shouldn't be necessary bottom plate /side of unit was HOT enough to "burn" /feel as though it won't last long!
PS: This is with unit idle.

I went to my local T-Mobile store and they had two in the back. He gladly issued me one. Simple. No waiting.
[NEXUS⁴] [CARBON] [MATR1X] [TWRP]

thanks for the post
never seen on this U.U

Cel-Fi Cell Phone Signal Booster
Readers,
(full disclosure, I work for Cel-Fi).
We updated cel-fi pages, a lot of your questions are now answered on the site. The new RS2 unit is now dual band (2 and 4) and boost all frequencies of 4G (HSPA+) of T-Mobile, especially the ones that the T-Mobile iPhones (all versions) are now using.
Feel free to ask any questions here or on the site. Thanks for all your comments - it always inspires us to see your feedbacks.
Laurent

Thinking of getting airwave.. Can it allow me 4g?

Ok just moved into a new apt that has poor 3g signal with 2 bars and was suggested by sprint to get the airwave with my high speed Internet.. Well I was wondering I'm like a mile maybe 2 away from 4g, will it boost me into 4g coverage or just give me good signal within the home??
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

Doesn't help with 4g, but reception is way better.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

The Airave doesn't boost signal, it's a femtocell, which is essentially a mini cell tower. It's 3G only and doesn't broadcast a 4G signal of any kind.

What datajosh said... And with wifi your data travels over that very fast.My two cents: I am so glad I have an Airave. I live in a fairly wooded area and both 3g and 4g (which I can get in town by the way) don't work well at all - for any carrier. I've had sprint up here for about 5 years and was looking at Verizon and ATT but neither could even get the anemic reception on 3g/1g I was getting on Sprint. Got an Airave and my signal is freaking great! I can walk out of my place to my garage about 50yds and still be on my unit. My sister got one because she too was was having issues down in SoCal (and the family has FIVE phones!). Now they can all get super reception. I set up my unit (and my sisters too) to be 'off' my network in a DMZ. Configured my router to allot an IP as DMZ and let the Airave use it as the 'public' IP. That way that traffic doesn't 'mix' with my local net and wifi. Lastly I just went to Amazon and baught mine for like $50.00 U.S. My sister made calls for about a week and finally spoke to the right person(s) and got one free!

I just got the Airave and the only thing I can see improved on is the reception of my calls (I get 5 bars instead of 2)
4g is the same
and 3g is still slow as heck..
also it has a build in GPS.. to tell you where you are..
It has about a 300 foot radius so if you go past that point you most likely will jump to another tower.
and when making and getting calls you get 3 beeps letting you know you are on the Airave. also dialing *99 will give you a message to let you know you are on the service.

If I am not mistaken the air rave is for call quality. 4g is purely data. Why wouldn't you just use wifi?I would think 4g would be slower than wifi anyhow. Feel free to call BS on this.

it only help with cell service.
you just get the air wave. ( they should offer it for free..)
and get on wifi network.

Have one myself. Great for calls and SMS/MMS but the data speeds are maybe half the speed of my DSL. I just use wifi for anything but calls, makes sense to me. Sprint had recently changed something with their towers out here and we were left with absolutely no service on my property. Sprints corporate numbers, including the CEO's, are not hard to find. I called and tore them a new one, I wasn't letting them get off easy with this one, being a sprint customer for yeeeaaarrrss. Long story short I got a free air rave for life out of it which I think was fair of them to do.
Just a note, if you have low bandwidth and you make calls while downloading stuff or just eating the bandwidth in general, you will have stupid delays in you conversations. Its just awkward.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA

Not true about data speed on my airwave at home i was at 2.5mbps
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

Why not just connect to the wifi of your home network...
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA

daniel4653 said:
Not true about data speed on my airwave at home i was at 2.5mbps
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Well maybe their speeds vary, but the whole point is if you have an air rave you most likely have wifi so why not just use that for data? The air rave is completely dependant on the broadband connection, its not like a range extender for sprint tower signal. I'm sure the phones modem has a lot to do with it as well.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA

i heard sprint will give you one of these free if you call and complain about the service in your house....any truth to this, cuz i cant text or call in my house if my depended on it

Oops blank post. I meant to say, read this thread...two people have said they got one from sprint for free...I was one of them. Do you read through posts before you ask a question at all?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA

ShinigamiH4ck3r said:
i heard sprint will give you one of these free if you call and complain about the service in your house....any truth to this, cuz i cant text or call in my house if my depended on it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES & No!
If you have poor/fair service in your home, then just search xda forums for info on how to get it, or just PM me and I'll give you the info. I have very poor service in my home with sprint, that I just moved to. I and my family would all have to walk outside in the yard, to get a signal that was less likely to drop in the middle of the call. Even then, we only got 1-2 bars at most. In my house, we either didn't get a signal at all or it would drop out if we moved around.
I called the Sprint Retention line, and explained to them my issues with the service in my new home. I told her that I had searched the Sprint coverage map, and my area was listed with "Fair" service. She had me hold for just a few seconds to look up my address on their coverage map as well. Then she came back and explained the Airwave to me. I had never mentioned an airwave to this point.
She said that she had to check my area's coverage before offering it, because they've received a ton of request from people lately for this device, and many of them were in "excellent" coverage areas, and were simply calling because they heard they could get it for free. Just to have it I guess. Anyways, if you are in a poor-fair coverage area, and have real issues with coverage/dropped calls. Yes, they will send one for free and then not charge a dime. You just have to agree that it's their property and is to be returned at end of contract/service-termination.

I have one in my home as well. Works great. it doesnt support 4g but any sprint device will work with it. I get about 2-3 megs down with it running 3g.

I have a airave but get nowhere near the range some of you claim. Is there a way to boost it's range? I'm lucky to get 50 feet. Sorry if this is a hijack.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA

Free airaves
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1407446

JDinAZ74 said:
I have a airave but get nowhere near the range some of you claim. Is there a way to boost it's range? I'm lucky to get 50 feet. Sorry if this is a hijack.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sprint.com --> mysprint --> my preferences --> manage my airave --> range settings

Doctor_XXX said:
sprint.com --> mysprint --> my preferences --> manage my airave --> range settings
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome thank you.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA

Actually, my Airave sucks. Somebody else in my building has one that is locked to their phone number, and my ET4G always get confused and connects to that one. It basically keeps me from making any phone calls in my house. I have to go all the way into the street to call.
So, please be kind and don't lock down your airave to your account.
Also, even when it does work, I still get **** data speeds.

Roaming and 20ft away full signal

Hello. I have a real curious question. At my house I have practically no signal. I actually roam at times. If I walk to the metro bus stop which is literally like less than a 30 second walk across the street, I get full signal. Fastest 3G/4G speeds ever. It doesn't make any sense.
I think I'm living in a dead spot. Could there be something at my house messing up my signal? It just doesn't make any sense for me to have no signal, then I walk across the street and flourish in signal.
I'm on Sprint. Its luckily no big deal since we have wifi, but I do kinda want a backup plan.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA

No_Nickname90 said:
Hello. I have a real curious question. At my house I have practically no signal. I actually roam at times. If I walk to the metro bus stop which is literally like less than a 30 second walk across the street, I get full signal. Fastest 3G/4G speeds ever. It doesn't make any sense.
I think I'm living in a dead spot. Could there be something at my house messing up my signal? It just doesn't make any sense for me to have no signal, then I walk across the street and flourish in signal.
I'm on Sprint. Its luckily no big deal since we have wifi, but I do kinda want a backup plan.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA
Click to expand...
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A lot of the materials used in construction of homes can lead to blocking or weakening of signals. There are also several other factors that can effect it but there are so many to go into it would be a book before we finished this post.
The best way to picture it is to imagine one of the old TV sets with the rabbit ear antenna on top. You had to have those ears just the right distance apart, at just the right angle, at just the right length to get a clear picture. The second dad walked in front of the TV, Mom bumped the antenna out of position or the sun started to set your show got all fuzzy again. Then you were stuck messing around until you got the picture just right again.
So I guess basically what I'm saying is just be aware that your phone may not work in some spots and plan accordingly if you need to make a phone call or use your phone for internet.
Another thing to look at is getting an AirWave through Sprint. I've heard that if you have roaming issues in your home they will actually send you one for free.

Thanks. Our house was made in the 1950's so I'm guessing it has something to do with the material. My answer was to link everything through Google Voice. Best alternative for my case. Since Google Voice uses data and I have WiFi, I can get the messages and calls I need. I didn't have this problem with Tmo, though. I'm guessing it's a frequency thing and material. Don't really care for details. Just a curious question. Thanks again for your insight.
Phandroid posted an article about and Umbrella that boosts Wireless signals and can charge your phone. Think I should get that? LoL!! An AirWave just seems to extreme for my case. If it's really that bad, I'll just walk across the street. =.P

I called Sprint's retention department about horrible roaming in my house and they're sending me an Airave for free. I had to question them and like say "why do I have to pay additional because your service is roaming in my house when it's in fair coverage"? So they waived the monthly AND the one time fee of $129.99 for the unit. Give them a try. I get mine this week.

The building materials play a big part in your reception. Things like stucco, bricks, wiring, etc... And if you have a lot of EMI that would be another factor, do you ever experience intermittent wireless connectivity at home? Slow speeds, random disconnections, inconsistent signal?
Do you happen to have your own tesla coil by chance?... That was a joke but it is something that would cause major signal loss.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

You would be amazed at what affects signal. A friend of mine used to get perfect signal in his house even in hugs basement until the day he installed new carpet in his living room. Now he can only get signal on the second floor of his house.
Sent from my ridiculously long named phone ---
Sprint Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch

My office in my house is a cluster of EMF between desktops, servers, countless little transformers, two wifi units, ip cams, several amateur radio ht's,etc. The air rave is like 35 feet away and I only get 1or 2 bars most of the time.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

I thought about using the airave but I have read bad reviews on it and have even had people at sprints stores tell me they werent worth the money. I only have 1-2 bars in my room and I walk out side and get 3-4. Odd thing is at work i bounce between full service and one bar under that and speeds are the same as if I am standing outside at home with less recption. I have used several different modems and tey all seem to follow the same sort of trend. crappy thing is i dont work or live in the boonies or anything. I wish Sprint would step the game up I have been with them for 5 years now and I am seriously thinking of going over to verizon because of the massive difference in speeds.

3G vs LTE -- how many bars?

I purchased the Note 2 in hopes of having a little better reception at my desk here at work. If I walk to a window, I get full bars, but my desk is in the middle of the floor, so I get one bar or none. Sadly, the Note 2 didn't change that (I didn't think it would, just hoped it had a better antenna). I'm probably going to return it this afternoon, and switch to Verizon next month when it arrives there. My coworker's S3 on Verizon has full bars, and he sits 3 feet away from me, but he also has 4G on his (can't figure out how to turn it off to test his 3G only).
I like Sprint, and if I knew LTE would change these reception woes, I'd just tough it out until it hits Memphis. Has anyone had a problem getting 3G, but then saw their reception increase with LTE? The older 4G would not reach my desk with my 3D, so I'm skeptical, but never hurts to ask.

don't change carriers just because your desk is in a bad spot. I can guarantee you there are places in your building, or even other buildings where the roles will be reversed.you will be the one with signal and him with nothing
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda app-developers app

reinaldistic said:
don't change carriers just because your desk is in a bad spot. I can guarantee you there are places in your building, or even other buildings where the roles will be reversed.you will be the one with signal and him with nothing
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, this is where I spend 8 hours a day, and there's no chance of me moving to a different part of the floor. When I'm at home, I use Wifi, so it's not an issue, but here at work, my phone is basically useless because of Sprint's weak signal. I can move to Verizon with no penalties, and with my corporate discount the rate is the same (unlimited data goes away, but I've never gone over 2GB a month), it's just a bunch of trouble I'd rather not go through if Sprint's LTE is strong.

Sprint Airave 4

So, I just got this device since the signal in my area is pretty crappy and wanted to do something about it. Installed this, after to a few reboots n all, got it to work and I must say it works pretty well. LTE and voice signal reception are extremely improved.
I attached a couple pictures of the device itself. One photo of the signal strength standing directly in front of it, and one as far as I can get while still being in the house, about 30 yards away (1300 sq ft home, 1 floor). And finally a few speedtest results to show...speed lol.
Best thing about it, is this device is free. Just call Sprint and tell them you want one, and as long as you are in an "airave area" you get it free of charge.

The real question is, because it's the Sprint network, can you carry that device with you everywhere you go? In the Pgh area, you'd need to?

tCizler said:
The real question is, because it's the Sprint network, can you carry that device with you everywhere you go? In the Pgh area, you'd need to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is Pgh? And no you can't carry it everywhere because you actually have to connect to a broadband modern/router. Now, a magic box you can take everywhere to intensify your LTE ONLY, but my main issue was voice being s h i t at home, and the Airave improves voice and LTE both.