Crazy Verizon Packer

[spampeg]

Bored at work, so here goes.

Long story short, I mentioned a few dropped calls to a VZW CSR, no biggie. They sent out engineers from several hundred miles away. Everybody agreed, the coverage in my area sucks. I didn't care too much, I was fine. A week later, they ship me out a free network extender... with bubbles. Lots o' freakin bubbles. over sixteen feet of bubbles!

Now time to go pop them random places around the office.

[snork]

As it should be! (free). I always did think it was crap that verizon and others can justify selling these.

the bubble wrap is cool too.

[JRSCCivic98]

lol, "network extender". So let me get this right... they use your Internet bandwidth (which you pay for) to extend their network, all the while making you pay for the minutes you use even when on the extender..... hummmm... Maybe if they spent less money on all those bubbles, they'd have some left over for a tower in your area.

[spampeg]

Originally Posted by JRSCCivic98

lol, "network extender". So let me get this right... they use your Internet bandwidth (which you pay for) to extend their network, all the while making you pay for the minutes you use even when on the extender..... hummmm... Maybe if they spent less money on all those bubbles, they'd have some left over for a tower in your area.

Yep, pretty much. The big downer is that it won't increase any data throughput, only boost the voice signal, which psh. Not like I use the thing for a phone anyway. I'm hoping it does prevent double and even triple SMS messages. Turns out, if you have low signal and send/receive a text message, the network isn't smart enough to know if you've received it, so says the engineers. In order to make sure it goes through, it errors out and resends. One SMS turns into three. Oh so lovely.

Oh, you'll like this. It creates a VPN back to verizonland to turn the extender into a VOIP line for the phones I allow. This thing better not require uPNP to be enabled. It also requires GPS to be an extender for "network time" and "E911" services, which aren't even used in this area yet.

and FWIW - I have 3 towers near me. Well, sorta. One is 3 miles west, one 8 miles north and another roughly 18 miles east. a-GPS has a blast trying to locate me.

Edit: Oh, and it looks like it has an HDMI port on the very bottom. I'll have to tinker with that later.

[JRSCCivic98]

Some people said the GPS in the unit is so you can't take it out of the country and still make it work. I wouldn't trust any product that must VPN tunnel out of my private network to somewhere else to work, but that's just me.

Basically, with the addition of the network extender option, VZW has gotten out of the hot water of having to boost network coverage in a weak area by actually fixing weak tower/radio signals. Now, they give you the option of the network extender. If you deny that option, then too bad... they are off the hook because they "tried" to offer you a "reasonable option" (i.e. network extender) that anyone else in your area can hop on as well.

Ahhh, I love the shifty corporations... don't you?


I wonder if there's a lawsuit someone can file for the fact that you're paying for bandwidth and a device that you yourself don't have exclusive rights to... (i.e. your neighbor's Verizon phone hops on your extender). I don't think they lock that down to just your phone or the phones on your plan/family.

[CrackBerry Storm meh]

Send some bubble wrap here please

[spampeg]

Originally Posted by JRSCCivic98

Some people said the GPS in the unit is so you can't take it out of the country and still make it work. I wouldn't trust any product that must VPN tunnel out of my private network to somewhere else to work, but that's just me.

Basically, with the addition of the network extender option, VZW has gotten out of the hot water of having to boost network coverage in a weak area by actually fixing weak tower/radio signals. Now, they give you the option of the network extender. If you deny that option, then too bad... they are off the hook because they "tried" to offer you a "reasonable option" (i.e. network extender) that anyone else in your area can hop on as well.

Ahhh, I love the shifty corporations... don't you?


I wonder if there's a lawsuit someone can file for the fact that you're paying for bandwidth and a device that you yourself don't have exclusive rights to... (i.e. your neighbor's Verizon phone hops on your extender). I don't think they lock that down to just your phone or the phones on your plan/family.

As far as the VPN is concerned, I see what they're doing -- just creating a secure link back to the mothership. Now, that said, it'll be on a VLAN all by its little self.

And they pretty much said that if I wasn't happy, they'd let me and my $260-ish a month self out of my contract. The signal I have isn't bad by any means, just isn't 5 bars and 180KB/sec like I get in the big city of Peoria. And depending on what I allow, I can lock the extender down to only certain ESN/phone numbers. I can also allow it to be wide open, but only 3 concurrent calls.

Edit: There is also a fourth channel that is open to all VZW customers (all CDMA users maybe?) for emergency purposes only. As much as I don't care for a few of my neighbors, I'm willing to let them use me for emergencies

[JRSCCivic98]

Originally Posted by spampeg

As far as the VPN is concerned, I see what they're doing -- just creating a secure link back to the mothership. Now, that said, it'll be on a VLAN all by its little self.

And they pretty much said that if I wasn't happy, they'd let me and my $260-ish a month self out of my contract. The signal I have isn't bad by any means, just isn't 5 bars and 180KB/sec like I get in the big city of Peoria. And depending on what I allow, I can lock the extender down to only certain ESN/phone numbers. I can also allow it to be wide open, but only 3 concurrent calls.

Now if only everyone could do that. lol

That's good to know, didn't know they'd let you get in and customize the access lists on it. That's a big plus in my book.

[tucg15]

Way over my head here but I love bubble wrap!!!

[johnolesen]

you have to come within five feet of the network extender to switch over to the VoIP set up. After that, it stays connected for 1500 feet, or until you turn the phone off. Whichever happens first.

-VZW Rep

[spampeg]

It did mention that you had to be close to the base on the initial setup. I'll try it out and report back.

[Easy Ed]

I have been thinking/reading about the extender ($249.99) because the wife and I have poor reception here in the house, it comes and goes, no bars to four bars, turn your head the wrong way and ya just lost a call. The best way to keep a call here in the house is to put the phone in the front window and use a Bluetooth ear piece to keep from loosing the call, the fricking window is five feet away from where I set during the call Side note, we do have a standing seam roof (metal roof) and don't know if that would be part of the problem with the signal or not, does seem to screw with the GPS when it tries to locate me while in the house The nearest Verizon tower according to Cell Phone Carriers - AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon is 2.6 miles away to the west and you are saying they gave you a free network extender because of your poor reception at 3 miles away ? hmmm, I need more info from you please, what do you mean by VZW CSR ? I understand the VZW of course but not the CSR If they are "helping" folks with poor signal strength I would like to know who I need to call and "try" to explain our problem and to see if we can persuade them to help us like they have you.

Thank you for your post by the way, it just may helped us save the $249.99 cost of the extender.

Much appreciated, Ed

Originally Posted by spampeg

Bored at work, so here goes.

Long story short, I mentioned a few dropped calls to a VZW CSR, no biggie. They sent out engineers from several hundred miles away. Everybody agreed, the coverage in my area sucks. I didn't care too much, I was fine. A week later, they ship me out a free network extender... with bubbles. Lots o' freakin bubbles. over sixteen feet of bubbles!

Now time to go pop them random places around the office.

[spampeg]

Originally Posted by Easy Ed

I have been thinking/reading about the extender ($249.99) because the wife and I have poor reception here in the house, it comes and goes, no bars to four bars, turn your head the wrong way and ya just lost a call. The best way to keep a call here in the house is to put the phone in the front window and use a Bluetooth ear piece to keep from loosing the call, the fricking window is five feet away from where I set during the call Side note, we do have a standing seam roof (metal roof) and don't know if that would be part of the problem with the signal or not, does seem to screw with the GPS when it tries to locate me while in the house The nearest Verizon tower according to Cell Phone Carriers - AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon is 2.6 miles away to the west and you are saying they gave you a free network extender because of your poor reception at 3 miles away ? hmmm, I need more info from you please, what do you mean by VZW CSR ? I understand the VZW of course but not the CSR If they are "helping" folks with poor signal strength I would like to know who I need to call and "try" to explain our problem and to see if we can persuade them to help us like they have you.

Thank you for your post by the way, it just may helped us save the $249.99 cost of the extender.

Much appreciated, Ed

Turns out, it works *really* well, inside the house anyway. I'm starting to wonder if my old farm house is a giant faraday cage. If I walk 20-30' away from the house, I drop back to the towered network.

As far as the metal roof, it will destroy pretty much any radio signal. If you ever get a satellite dish, make sure it's 20' away from it.

and a CSR is a customer support rep... the fine folk you talk to at 800-922-0204. Just call and tell them your problem. Now, I normally wouldn't lie (everybody lies) to them, but you may want to leave out the metal roof part if you want them to give you a network extender. More likely than not they'll check your PRL's, make you go through your phone and bring some network engineers into the mix.

feel free to email for other questions: spampeg@gmail.com

[Easy Ed]

Thanks much for the info

Ed

Originally Posted by spampeg

Turns out, it works *really* well, inside the house anyway. I'm starting to wonder if my old farm house is a giant faraday cage. If I walk 20-30' away from the house, I drop back to the towered network.

As far as the metal roof, it will destroy pretty much any radio signal. If you ever get a satellite dish, make sure it's 20' away from it.

and a CSR is a customer support rep... the fine folk you talk to at 800-922-0204. Just call and tell them your problem. Now, I normally wouldn't lie (everybody lies) to them, but you may want to leave out the metal roof part if you want them to give you a network extender. More likely than not they'll check your PRL's, make you go through your phone and bring some network engineers into the mix.

feel free to email for other questions: spampeg@gmail.com

[patches152]

there are plans for a gen 2 network extender with EVDO coming soon...prolly sometime next year...

but by then i'll prolly be preparing for LTE anyway...