Reply With QuoteI think I'm going to get a Cel-Fi. Anyone know what the difference between the RS1 and the RS2 (and if the RS2 will even work for Wind?)?
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My screen is bigger than yours
I ordered mine from cel-fi website not the repeater that's on eBay.
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Phone Collector
I think I'm going to get a Cel-Fi. Anyone know what the difference between the RS1 and the RS2 (and if the RS2 will even work for Wind?)?
I've climbed a cellphone tower
Just follow the prompts on the Cel-Fi website, and it will identify the correct unit to order for Wind. It will be an RS1.Originally Posted by rajax
I've climbed a cellphone tower
Damn guys, you guys are making me wanting to get one now. Sorry if this is a stupid question. But for the Cel-Fi units, can it work for multiple phones on different carriers (like WIND,Rogers, Mobilicity, and Telus all on the same device)? Or when you set it up it only works for one carrier?
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My screen is bigger than yours
Apparently it will work with wind, mobilicity and videotron. Doesn't work with Bell telus or Rogers networks.
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Has a car phone
I was told by Cel-Fi that each unit is locked/programmed to a specific carrier, so it does not support multi carriers. If someone has a Cel-Fi that they can try in a Wind and Mobilicity zone it would be interesting to see if it works. Do not believe a Wind Cel-Fi will work with Mobilicity and vice versa.
Phone Collector
Yes, they are operator-specific as per Cel-Fi's FAQ. Quite the investment given the fact that once purchased, it would only be useful for WIND. Of course, it may work out very well for others. They do offer a 100% refund if you're dissatisfied with the results tho.
http://cel-fi.com/faq
I've got more phones than fingers
FCC only has jurisdiction in the U.S.A., the OP is in Canada, and thus products sold within Canada should have the Industry Canada's approval instead of FCC. Those who mail order from outside of Canada might be able to obtain non approved products, but it'd be against regulation to actually use them.
No longer on a leash by Fido
I've got more phones than fingers
If you are using this in Canada, you might want to check if it has approval from Industry Canada instead of FCC which has jurisdiction in the U.S.A. only.Ok, am I blind or can you not edit posts? Clearly I'm more of a lurker than frequent poster...
Edit: Looks like I only can't edit the first post?
Anyways, yeah, that link in the first post is dead, here's a new one: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/US-3G-AWS-Cel...item43ac24a411
Maximum Signal, you make an excellent point about this one possibly not being FCC certified. It's not in the listing, so it probably isn't. I think that one's off the table now, actually.
This one has an FCC number: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Cellphone-CM2...item3a684fa23c
While cheaper would be better, quality and not potentially screwing with Wind's network are more important.
I'd actually never heard of the Cel-Fi before. The fact that it's all wireless is a huge plus actually. Something like that would be ideal for my situation. The price is a bit steep, but it's definitely intruiging. That $100 coupon would bring it down to $425, which certainly brings it closer to impulse buy level. The $200-ish one is definitely impulse buy level, but I'm not going to bother with that one.
I like that the Cel-fi can be returned as well with fairly minimal (shipping costs only) loss. Those eBay ones, the return shipping costs to ship out of country would be quite expensive, almost to the point it isn't worth it. It'd be one of those things that I'd probably be stuck with for quite a while, constantly dropping the price until another nerd like me comes along and can't believe the price I'm selling it at
If I go ahead with this, I'll be sure to update the thread and let everyone know how things go.
Where's the dialtone?
Hmmm... This is something that would help me a lot at home, and maybe even get some reception in my basement. Except roughly $500 is a bit steep to make my darn phone work, which WIND should provide us anyways! I wish it supported more frequencies and carriers, as it would make the investment a little more worthwhile.
It's nice, but for the price I would just upgrade to a stronger network and have better coverage everywhere I think.
I've climbed a cellphone tower
That kind of sucks then. I can understand if it'll work with only WCDMA/HSPA+ devices, but was hoping for it to work with Mobilicity and WIND. In that case, the $400+ (minus the promotional code) isn't as useful as I would've hoped. I'm the only one in the house using WIND and everyone else is still on a contract. Good to know the product is effective and all that, but for the use of it I don't think it'll be worth $500.
Phone Collector
I've been exchanging emails with Cel-Fi today as I look into this myself so I'll post what they have said here as it might help some of you:
----- Email 1 -----
Q1: What are the differences between the RS1 and RS2 model? Are they both available? What are the costs?
A1: RS1 relays a single UMTS (HSPA) channel, and is currently available in Canada (many carriers have more than one channel, but one is sufficient for a given user or home). RS2 is capable of relaying three channels and the Canada Wind Band 4 configuration is not currently available (the applicable Band 4 product is new and has yet to be adopted by the carriers in Canada). I do not know if or when it will be available.
The cost is often free for qualifying carrier customers (contact your carrier for details). Or an RS1 may be purchased through our internal web store http://cel-fi.com/ (use the coupon code “bars” to receive $100 off). Wind has their own candidate selection criteria, and some customers who do not qualify do buy directly from our store.
Q2: Are they both AWS compatible (I am on Wind in Canada)?
A2: Yes. There are Band 4 versions of RS1 and RS2
Q3: Are they carrier specific? IE: If I move to a new provider will it be useless to me?
A3: The units are built to be Band specific. Then they are configured for the Carrier. We have configurations for Wind and Mobilicity and possibly others. But the Band 4 unit will only relay a UMTS signal (HSPA) and not GSM, as carriers promote more recent technologies that are more spectrally efficient. IMPORTANT: If you buy from us, the system is delivered as a “white-box” configuration. This means that it may be configured for a specific carrier, but it can easily be moved to a new location, or another carrier’s configuration loaded (you own it so you have options). If it is a carrier supplied asset, it cannot be altered, or even moved to a different network location after 30 hours. This prevents “ebay” type sales etc of their assets.
Q4: Will it be of use if/when 700mhz rolls out in Canada? Perhaps by firmware upgrade?
A4: No, 700 MHz is not currently supported, and older units could not be upgraded to support the band. It would be a new unit with a compatible 700 MHz radio.
Q5: How many phones do the devices support at a time?
A5: 6 simultaneous calls or 30 data sessions, or a combination of each before performance would be impacted.
Q6: Do they automatically improve everyone's connection from the moment they come into my house? How would I ensure that my neighbors aren't using it at my detriment?
A6: The system power controls such that the Coverage Unit (relay output) increases its output power just until the Window unit “sees” the relayed signal itself. This prevents a feedback loop from occurring. In this fashion you may choose to place the two units such that coverage is where you want it in your home, or further separate the two units to create a larger “coverage bubble” that could extend beyond the covered home to some small degree (and yes anyone with that carrier’s service would benefit). But the device is really designed to cover one home, unless someone purposefully places the CU so as to be literally between two dwellings (with maximum allowed Window Unit to Coverage Unit distance – resulting in maximum output/coverage power). But since capacity issues are unlikely, you should not see an detriment to your service quality at all, even if there are a number of people next door also getting some signal benefit.
------ Email 2 -----
Q1: What is the lifespan of these units? What is the meantime to failure?
A1: I do not have the calculated MTBF but I can say from experience that they are designed to run, and do run, for many years. I am honestly unaware of returns for burned out units.
Q2: Do they need to be rebooted often like bad wifi routers/modems? How often?
A2: No. The units actually reset themselves once a day (night) for the purpose of network retuning, in the event that the carrier makes network changes. Other than that we do not reboot them. I have three routers in my home and I wish Nextivity made them!
Q3:Are you telling me it can't support Wind and Mobilicity at the same time?
A3: No, not at the same time.
Q4: I'm not sure I understand the significance of it relaying a HSPA and not a GSM signal. What does that mean to me?
A4:They are different technologies generally operating on different frequency bands. HSPA is both voice and data so no need for GSM/EDGE (which are very slow by comparison anyway).
Q5: What would the process be for getting another provider configured if I left Wind? USB upgrade? Is it free?
A5: If a white box unit is purchased from us, we as a courtesy generally provide one “reconfiguring” free of charge. Future reconfigurations are performed at a nominal cost (current cost is around U$60).
Q6: The other device I am considering is http://jdteck.com/products/repeaters...dard-kit-white and I know it will be a pain to install but I'm wondering if you have any perspective on functional advantages your product might have over it.
A6: Our system provides 100dB of system gain, and the Window Unit uses diversity switching on four internal high gain antennas that adapt to changing network conditions. The biggest factor for you though, may be in the available signal level where our Window Unit, or the competition’s External antenna might be placed. To clarify, take your phone and use it to “measure” the 3G signal in your home (antenna meter must display the 3G or 4G icon as you observe the number of antenna bars). If you have one 3G signal bar on your phone then Cel-Fi should work for you. More is always better, for faster data rates etc. The external antenna solution is needed if you actually do not have a proper signal to relay somewhere in the home (or in a separate garage etc), whereby you would have no choice but to try and get any signal you can up a pole etc with the an external antenna.
Q7: Your answers to previous #1 and #2 seem to be at odds with RS1 and RS2 and its availability to me. Am I to take it that RS2 would technically work but I can't have it?
A7: Canadian Regulatory approval will not be available on the RS2 in Canada until a Canadian carrier adopts the product, and there does not appear to be a Carrier need for it at the moment. Therefore, you are correct in that it is not available. However, there should be no need for an RS2 as their performance is essentially equal to that of the RS1 which has been successfully deployed in Canada.
Misc: The answer to #6 above may dictate your product choice. If you have a usable donor signal in your home for Cel-Fi to relay, then it will work. If you do not have a signal to relay, then a product with an external antenna may be your only option. Your measuring with your phone will answer that question.
Next I would contact your carrier to see if they can provide you with a free unit. If not and you choose to purchase a Cel-Fi from us, you have 30 days to try it or receive a full refund (less return shipping charges).
If no signal exists in or around your home for either system to work, then the only other options may be a UMA or Femto cell that use an ISP link to serve as backhaul. They tend to be lower power and not as reliable or fast, but at least it’s something.
Hopefully that answers some questions some people have. Take it for what its worth.
I've climbed a cellphone tower
rajax, thanks for going to the trouble, the exchange was useful, and reflects the quality of the company I'd say.
It's good to know that a unit can be reconfigured if the owner moves between Wind and Mobilicity.
Phone Collector
I wonder what "qualifies" WIND to pay for yours.
Anyone in a dead spot should look into this lol.
I've got more phones than fingers
I see that the email answers from cel-fi are very professional, but it is expected from any respectable high tech companies. There are different types of products out there. Some are basically "amplified transponder" type design, which would work with more than 1 provider (like those Wilson amplifiers), but carriers frown on them as an incorrectly designed or deployed system can mess up the neighbouring network(s). This is a more "kosher" approach and thus carrier will rather adopt these, even at their own cost.
But if cost is the absolute criteria and also no extra cost for moving among providers, or requiring simultaneous support of more than 1 provider yet using only 1 system (back to the cost thing), then may be (and I say may be) those amplifier types could be an alternative.
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