Three Release femtocell

www.three.co.uk/homesignal

Can only obtain it via 2nd line tech support and only if your in contract and not on sim only contract.

Lodged my request earlier, will take it apart when I get it.

Sweet they said they were going to do something when I asked not long ago and that they didn't want me getting and installing a signal amplifier for my flat.. Didn't think it would be this soon.

Looks like I'll have to call back during office hours

It seems what they are doing is routing calls over VOIP. It would be easier and cheaper to get a VOIP account or am I missing something?

these femtocell boxes that most of the networks now have (except o2) give full cell functions mms sms etc not just calls

I should hopefully be getting a call back from 2nd line tech support about getting a femtocell.

A femtocell is all about providing a seamless service supporting sms, mms, calls and data as if you were still on the 'normal' network. Data isn't important as that'll go over wi-fi but calls and sms don't/can't currently.

What I really want to see is if Three's solution will actually would over PPPoE connections which Vodafone's sure signal box doesn't support. If it does this could be the answer for many rural customers that use alternative (fixed wireless) broadband due to no ADSL being available.

Oranges UMA is probably a mush better solution but not supported by my iPhone (only supported by a select few phones) and I'm still in contract with Three.

Did they say 72 hours for the call back from 2nd line?

I want to see what RF chips are in it...
(UMTS / HSPxA / HSPA+ / LTE....)

Within 24 hours.

Well it's a NEC femtocell why not just look at their web site?!

http://www.nec.com/en/global/solutions/nsp/3g/produc...

It's HSPA... not much info there but hay ho. What does it matter? Use WiFi for data! I couldn't care if it was only 2G or basic 3G as long as it does what it's meant to.

Not (yet) available in my post code.

They gave me a months credit (~£35) as a good will gesture instead.

Interestingly they also said that there are problems with 2 of 5 masts in the area that can provide coverage to my post code but my phone mostly connects back to the mast up by the university in Canterbury, yet I'm in central Canterbury and there are other masts nearer.

IIt's actually provided by Ubiquisys (UK) ltd
http://www.ubiquisys.com/

3G Mini Spec - Spec for the unit (G3-mini) shown

the intention is to provide 3G coverage to all phones,
in locations without good coverage (rural/none or deep/in-building)
and without setting up a Wifi connection (which not all 3G phones have).
Or competing for Wifi Spectrum.

And yes, supports all the phone services.

I think your understanding between the difference of a manufacturer and distributor are incorrect. It is made by NEC and Ubiquisys are a UK seller of NEC products.