Mobile phone signal boosters vs repeaters

[pmrid (Peter)]

Anyone used passive repeater mobil phone systems from Telstra or Optus. ACMA warn of dire consequences for using devices other than the 2 that are specifically approved for these networks and there do seem to be a couple of shonky operators out there selling non-conforming systems.

I have no problem with the couple that are approved. I would appreciate any feedback from people who actually have one or other of them installed. How good are they. Can they do data as well as phone?

Peter

[The_bluester (Paul)]

There is not a whole lot of point in them data wise. They use your net connection to provide transmission back into whichever carrier it is's network, so you are just adding another layer between your phone and the internet data wise.

I am ambivalent about them as a way of boosting coverage, they typically charge you for them, so basically it amounts to charging you for a device to use your internet connection to support phone calls that they will then charge you for!

I have heard that voice over Wifi is coming which would amount to the same thing. On a decent net connection data is cheap so if they enabled wifi calling I would not mind still paying for the calls so much, but paying them for hardware to enable them to use your net connection to charge you for calls is a bit rich for me.

[pmrid (Peter)]

Originally Posted by The_bluester

There is not a whole lot of point in them data wise. They use your net connection to provide transmission back into whichever carrier it is's network, so you are just adding another layer between your phone and the internet data wise.

I think we're at cross purposes. The devices I'm looking at just amplify what existing mobile signal you have and rebroadcast it around your house. No internet connectivity required.

I am really curious though about the system you're describing. It sounds a lot closer to VOIP that an passive repeater.

Peter

[The_bluester (Paul)]

I was referring to the ones offered by Optus, Telstra and the like, by my understanding anything else is liable to have you fall foul of ACMA and I would steer clear of them.

[OffGrid (Steve)]

G'day Paul,


I researched these repeaters ( boosters are illegal ) a couple of years ago with the view to use in the caravan mostly for data.
My understanding is that the main unit that is in the market is ACMA approved for the three Australia mobile phone carriers of Telstra, Optus and Vodaphone.
To my knowledge, there are no other carriers, just resellers.
So any unit that has ACMA approval for the mentioned carriers would be legal.
2 reasons I did not purchase were cost and no assurance of exclusive use.
For the later, it was explained to me that if I were parked up in a caravan park with marginal signal strength and I were to switch on one of these repeaters, then all other mobile phone users within signal shot could ( would ) use the the available signal even though they would not know why their signal strength suddenly improved.
It was also explained to me that ( at the time ) there was no means to restrict access to specified mobiles.
It would be worth investigating this alone before you venture further.
Also worth checking if they cover 2G, 3G and the exclusive data 4G.

Steve