Sprint Airave gets remixed by Airvana, has VoIP landline and EV-DO support

The Samsung-sourced femtocell that Sprint and Verizon have been offering (as the Airave and Wireless Network Extender, respectively) is all well and good, but it's got one fatal flaw: unlike AT&T's aptly-named 3G MicroCell, it doesn't have support for 3G data -- it's compatible with CDMA 1x alone. Verizon's fixing that later this year with an updated model from Samsung, but thanks to a fresh FCC filing, it looks like Sprint will be taking a different route by roping in Airvana for the Airave's successor. On top of EV-DO, the interesting bit about this puppy is that it supports a VoIP-routed landline connection around back; we're not sure whether Sprint actually plans on enabling this extra jack, but it's specifically mentioned in the draft manual, so we wouldn't doubt it. No word on a release just yet -- but FCC approval is frequently one of the last steps on a product's road to retail, so we might see it soon.

[staticjethro Posted Apr 5th 2010 3:21PM]

Or we can just buy the EVO 4G and Use it's mobile hotspot function?

[tux2005 Posted Apr 5th 2010 3:37PM]

@staticjethro Errr, no, this is for when you don't have reception. It's a femtocell not a MiFi-like device.

[LAY Posted Apr 5th 2010 3:22PM]

Airave?

It seriously looks like one of those HEPA Air Purifiers you buy from the Sharper Image.

[roosta Posted Apr 5th 2010 7:38PM]

@LAY
or an electric heater

[ViperVin Posted Apr 5th 2010 3:22PM]

Skip the EV-DO support Sprint, go straight to WiMAX.

[Booksmart Devil Posted Apr 5th 2010 3:32PM]

@ViperVin Even if they did go straight to WiMax, it would still need EV-DO to fall back on when WiMax isn't running as strongly as you would want it to.

plus it would suck going from 4G to 1rx

[codemaker Posted Apr 5th 2010 3:41PM]

@ViperVin the point of this device is to augment current cell phone coverage. If your phone does not support wimax then a wimax airrave would be useless. At some point in the future though I hope they do release a wimax airrave (that supports 3g and 1x as well of course).

[cloud858rk Posted Apr 5th 2010 6:32PM]

@codemaker If the made a WiMax router, I'd mount that thing on top of my house ASAP so I can some awesome speeds outside (even though it only works for about 1 km).

[aztek Posted Apr 5th 2010 3:29PM]

so do i understand these things right: You plug it into your cable modem and it gives you cellular signal?

So someone that lives in a service area with only one bar in their house can plug this in and get full bars on their phone and use the features?

[nitussi Posted Apr 5th 2010 3:34PM]

@aztek
that's right

[cjcamilla Posted Apr 5th 2010 3:36PM]

@aztek That's exactly right.

[mithritades Posted Apr 5th 2010 4:07PM]

@aztek Don't forget ur monthly bill...hope u didn't think this was JUST 1 price lol

[aztek Posted Apr 5th 2010 4:08PM]

@cjcamilla does that include making voice calls or just data?

[DizWhiz Posted Apr 5th 2010 5:20PM]

@mithritades no you call and ask Sprint's CS for 'retentions' and tell them you have no signal and you don't want to drop their service, you heard about this 'Air-rave' thing and ask if they could waive the service fee/initial cost. Worked for me.

[codemaker Posted Apr 5th 2010 3:40PM]

@ssgadget yes. If you live in an area that has poor coverage, then this is a God send. I have the original airrave and now I can may reliable calls from inside my house, data is still slow as balls (and balls are slow, in case you were in doubt).

[BeatBlaster Posted Apr 5th 2010 4:00PM]

If this means I can make VoIP calls over Skype via my cell phone I'm going to flip out! Wouldn't THAT be something!

[codemaker Posted Apr 6th 2010 12:00PM]

@BeatBlaster the calls are voip calls, but they don't go over skype.

[desinerd Posted Apr 5th 2010 4:04PM]

Someone please tell me this - If I am using a smartphone, any smartphone like Palm Pre or iPhone, and install a femtocell at home, why would I need 3G? Why not just use the Wi-Fi? I mean, if I am installing a femtocell, I already have a broadband connection and om 99% cases would have a Wi-Fi too, so why worry about getting 3G internet through this device?

[jonnythan Posted Apr 5th 2010 4:08PM]

@desinerd Because you can't call or send text messages through Wi-Fi.

[MaxRukov Posted Apr 5th 2010 4:09PM]

@desinerd Because some apps, and more importantly, the market/app-store itself, does not work over Wi-Fi.

[MaxRukov Posted Apr 5th 2010 4:10PM]

@jonnythan I believe he meant the data functionality - see my comment.

[Begs Posted Apr 5th 2010 4:11PM]

@desinerd Exactly my thoughts... Seems absolutely crazy to me why you would need this. And if you say it's because you don't have WiFi either in your home or on your phone then your phone really doesn't need to be consuming data anyways.

[desinerd Posted Apr 5th 2010 4:59PM]

@jonnythan
You can't send them through 3G either. That's what GSM (in AT&T's case) is used for. 3G is only for data

[desinerd Posted Apr 5th 2010 5:01PM]

@MaxRukov
I think it is the other way round, at least in case of iPhone's app store. If an app is bigger than a certain size, you can download it over WiFi but not over 3G

[KULawHawk Posted Apr 5th 2010 5:04PM]

@MaxRukov

Are you talking about Apple's? Because, this is for Sprint & Palm's & Android's app store most certainly work over wi-fi...

[JCerna Posted Apr 5th 2010 5:49PM]

@desinerd

Ok well the main reason to have this is Voice, I have great coverage at home but none at work. I dont really care about the 3g since like you said I can use WiFi. I will say that having this over Wifi will improve your battery life becasue
A) One less radio on (WiFi consumes energy)
B) Faster 3g = less time in phone (or is that the other way around :-) )
C) Your phone will not roam nor will it waste battery trying to find a signal.

[mattb Posted Apr 5th 2010 4:05PM]

This is a great advancement. It should have been the default, but Ill get over that.

The Airave is one of the coolest products I've used - you plug it up like a VOIP modem and you get unlimited calls while connected to it for $15/month. So instead of a $100/month plan I get a $40/month plan and this, paying for itself within a few months. The only gripe (of course) is everything you want data gets pulled over at AT&T speed. Not kosher.

[boe Posted Apr 5th 2010 4:15PM]

Getting evdo is nice - getting cell reception would be huge! My phone dies within a few hours because of the lack of reception on Sprint in Malibu.

[SCB Posted Apr 5th 2010 5:02PM]

This sure will be great when it comes out.

[DaveHazard Posted Apr 5th 2010 5:06PM]

i got my samsung airave as a gift from customer retention...what are the chances i can get them to upgrade me when this one comes out?

[tdburn Posted Apr 5th 2010 5:14PM]

I have had the original Airave for over a year now and while it gave me coverage in my house it has been a very unpleasant experience. When I start a conversation on the Airave after about 1 minute it will drop me and transfer me to a 'nearby' cell tower. So for a few seconds I lose my conversation, and am no longer on the Airave. It's such a pain, I gave up and roam constantly on the Verizon network.

[lxnyce Posted Apr 5th 2010 7:24PM]

@tdburn I have had my share of issues as well. If I come into my home on a conversation, it won't switch seamlessly, but rather drop the call. If I walk maybe 30ft away from the tower, it will switch me out to cell tower and the call gets dropped because of my poor coverage. And once in a blue moon it drops the call when I sit right next to the box. All in all, I can't say the experience is unpleasant. I can use my cell phone in my home and that was pretty much impossible before.

[DizWhiz Posted Apr 5th 2010 5:17PM]

@ssgadget Yes I live close to a nature preserve so we have no signal strength from any carrier. The Sprint Airave has been a savior for my family. (and free!)

[DizWhiz Posted Apr 5th 2010 5:18PM]

@codemaker Do you have a wifi enabled phone? That is the only way I can get decent data speeds with my Pre.

[wingdo Posted Apr 5th 2010 5:32PM]

I honestly don't see lack of 3G as an issue. When I am home, I use my WiFi connection anyway. It's WAY faster than 3G. If you're hooking it up to your home router, why do you really need 3G data on the Femtocell / Microcell?

[lxnyce Posted Apr 5th 2010 7:21PM]

@wingdo Totally agree with this. Why use 3G (when you have access to wifi???). Isn't our unlimited 3G data plans capped to 5GB anyway? Wifi is the way to go.

[Somber Posted Apr 5th 2010 8:18PM]

Do you guys know if this model will need GPS signal? I got the current Airave from Sprint but had to return it since i couldn't get any GPS signal in my house so it was pretty much useless for me.

[codemaker Posted Apr 6th 2010 11:59AM]

@DizWhiz nope, no wifi enabled phone yet. My next phone (hopefully a blackberry 9650) will have wifi though.