How does an Airave work?

[Moropo]

I have some random questions regarding an Airave:

 

When you are connected to an Airave, exactly what goes through the WIFI connection? Voice or data or both? If the data goes through the WIFI, why doesnt it reach the maximum speeds possible in 3g which I believe is around 3mbps? I just did a speedtest while connected to my airave and got 1.74 down (i got a 25mb connection at home).

 

Thanks....(just would like to know how the Airave works)

[irev210]

When using an airave, there is no wifi connection active between the airave and your phone.

 

The airave uses Sprint's licensed PCS spectrum and connects to the sprint network through your home internet connection.

 

The 3.1 max is more a theoretical number. With overhead and other things, the fastest you can realistically expect to get is about 2.65mbit/sec.

 

When you are at home, using 3G is rather silly when you can just use wifi instead.

[koiulpoi]

It's a femtocell with your internet as the backhaul. At least, I think so. Watch AJ correct me on this, lol

[digiblur]

It's a femtocell with your internet as the backhaul. At least, I think so. Watch AJ correct me on this, lol

 

You have it right. The highest I get is about 2.2 or so on mine. But I use wifi at home since it is much faster. It all depends on a lot of factors though as it is a VPN connection back to sprints server and it all depends on the load there. And data always takes the back seat to voice packets since you can't drop or delay those like you can data.

 

Sent from my C64 w/Epyx FastLoad cartridge

 

 

[swintec]

I see about 2.5 MBits with mine. What is the Airave connecting to? Is it just connected to a local tower to your area? My phones GPS that it retrieves from tower information puts me about 40 minutes away at a tower in NH when connected to the Airave. Why is this? Also, whats odd is that when we had the earthquake up here this past week and the lines were jammed, making calls on my airave was also affected. I would have thought that if the Airave was connected to Sprint voice servers in some other part of the country, I would not have been affected as if I was using a tower in the local area.

[billyjoejimbob]

What is the Airave connecting to? Is it just connected to a local tower to your area?

 

The Airave doesn't connect to any cell tower. The cell towers in your area all connect back to some central equipment on Sprint's network. The Airave is basically a mini-cell tower that isn't dependent on any nearby towers to function. But the Airave connects back to central equipment in Sprint's network in a similar manner compared to a regular cell tower.

 

As for the GPS showing you 40 miles away, that's a bug that's been present in the Airave for a long time. It's not the Airave connecting to a specific tower 40 miles away. It could possibly be the location of the central switching equipment that the Airave connects back to on Sprint's network though.

 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong on the following, but for Sprint to deliver calls to people in your area such as land-lines, they contract with one of the CLECs (or ILEC) in the area to deliver the calls. If that CLEC or ILEC's lines were jammed, then Sprint calls to your area aren't going to go through either.

Edited October 19, 2012 by billyjoejimbob

[swintec]

The Airave doesn't connect to any cell tower. The cell towers in your area all connect back to some central equipment on Sprint's network. The Airave is basically a mini-cell tower that isn't dependent on any nearby towers to function. But the Airave connects back to central equipment in Sprint's network just like a regular cell tower. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on the following, but for Sprint to deliver calls to people in your area such as land-lines, they contract with one of the CLECs (or ILEC) in the area to deliver the calls. If that CLEC or ILEC's lines were jammed, then Sprint calls to your area aren't going to go through either.

 

If the Airave is not connected anywhere "locally", then how far into the network are they connected and why does cell tower provided gps information show a cell tower in NH for me when my phone is connected to the Airave? The airave has to connect somewhere somewhat locally for me to have not been able to make calls after the earthquake. If it was connected to voice servers in Kansas for instance I dont believe this would have happened.

[billyjoejimbob]

If the Airave is not connected anywhere "locally", then how far into the network are they connected and why does cell tower provided gps information show a cell tower in NH for me when my phone is connected to the Airave? The airave has to connect somewhere somewhat locally for me to have not been able to make calls after the earthquake. If it was connected to voice servers in Kansas for instance I dont believe this would have happened.

 

I edited my previous post probably simultaneously as you were writing yours. The GPS showing the wrong location is a bug in the Airave.

 

Your Airave ultimately is likely dependent on a switch within Sprint's network somewhat close geographically. For example, I'm a Verizon user and a few months ago Verizon's network had an outage that knocked out Verizon cell phone service for pretty much everyone within 100 miles of here. The cause of the problem was a switching problem in Verizon's network about 60 miles away from here. Basically all of the cell towers/femtocells in this region (airave is a femtocell) etc... appear to be dependent on a Verizon switch(es) in one specific city near here. Same with Sprint, all of your local towers/airave devices etc... are likely dependent on a central switching location somewhat nearby to you. But the Airave isn't dependent on any of the towers around you.

 

Here's some information about the specific Verizon outage. http://www.gossamer-...t_view_threaded

Edited October 19, 2012 by billyjoejimbob

[WiWavelength]

For the simple explanation, the Airave makes an IP connection to your MSC (i.e. "switch"), which is likely within ~100 miles of your billing address. Your MSC, not your handset, is the home location of your phone number. No matter where you are in the world, all incoming calls to your phone number are originally directed to your MSC.

 

AJ

[digiblur]

The Airvana connects via IPSec to 68.28.181.122 segw.femto.sprint.net

[owensri2]

For the simple explanation, the Airave makes an IP connection to your MSC (i.e. "switch"), which is likely within ~100 miles of your billing address. Your MSC, not your handset, is the home location of your phone number. No matter where you are in the world, all incoming calls to your phone number are originally directed to your MSC.

 

AJ

 

I installed an Airave at a friends place this past weekend near Charlotte, NC. The Airave is active on their account, which is registered to Southeastern Michigan. Would this mean that the Airave is connecting through a "switch" near Detroit? This is what I get from your comment above.

[NiteSnow]

The Airvana connects via IPSec to 68.28.181.122 segw.femto.sprint.net

 

That domain has three different A records, the server you connect to is in Dallas, TX. The one I connect to is in Newark, NJ.

 

# dig segw.femto.sprint.net @4.2.2.2

; <<>> DiG 9.7.0-P1 <<>> segw.femto.sprint.net @4.2.2.2
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 51124
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 3, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 0

;; QUESTION SECTION:
;segw.femto.sprint.net. IN A

;; ANSWER SECTION:
segw.femto.sprint.net. 3598 IN A 68.28.61.122
segw.femto.sprint.net. 3598 IN A 68.28.116.122
segw.femto.sprint.net. 3598 IN A 68.28.181.122

;; Query time: 9 msec
;; SERVER: 4.2.2.2#53(4.2.2.2)
;; WHEN: Mon Oct 22 12:25:45 2012
;; MSG SIZE  rcvd: 87

[WiWavelength]

I installed an Airave at a friends place this past weekend near Charlotte, NC. The Airave is active on their account, which is registered to Southeastern Michigan. Would this mean that the Airave is connecting through a "switch" near Detroit? This is what I get from your comment above.

 

Not the Airave itself, per se, but each handset has to register back with its home MSC.

 

For example, if my Sprint handset were on that Airave (or any Airave), then it would register with my home MSC in the Kansas City area, and calls would then be forwarded to the Airave.

 

And this is not exactly an Airave specific process. If your friends now live near Charlotte but maintain at least one Detroit area phone number, then all incoming calls on that number -- whether on the Airave or the macro network -- are technically forwarded from that Detroit area MSC.

 

With the elimination of separate long distance charges, many people keep their original cellphone numbers even as they move around the country. As a result, a "local" call to someone a mile away might yo yo across the country and back. I do not approve of this waste, but it probably does little harm.

 

AJ

[browning]

I have an Airave from about 5 years ago when they first came out. Is there anything different with the newer model? For example, does the newer model have any advantages in an LTE area, etc. I would assume voice is voice no matter what area the Airave is deployed in but I'm not up on the topic or technology at this point.

[digiblur]

They original units made by Samsung came out in late summer 2008. They were 1X only units, no EVDO. Your phone would use 1X data if EVDO signals were unavailable. The newer units also transmit the EVDO signal. If you use WiFi for data anyways while at home there is no reason to upgrade. The reason I upgraded was on the initial firmware of the EVO LTE, my data would not work anytime I left my airave coverage. I would have to reboot my phone.

[Kevster1321]

So I'm getting a replacement airave the lady on the phone said that I have version 2.0 and I am getting a new one that's 2.5. Does anyone know the difference.

[Virtualbot]

So I'm getting a replacement airave the lady on the phone said that I have version 2.0 and I am getting a new one that's 2.5. Does anyone know the difference.

 

It's smaller and doesn't have VoIP phone jack anymore. I like my Airave 2.5 more than any of the previous versions.

 

Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 2

 

 

[delta772er]

I do not approve of this waste, but it probably does little harm.

 

AJ

 

Wouldn't that then defeat the point of having a nationwide carrier?

[WiWavelength]

Wouldn't that then defeat the point of having a nationwide carrier?

 

No, you miss my point. If you move permanently, you should get a new number that is local to that market. Then, your incoming calls do not have to slingshot across the country from one MSC to another.

 

AJ

[Kevster1321]

Why will ting phones work on the airave but virgin mobile doesn't.

[opguy]

Why will ting phones work on the airave but virgin mobile doesn't.

While Sprint owns VM as well as Boost they are basically considered MVNO within Sprint. They are on the same network but are pre-paid services, use a completely different billing and customer support system, and are not visible in Sprint's database used by care agents. They are a part of Sprint but not Sprint so that's why.

[opguy]

I have some random questions regarding an Airave:

 

When you are connected to an Airave, exactly what goes through the WIFI connection? Voice or data or both? If the data goes through the WIFI, why doesnt it reach the maximum speeds possible in 3g which I believe is around 3mbps? I just did a speedtest while connected to my airave and got 1.74 down (i got a 25mb connection at home).

 

Thanks....(just would like to know how the Airave works)

 

http://now.sprint.com/airave/?ECID=vanity:airaveaccesspoint

 

Click the See how the Airave works link on the right for a graphic.

 

http://now.sprint.com/airave/files/AIRAVE_Access_Point_FAQs.pdf?INTMKT=MKT:MS:20121004:AIR:MSU:EEE:FAQs25

[Kevster1321]

While Sprint owns VM as well as Boost they are basically considered MVNO within Sprint. They are on the same network but are pre-paid services, use a completely different billing and customer support system, and are not visible in Sprint's database used by care agents. They are a part of Sprint but not Sprint so that's why.

I want to know why ting mobile works on the airave

[WiWavelength]

I want to know why ting mobile works on the airave

 

It is witchcraft. Ooh eeh ooh ah aah ting tang walla walla bing bang...

 

 

AJ

[Tranziq]

Just got off the phone with sprint and complained that my cell service was crap while my closest tower was undergoing its NV update. (4 weeks and counting). They are sending me an Airave to fix the issues. I am out in the country so there is only 1 tower in range of me. and that is the one they are working on. I hope they let me keep the airave after the tower is complete. now all they need to do is come out with LTE compatible version for my Optimus G