I have been a happy Sprint customer for years now.  Currently own the EVO 4G.  Overall the area I live in has some of the best signal and coverage area (both 3G and 4G).  Unfortunately, and unexplainably, this incredible coverage is about a block (in every direction) away from me.  On my block the coverage is spotty at best, on a Tuesday in spring, when it isn’t to warm or cold or humid, and with birds singing … well you get the idea. 

     So I called Sprint today (Here is the number 888-211-4727) to discuss options.  (**Note we have done all the profile, PRL, and any other updates previous Sprint techs have suggested in the past). 

     Today the suggestion to get a Femtocell terminal,which Sprint calls Airave.

So what is the Airave (Femtocell)

     The device (which looks like a wireless pc router) connects to your home internet router.  Once connected and configured the device acts just like a VOIP system for your cell phone.  Once your cell phone is recognizes and connects to the Airave, your cell phone calls are actually routed onto the cellular network via your internet connection.  Per Sprint, if your cell phone is connected to an Airave site and you step out of the Airave range, the phone should automatically switch over to the closest Cell tower your phone can fine (assuming you have some signal).  However, your phone will NOT automatically switch an active call automatically from a cell tower to your Airave.

     The Airave covers up to 5,000 square feet and supports multiple phones connected to it simultaneously. Since it does use your internet connection to route the cell phone calls through, a high speed internet connection is required. 

     Sprint is offering the device for a one time fee of $100 dollars plus a monthly fee of $4.99 (Per Sprint that’s per Airave not per phone using it) added to your bill.  With that being said, Sprint may reduce/or not charge the one time fee to "qualified customer".  What is a “qualified customer”, here is something that I think they are using (based on my conversation with the Sprint tech) 

- If the Sprint tech sees on their coverage map, which goes down to neighborhood / street level, that you live in an area with weak coverage.

- If you have multiple calls to Sprint to report signal issues

- If Sprint has replaced your cell phone, and the signal issue doesn’t improve (every phone has a antenna with different strengths)

- If you’re a customer that is close to their contract end date and you use the “This needs to improve or I’ll take my service elsewhere” speech.

- If you have multiple phones on your account and can prove that all of them have the same weak signal problems.

My call to sprint

      For Starters, if you make this call be prepared to be on with the Sprint tech for a while.  My call took 45 minutes on the phone with the tech (that was after 5 min waiting in queue for the tech to answer).

     Once you start the conversation be prepared to answer a lot of question, these are the “Checking to see if you qualify” for an Airave. Once you answer all the questions they will ask, you will be informed that your information will be forwarded to another department for review, and that within 72 (business) hours, someone will call you, to confirm if you get the reduced/free rate or if you will have to pay the $100 fee.  Once you get the return call from Sprint, your service will be scheduled for install.  Apparently someone will have to come out to do the actual install of the Airave hardware.

Since I just made my initial call today, I now end Pt. 1 of this post.  As soon as Sprint calls me, I will continue this post with more information.