# Are there devices which create a cell phone hotspot connected to internet? Opposite of tethering. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 9, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890 "2011-06-09T18:26:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/1 "2011-06-09T18:26:22Z")
Many cell phone providers have devices which allow you to convert the cell phone internet into normal internet so that computers, laptops, etc can easily connect to the internet over the cell signal. Are there any devices which work like that but in reverse? That is, I want a device which I can plug into my home router which puts out a cell phone signal. That way my cell phone thinks it’s connecting to a normal tower, but it’s actually this device which sends the packets over the internet. I get horrible cell signal at my house but I have a great internet connection. It would be great if I could somehow use my internet to make the cell phone work better. I’ve looked devices which actually amplify the cell signal, but I’d rather not go that route. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/2 "2011-06-09T18:32:24Z")
Yeah, they’re called (loosely) [femtocells](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femtocell). I have the AT&T [MicroCell](http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/3gmicrocell.jsp?fbid=a5iQCBmp9lG) product and can say it works as advertised. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/3 "2011-06-09T18:36:43Z")
Verizon markets these under the name [network extender](http://www.verizonwireless.com/verizon-network-extender.shtml). Mine works fine for me. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/4 "2011-06-09T18:43:33Z")
I have Sprint. If you have a bad signal in the house, they are lending you one and offering the service for free, as of a couple of months ago, when I got mine: > **[Sprint begins offering EV-DO femtocells](https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/sprint-begins-offering-ev-do-femtocells)** > > Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) has started shipping a new Airvana femtocell product that supports EV-DO data connections, a Sprint spokesman confirmed. "Sprint is offering the Airave Access Point for | Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) has started shipping a new... It works fine. The only issue I had with setting it up was the placement of the GPS antenna. I have a metal roof, which kills GPS satellite reception in the house. Sticking it by a window didn’t work. I put the antenna outside, even though it’s not supposed to be an outdoor antenna. So I put a plastic bag over it, to keep the rain off it. (These units require a GPS fix to work. Partially for E911 regs and partially for technical reasons having to do with network timing, but also so that you won’t take it out of service area and use it to get around roaming charges.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/5 "2011-06-09T19:03:40Z")
Skype (via WiFi)? ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/6 "2011-06-09T22:43:18Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Yeah, they’re called (loosely) [femtocells](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femtocell). > > I have the AT&T [MicroCell](http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/3gmicrocell.jsp?fbid=a5iQCBmp9lG) product and can say it works as advertised. I obtained one, for free, a few months back and it does work as advertised. I do notice that it takes a few extra moments for an outgoing call to connect, but it’s not an issue. I’ve never used Vonage or any of those types of programs. Do they go through quickly, or do they also have a short delay before connecting? ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/7 "2011-06-09T23:31:29Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > I obtained one, for free, a few months back and it does work as advertised. I do notice that it takes a few extra moments for an outgoing call to connect, but it’s not an issue. I’ve never used Vonage or any of those types of programs. Do they go through quickly, or do they also have a short delay before connecting? The Sprint one (actually a rebadged Airvana “hubbub”) has a short delay on both outgoing and incoming, but it also provides a little confirmation beep during that interval to let you know the phone call is being routed through the device. It also has a phone jack on it. You can plug a phone into it, and use it as an ordinary VOIP service as well. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/8 "2011-06-10T02:09:08Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > The Sprint one (actually a rebadged Airvana “hubbub”) has a short delay on both outgoing and incoming, but it also provides a little confirmation beep during that interval to let you know the phone call is being routed through the device. It also has a phone jack on it. You can plug a phone into it, and use it as an ordinary VOIP service as well. That sounds nicer than my ATT unit. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/9 "2011-06-10T03:44:04Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > Skype (via WiFi)? Second this. It’s quite useful, and I save a bundle on my minutes and long distance like this. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/10 "2011-06-10T17:28:10Z")
BTW, another note: I used to have VOIP service through a company called Phone Power. The VOIP box they gave me and this femtocell both came with directions I wouldn’t necessarily follow. Both have a WAN (internet) and LAN out connection (the femtocell has two - it thinks it’s router). This is reasonable for connection to a single computer with no router - the box goes between the DSL or cable modem and your computer. However, the directions tell you that if you have a router you are supposed to set this box AHEAD of your router, and pass all internet connections through the box, NOT connect the box to one of the ports on the router. From my experience, baloney. When I tried that with the VOIP box, I simply could NOT get it to play nice with my router, which, among other things, has port forwarding set up for a webserver. Plugging it into the router, so that it was a peer with my computer on the home network worked fine. When I got the femtocell, I didn’t even try it ahead of the router. It’s plugged into a port on the router, and works perfectly well. I don’t know why they don’t want you to use your router to, well, route. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/11 "2011-06-10T17:36:53Z")
Actually, I suspect they simply don’t want to tell people about configuration issues they might have with their router (I think VPN passthrough probably has to be set). But the default router settings will likely suffice. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/12 "2011-06-10T17:45:30Z")
In addition to femtocells, you can use various VOIP options like the already mentioned Skype. I’m in the same situation with Verizon, and I use Google Voice (which I was using before I got my shitty Verizon mobile service) and an Obi100 device at home. Google voice seems to be a bit unreliable lately, though. > **[Amazon.com : OBi100 VoIP Telephone Adapter and Voice Service Bridge : Office...](https://www.amazon.com/OBi100-Telephone-Adapter-Service-Bridge/dp/B004LO098O)** > > Shop Amazon for OBi100 VoIP Telephone Adapter and Voice Service Bridge and find millions of items, delivered faster than ever. I understand some (or maybe all) T-Mobile Android phones can connect directly to WiFi and use that for calling. My next phone will be a T-Mobile very likely. [http://support.t-mobile.com/doc/tm24195.xml](http://support.t-mobile.com/doc/tm24195.xml) ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/13 "2011-06-10T18:20:52Z")
I really need something that a normal cell phone can connect to in a normal cell phone fashion. The skype/phonepower/etc isn’t what I can use. There are several people in the house, each with their own cell phone. They want to be able to send and receive their calls and texts in a normal fashion on their cell phone. I have T-Mobile and it seems like they don’t have such a device. They have (had?) something called @Home, but it seems to be something which allowed wifi enabled phones to make voip calls. It didn’t fake the phone to thinking it was a cell tower. It seemed to just act as a wifi router or something. I may have to look into one of those cell phone signal boosting devices after all. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/14 "2011-06-10T18:52:59Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > I obtained one, for free, a few months back and it does work as advertised. I do notice that it takes a few extra moments for an outgoing call to connect, but it’s not an issue. I’ve never used Vonage or any of those types of programs. Do they go through quickly, or do they also have a short delay before connecting? Might I ask how you got it for free? Did you get it from AT&T? Do you have to pay a monthly fee to use it? TIA. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/15 "2011-06-10T23:18:19Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > I have T-Mobile and it seems like they don’t have such a device. They have (had?) something called @Home, but it seems to be something which allowed wifi enabled phones to make voip calls. It didn’t fake the phone to thinking it was a cell tower. It seemed to just act as a wifi router or something. That sounds like the WiFi calling I referred to above. That sounds like a good solution, is it unworkable for you for some reason? ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/16 "2011-06-11T22:06:01Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > That sounds like the WiFi calling I referred to above. That sounds like a good solution, is it unworkable for you for some reason? The phones we have do not work over wifi. They can only connect to a cell phone GSM signal. Each person in the house has their own cell phone. They want their friends to be able to reach them when calling their cell phone number. They want to be able to send and receive texts on their cell phone. We do have a normal house phone which works well, but people want to be able to use their cell phones in the house. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-devices-which-create-a-cell-phone-hotspot-connected-to-internet-opposite-of-tethering/584890/17 "2011-06-12T20:02:59Z")
Oh, I see. Upgrading all those phone would be pretty expensive I bet.