Sprint's Magic Box - What's the SD?

Factual Questions
1

(Edit too late - should read “What’s the SD”)
Sprint sent me a big white box. You can read about it here: Magic Box | Sprint

It is placed in a window and connects to a tower to improve data service on your phones. My entire household uses Sprint so I guess that’s why we got one.

It requires no setup, it does not connect to WiFi. One just plugs it in and off it goes.

Apparently they have 80,000 of these deployed and plan to roll out over a million of them.

My question is this: does it just help the four Sprint phones in my house - or anyone on Sprint that happens to be walking down the street or passing by in a car.

IOW, is it a sneaky way to fill in gaps in reliable cell coverage and have me pay for the power to run it (nit pick I know - but cheeky all the same).

2

From the FAQ on the page you linked to:

“Can other Sprint customers use Sprint Magic Box?
Any Sprint customer with a capable device can connect to Sprint Magic Box.”

And the next question

“Can I limit access to my Sprint Magic Box?
No. The Sprint Magic Box will benefit all Sprint customers that get within range of the device. There is not a way to restrict the device to certain users.”

3

In other words, it’s not a sneaky way to improve their coverage: It’s an honest and upfront way to improve their coverage. And yes, you’re paying for the power to run that particular box, but you’re also getting the biggest benefit from it. Sounds fair to me.

4

Moderator Note

Fixed.

5

I’m guessing it’s just a repeater, communicating with phones in it’s area and rebroadcasting those at the tower. What makes it different from your phone are it’s position, power supply,and form factor. It’s placed in a window, probably at place in your house with the best reception. This means there’s no electrical wiring and other metal bits between it and the tower to block or muddy the signal. Also, since it’s plugged into a wall outlet, it can transmit at a much higher power since it doesn’'t have to worry about conserving battery life. Finally, since it’s not expected to be portable they can don’t have to compromise as much with the antenna’s design (e.g. use heavier, less flexible materials that handle RF better; shape for performance and not tuck it in around/among a dozen other components).

6

OP here. Bars went from two to four.

I may or may not keep it. When in the home, we are all on WiFi anyway for voice and data.

I guess I could use it as a clock - it has a rather nice display. https://imgur.com/a/5usCg?s=sms

7

You do realise that it is recording everything you do and say within range? All part of Big Brother surveillance.

8

Is that a joke?

9

Yes, yes, of course it’s a joke. . .

. . . Or is it? :dubious: