[Networking] hzmonteiro:
@gsvnet

Nice reply to mkeras2, complements the one from myrandex very well.

Now to the BTS subject,

Actually, the idea of using a usb dongle doesn't seem so bad, these things have two way radio as any cell phone, it's just a matter of setting one as the end-point (broadcasting/polling) and the other (hand set) as client. I wouldn't mind having a tweak in the registry to set the radio to "allways connected" to a fixed "FakeNetID" and bypass PAP/CHAP authentication with the BCS (after all there would be no access to the GSM network, just to my PC/Internet/SIP Server) and I would only need data traffic, no messing around with CoDecs and the "hooking" of voice channels. A simple app could easily set/reset the registry, but I wonder if the radios would complete handshake and establish a connection.

I'm not sure about range with these radios without any high gain antennas and amplifiers, but I just need a few hundred meeters of access, pretty much as a good WiFi Router. And it would probably be perfectly legal as well (the devices are anyway).

After that it would be just routing.

BTW, I would love to get my hands on one of those new microcells. That's exactly what these things do, but with multiplexing and all the heavy security to authenticate and register to the GSM network.

They are being tested in the UK (I believe the first in Europe so far).

I live in Holland, but am currently in Luxembourg and have been recently working for 3+ months in Switzerland, LUX, NL and hoping around in Germany, Belgium, UK and Spain (vacations!!! ahhhh)...

So I'm curious to know what kind of plan Telcos will make available with the microcell.

If I am able to take it with me and plug it in whatever IP access point I have around, this would solve my roaming problem.

I don't mind paying to have access, don't get me wrong, but my NL plan gives me unlimited data access (national) for e10.00/month and I just went looking for a plan that WAS available from Vodafone UK (I use Vodafone NL), which allowed 5GB of data roaming in the EU for circa 50pounds/month, but it seems they no longer offer this plan.

During the last 2 months I was charged 300 and now almost 400 euros for roaming. As I said, I have a 60.00euro plan + 10.00 for unlimited national data.

I also know that in other EU countries you can get unlimited data plans for fair money as well, the problem is that I never know for how long I will stay in any given assignment/country. By the end of the year I would have some 5 or 6 annual subscriptions (still cheaper than roaming!) but I must have proof of residence in all those countries, bank account, etc, etc, etc... I don't LIVE in these places, I just work there for rather longer periods... and BTW, I'm a micro entrepreneur, so no way to push this onto "The Boss"... Thats me!

So I believe the charges imposed by Telcos for roaming are just not fair... Outrageous, actually.

I don't even mind paying for the Telco's CapEx (buying the microcell and using MY Internet connection), but at least I would have a sense of control and partnership/sponsorship.

And my mother told me to be a doctor... Decided to go into IT... Yeah!

Any info on these microcells and any ideas and buzz on Telcos' plans are very appreciated.

Cheers,

HZ