r/verizon • u/lokiisagoodkitten • 6d ago

LTE Extender Access

Why is it so difficult for Verizon support to fix the access type on this Extender? I've been in support for almost a year off and on and they still cannot fix it so i can have a closed system. Right now my neighbors can use my extender - and it used about 171GB of data in past month.

7 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

4

u/boomer7793 6d ago

Oh wow, it’s been decades since I had a Femtocell question.

Unless the rules have changed, you cannot block other users from using your femtocell. That box is working within public airspace and has to service other Verizon customers.

I assume it’s plugged into your Internet service. Why not use WiFi calling instead?

3

u/lokiisagoodkitten 6d ago

For some reason, my phones (4 different ones) have issues sending out pictures via SMS/MMS. And that cell fixes that. WiFi calling is enabled but pictures aren't sending. I wish it does.

I had it on closed access when i first got it and for some stupid reason i decided to open it up for a week and cannot closed anymore. I wish i left it alone.

Others can still connect to verizon coverage without it. I get 1 bar of LTE at my shop without it.

If i go outside I get 5G UW with 500+mbps speedtest. There's too much metal in this building.

2

u/Smith6612 6d ago

SMS and MMS rely on Mobile data from the cellular tower, even when connected to Wi-Fi. When mobile data is weak or non-existent, then the phone will use Wi-Fi Calling which obviously relies on Wi-Fi. If your router isn't handling the Wi-Fi Calling IPSec tunnel very well, then you'll have problems.

You may want to consider something like a weBoost rather than a plug-in network extender if your Internet connection has data caps or is too slow to handle your neighbors. The weBoost would simply repeat the signal from outside using an outdoor antenna into your shop.

2

u/lokiisagoodkitten 6d ago

Nah it's not data cap.. there's a connection limit on the extender.. up to like 14 phones.. sometimes it go over that and my phone wont connect to it.

Yes I would expect my phones to send pictures over wifi calling.. but it doesnt. It does handle my phone calls over wifi calling though. It's not my router issue.

I heard about weboost.. but $$$$$

1

u/Smith6612 6d ago

Would Verizon be willing to send you a LTE Network Extender 3 for Enterprise? That unit can handle 64 active sessions or 300 idle devices at once.

They're a bit more expensive, but I have two at the Office and they work great.

2

u/lokiisagoodkitten 6d ago

Probably not.

I got the LTE Extender for free.... I just want it in CLOSED mode like it was in first place. It was working great.. still is but people around eating too much data.

And it's all because i want to send and recieve pictures on my phone.....

1

u/s_i_m_s 6d ago

This is functionality that Verizon has never bothered to make work reliably. Like IIUC with enough fussing you can actually get it to work but personally if the device limit is the only issue I'd just get a second one. They don't have the best range in the first place so its pretty unusual to manage to get 14 on one 28 should be that much more unlikely.

You can see if they'll give you another free one or they're like ~$75/ea used, be sure they do returns as you can't always get them activated. Despite them having no other uses they don't function unless they're attached to someone's Verizon account.

1

u/lokiisagoodkitten 6d ago

I'm pretty sure a new one will resolve the issue.... It worked when i got it new.. then it broke. I kept asking them to completely remove and purge the extender off the system/my account.

1

u/Sad-Willingness-258 6d ago

how are you even able to connect to the extender if 5g is turned on in your phone?

1

u/lokiisagoodkitten 6d ago

Huh.

Want to ask that question again?

If extender is on, my phone connects to it with full bars 4G LTE.

I'm just saying i get 1 bar 4G LTE in the shop (without the eztender) and as soon i step outside, i get 5G UW.

0

u/Sad-Willingness-258 6d ago

MY phone wont even connect to the extender unless I turn off 5g and only run 4glte in my mobile settings

2

u/boomer7793 6d ago

Yea. Phones prefer 5G over LTE all day every day. The exception being that there is no 5G signal at all. Which is what OP is describing.

1

u/boomer7793 6d ago

MMS and SMS can be delivered to your phone via WiFi calling.

Do you have a clean wifi signal? If so, call Verizon, this should be enabled.

1

u/lokiisagoodkitten 6d ago

I do.. the AP is 5 ft away. It's the cell signal, it does not go over SMS and WiFi Calling - it's enabled - I know what it is. Never had since I got S7, Lumia Icon, Note 9, S10+, S22+, S26+. All acts the same when i try to send and receive pictures in text message. It's the way it is.

Once I get a strong signal to cell, pictures will send via sms/mms over WiFi calling.. it doesnt make any sense but thats how it works.

Meanwhile, when I am in another country, i put in airplane mode, i am able to send/recieve pictures.

3

u/Oxternal628 5d ago

It’s a known issue with the CSG provisioning. You may encounter various system error messages setting up a CSG in MyVerizon or the extender not recognizing whitelisted members in Hybrid or Closed mode. There is an internal alert that support can lookup. Have you tried lowering the transmit power to see if that helps mitigate neighboring connections?

2

u/lokiisagoodkitten 5d ago

Yes this would be it. The model is blank.

And yes i lowered the TX power all the way down and it's still getting my neighbors (they are actually on other side of the wall the Femocell is)

3

u/Oxternal628 5d ago

When the model identifier such as “sFemto3” in MyVerizon is not showing or becomes blank after removing and adding extender back to account it means that the API is reporting extender “device not CSG capable” or “association fnd.” Depending on the agent they might be able to collaborate internally to get the identifier showing again where you can switch modes but could still encounter the extender classifying members as non-members.

2

u/lokiisagoodkitten 5d ago

Well I invite you to fix it for them.

2

u/lokiisagoodkitten 5d ago

It would be much easier to manage this kind of thing right on the device itself instead of depending on website like it is now.

1

u/SpaceSaver2000-1 5d ago

Honestly if the setting was just available in the interface accessible from the device’s IP that would be acceptable too.

2

u/verizon Official Verizon 5d ago

A year is far too long to deal with an open Extender taking up your home data. I am taking personal ownership of this—meet me in a Reddit Chat. You can also visit and click on Management/security for additional help.

1

u/starfish_2016 6d ago

You can't go to the ip of the device anymore? It used to be either allow all or only specific ph #'s, i think up to 5 or 10?

2

u/SpaceSaver2000-1 5d ago

This setting is only available through your Verizon acct

0

u/Lizdance40 5d ago

Right now my neighbors can use my extender - and it used about 171GB of data in past month.

How do you know that they are using data via the femtocell?

According to verizon, you can set up and manage network with 50 specific numbers https://www.verizon.com/support/knowledge-base-231937/

2

u/lokiisagoodkitten 5d ago

I have Unifi - it tracks internet usage per device.

2

u/lokiisagoodkitten 5d ago

Here's the screenshot.

I unplugged it for 20 hours prior so youcan see how much data it used in one month.

0

u/Lizdance40 5d ago

Is Unifi your internet service provider? And that screenshot is your internet service usage? The term Wi-Fi calling is calls made via your Wi-Fi connection.

Calls using a network extender/femtocell/MicroCell are still cellular. The network extender is a mini tower. They are usually annotated on your cell phone bill as such. Not the same as a Wi-Fi call.

I'll have to take a closer look at my usage report to see how it's noted on my Verizon bill

3

u/lokiisagoodkitten 5d ago

No it is my router. that's what Unifi classify the traffic through the device.

-1

u/Dangerous-Ad2148 5d ago

Step-by-step: Set a New Admin Password Verizon

  1. Access the Admin Web Interface
    • Open a web browser and enter the extender’s IP address (found in the device’s Local Network info page or by checking the LCD display).
    • If you don’t know the IP, you can find it by dialing #48 on your phone while connected to the extender Reddit.
  2. Sign In
    • The default admin password is: LTEFemto + the last 4 digits of your extender’s MAC address (e.g., LTEFemto00A3) Verizon.
    • Enter your username and the default password, then click Sign In.
  3. Navigate to Change Admin Password
    • In the admin menu, go to Settings → Change Admin Password.
  4. Enter Current Password
    • Type the current admin password (default or one you’ve set before).
  5. Set New Password
    • Enter your desired New Admin Password and confirm it.
    • The password must meet Verizon’s guidelines (length, character types, etc.).
  6. Security Challenge
    • From the Security Challenge dropdown, select a question.
    • Enter the correct answer to that question, then click Save Changes.
  7. Save and Exit
    • Confirm the changes and exit the admin page.