My VZW Store Must Use a Network Extender

**CarryMe** · 12-29-2011, 08:33 PM

In the VZW store I get a 4G -63dBM signal. I have never gotten anywhere near that anywhere else. They must be using network extenders in the store. Kind of deceptive not to tell you that is what they are doing. As soon as I pulled away from the store, I went down to a 3G signal. So I doubt we have much of a 4G signal where I live.

The good news is that my phone was no worse than the Razr or the GNex on display in the store. So it looks like the problem is not my phone.

The guy in the store said they are having 4G network trouble here and he would not judge the phone until the network issues are resolved. That is fine as long as they get the network issues resolved before my return period is up.

I showed him my screen shots of the time without a signal. He had no idea what that meant and asked me if it was an app I had installed on the device and I told him no, it is the settings in ICS. He was clueless about the No Sim Card error I got, too.

Sigh.

**tonysracing** · 12-29-2011, 09:43 PM

It's my understanding the Network Extender that VZW sells is only 3G, so if they are using an extender they must be using something we haven't seen yet.

**CarryMe** · 12-29-2011, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by tonysracing

It's my understanding the Network Extender that VZW sells is only 3G, so if they are using an extender they must be using something we haven't seen yet.

Interesting.

All I can tell you is what I have seen - weak 4G signals everywhere except the VZW store and it doesn't last past their parking lot so they must have some way of boosting the 4G signal inside the store. No where else around here, and I live 2 miles from the VZW store and can see a cell tower from my driveway, can I get a 4G signal anywhere near as strong as in the VZW store. It literally drops back down to 3G when I pull out of their parking lot.

**VideoEngineerAJS** · 12-29-2011, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by tonysracing

It's my understanding the Network Extender that VZW sells is only 3G, so if they are using an extender they must be using something we haven't seen yet.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the only extender they sell is a 3G extender. Now if they come out with a LTE extender, that would be pretty sweet.

**Droid800** · 12-29-2011, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by CarryMe

In the VZW store I get a 4G -63dBM signal. I have never gotten anywhere near that anywhere else. They must be using network extenders in the store. Kind of deceptive not to tell you that is what they are doing. As soon as I pulled away from the store, I went down to a 3G signal. So I doubt we have much of a 4G signal where I live.

The good news is that my phone was no worse than the Razr or the GNex on display in the store. So it looks like the problem is not my phone.

The guy in the store said they are having 4G network trouble here and he would not judge the phone until the network issues are resolved. That is fine as long as they get the network issues resolved before my return period is up.

I showed him my screen shots of the time without a signal. He had no idea what that meant and asked me if it was an app I had installed on the device and I told him no, it is the settings in ICS. He was clueless about the No Sim Card error I got, too.

Sigh.

How's it deceptive? Its your job as a consumer to check your coverage maps.

**mkhalil06** · 12-29-2011, 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by Droid800

How's it deceptive? Its your job as a consumer to check your coverage maps.

no its not

**CarryMe** · 12-30-2011, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by Droid800

How's it deceptive? Its your job as a consumer to check your coverage maps.

The coverage maps show that where I live we have a strong 4G signal. However, we don't. So THAT is how it is deceptive - the coverage isn't what is advertised and they use equipment to boost the signal in the store. Get it now?

**SpaceHippie** · 12-30-2011, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by Droid800

How's it deceptive? Its your job as a consumer to check your coverage maps.

Kind of like letting someone test drive a car that can go 0-60 in 3 seconds. But when he buys it, it actually takes 5 seconds. I want what i was sold.

Anyways, i experience the same thing. I get very good strength in my VZ store. At my apartment im down to 1-3 bars. Worse than my Thunderbolt, Revolution and rezound.

**Droid800** · 12-30-2011, 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by mkhalil06

no its not

Yes, it is. That's why coverage related issues, short of having moved and having no service at your new house, are not accepted by carriers as a reason for breaking your contract with no ETF.

**Droid800** · 12-30-2011, 12:39 AM

Originally Posted by TitansJonne

Kind of like letting someone test drive a car that can go 0-60 in 3 seconds. But when he buys it, it actually takes 5 seconds. I want what i was sold.

Anyways, i experience the same thing. I get very good strength in my VZ store. At my apartment im down to 1-3 bars. Worse than my Thunderbolt, Revolution and rezound.

Except in every contract you sign and every blurb about network speed it specifically says that network speeds vary. Ignorance is not an excuse for this complaint.

**Droid800** · 12-30-2011, 12:39 AM

Originally Posted by CarryMe

The coverage maps show that where I live we have a strong 4G signal. However, we don't. So THAT is how it is deceptive - the coverage isn't what is advertised and they use equipment to boost the signal in the store. Get it now?

Its still not deceptive.

**DaPoets** · 12-30-2011, 12:51 AM

All network extenders do is bring the signal that's outside inside. They don't boost the signal at all, in fact the signal will still be lower than outside. And for them to have a 4G extender is highly unlikely.

**CarryMe** · 12-30-2011, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Droid800

Its still not deceptive.

yes it is. A deception by omission is no less of a deception than one of commission. If you have a 4G signal booster and don't disclose that when you are selling phones based on their 4G capabilities, it is deception by omission.

**CarryMe** · 12-30-2011, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by DaPoets

All network extenders do is bring the signal that's outside inside. They don't boost the signal at all, in fact the signal will still be lower than outside. And for them to have a 4G extender is highly unlikely.

I don't know what the proper name of the device is, all I know is I have never gotten a 4G signal anywhere near that strong anywhere else but inside the VZW store and it drops down to 3G when I pull out of their parking lot. I live about 2 miles from that store and my phone at home struggles to grab/hang onto a 4G signal and is constantly switching back and forth between 4G and 3G. Explain that to me please.

**tk-093** · 12-30-2011, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by DaPoets

All network extenders do is bring the signal that's outside inside. They don't boost the signal at all, in fact the signal will still be lower than outside. And for them to have a 4G extender is highly unlikely.

That's not what Network Extenders do. They are their own "mini cell tower" that plugs into your home broadband and sends device traffic out that way.

**SpaceHippie** · 12-30-2011, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Droid800

Except in every contract you sign and every blurb about network speed it specifically says that network speeds vary. Ignorance is not an excuse for this complaint.

Were talking about deception. If im sold a phone, told it has great 4g speed and my area has great coverage, all my other phones have great coverage, and the demo unit i test has great strength, then it's deceptive to not give me what was advertised. It's not a lie since signal may vary, but it's still deceptive.

**yellowcanary73** · 12-30-2011, 11:56 AM

I agree when I go to the store in my area I can watch both my signal and speed increase as soon as I pull into drive and watch it dissipate as I drive away from the store.

**Swens221** · 12-30-2011, 12:02 PM

I got 39 download at my VZW store and only 4 at home. My house is sunk down so I always get bad signals. The thing that bothers me is my parents house is literally 100 yards from a cell tower and its still only 8 for my download speed.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

**VideoEngineerAJS** · 12-30-2011, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Swens221

I got 39 download at my VZW store and only 4 at home. My house is sunk down so I always get bad signals. The thing that bothers me is my parents house is literally 100 yards from a cell tower and its still only 8 for my download speed.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Where in the world are you? The lowest I've ever gotten on 4G is 5 as my house is in a valley. When I'm out in the open I get over 20 on a regular basis and when I am within site of a tower I get 40-60. Are you sure the tower close to your parents is a Verizon tower?

**cbwx34** · 12-30-2011, 12:21 PM

I know it's not 4g... but wasn't there a leaked photo earlier this year of Verizon installing equipment in Apple stores to enhance the signal for the upcoming iPhone? It wasn't an extender... but something that actually boosted the signal if I recall...

I would think if they can do that for 3g, they probably can do it for the 4g signal too?

**CarryMe** · 12-30-2011, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by cbwx34

I know it's not 4g... but wasn't there a leaked photo earlier this year of Verizon installing equipment in Apple stores to enhance the signal for the upcoming iPhone? It wasn't an extender... but something that actually boosted the signal if I recall...

I would think if they can do that for 3g, they probably can do it for the 4g signal too?

I think they can, too, they just haven't released it for purchase by the public probably because they are still working out the kinks in their 4G LTE system.

There is no other explanation for what I see with my phone. The difference in 4G signal strength is remarkable in the store vs. only a 100 feet away.

**DaPoets** · 12-30-2011, 12:26 PM

yeah I get about 8Mbs download while in most of the verizon stores in my area and around 35Mbs while at work and 15Mbs while at home... so no extenders or signal boosters in my area.

**Droid800** · 12-30-2011, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by TitansJonne

Were talking about deception. If im sold a phone, told it has great 4g speed and my area has great coverage, all my other phones have great coverage, and the demo unit i test has great strength, then it's deceptive to not give me what was advertised. It's not a lie since signal may vary, but it's still deceptive.

Yeah no. Its still your responsibility to check your coverage maps.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

**CarryMe** · 12-30-2011, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by Droid800

Yeah no. Its still your responsibility to check your coverage maps.

and as I said, I did and mine shows good 4G LTE coverage and I confirmed with a call to VZW, too - the maps show it, the in-store reps say we have it as do the 1-800 reps.

**tk-093** · 12-30-2011, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by CarryMe

and as I said, I did and mine shows good 4G LTE coverage and I confirmed with a call to VZW, too - the maps show it, the in-store reps say we have it as do the 1-800 reps.

The thing about the coverage maps is that they are computer generated and do not take into account things like hills. All around Madison, WI it shows as amazing Verizon coverage but because of all the hills it actually sucks balls in a lot of areas.. We've had to move users to US Cellular devices because of it.