Network Extender questions

[AJG617]

We are having terrible service with our 4G-LTE Network Extender over Xfinity in our home - dropped calls, unable to send/receive calls or texts.  Have a couple of questions.

1)  Does the network extender rely at all on communications with the nearest cell tower which provides minimal to no cell service at our location?

2)  During power loss in storm (so network extender was not working), all 5 of our phones cycle between no service and 1 bar occasionally showing emergency calls only.  Does this variation and lack of coverage impact the network extender?

3) When wifi is connected on my phone (Z Fold4), I receive full coverage from the network extender.  However, when I turn wifi off, I also see 4G LTE next to the extender bars which is not there when phone wifi is on.  Am I not getting 4G LTE from the extender when my phone is connected to wifi?

[jav6 · Accepted solution]

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@AJG617 wrote:

We are having terrible service with our 4G-LTE Network Extender over Xfinity in our home - dropped calls, unable to send/receive calls or texts.  Have a couple of questions.

1)  Does the network extender rely at all on communications with the nearest cell tower which provides minimal to no cell service at our location?

2)  During power loss in storm (so network extender was not working), all 5 of our phones cycle between no service and 1 bar occasionally showing emergency calls only.  Does this variation and lack of coverage impact the network extender?

3) When wifi is connected on my phone (Z Fold4), I receive full coverage from the network extender.  However, when I turn wifi off, I also see 4G LTE next to the extender bars which is not there when phone wifi is on.  Am I not getting 4G LTE from the extender when my phone is connected to wifi?

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1)  The 4G LTE Network Extender has NOTHING to do with a local network cell tower.  Its purpose is to provide its OWN local cell signal and service via your broadband internet connection.

2.  If you lose power and your broadband internet connection is down (router and your network extender have no power) your phones go back to searching for cell service from local network towers, with whatever strength they have.  A network extender with no power or no broadband internet connection cannot provide a cell signal for service.

3.  If you have WiFi  activated on your phone, WiFi calling may also be activated and take precedence over cell service calling causing the 4G icon not to be displayed.  Your phone may still respond to #48 with 'you are under 4G LTE Network Extender coverage....' but use WiFi for phone calls.  If you turn WiFi (calling) off on your phone, the 4G icon may come back indicating your phone is using the extender's 4G cell signal for calling.  This is what I see on my moto z4 phone with my 4G LTE Network Extender and Xfinity broadband internet service.

[vzw_customer_support]

Good morning!  Thanks for reaching out to us.  We understad that you have some questions about our network extender.  We are more than happy to assist.  Please send a PM for further assistance.  *Jerina

[AJG617]

Just confirmed with Verizon that network extender does require connectivity to local cell tower to route calls and texts.  The extender amplifies the cell signal in home using whatever broadband service you may have.  If you have 0 service as we often do, no calls or texts will go through even with an extender which is exactly what we are experiencing.

[jav6]

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@AJG617 wrote:

Just confirmed with Verizon that network extender does require connectivity to local cell tower to route calls and texts.  The extender amplifies the cell signal in home using whatever broadband service you may have.  If you have 0 service as we often do, no calls or texts will go through even with an extender which is exactly what we are experiencing.

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I do not believe that is true that the 4G LTE Network extender uses a local cell tower to route calls and texts.  It does connect to satellites for GPS, but as far as I know, it DOES NOT communicate with a local cell tower whatsoever.  The extender communicates thru the broadband internet connection to a Verizon gateway/server somewhere for calls and texts into the Verizon network.  The 4G LTE Network extender does not amplify a local cell tower signal, it produces its OWN local cell signal acting as a mini cell tower itself.

[AJG617]

Either way, the inability to reliably make/receive voice calls and texts or place a 911 call if necessary with or without an extender is something that Verizon should be addressing - not Comcast/Xfinity.

[vzw_customer_support]

Extender connection are through Wi-Fi connection. 

*Andrea

[jav6]

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@vzw_customer_support wrote:

Extender connection are through Wi-Fi connection. 

*Andrea

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This post is confusing.   The 4G LTE Network Extenders do NOT use WiFi whatsoever.   They DO however, use the same internet connection that a router providing WiFi services uses.