Network Extender with prepaid question

[UNDERWDJ1]

Ok. First off I know the network extender doesn't work with prepaid plan.  Here's another scenario.  Our son lives in the house with us and has a regular verizon plan with a network extender.  So is our prepaid phones not supposed to work with the network extender in the house even though its not with our prepaid plan?  if not or maybe not work as well as if we had a regular plan how would this extender of our son's know we are prepaid and not give us as good service or is it built into the prepaid phones? I believe there is a difference so really want to know how this works. 

[vzw_customer_support]

Hello, Far as the Network Extender, it will not work for a Verizon prepaid plan.

*Jonii

[UNDERWDJ1]

That I understand.  Thank you.  However that was not my question. 

[vzw_customer_support]

The prepaid lines are not provisioned to work with network extenders. The extender would only connect with postpaid lines.

*Gavin

[SynthpopAddict]

Won't go into the details, but Verizon uses a different numbering system for prepaid and postpaid accounts.  So the network extender must be detecting what is connecting to it and if it recognizes it's a Verizon account, will check somehow.  Since the prepaid account numbers are different, it won't let you in since it can tell.

[UNDERWDJ1]

• Synthpop Addict thank you so much! Finally!  Someone that gets what I'm asking.  Well actually didn't really expect a real answer from a Verizon representative. Seems there's a lot they are not allowed to give correct answers on so they give you the answer you already know to appear helpful.  Boy could I write a book after all these years. It seems we are benefitting some from the extender since we have full bars of service most of the time. There are times we have perfect service. Can talk for a long time with no problems then the times that no one can understand a word I say. Last time that happened we restarted the extender & my phone then everything is perfect again.  It's like it's hit or miss whether it's helping so wondered if it is not supposed to work at all because it can tell we are prepaid or is it just small benefit from it.  Before we went prepaid last year we had an extender of our own through our regular plan with no issues and our son seemed to be benefitting from it at the time even though he was using cricket at the time. Oh and when I call #48 to check if I'm under network extender services  it does say that I am.  Sorry didn't mean to get so lengthy. Thanks again for your answer! 

[SynthpopAddict]

Wow, that's interesting.  I guess the extender isn't constantly verifying if you're supposed to be able to use it, or it depends on how you're using it.  For Wi-Fi services using data, I'd have to think anything should be able to get to Wi-Fi via the extender because that's like when I use my cable ISP's Wi-Fi to do big downloads on my phone (I am prepaid as you are, so my cellular data is often slow).

[jav6]

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@SynthpopAddict wrote:

Wow, that's interesting.  I guess the extender isn't constantly verifying if you're supposed to be able to use it, or it depends on how you're using it.  For Wi-Fi services using data, I'd have to think anything should be able to get to Wi-Fi via the extender because that's like when I use my cable ISP's Wi-Fi to do big downloads on my phone (I am prepaid as you are, so my cellular data is often slow).

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Except the Network Extender DOES NOT provide a WiFi signal (only a cellular signal) so WiFi services would NOT be available to a cell phone connecting to the extender.  As for whether a 'prepaid phone' should be able to use the cell signal generated by the extender, this needs to be clarified by Verizon agents.  It could be the server being contacted via the internet connection checks the phone number connecting and might restrict its service due to being prepaid.  However, I'm not sure why it should be restricted as anybody connecting to extender are charged on THEIR account at THEIR rates for those calls and NOT the extender owner.

[SynthpopAddict]

Thanks for the clarification @jav6 !  I've never used a Verizon network extender and thought it would be different; appreciate learning something new.  Makes you wonder how the OP is ever getting to use their son's network extender then, because there is no way to charge the OP's prepaid account for the use?  They were saying sometimes it works and other times it doesn't.  Unless maybe the extra use is somehow going to their son's postpaid account, or, @UNDERWDJ1 's old postpaid account is getting billed for the extender use...

If service is fluctuating where sometimes there's enough signal for calls to be OK and other times calls are dropping out, sounds like a problem with the cell towers being maxed out and not being able to generate enough signal to all the devices trying to connect to it at that time, or else there's something in the way absorbing some of the signal?  So maybe the phones in question aren't actually using the extender at all, it's just service being spotty.

[vzw_customer_support]

Hey there. I know how important it is to make sure we get the most out of our Network Extenders. The purpose of this device is to boost the distance that your device can connect to it by placing a cellular tower in your home. Can you verify that all of your devices connecting to your extender are current and up to date? *Kris

[xpetes]

So... You need to call Verizon and register a network exentdor to get it to work,and they won't do that if you are on a prepaid plan. But once someone with a non prepaid plan get its registered (at least in the past) it didn't know if a phone was prepaid or not and any Verizon phone including prepaid would connect to it.  We got a used network extender from someone that had already registered it and we were able to use if for years, until they just discontinued it (its an older Network extender 2).  So now I'm wondering if we do the same thing and buy a newer one that someone already registered and bring it into our house?   I know this isn't what Verizon wants, but if we don't do this we're forced to  leave Verizon because without the extender it doesn't work at our house (and we don't have good luck depending on wifi calling).

And why would Verizon want to lose a customer?  Why don't they allow prepaid plans to use extenders, how does this makes sense? FWIW, it was a Verizon rep. who told me off the record this "hack" to get one to work out our house with our prepaid plans...

[SynthpopAddict]

I'm surprised Verizon can't make an extender work with prepaid lines - yes, the account numbers are different and yes, prepaid and postpaid accounts are in different locations of the "system" - but the network is the network and seems the equipment could be set up to recognize both parts of the "system" for both prepaid and postpaid?  Or is it because the network extender technology is older since it only works with cable internet service and not any other types of internet (fiber, satellite, fixed wireless) service and other things have been going on with Verizon in regards to how the prepaid and postpaid accounts are configured over the years?

@xpetesif your WiFi is also iffy at home, have you considered doing the free trials the other large carriers offer, if you've got a phone which is unlocked and supports dual SIM/eSIM?  If your ISP decides to switch to fiber or you otherwise change your internet service to something which isn't cable, then the Verizon extenders wouldn't work for another reason.  The only other option you have is to invest in a 3rd party signal booster system compatible with Verizon, unless you find a postpaid customer who is willing to register a newer Verizon extender and then sell it to you. 

[jav6]

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@SynthpopAddict wrote:

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The only other option you have is to invest in a 3rd party signal booster system compatible with Verizon, unless you find a postpaid customer who is willing to register a newer Verizon extender and then sell it to you. 

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As a multiple 4G LTE Extender owner, I would NEVER consider selling one of my extenders to someone else and leaving it registered to my account.  Management of (Access Mode, etc) and getting network support could be done ONLY from my account.

[SynthpopAddict]

That's a valid point.  But with no way for prepaid customers to get a Verizon extender to work otherwise, they'd have to port if they don't want to invest in a signal booster.

[ccc23]

I wanted to share my experience as a customer here, as I found this thread super helpful! I'm a Verizon prepaid customer, but wanted an extender to improve cell phone coverage at my house. I read here that prepaid customers cannot activate the extender. So, I switched my account to postpaid, purchased an extender from a Verizon Store later that day, took it home and it connected right away. I did not need to call Verizon to activate the extender, perhaps they did that already at the Verizon Store.

I instantly went from 1 bar, lots of missed calls/texts, to 4 bars right away! My postpaid phone was able to use the extender as was my partner's prepaid Verizon phone (confirmed via dialing #48). Today I switched my account back to prepaid (the folks at the Verizon Store said they can't do this, but chat customer service got it done in about 30 minutes) and I (and partner) are still able to use the extender (again confirmed via #48) with both of us on prepaid. I think this is one (albeit circuitous) route to getting an extender that you fully control while on prepaid.

In terms of costs, Verizon CS said my postpaid plan will be pro-rated for the week I had it (haven't seen the bill yet), and there was a $35 activation fee for the postpaid line that I may have to eat as well. I will try at a future point to get the activation fee reversed, and see if they'll comp me the extender as well. But even if none of that pans out, having full cell coverage at home is a game-changer!

[SynthpopAddict]

Glad to hear you got your extender to work with your prepaid lines.  The issue though with going back to prepaid after activating the extender while you were temporarily postpaid is the extender is now hooked up to your disconnected postpaid account and there is now no way you can manage anything with the extender's settings.  This can be problematic if the extender begins acting up, or if the range on it is too large (where your neighbors or people outside could be getting free service).