| One of the things I like about residing out of town | | | | the ambient mobile signal is very weak, or |
| is the peace and quiet that living away from the | | | | non-existent, you will still be able to make and |
| daily hustle and bustle can bring. After a hard | | | | receive calls with near perfect clarity. |
| week working in the city nothing can compete | | | | The device, also known as an Access Gateway, |
| with the peace and calm of a semi- rural location, | | | | can handle up to 4 calls at once and will even |
| blue skies and the lack of unwelcome | | | | support data transfer and text messaging. So, all |
| interruptions. Of course, wherever there are | | | | of your family members can benefit from this |
| advantages there will always be disadvantages | | | | technology as well. |
| and foremost of these is the lack of mobile | | | | It's expected that eventually these devices will |
| phone network coverage. While I shall concede | | | | also be able to connect to mobile broadband |
| that out in the open, 3 bars of signal strength is | | | | services - so instead of having a Wi-Fi connection |
| more than adequate to make and receive calls, as | | | | you'll be able to connect via the Access |
| soon as one ventures indoors then this signal soon | | | | Gateway? This could prove to be popular as |
| dissipates to virtually nothing. | | | | many people have problems with the reliability of |
| Weak Mobile Signals? | | | | wireless internet connections, not to mention the |
| The problem here is that mobile signals are easily | | | | added expense of equipment. |
| absorbed by the walls of your home - where the | | | | Win-Win for the Mobile Operators? |
| signal is strong to begin with this isn't necessarily a | | | | Some commentators have pointed out the |
| problem, but where it is not so good then it can | | | | obvious advantages this offers the mobile |
| be virtually impossible to make a connection at all. | | | | networks - in effect you are supplementing their |
| While not the end of the world, this necessitates | | | | infrastructure with your broadband connection. |
| a fixed line telephone, just in case one actually | | | | However, if it's a service you are likely to find |
| needs to make or receive a call - which, in this | | | | useful then you may as well just go a long with it |
| day and age, seems a little archaic? | | | | - you have broadband anyway, why not get the |
| Femtocell or Access Gateway | | | | most use from it? |
| Thankfully, there may now be a solution to this | | | | Unfortunately, the Femtocell or Access Gateway |
| annoying problem in the shape of a small box of | | | | devices aren't free - they are being sold outright |
| tricks known as a Femtocell device. About the | | | | for around £160 or can be included as part |
| size of a paperback book or conventional internet | | | | of a monthly call plan. However, if you are |
| router, the device uses your existing broadband | | | | currently only managing to make calls from your |
| internet connection to route your mobile calls via | | | | back garden or by hanging from an upstairs |
| the internet. In effect, the Femtocell creates a | | | | window then it may well be an investment worth |
| mobile base station within your own home. Even if | | | | making? |