Boost Box (Femtocell)

[Anonymous]

O2 has a Boost Box available but they restrict their use to Business customers.  Why?

My husband and I both have monthly contracts, we have been with O2 for many many years but still we cannot give out our mobile numbers as we cannot receive when home.  We either cannot make calls - although we pay for large amounts or unlimited minutes - but cannot make calls a lot of the time.  When on calls, the reception can drop or be really iffy.  The answer of O2: well, too bad!  We pay for a service which they do not provide most of the time but we need to pay more by getting a socalled 'business' account, so as to resolve 'their' problem.  What does that say about customer service?  Please O2, if you are listening, do try to help.  This gadget cost at most 50£ and we are ready to pay for it, so what does O2 lose in selling it to us?  Nothing, but gaining good will and the satisfaction of satisfied customers and repeat business.  Please, O2, listen!

[jonsie]

The problem is that many of the generic signal boosters are illegal to use in this country.

[Anonymous]

I agree if someone wants to pay for one of o2's or a generic one then that avenue should be available.

what's illegal about using one ?

[MI5]

The use of some of these boosters is a criminal offence - There was a case recently in Swindon where the networks investigated a signal issue and found an illegal booster in someones house - They were subsequently jailed for owning the device.

[Cleoriff]

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@jonsie wrote:

The problem is that many of the generic signal boosters are illegal to use in this country.

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And many are worse than useless as my son discovered...:smileysad:

[jonsie]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I agree if someone wants to pay for one of o2's or a generic one then that avenue should be available.

what's illegal about using one ?

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The fact is that the avenue isn't available and we shouldn't advise people to just go out and buy one unless they are very certain of the legality of a device. Some information from Ofcom :

http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/phone/mobile-phones/coverage/mobile-repeaters/

[Anonymous]

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@jonsie wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:
I agree if someone wants to pay for one of o2's or a generic one then that avenue should be available.

what's illegal about using one ?

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The fact is that the avenue isn't available and we shouldn't advise people to just go out and buy one unless they are very certain of the legality of a device. Some information from Ofcom :

http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/phone/mobile-phones/coverage/mobile-repeaters/

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I don't believe I was 'advising' for a person to just go out and buy one. 

I mentioned that the "avenue should be available"

Just wanted to clarify the point. 

[Anonymous]

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@MI5 wrote:
The use of some of these boosters is a criminal offence - There was a case recently in Swindon where the networks investigated a signal issue and found an illegal booster in someones house - They were subsequently jailed for owning the device.

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That's serious then.

Dont happen to have a link to that do you ?

[MI5]

You would also need to apply to Ofcom for a broadcast license, which you wouldn't get !!

[Anonymous]

Maybe if the networks were to finally sort out their 2G and 3G coverage rather than concentrating on 4G people tied into contracts wouldn't have to be forced into this option.

[Beenherebefore]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Maybe if the networks were to finally sort out their 2G and 3G coverage rather than concentrating on 4G people tied into contracts wouldn't have to be forced into this option.

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Nobody or anything forces you to contravene legislation, it is personal choice.