A Private GSM Cell?

mr number two asks: "I live in the mountains and have poor GSM reception. I can buy an active repeater to boost signal strength in my home to good levels, but what I'd really like to do is have a private GSM picocell, such that at home I would be connected to my own PBX. Calls to my home phone number would ring through to my cell phone. I wouldn't have to worry about a home cordless phone (and 802.11 interference) and I'd have all my speed dialing / contacts info right there. There are many other benefits. Ignoring FCC licensing issues, is there a base station I can purchase which has a signalling interface that will interface to a small PBX?"

Comments

Heres a GSM to VOIP gateway

[madstork2000]

This looks like it might be helpful:

http://www.voip-info.org/wiki-VOIP+GSM+Gateways

The site www.voip-info.org itself looked promising during my brief visit....

Re:Heres a GSM to VOIP gateway

[gregmac]

That's backwards from what he's asking for - that essentially acts as a cell phone, and makes it available using VoIP. Effectively, if you had an asterisk box, you could have your cell phone number ring into it or use it to make outbound calls, which would be useful in remote locations with no phone lines, or probably even more useful as an emergency backup in the event regular phone lines go down.

The original question is asking for a way to use his cellphone as an extension on the PBX, so this wouldn't be useful in that situation.

Ignoring FCC rules?

[whib]

Sure, there are many, many options, if you are willing to ignore the rules.......

Everything is available for a price.

On the other hand, I might suggest searching for a solution that does not ignore the rules. Rules for communication systems are (for the most part) fairly sane. The avoid pesky things such as cross talk, interference, etc. But hey, this is Slash, who really cares about that kind of thing ;)

Cell, or Network?

[poindextrose]

Administering a wireless telecommunications switch, I have to ask: do you want a network of your own with no ties to other carriers, or just a cell?

If you're looking for a "just you" thing, good luck. The GSM standards are pretty easy to get your hands on, and with a little ingenuity, you could build a GSM switch. It's basically a few DBs and hardware interfaces. That's where things get tricky. GSM cells (which you could easily purchase for $100,000 (CDN)) need to communicate to the switch using a standardized protocol over T1. So you'd have to build THAT network stack over some sort of Frame-Relay-over-T1 interface (which are often rather expensive in and of themselves... also, good luck with Linux drivers...).

I left out the possibility of buying a GSM switch, because I doubt you'd be on Ask Slashdot if you had that kind of cash.

Now I know you said "apart from FCC regulations" or something, but that's what's going to kill you. GSM uses a 200KHz carrier (at least with the 800 and 900 MHz spectrum), and to put a site on the air with any sort of wattage in any location of any use (you are in rough terrain, no? So you'd put in on a peak... and spread your signal pretty far) without interfering with anyone else and without the FCC turning your way is going to be quite tricky.

This topic reminds me...

[nekoniku]

I have a problem with mosquitoes in my yard and I wonder if anyone has some good advice on the best kind of cannon and ammo I should get to shoot them down?

A different kind of cell

[lbmouse]

Ignoring FCC licensing issues

That could get you a 6 x 9 cell with a roommate.

Easy

[Richard_at_work]

Speak to a GSM network providor, like Vodaphone, Orange, O2 or something (to give UK examples). All of these providors will sell you a local cell unit, its a service they provide to companies with large sites or campuses, to use mobile phones instead of DECT phones across a wide area with automatic roaming off site. Calls within the same cell are free, with a annual rental, and calls off the local cell are charged at the standard airtime rate, and the bonus is that its just a normal mobile cell.

My next Ask Slashdot submission...

[biglig2]

"Hi! I live in a cave and have voices in my head telling me to kill people. I can pay my local prostitute to feign death, but what I'd really like to do is have a private basement pit, such that at home I would be able to do my murders undisturbed. I wouldn't have to worry about getting blood over my slacks, and I'd have all my brain-sized stewing pots right there. There are many other benefits. Ignoring local anti-murder laws, is there a particular type of teen hitch-hiker it's better to prey on?"