Vodafone's Access Gateway not all it's cracked up to be as users experience serious issues

Mon 14 Sep 2009 3 Comments

Consumers who have purchased Vodafone's Access Gateway so far have experienced nothing but problems, raising questions about the effectiveness of the device.

The Access Gateway is a femtocell device - basically a small 3G base station - which Vodafone has made commercially available to its subscribers. The device hooks up to a broadband connection and uses that connection to pass mobile broadband and voice data, helping to provide better 3G coverage indoors, where signals can often be weak.

Which is fine in principle but it seems that early adopters of the new technology have experienced a number of fairly serious issues. For example, in handling calls, the Access Gateway has left one party being heard clearly while the other cannot be heard at all; which is far from ideal in a device purchased to improve 3G reception and costing £160.

Given that the Access Gateway isn't cheap, and improves 3G services only by piggybacking onto an existing broadband connection, there doesn't seem to be much argument for widespread adoption even if it worked wonderfully - but teething problems such as these will almost certainly put off anyone considering giving it a try.

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Comments

  • neutral

    by Andy at 17:16 on 15 Sep 2009Report abuse

    Not strictly accurate. I've had good continuous service from my Vodafone Access Gateway since I installed it several weeks ago. Some users may have had problems, but it's certainly an exaggeration to say that consumers have "experienced nothing but problems".

  • unhappy

    by Chris Dalby at 10:20 on 21 Oct 2009 | registered | 1 postReport abuse

    I have had my Gateway now for 2 weeks and the first week was fine, the second week it just stopped working completely. No signal in or out, cant make any calls, no 3G at all' It also gives you no warning at all. The phone will say you have full coverage but in reality there is no signal and when people try and ring you it goes straight to answer machine. I have been on to Vodafone and they are scratching their head as to why it's not working!!! Very very poor service' not happy!!!!!!

  • unhappy

    by Kevin at 11:29 on 29 Oct 2009Report abuse

    I'm glad I bought mine on 12 month contract (why would anyone pay £160 up front when you can pay £10 per month for only 12 months?). I took it back on Tuesday and cancelled the contract.

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