Cell Reception Team
The OAP asked for volunteers to join the "cell team", and Oceansiders responded. Bob Sprague, Don Nelson, Jeff Mason, Pam Zielinski, Paul Newman, and Yuriy Chanba formed the team at the end of October 2023 and started working towards the goal of having better communications capability (voice, text, data) in Oceanside.
A multi-path strategy is being employed to prioritize efforts to facilitate delivery of better connectivity in Oceanside.
The team is investigating different methods and technology to address Oceansiders' need for reliable mobile communications.
Specifically, we are looking into postal pigeons (no, not really), extended range public outdoor WiFi, cell signal repeater options (Crown Castle), Private Wireless Network solutions (Ceragon Networks), and satellite communications technology (Starlink). A number of meetings were conducted with a select group of potential technology partners discussing technical challenges and solutions, leading to a better understanding of choices Oceansiders have to enjoy a more reliable mobile connectivity.
The ultimate goal of the team's effort is for Oceansiders to have seamless cellular service in localities where the service is spotty or does not exist today. Additionally, we are looking into alternative complimentary solutions for emergency communications:
- addressing current absence of emergency communications capability in the lower laying part of the Village and the stretch of the beach from Oceanside to Netarts (ability to make 911 call, receive public emergency broadcast text/tsunami warning, etc), and
- creating robust backup communications options in the immediate aftermath of a large-scale, long-term power/communication services interruption for all of Oceanside neighborhoods.
In anticipation of 501c3 approval, we are working with partners to come up with actionable plans, technology and infrastructure choices, realistic budgets and funding options.
In the meantime, we'd like to share with Oceansiders a few points related to improving cell service/emergency communications options discovered during our research:
Personal cell tower
If you have broadband internet at home but no (or unreliable) cell signal, you can set up your own personal cell tower.
T-Mobil, Verizon and AT&T all have proprietary self-installing "cell towers" you can connect to your router and create a cell service at your residence. These are not cell signal boosters that need at least a weak signal to work. These will create cellular service in areas that don't have any cell signal. While the cell signal created is much weaker than that of a "public" cell tower, it is stronger than WiFi signal you might be using to make calls over WiFi. As a result, you will have better connectivity inside and outside of your house.
In testing, we've seen reliable cell signal up to about 150 ft outside of a typical house. We have 3 neighbors in Woodlawn/Avalon area with properties about 150ft apart who installed T-Mobil CellSpots at their properties creating roughly 3 acres of cell reception area and providing cell signal on about 700ft of adjacent roads that previously didn't have cell signal. Any cell phone using T-Mobil as a service provider will seamlessly connect to this "cell".
There are technical limitations: limited number of devices can be connected at once, traffic can count towards your traffic limits (so it is better to have unlimited data plans with both your cell and data services providers), connectivity is service provider specific (Verizon subscriber can't connect to T-Mobil CellSpot and vice versa), etc. Therefore, personal cell towers do not provide a comprehensive public cell coverage solution. You still may find it a useful tool for yourself and for your immediate neighborhood.
If you'd like to learn more, below are select providers' links with more information.
We recommend you do not order online, but call your provider's customer service, explain that you do not have cell service at your property and are interested in the personal cell tower they offer. Your service provider might send you equipment for free.
T-Mobil CellSpot ($25 refundable deposit, no service fee)
https://www.t-mobile.com/support/coverage/4g-lte-cellspot-setup-and-help
Verizon LTE Network Extender ($249.99, no service fee)
https://www.verizon.com/products/verizon-lte-network-extender/
AT&T Cell Booster ($229.99, no service fee). AT&T calls it a "Booster", but technically it is a cell tower.
https://www.att.com/buy/accessories/specialty-items/att-cell-booster.html
Other mobile service providers might offer similar solutions. Give your provider a call to find out.
2. iPhone 911 Satellite capability.
Apple offers free Emergency 911 text service via Satellite for iPhone 14 and 15 in the areas with no cell reception. The caller would need a clear view of sky to lock in a satellite to establish 2-way communication with 911 services via text.
As of this moment (January 2024), this could be your only option to reach out to emergency services while on a walk around Oceanside or on the beach.
Search for and open "Emergency SOS" page on your phone and try demo at the bottom of the page to see how it works.
Samsung doesn't have the capability yet, but rumors are it will be offered with the new model release in February of 2024.
Stay tuned for more updates as we move forward towards finding suitable communications solutions for our unique and beautiful community.
Updates / Newsletter
March 19th, 2024
Oceanside Action Partnership's team of volunteers tasked with finding ways to improve cell reception continues on its path to bring better mobile connectivity in Oceanside.
While the initial work was concentrated on developing a better understanding of what kind of technology mix would work best for Oceanside, most current efforts were directed at moving towards understanding how much each one of the potential solutions might cost.
All of the project tracks taken resulted in a good amount of progress over the past few weeks:
- A quote for an RF (radio frequency) Study was received from a firm specializing in setting up and running private wireless and 5G Wi-Fi networks. Such a Study is a pre-requisite for the firm's creation of network design and ready-to-sign equipment/services contract.
- The RF Study proposal was presented to the team in a Microsoft Team's call, questions were asked and answered.
- A local (Tillamook) wireless Wi-Fi network provider was engaged in discussions about feasibility of a public Wi-Fi in Oceanside.
- The owner of the company sounds optimistic, currently working on creating a quote for such a network, and promises to deliver the quote soon.
- The effort to pull in cellular service to Oceanside's "dead zones" through a technology partner that builds cell towers and rents those to the carriers continues.
- Project "Oceanside" passed the firm's initial milestone - management approval to allocate funds for the project's due diligence. An external consultant, initial "boots on the ground", was retained by the firm (at the firm's expense) to do the review.
- "Starlink for emergency communications" project discussions had been on hold pending OAP's 501c3 approval by the IRS. Once the approval is received, the team will put together a comprehensive proposal and budget ("what is it, how does it work, who will be involved and how, how much will it cost") for the OAP's Board review and approval to seek out funding.
That's all for the mid-March update. Stay tuned!
Yuriy Chanba, Cell Reception Team Coordinator
