How to start a mobile company for free

Hackerspace
#1

I just recently got my hands on both a AT&T/Cisco 3G MicroCell and wrt56gv3. After a little tinkering the Linksys now has ddwrt installed.

Now on to the microcell:

Here’s brief findings and taredown instructions for anyone who wants to do some hardware hacking. https://www.reddit.com/r/netsec/comments/d7450/i_just_recently_got_my_hands_on_a_attcisco_3g/?utm_source=amp_share&utm_medium=tweet

All that is left is spoofing the servers with openbts for when this calls home to on the pi clusters then we have our own cellular service to play with.

#3

so my take away from that page was it can’t be more than 30 meters radius of transmission and a 6 dBi antenna?

#4

Seems like there would be issues with the use of licensed spectrum…

#5

In other news, looks like a few guys out in the UK used a RPi as their base femtocell:

So all one needs is:

  • FreeSWITCH
  • gr-gsm
  • A bladeRF x40
  • Two Quad-band Cellular Duck Antennas SMA.
  • A Raspberry Pi 3 ( model 2 and below are too slow ).
  • An USB battery pack ( I’m using a 26800mAh Anker Astro E7 ).
  • A microsd for the RPI >= 8GB.
  • Some patience and time … :slight_smile:

Instructions are at https://www.evilsocket.net/2016/03/31/how-to-build-your-own-rogue-gsm-bts-for-fun-and-profit/

#6

You left out:

  • some legally obtained spectrum

Sadly there is no provision in the bands supported by modern cell phones for DIY base stations.

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#7

supported by modern cell phones for DIY base stations

Hence why GSM that’s 2G which has been phased out and wide open. Modern phones only do 3G+ or 4G LTE and in the next coming year only 5G/LTE.

#8

After digging around I found an article at http://m2msecuritysims.com/is-it-legal-to-provide-a-gsm-gateway-service-to-others-on-any-form-of-commercial-basis/

the Ofcom position on this matter is available for review at http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/gsm_gateways Where it states clearly that any commercial use remains illegal and could include prosecution under the Wireless Telegraphy Act.

Whilst this means that an organisation using SIM cards in a gateway for its own use is not necessarily illegal

Thus the requirements seems to still comes down to no charge access, private usage only within a 30 meters radius of transmission and a 6 dBi antenna. Sure 802.11 base stations get better than that but hey why not play around with the tech just to learn?

'ell if we where this tight arsed about 802.11 back in the 90’s then everyone would still be on dial up or something more crappy.

#9

Tower site for auction:

https://realestatesales.gov/gsaauctions/aucpbsindx/?sl=CHICA118003001

#10

If you’re conducting this experimentation on some islands in the northern hemisphere at GMT 0, sounds like it will be OK.

It appears that what used to be 2G spectrum is being re-purposed to LTE in the US.

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#12

non-licensed tinkerers don’t quite understand the FCC rules

really.. didn't think so