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VCSMaster · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2025 4:13 am Post subject: Cellular at home

Hello! I have been doing some reading on and off about homebrew AMPS telephone networks, has anyone had success with this? Anyone tried it? I'm interested in getting one set up for some fun at home, I've already got a couple phones I think are compatible, such as a Motorola Lazer.

LyraNovaHeart · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2025 6:02 am Post subject:

There is technically equipment that CAN do it, but if you did, you'd get the FCC at your door very quickly since using unauthorized spectrums is a federal crime, I'd be wary of such.
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nick99nack · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:43 pm Post subject:

At VCF East this year, there was a table that I think had an AMPS setup going. It didn't reach very far at all, but you could dial the other cell phones sitting on the table. It was pretty neat.

Unfortunately, that's about the extent of my experience with it.

The FCC is definitely a concern, but if you keep the power low enough so that it doesn't reach outside your house, it should be possible. Just be very careful with power levels, same with doing OTA TV at home.
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VCSMaster · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 7:13 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I'm already a walking FCC violation (or rolling, since my car has non-resistor type spark plugs and points ignition, so it's noise on all bands) so that's not a huge concern for me. I don't intend to ave 50 miles of range or anything, just enough to cover maybe at most the half an acre of land I own out here in the forest.

When I went to VCF SE last year and the year before, there was a gentleman who had a couple AMPS phones that could call and talk amongst each other, and even call out to the greater PSTN. A gentleman across the room had a 1A2 setup going so we called back and forth between the systems, it was neat.

I am specifically looking at experimenting with some of those PC Card modems from the mid 90s which advertised support for cellular calling with a phone and the right adapter. Got a couple of those USR/3Com XJack modems already, so I figured it was worth a shot to try and get working. It would be neat to have a laptop on my front porch connected to my Total Control inside via a StarTac or something, wouldn't you think?

nick99nack · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 3:19 am Post subject:

Now that's something I'd like to see! Just don't get caught, lol.

I have a Toughbook with a 3G CDMA modem in it that's now useless as well. It would be cool to get that going again.
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VCSMaster · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 5:10 am Post subject:

My Latitude Z600 has the optional cellular radio. Would love to see it online as well, or maybe remote hotsyncing my Palm Treo over 3G or something. Dunno! Lots of cool things to be done with that as a project. Sadly, 3G is a really hard thing to get working! Looking around, that equipment is MUCH more heavily regulated because in a lot of areas it is still in use. We actually still have an active GSM band around here, interestingly! A few months ago there was a widespread cellular outage and my phone actually dropped down to 2G EDGE for a few hours. Pretty cool stuff.

Weirdly, 4G (WiMAX, non-LTE) is much more easily done, because that service was discontinued. Very interesting!

Anyways, I definitely do not plan to have power higher than maybe 50 milliwatts, max, I don't particularly want to go to prison nor pay exhorbitant fines for experimentation. I think that should be low enough that it does not escape my property.

LyraNovaHeart · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 12:59 am Post subject:

VCSMaster · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 3:47 am Post subject: