We’ve partnered with OnTech Smart Services as our premier installation provider for FreedomFi gateways and small cells! OnTech Pros take care of everything in one appointment – installation, setup, and education – allowing you to build and use your own personal LTE and IoT network with confidence.
Once you have your FreedomFi Small Cell installed and running, you’re able to start utilizing the network! FreedomFi and CalChip Connect have partnered with GigSky to provide connectivity via an eSIM and are providing a 60-day free trial to everyone who purchases one. Already purchased a small cell? Download the GigSky app here and click the button below to redeem your 60-day “Helium Bundle” plan ($59.99 value)
When I get and set up the Indoor Small Cell will all phones nearby automatically get 5G coverage?
No. Only cellular devices that use data plans from Helium 5G roaming partners, such as GigSky, will have the ability to connect to and benefit from the Indoor Small Cell you deploy. Just like Helium LoRa network that has been growing the number of its LoRa users over time, Helium 5G network will grow the number of Helium 5G roaming partners over time. In addition to GigSky, we expect to announce new roaming partners before the end of the year and will continue growing the network in collaboration with the Helium team.
If no cellular data hits my Indoor Small Cell, will I still earn proof-of-coverage rewards for deploying Helium Cellular Bundle?
We are currently working with the Helium community to explore modifying Helium’s current proof-of-coverage (PoC) algorithm to include PoC rewards for non-LoRa wireless protocols, which we hope will help accelerate the deployment of Helium 5G network. The details of this proposal (labeled Helium Improvement Proposal 37) are available for public review.
Should the Helium community approve HIP 37, you will be able to earn rewards for Cellular and Wi-Fi proof-of-coverage in addition to LoRa. This will enable you to get ROI on your Indoor Small Cell investment even if no data hits your location right away.
If I wanted to connect my own phone or laptop to it, how can I do it?
On day one, the only way to connect your own phone to your self-deployed Helium Indoor Small Cell is to download and install the GigSky eSim app on a CBRS-compatible phone. Please note that your phone must be a) CBRS-band compatible; b) have an eSIM. If you satisfy both of these requirements, use the GigSky instructions and promo-code included in the box with your Indoor Small Cell to download the GigSky app and program your eSIM. You will be able to use unlimited free data when connected to your self-deployed Indoor Small Cell and will have 5GB of free nationwide data for 30 days when not in coverage of Helium 5G network.
In Q1 2022, we expect to introduce a Helium sim card that will allow you to connect any CBRS-band compatible device to the Helium 5G network without using an eSIM or a third party app. And the data on your self-deployed Helium 5G network will always be free to you.
Can I buy more than one bundle?
No. Because of the limited supply for both FreedomFi Gateways and Indoor Small Cells we are only able to redeem your reservation number for either just one gateway or one gateway + one Indoor Small Cell.
Can I buy any model CBRS radio and connect it to FreedomFi Gateway?
No. FreedomFi Gateway will only work with certified CBRS radios. Cellular radios come in many flavors and have a million knobs and settings. The only way for us to ensure consistent operation and security across all deployments is to only allow pre-certified radios with verified firmware presets.
Will Indoor Small Cells require professional certification by a certified professional installer (CPI)?
No. Indoor Small Cell provided in this bundle is considered a Category A CBRS device, which does not require CPI certification, provided it can get a GPS lock. Your Indoor Small Cell will have a built-in GPS receiver and will also come with the additional, external GPS antenna and an extension cord. If you are installing at an indoor location with no GPS reception, use the external GPS extender. Review installation instructions for more details.
After I get my Helium cellular mining bundle, are there any additional recurring fees that I need to pay?
12 months following the activation of your indoor Indoor Small Cell you will have to pay a recurring fee of $5/month for as long as you keep your Indoor Small Cell active. Per mandate from the FCC, operators of CBRS cellular devices are required to pay a recurring fee to spectrum access server operators. Cost of the first year is on us.
Can I install this Indoor Small Cell outdoors in an enclosure?
No. Indoor Indoor Small Cell is designed exclusively to be installed indoors and, unlike the FreedomFi gateway itself, cannot be installed outdoors inside an IP rated enclosure.
What happens if my unit is lost?
We will work the shipper to validate the loss and provide options for replacement/refund. The lost units will be deactivated.
How much more money will this earn than just a regular Helium Hotspot?
Unfortunately we cannot give you an exact number. Variables such as number of roaming partners onboarded, location of your Indoor Small Cell and community approval (or otherwise) of HIP 37 all influence the answer. Since we are still in the early stages of onboarding cellular roaming partners and have not yet approved or implemented HIP 37, you won’t earn a lot more than a regular Helium hotspot on day one. However, if all goes well, we expect that over the next 24 months the earning potential of Helium 5G node operators will far exceed those of LoRa-only hotspot operators.
Is this 5G or LTE?
This is not a black or white answer. 5G is an architecture standard for cellular wireless networks that covers:
Architecture of the software (aka the network core);
Architecture of the radio hardware
Contrary to the common belief, 5G is not specific to a frequency band and is not the same as high frequency mmWave. 5G uses much of the same frequencies as LTE. With the Helium 5G rollout, we use CBRS spectrum (aka mid-band 5G spectrum) and provide a 5G-compliant architecture for the network core that runs on a FreedomFi Gateway. However, the first cellular radio we certified as part of this bundle is LTE. Why? Because LTE small cells are cheaper and more phones can connect to them. With pure 5G small cells today you gain nothing except higher equipment cost and a shorter phone compatibility list. As "high-band" 5G small cells operating in the mmWave frequencies become more common-place and cheaper, we will certify those radios and FreedomFi gateway owners will be able plug them into the gateway without needing to buy a different FreedomFi Gateway. And, yes, we admit that we call this setup Helium 5G vs. LTE because it sounds cooler. If everybody else in the industry can, so can we.
Can I buy one FreedomFi Gateway, but multiple Indoor Small Cells to go with it?
No. You can only buy one cellular mining bundle per reservation ID, which includes a maximum of one, certified plug-and-play Indoor Small Cell. As we partner with more Indoor Small Cell manufacturers and ramp-up production, you will be able to buy and connect multiple (up to 7) Indoor Small Cells to each FreedomFi Gateway.
What is a good location to put the Indoor Small Cell?
The best locations are indoor public venues such as shopping malls, hotels, stadiums, hospitals, airports, university campuses or convention centers. Unlike LoRa hotspots, indoor Indoor Small Cells will cover roughly 3x the area of Wi-Fi vs. going for miles. If you put an Indoor Small Cell inside of your own house, not too many people will be able to connect to it (unless you point it out the window overlooking a park or something). We expect to certify outdoor antennas by November 2021 and make them available to FreedomFi Gateway owners.
Do I need to make sure it’s possible to get a GPS signal at the location I plan to install the Indoor Small Cell?
Yes. For the Indoor Small Cell to start radiating signal it will need to get a GPS lock. There are several free phone apps you can download to check GPS reception at a particular location, which we recommend you do ahead of time. Your Indoor Small Cell will have a built-in GPS receiver and will also come with the additional, external GPS extension cord ~6ft long which you can stretch towards the window or mount outdoors.
Will I earn less rewards from my existing Helium miner if I put FreedomFi Gateway next to it?
Yes. HIP 17 rules apply to FreedomFi Gateways the same way they do to any other Helium Hotspot. If you place multiple hotspots within 300 feet of each other, it will negatively affect your mining rewards.
What is the range of this Indoor Small Cell?
2-3x the range of your typical 5Ghz Wi-Fi Access Point
Can I install/run other software on the FreedomFi Gateway?
Attempts to modify, tamper with, or replace any software on the FreedomFi Gateway voids the warranty. FreedomFi will not be able to resolve any problems arising from such activities.
Purchase on FreedomFi.com by entering your number and getting a discount for the waitlist deposit.
Terms & Conditions of Purchase
I agree to the terms and conditions of the sale, including the no returns policy for FreedomFi Gateway after onboarding to the Helium blockchain.
I have read all the FAQs related to the purchase of FreedomFi Gateway and/or Plug-and-Play Small Cells and understand all the limitations, including the following.
Only compatible phones with a sim card from Helium network offload with partners (like GigSky) will be able to connect to the Helium CBRS network; this does not yet include AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon phone
Plug-and-Play Small Cells will not mine HNT until after HIP 37/51 has been passed and implemented and/or a large number of cellular offload partners have been onboarded to the Helium network.
For the Indoor Small Cell to auto-provision and start working, it needs to be placed at a location where it can get a GPS lock.
FreedomFi Gateway will note mine more HNT than a regular Helium hotspot until expanded with a certified CBRS antenna or Wi-Fi Access Point.
FreedomFi Gateway does not have a Wi-Fi built-in and must be connected to the internet using a standard ethernet cable (not included).
A restocking fee of 15% will be assessed for returns on all FreedomFi devices
If you choose to return unopened FreedomFi equipment to CalChip for an eligible refund, the cost of return shipping and shipping insurance will be deducted from the eligible return amount, in addition to applicable restocking fees.
