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01-13-2018, 05:34 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 1,039
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Quote:
Originally Posted by snopercod
So the SIM card would just plug into the Switchbox device as if it were a cell phone?
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Yup, 100% correct.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Plummit
Those Chinese GSM switches are just junk. I had lots of problems with them. As we know the times we'll be flying I ordered a digital timer that I'll program to start the heater when we expect to fly. WiFi would be a better choice and I may go to that later, but for now this seems like a better alternative.
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I've used these 2G/4G GSM switches since 2010 and I have yet to have one let me down even once.
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01-13-2018, 05:53 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Spring Lake, MI
Posts: 149
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I do have 2G unit that works on T-Mobile that I not using due to no T-Mobile reception in my area.
__________________
RV7A Completed
N315S
Dues Paid
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01-13-2018, 06:39 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Meridian ID, Aspen CO, Okemos MI
Posts: 2,645
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Is this a switch that would work?
https://www.amazon.com/Fashion-Wirel...l+phone+switch
The heater I have once turned off, the on switch needs to be pushed to get it to restart. I know I would have to get a different heater but it would still be nice to control it with a cell call.
Edit: thanks for the info Mike. I thought maybe walmart phone or T Mobil may work. That does explain the price!
__________________
rockwoodrv9a
Williamston MI
O-320 D2A
Awaiting DAR Inspection
Last edited by rockwoodrv9 : 01-13-2018 at 07:23 PM.
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01-13-2018, 07:15 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 1,039
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rockwoodrv9
Is this a switch that would work?
https://www.amazon.com/Fashion-Wirel...l+phone+switch
The heater I have once turned off, the on switch needs to be pushed to get it to restart. I know I would have to get a different heater but it would still be nice to control it with a cell call.
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That switch would work if you could find a provider that still had 2G GSM service. I don't know of any...ATT and TMobile are both 4G. I learned that the hard way when my older heater relay wouldn't work this year. I think most carriers have abandoned the 2G band. That's probably why the switchbox is only $50.
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01-13-2018, 08:11 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NC25
Posts: 3,507
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bullojm1
That switch would work if you could find a provider that still had 2G GSM service. I don't know of any...ATT and TMobile are both 4G. I learned that the hard way when my older heater relay wouldn't work this year. I think most carriers have abandoned the 2G band. That's probably why the switchbox is only $50.
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T-Mobile still support 2G GSM. Talk is they will support it through 2019.
__________________
Gary A. Sobek
NC25 RV-6 Flying
3,400+ hours
Where is N157GS
Building RV-8 S/N: 80012
To most people, the sky is the limit.
To those who love aviation, the sky is home.
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01-13-2018, 08:26 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 1,039
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RV6_flyer
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T-Mobile's 2G network doesn't work at my home airport or my home. I popped a SIM card in my 2G GSM Switch box and it doesn't even pick up a signal. Same SIM card in a new 4G box and it worked flawlessly. T-Mobile 2G worked just fine 2 years ago.
Point is, if you are investing in a new switchbox, make sure it is 4G. The 2/3G models may or may not work, and they definitely have a short lifespan.
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01-13-2018, 08:36 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 745
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So I went and researched this all out this afternoon. Yeah, the $300 switch box would work apparently, but I'd still have to get a AT&T prepaid Mobile Hotspot box for another $60, and then purchase their 1 gig plan for another $25, plus pay whatever for a monthly fee. ( Mike bullojm1) mentioned the T Mobile sim for some $10 per month or so.
All the others, Wemo etc, require a WiFi at the hangar which I don't have. Long story short, if I still lived in Milwaukee, yeah--do it. But I now live in Atlanta, in a hangar---and thus I'd need this about 4 to 6 times a year in January and February. I'm thinking, it's not worth the money anymore. I've got a "many amps heater" with a fan in it, and then one of those big silver colored heat duct tubes (like your furnace uses)---shove that up the back end air vent exit, by the exhaust pipes and wait. Can't remember from last year if it took a half hour or a full hour.
Ho Hum---woulda been nice. 
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01-14-2018, 05:11 AM
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: KBVY Massachusetts
Posts: 1,100
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donaziza
So I went and researched this all out this afternoon. Yeah, the $300 switch box would work apparently, but I'd still have to get a AT&T prepaid Mobile Hotspot box for another $60, and then purchase their 1 gig plan for another $25, plus pay whatever for a monthly fee. ( Mike bullojm1) mentioned the T Mobile sim for some $10 per month or so.
All the others, Wemo etc, require a WiFi at the hangar which I don't have. Long story short, if I still lived in Milwaukee, yeah--do it. But I now live in Atlanta, in a hangar---and thus I'd need this about 4 to 6 times a year in January and February. I'm thinking, it's not worth the money anymore. I've got a "many amps heater" with a fan in it, and then one of those big silver colored heat duct tubes (like your furnace uses)---shove that up the back end air vent exit, by the exhaust pipes and wait. Can't remember from last year if it took a half hour or a full hour.
Ho Hum---woulda been nice. 
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Why do you need the $60 mobile hot spot box? I have the $300 switchbox and I don't have the hot spot box.
__________________
Flying RV-8 N880BC
2019 Dues - happily paid.
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01-14-2018, 09:22 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 745
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Saville
Why do you need the $60 mobile hot spot box? I have the $300 switchbox and I don't have the hot spot box.
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Gregg, Educate me if you would please. Best Buy and AT&T said I needed it---to transmit the cell signal to the switchbox?? If I don't need it Fantastic. Can you explain it here in detail, not only for me, but for all the others watching too? 
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01-14-2018, 09:58 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Reno NV
Posts: 542
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Turning on cold weather Eng. heat w/smart phone
I have the latter version of the Switchbox and I pay $3/mo service fee plus 10 cents per text. It costs 40 cents to turn on the heat and turn it off. It works like this, you text to turn on the heat, the Switchbox texts you back to say it's on. You text to turn off the heat, the box tests you back to say it's off. You can't simply unplug the extension(to save 20 cents) when you get to the hangar, because if you do the Switchbox gets out of sync. You payT-Moble in advance , if the card runs out of money, you have 3 months before it expires and you have to buy a new sim card. The second best thing I like about the Box is that it has a White Page, it will only accept calls from the numbers you enter, all others are rejected, no "wrong number" calls turning your box off and on. The thing I don't like is that it has no lights to tell the box is powered up or lights to indicate which of the two lines is heating the oil or making the coffee. I understand the latest version has little murcury lights in the recepticals. Hope this helps, Dan from Reno
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