FAQ-FreedomFi 5G

Folks, thank you all so much for your interest and support in the Helium-compatible FreedomFi Gateways for CBRS and Wi-Fi Offload. We are continued to experience an unprecedented volume of waitlist submissions and are working to increase capacity and fix various errors people are encountering. There have been a number of common issues that people experienced, so instead of answering individual questions we are publishing this supplemental FAQ. If you have additional questions please email support@freedomfi.com and allow us a few days to get back to you.

We are aware of the issue. This has affected many people. If you have been charged that means your place in line is secured. We will send you a separate email with the confirmation ID number in the next couple of days.

Yes. If you want to refund, please send an email support@freedomfi.com please reference the email you used to register for the waitlist and order ID. If you haven’t received an order ID due to the error above, please wait 2 days. We will provide an order ID which you can later use to cancel the order.

Our initial release focuses on mobile data offload using CBRS spectrum band, which is only available in the US. As we expand into Wi-Fi based mobile data offload and add new data roaming partners and radio vendors, we’ll be rolling out the services in countries out of the US. Expect to hear more towards the end of 2021

We are working with a couple of radio vendors that we will certify with the FreedomFi Helium Gateway. There will be indoor and outdoor options. We’ll provide more info closer to release.

Yes, that is the main feature of this new approach to building out network coverage. You can see more about inter-operator roaming here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaming

Magma team is working on S1 and S8 inbound and outbound, projected timely is this summer. Magma currently supports x2 handovers.

No, regular gateway is for private LTE. The Helium version has extra hardware and software to enable mining.

Currently targeting $500/unit, but we’ll announce the final price closer to shipping. 

We are working on the website, all orders will be processed. If we charge you, you will get a followup email. You can email support@freedomfi.com to ensure we have a tracked request. 

—-We will be updating this FAQ in real time as more problems occur… but hopefully not =) —-

FreedomFi Gateway hosts will provide wireless network coverage for IoT devices and cellular devices (like cell phones) operating in CBRS spectrum band. In return for providing this coverage and passing data through the device, operators are rewarded with HNT cryptocurrency. HNT cryptocurrency is freely exchangeable to other cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin etc.) or fiat currencies at many popular cryptocurrency exchanges. Please refer to public data sources for HNT price and places to trade.

Yes. In addition to the FreedomFi Gateway you will need to buy a radio, certified to operate in the CBRS band. We are currently working with a number of CBRS radio manufacturers to certify their products’ compatibility with FreedomFi Gateway and the Helium network. We expect the radios to cost between $500 and $5000, depending on radio signal strength and throughput capabilities. The more powerful and expensive radios will enable owners to mine more HNT rewards.

We expect the production cost of FreedomFi Gateways to be $500. Cost of additional equipment for earning rewards related to cellular data offload may vary from $500 to $5000 per CBRS cellular radio. FreedomFi Gateways will allow you to plug in or more CBRS radios to maximize data offload throughput and your resulting HNT mining rewards.

Yes. HNT mining is a new, optional capability that can be switched on and off. Traditional FreedomFi Gateways with no mining or LoRa module are still available for sale and immediate shipping on FreedomFi website for $299. FreedomFi remains committed to its mission of helping customers build cost efficient and secure Private 5G networks with open source software and commodity hardware.

Not at this time. Our initial release focuses on mobile data offload using CBRS spectrum band, which is only available in the US. As we expand into Wi-Fi based mobile data offload and add new data roaming partners and radio vendors, we’ll be rolling out the services in countries out of the US. Expect to hear more towards the end of 2021.

FreedomFi Gateways will come with a pre-integrated LoRa module and, by default, will act as a Helium hotspot, mining rewards for proof of coverage and data on the LoRa network. However, in addition to LoRa HNT rewards, FreedomFi Gateway owners will also be able to also earn rewards for offloading data from mobile networks of the Helium network roaming partners offering rewards to the hosts above and beyond the traditional Helium Hotspots. Learn more about mobile data offload here.

The rewards may vary depending on the location of your FreedomFi Gateway, capability of the CBRS radio plugged in to it, reliability of your internet connection and the number of roaming partners on the network. We encourage you to review Helium Explorer to see historic rewards mined by various hotspots or join a Helium discord channel to find out more.

While the first release of FreedomFi Gateway will only provide capability for mobile data offload using CBRS radios, we expect to add the capability for offloading data using Wi-Fi access points in Q1 2022. That capability will via a remote software update and will not require purchasing a different FreedomFi Gateway.

Expect an order of magnitude lower cost per gigabyte offloaded compared to alternatives and a quick, standards based integration with your mobile network core. Please contact us to learn more.