I’m new here and recently set up a Route 10 with two AP6 Pros, all on the latest firmware. I’m trying to get AltaBoost working, but I’m a little confused.
When I enabled AltaBoost, a Wi-Fi network showed up called AltaBoost and it says AT&T Wi-Fi Passpoint, but from the video, I was under the impression it would improve cellular signal.
However, even when I connect to that network, my cell signal bars don’t go up at all.
Is this normal behavior? Or is something not working properly on my end? If this turns out to be a bigger issue, I’ll reach out to support directly, but figured I’d check here first.
@Alta-Josh to be fair, I think the phrase ‘Boost your cellular coverage without expensive boosters’ is what confused him. It reads as if the product can improve cellular signal strength without the need for a booster which is what a booster/extender does. It looks very interesting though.
@MichaelTraband checkout this video. Also, @Alta-Chase and @Alta-Jeff did a really nice live video discussing this feature, too. You can find it on their YouTube page or directly here.
Sure, that makes sense. Moments prior to your comment, I had embedded the video as well, so I hope that brings additional clarity. We are working to improve the article with more extensive documentation also.
Yes, thank you all so much for your response. I did see the video a livestream which probably confused me and I still think it boosts cell signal. Sorry for the confusion. I really hope it did improve cell signal, but that will have to be another day, I guess. Thank you so much.
For clarity, while it does not affect the cellular signal, it does improve connectivity in low-coverage zones where you have strong WiFi. We cannot broadcast a cell signal without including the necessary radio and probably a dozen certifications and regulatory approvals. What this feature does is carry your cell data through a secure tunnel over WiFi. Your cell signal, in this case, is instead your WiFi signal while you are within range of an AltaBoost SSID.
Who is asking for the AltaBoost feature? I think it makes no sense to let a carrier use my Wi-Fi as part of their backhaul for free. I think we need a proper demo video.
I think an example would help, ex- you own or go to a business for like a gym or coffee shop, where you are probably going to use your phone/device a lot but do not get good cell coverage inside, instead of trying to find out which Wi-Fi to use or having to help the user connect to the guest Wi-Fi, Altaboost basically uses passpoint to authenticate the device from the carrier and automatically provide wifi without user intervention providing a more seemless experience.
Businesses utilize this service to increase foot traffic. The service is basically frustration free guest wifi with no pop ups or passwords or advertising like traditional guest captive portal. There are many studies that point to improved connectivity raising revenue for businesses such as: Wi-Fi Marketing Essentials: Turn A Basic Utility Into A Profit Center .
One tactic I see is businesses changing the SSID to their business name for free advertising so they see the business name on their phone automatically and it just works.
There is also a paid option! As Chase mentioned, I’d recommend working with WayFi Wireless (Disclosure, I am affiliated with WayFi) for the paid version where you are paid automatically monthly over ACH for boosting coverage with the carriers.
Carrier offloading is primarily intended for environments such as public venues or enterprise locations where guests may not typically connect to a private Wi-Fi network and where cellular coverage is limited. When a compatible Passpoint profile is installed on a device, it enables automatic connection to the Wi-Fi network for both voice and data services, without user intervention.
For home users seeking improved cellular performance, the recommended solution is to enable Wi-Fi calling on your device.
Carrier offloading is generally not well-suited for home environments, as users typically prefer to connect to their primary Wi-Fi network to ensure access to local resources and devices within the home network.
The help article lacks clarity in explaining the purpose and appropriate use cases for this feature. Additionally, the absence of clear information regarding which national carriers are supported makes testing and validation more challenging. Based on the video provided, it appears that only AT&T is currently supported, meaning just one of the major U.S. carriers is compatible at this time.
Alta even suggest not using it for domestic purposes.
But if you’re a shopping centre or mall, you want customers to be able to seamlessly connect like a cell signal to look up items, access your in store application or banking app.