This group of people are not the developers of the open-source GSM basestation stack they demod, funding them does not contribute to the OpenBTS. Fairwaves built a business trying to commercialize the readily available OpenBTS software stack, which was developed by Range Networks. Range split and the original author of OpenBTS, is the project maintainer behind YateBTS, which is a totally revamped version of OpenBTS with support in the works for LTE. So if you care about GSM, and LTE basestations go directly to the source http://yatebts.com
CEO of Fairwaves here.
Just want to slightly correct here. We indeed started with OpenBTS, but we switched to Osmocom years ago for a variety of reasons including better code quality and proper community development model. And while we're not the original authors of Osmocom either, we added SDR devices support to it, polished osmo-trx to a state it can be used in production, wrote first GPRS implementation, etc, etc.
Right now Osmocom is a thriving community with several companies actively contributing, so it's moving faster than any other open-source GSM project out there. There will be more really exciting news about Osmocom soon - keep your eyes open.
So if you want to go to the source - I suggest http://osmocom.org/projects for real open-source.
Btw, no one stops you from using osmo-trx/LimeSDR with YateBTS if that's what you prefer. That's the beauty of choice open-source gives you.
Indeed, hardware is the key. You can't run a GSM base station without a good SDR transceiver attached to your PC. :)
In 2009 when we tried to launch OpenBTS with a USRP1 (Osmocom didn't work with SDR back then), it just didn't work and we had to spend days figuring out why and we had to solder a better clock to it to get it working. Today you have a selection of inexpensive SDR devices (B200, BladeRF, UmTRX.org) which let you run a GSM stack at home and LimeSDR is a great progress in this direction, especially given it's OSHW.
Note: always know the laws and check your local spectrum regulation policies if you want to run a GSM station. In most countries you need to get a license to do that even for educational/research purposes.
I also strongly discourage everyone from attaching any amplifiers to the aforementioned boards yourself. Even if you think you're sure you're not disrupting anything. Amplifiers will amplify all noise and spurs generated by your transceiver including ones in other bands you do not expect. So you may (and most likely will) interfere with other services. If you need a high power base station (and you have a license to run it) - get a commercial BTS which is tested to meet requirements and avoid interference. I can definitely recommend our UmSITE (shameless plug), but there are a number of other companies selling commercial BTSes.
If you're not interfering with existing services and run your BTS in a closed mode, 911 is not a concern, because a GSM BTS broadcast channel has a bit which indicates 911 service availability and all open-source GSM software disable this by default. So phones won't camp on your BTS for emergency services. To avoid interference you really should be running at low power like 1mW (on SDRs like UmTRX which have pretty high power by themselves you can easily reduce the power to a reasonable level) and use an unused ARFCN. Make sure to do a proper scan with fosphor/SDRangeLove to see traffic-only channels. Usual scan tools will give you a list of beacon (BCCH) channels, but will miss all TCH-only ones,
We're also partnering with Lime Microsystems (people behind LimeSDR) to create a next gen inexpensive embedded SDR - so you could turn an application you developed with LimeSDR into an industrial/embedded product easily. Check out http://xtrx.io for details.
The whole setup to run something like this already runs in the high thousands. If you plan on doing anything worthwhile (legally) you will be spending nearly $5,000 on a benchtop RF cage. If you plan on needing amplifiers to get more than 10 feet of range you will be spending $2,000 on an amplifier. There are no shortcuts in RF, operating an illegal basestation can very easily affect E911 service and put you in jail for a very long time if your basestation stops someone from receiving emergency services.
I don't want to go into too many details for obvious reasons but you really do not need to spend a 2000$ on an amplifier to get more than 10 feet of range if you are building say a DIY IMSI catcher.
Just suffice to say are over the counter (if you are willing to order from china, or heck Dealextreme) cell blockers and boosters that cost <200$ that can block cell reception over a much much greater area than a 10 ft radius.
That's not true. To run a benchtop setup you just need an inexpensive SDR (LimeSDR, UmTRX or B200) and your laptop - that's not "high thousands". If you're deploying networks professionally, then yes - you'll spend thousands on proper base stations, software to control them, etc. But in the latter case you should have your spectrum license, so operating a BTS should not be an issue.
Also see my post above about 911 services.
