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The AT&T 3G MicroCell Owner's Thread

mrmike316 said:
so cmassa,any word on pricing this is what i have read online. for the unlimited service i am speaking of --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well from the article the pricing,$20/month unlimited calling

$10/month with AT&T DSL

$0 with AT&T landline.
Will i be able to get the unlimited for free since i have att landline
Click to expand...

It cost me $150. I have both AT&T DSL and a land line. You can get rebates up to $100 off the cost of the device with those if you sign up for the unlimited Microcell minutes plan at $20/month. We have a family plan and never use all our minutes anyway (we have >3000 roll-over minutes currently stored up) so I don't need to have unlimited minutes on the microcell. I have no plans to drop land lines either so our cell useage at home is relatively light. I really needed this because I am on call frequently and have to have reliable service. We frequently get "searching" messages in the house. I'm not willing to give up my iPhone to switch to a different carrier.

Setup was easy but I had to find a central location in the house near an ethernet jack so I could get coverage throughout the house. The first time I started it I had it at one end of the house and lost signal at the other end. I'm getting 5 bars everywhere now. We'll see how it works out.

Chris
 
Does the MicroCell also improve edge signals? Or does it only enhance 3G service? Reason for asking is that my mother has a AT&T curve 8900 which is edge only. Will adding her to my MicroCell enhance her service as well?
 
pilotkid said:
Does the MicroCell also improve edge signals? Or does it only enhance 3G service? Reason for asking is that my mother has a AT&T curve 8900 which is edge only. Will adding her to my MicroCell enhance her service as well?
Click to expand...

I think this was posted earlier in this thread - from the FAQ:

Q. What kind of phone do I need to work with the AT&T 3G MicroCell device?

A. An AT&T 3G cell phone or smartphone is required to work with the AT&T 3G MicroCell device.
 
thebubbatex said:
I think this was posted earlier in this thread - from the FAQ:

Q. What kind of phone do I need to work with the AT&T 3G MicroCell device?

A. An AT&T 3G cell phone or smartphone is required to work with the AT&T 3G MicroCell device.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I haven't kept up with this thread! But thanks for the info!
 
3G Microcell

They finally became available in New Mexico. Installation takes less time than I thought. Thought I would have problem as most windows here are tinted - which user manual says to avoid. Unit continually reset itself - sometimes after 15 minutes sometimes longer up to 2 hours. ATT support said it was power supply or location in the house. Changed location a number of times. Changed to Microcell only thing in power strip. No better. At least they called when they said they would and it was fairly easy to get in touch with them. Finally, exchanged the unit. It has been rock solid since. There are units that obviously have not passed QC properly. :)
 
Microcell up and running in SF Bay Area

Got my microcell this afternoon at the El Cerrito store and it was up and running in less than an hour with full 5-bar service throughout the house.

I opted for dropping my family plan from 1400 to 700 minutes to save $20 a month, then took the $20 a month unlimited Microcell calling to break even. Net cost after the $100 rebate was $65 and they reinstated 2000 of my rollover minutes.

The network connection is Ethernet to an Airport Extreme wired to a Cisco Router and out via Sonic.net Fusion broadband.
 
Got mine this weekend and it's working great. AT&T gave it to me for free here in San Diego. All I did was go into the store, talk to a VERY friendly (but a bit overly patronizing) customer service guy, and then his manager came over about 2 minutes into the conversation and showed his ultimate concern and made me feel like a "Valued" customer. They initially were trying to sell me on U-Verse and told me they would give me the Microcell for FREE if I signed up for U-Verse, but I told them that if their cellular service is not working properly for me I would not sign up for any other service until it's working properly. So, he kind of agreed with me, went into the back got the microcell, and the assistant manager keyed in some magic on the computer, and the $149.99 price suddenly was $0.00... So I got it for free!

It took about an hour to activate and it sent a text to my phone and also sent me an email. At first it wasn't working so good, was still dropping calls, and my phone even lost connection with visual voice mail so it said "Visual voice mail unavailable". It kept switching to the EDGE network back to the AT&T M-Cell.

The next day I rebooted the Microcell and my iPhone and everything magically seemed to work after that. However, I also, just to be on the safe side, got a new SIM card from AT&T later that day just in case since the CSR also suggested that.

I've talked on the phone for about 2 hours on the Microcell and it works great. It does still cut out a little bit when I go into my bedroom which was the problem area of the house before, so I'm going to have to keep an eye on that. However, as long as my phone rings every time someone calls and it promptly gives me my texts and doesn't drop calls I can deal with a little "cut outs" in the audio from time to time.
 
Would be nice if they rolled this out to EVERYONE and not just a few select markets. Good to see positive results though.
 
Apple Expert said:
Anyone able to purchase this in the Inland Empire (CA)?
Click to expand...

Nationwide roll out is expected next month. San Diego was one of the test markets, but I don't think IE was. You can go to AT&T's web site, and search for your local store. It will list all the products they have including U-Verse, and Micro-Cell. If they have Micro-Cell it will say right on the store locator results.

You could always drive down to your closest San Diego store and buy one. ;)
 
djrobsd said:
Nationwide roll out is expected next month. San Diego was one of the test markets, but I don't think IE was. You can go to AT&T's web site, and search for your local store. It will list all the products they have including U-Verse, and Micro-Cell. If they have Micro-Cell it will say right on the store locator results.

You could always drive down to your closest San Diego store and buy one. ;)
Click to expand...

If I do go purchase one in SD, will it work in my area since it needs the GPS to lock on?
 
From what I have read in this forum and this thread, if you purchase in San Diego and take it to a location that is not approved yet, it should not work.
 
"Call Failed" 3G MicroCell. Arizona & Nevada Customers...

So when my 3GS is connected to my MircoCell at home and I try to make a call it keeps saying "call failed". I also(later)found out that I haven't been receiving calls. Yet I have full bars of 3G and the little "M-Cell" icon. So I unplug my MicroCell and let it restart. Takes a couple of mins and then I test it again...Nothing, still doesn't work. Called AT&T and long story short the rep informed me that Arizona and Nevada customers are experiencing a outage with the MicroCell service and that she(the rep) would call me when the service has been restored. Just a FYI incase there were others out there wondering what is going on with the MicroCell.
 
Wireless internet

Does anyone know if the 3G microcell will work with a wireless internet provider like Clearwire? Thanks!!
 
Maine Availability

For anyone living in Maine the microcell became available earlier this week. It doesn't seem like AT&T is updating the availablity on their website (http://www.att.com/3gmicrocell). I randomly called our AT&T store and they happened to have several of them in stock. Anyone waiting to get one of these who is checking the AT&T website to find it's not available may want to stop by their local store or call just to see if and when they are available. You do not need to have 3G service in order to use/activate the Microcell (we don't have it yet in eastern Maine).

I setup mine last night and the process was very quick (under 30 minutes to activate online, hook up, and lock in a GPS signal at my house). Call quality is great. 5 bars in my house and downstairs in my basement. Just make sure the unit is close to a window to lock in a GPS signal.

A little secret that not everyone may know is that you can purchase the Microcell with the $20.00/month unlimited plan to receive the $100.00 rebate. The AT&T rep told me that the rebate should arrive in 6-8 weeks and once that has happened the Unlimited option can be dropped from the plan. Granted you will end up not getting the full amount by the time you have paid for a month or two of service.
 
Microcell Router compatibility

I live in NorCal and bought my microcell on Wed (4/21). My Linksys router does not seem to recognize the microcell. That is, when I connect the router to the microcell via an ethernet cable, none of the router's ethernet port lights come on. I have been on the phone with two AT&T techs (I was escalated to Tier II) and at one point we even had a Linksys/Cisco guy on the phone with us. Apparently, the router works fine as I can connect my laptop to the router and I get the correct ethernet light on the router. We tried set-up Option A and Option C. No luck. I was advised to go and exchange the microcell for a new one. Which I did today. No luck. I'm supposed to have a call back on Tuesday. I'll post the results of that encounter. I have a Linksys WRTP54G v 1.1. I have AT&T as my ISP. If anyone has any suggestions as to how to solve this problem I'd appreciate hearing them. Thanks.
 
eastbaytwins said:
I live in NorCal and bought my microcell on Wed (4/21). My Linksys router does not seem to recognize the microcell. That is, when I connect the router to the microcell via an ethernet cable, none of the router's ethernet port lights come on. I have been on the phone with two AT&T techs (I was escalated to Tier II) and at one point we even had a Linksys/Cisco guy on the phone with us. Apparently, the router works fine as I can connect my laptop to the router and I get the correct ethernet light on the router. We tried set-up Option A and Option C. No luck. I was advised to go and exchange the microcell for a new one. Which I did today. No luck. I'm supposed to have a call back on Tuesday. I'll post the results of that encounter. I have a Linksys WRTP54G v 1.1. I have AT&T as my ISP. If anyone has any suggestions as to how to solve this problem I'd appreciate hearing them. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Do you have a hub? Plug that into the router and then the MC into that. See if it lights up. I know it's probably obvious, but try another cable and make sure it's not a crossover cable.
 
AbSoluTc said:
Do you have a hub? Plug that into the router and then the MC into that. See if it lights up. I know it's probably obvious, but try another cable and make sure it's not a crossover cable.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion. I don't have a hub. I did try several cables 2 that I know work and the one that comes with the MC. No luck. Hopefully, tomorrow's call with AT&T will help resolve the issue. Thanks again for the suggestion. I appreciate the try.
 
I am going to be in San Diego next week on business. Will the att store let me buy 2 microcells even though I don't live in California? They currently are not available in the market I live in.
 
mmcxiiad said:
I am going to be in San Diego next week on business. Will the att store let me buy 2 microcells even though I don't live in California? They currently are not available in the market I live in.
Click to expand...

From what I hear, you won't be able to activate them if they are not for sale in your area. This may have changed so you might want to give 611 a call or something.
 
Nor Cal-Central valley micro-cell

I bought mine on 4/27/10 from my local AT&T store here in Nor. Cal in the central valley, city of Manteca. I called ahead of time to make sure it was in stock......then I asked them to place it on hold till I got there,because they only had two left.

The guy "Christian" was very helpful he activated and went threw the whole online process for me.....even put in the cell numbers I wanted to grant access to my new micro-cell........so all I had to do was go home and plug it in.
My setup at home is a comcast broadband modem.....to my linksys wrt610 wireless router....to a linksys EZXS88W 8 port hub......to a EZSX55W 5 port hub.......then into the micro-cell.

Since the activation was done at the store all I did was go home.....unplug the power to my 5 port hub,then plugged it back in then plugged in the power and Ethernet to the micro-cell........ I ate dinner, then checked my iPhone 3GS and micro-cell was working just fine! *Things could not have been easier.....5 to 4 bars threw my whole home and my home is just under 3100sft. Before I would just get a very unpredictable signal.... 2 bars then none,the 5 bars then none...ect.
 
eastbaytwins said:
Thanks for the suggestion. I don't have a hub. I did try several cables 2 that I know work and the one that comes with the MC. No luck. Hopefully, tomorrow's call with AT&T will help resolve the issue. Thanks again for the suggestion. I appreciate the try.
Click to expand...

I'd say if you could.....buy a new router....then see if that helps. If not then just return the router. I had problems with my older linksys router and networking with other devices.......... So last year I bought a new linksys wrt610 and haven't had a problem with ANYTHING since.
My micro-cell works just fine.

Again this may not solve your problem but just a idea.
 
Microcell + Airport Extreme N + Airport Express N

I just got my Microcell Tuesday, and had a bear of a time getting the setup to work with my Airport Extreme N and Express N setup. I finally figured out that the Microcell and the "wide channel" option doesn't play nice. All traffic (local and net) slows to a crawl with 5-30 sec pings. After trying every conceivable option, trying WDS, client, and extending networks, I got things to work only with the Express set to "join a wireless network" and the Extreme Base Station set to only N in the 5 GHZ band, and not use the "Use wide channels" option in the Wireless Tab's "Wireless Options" section.

I saw this drop in network performance due to the "Use wide channels" option with both the Microcell plugged in "priority configuration" between the cable modem (motorola surfboard) and the Base Station, and in plugging the microcell into the Base Station's LAN port.

This drops a lot of the bandwidth between the Base Station and the Express, as opposed to using the wide channels option: ~1.8 MB/sec (13.7 mbit/sec) as oppsed to ~7 MB/sec (56 mbit/sec).

Anyone else see this behavior or have a better workaround?
 
I'm happy I found this thread because I was thinking of creating a new one asking about microcell.....so I do have a few questions.

First of all, this device will be a lifesaver for me cuz I just moved intothe hills and I get no reception except in one part of the house. I always get "No Service" or "Searching...." or one bar with edge.

How does microcell work with iPhone? In terms of visual voicemail and text messaging?

Has the call quality / reliability improved since it's been out?

Does anyone have a microcell in Los Angeles? I checked on AT&T website and said it's not available here, is it safe to buy one off of eBay and use it here?

Thanks!
 
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