The AT&T 3G MicroCell Owner's Thread

[tivoboy]

yes

Question ... i'm thinking about getting the 3g Microcell for my house which has horrible coverage ... but now that the iphone plans charge you for 3g data, if i use 3g data thru the microcell, will this count against my 200mb or 2gb plan?!

Yes, it appears that even though THROUGH the Microcell you use your OWN BANDWIDTH that AT&T will charge this towards your monthly minutes, so without unlimited data you might reach a cap pretty quickly at home.

Just another reason that apple NEEDS to put in some form of location aware networking switcher, to switch to WIFI when at home, or office for example

 

[DotCom2]

Why would anyone turn their WiFI off and go on 3G if you don't have to?
Just put your phone on WifI and LEAVE it there!
PROBLEM SOLVED!

 

[yg17]

Why would anyone turn their WiFI off and go on 3G if you don't have to?
Just put your phone on WifI and LEAVE it there!
PROBLEM SOLVED!

Save battery? I'm on the unlimited data plan and the 3G network is plenty fast out here. I see no benefit to having WiFi on all the time.

 

[Komiksulo]

Why would anyone turn their WiFI off and go on 3G if you don't have to?
Just put your phone on WifI and LEAVE it there!
PROBLEM SOLVED!

This would solve a problem I have, which is spotty-to-nonexistent 3G coverage at home. If I'm waiting for a call, oftentimes I will not receive it and it goes to voicemail... or the phone will ring and I won't be able to understand the caller.

I wish Fido in Canada had these.

 

[DotCom2]

Save battery? I'm on the unlimited data plan and the 3G network is plenty fast out here. I see no benefit to having WiFi on all the time.

Well if you have unlimited then I guess it doesn't matter but I do believe that it is the other way around on the battery. The 3G uses up the battery more than the wifi but whatever.
I would research that a bit more if I were you.

 

[yg17]

Well if you have unlimited then I guess it doesn't matter but I do believe that it is the other way around on the battery. The 3G uses up the battery more than the wifi but whatever.
I would research that a bit more if I were you.

But why leave WiFi on during the day when I'm away from home? That wastes battery, and I can't be arsed to toggle it on and off.

Doesn't matter though, my Nexus One gets great battery life even if 3G uses more battery.

 

[Fant]

Yes i have the unlimitted plan on my iphone but my wife's will not. Its for 2 reasons that i asked about getting charged for the 3g data:

1) When the phone is sleep and checking voicemails and receiving emails, it usually does this using 3G since (i believe) 3g uses less power than wifi. When you turn on your iphone you'll notice it says 3g first then it switches to wifi when it turns on and finds your network.

2) For some reason if my wifi router stopped working or locked up and my phone began using 3g i might not realize for some time. During that time if the microcell is using my broadband i think its kind of unfair to charge me for that data against my allowance.

 

[JuNxXxReY]

Question ... i'm thinking about getting the 3g Microcell for my house which has horrible coverage ... but now that the iphone plans charge you for 3g data, if i use 3g data thru the microcell, will this count against my 200mb or 2gb plan?!

I've had the Microcell since it was available in my area from AT&T. By connecting it to a router, you use your wifi for all your data needs. This way, you won't be using any of your allotted 3G data. When you make a phone call, you'll be using your minutes, but still not using up your data. Don't worry about not having unlimited data when using from your home.

I would highly recommend the Microcell. Service at my house was horrible until the Microcell became available; it was like night and day. Yes, I feel that it's wrong for AT&T to still charge me for using my minutes when making a phone call since I'm using my own bandwidth, but that's a different argument. Hope this helps.

 

[Razeus]

Let me get this straight:

Instead of AT&T fixing their towers/network to get more coverage, they are selling people Microcell's that gives them 3G in their home.

In additiona to charging me for voice, data, AND text on my iPhone, I still have to give AT&T MORE money for Microcell every month? This Microcell uses the minutes I ALREADY PAID FOR? So now I'm paying for voice twice?

Something is not right with this scenario. Wouldn't it be cheaper just get a land line service if you're concerned about getting calls?

 

[RaceTripper]

Let me get this straight:

Instead of AT&T fixing their towers/network to get more coverage, they are selling people Microcell's that gives them 3G in their home.

In additiona to charging me for voice, data, AND text on my iPhone, I still have to give AT&T MORE money for Microcell every month? This Microcell uses the minutes I ALREADY PAID FOR? So now I'm paying for voice twice?

Something is not right with this scenario. Wouldn't it be cheaper just get a land line service if you're concerned about getting calls?

I want to get rid of my land line. If a Microcell helps me do that, it's cheaper. I am in an old house with plaster/lathe walls, so that might be affecting reception for me. As much as I'd like to I can't blame AT&T for that.

I may be getting one tomorrow.

 

[Razeus]

I want to get rid of my land line. If a Microcell helps me do that, it's cheaper. I am in an old house with plaster/lathe walls, so that might be affecting reception for me. As much as I'd like to I can't blame AT&T for that.

I may be getting one tomorrow.

Is there a monthly fee to the Microcell? That's what I'm trying to find out. If there is, then this is a rip off.

 

[aliebel]

The Microcell is a one-time fee to purchase. Without rebates it is $150. With that any minutes you use are accrued on your regular plan. But, if you choose to add on a microcell calling plan (Allowing unlimited minutes when using the Microcell) for $20/mo. the Microcell is then a one-time fee to purchase of $100. I believe there are a couple more rebates bringin it down to $50 but you'd have to check your retail store about that.

 

[AbSoluTc]

Called AT&T today. The microcell will be for sale in my area on Sunday the 20th. Two stores confirmed that.

I also called AT&T @ 611 and spoke with customer service. I explained my issue and asked if they would be willing to credit my account to help lessen the blow of the purchase. They did. So I will be picking one up on Sunday

 

[millerb7]

I HAVE A 3G MICROCELL... have had one since release of it thru a friend at ATT.

I did not read this thread so I apologize if any of this is already covered but here are a few things I've learned by having it.....

There are 2 different ways to buy it:

1. out right at $149
2. on a monthly plan and a 2 year contract (you end up not paying for the device (or only paying around $49)

If you do the out right purchase, it USES YOUR PLANS MINUTES.... end of story.

If you do the monthly plan, you get unlimited minutes while connect to your microcell

You can add 10 ATT (I REPEAT, ATT ONLY) lines to your microcell, only 4 can be connected at one time. Whoever is connected to your microcell, it seems uses YOUR minutes (not 100% verified).


You can start a call on the microcell AND TRAVEL OFF OF IT TO A CELL TOWER... BUT YOU CANNOT START A CALL ON A CELL TOWER AND TRAVEL INTO THE MICROCELL.

That's about it... any other questions just ask.

Oh yeah, it freaking rocks, I get 5 bar 3G service over about 5000 square feet.

 

[yg17]

I've had the Microcell since it was available in my area from AT&T. By connecting it to a router, you use your wifi for all your data needs. This way, you won't be using any of your allotted 3G data. When you make a phone call, you'll be using your minutes, but still not using up your data. Don't worry about not having unlimited data when using from your home.

Not quite. Data over 3G on the Microcell is counted towards your monthly data cap if you have one. Data over Wifi is not counted. If you're grandfathered into the unlimited plan, it's not a big deal

Let me get this straight:

Instead of AT&T fixing their towers/network to get more coverage, they are selling people Microcell's that gives them 3G in their home.

I get 5 bars outside on my apartment balcony. I get 1 or 2 inside. It's likely the material my building is made out of that blocks cell signals. How is that AT&T's fault? AT&T could stick a tower in my backyard and it probably wouldn't help much. The MicroCell is now great because now I get 5 bars constantly.

In additiona to charging me for voice, data, AND text on my iPhone, I still have to give AT&T MORE money for Microcell every month? This Microcell uses the minutes I ALREADY PAID FOR? So now I'm paying for voice twice?

No monthly fee for the Microcell and it deducts from your plan. Or you can pay $20 for unlimited minutes on the Microcell.

Something is not right with this scenario. Wouldn't it be cheaper just get a land line service if you're concerned about getting calls?

$150 one-time fee for the Microcell, if you opt to use your minutes and don't go with the unlimited plan is cheaper than a landline in the long run.

 

[AbSoluTc]

I HAVE A 3G MICROCELL... have had one since release of it thru a friend at ATT.

I did not read this thread so I apologize if any of this is already covered but here are a few things I've learned by having it.....

There are 2 different ways to buy it:

1. out right at $149
2. on a monthly plan and a 2 year contract (you end up not paying for the device (or only paying around $49)

If you do the out right purchase, it USES YOUR PLANS MINUTES.... end of story.

If you do the monthly plan, you get unlimited minutes while connect to your microcell

You can add 10 ATT (I REPEAT, ATT ONLY) lines to your microcell, only 4 can be connected at one time. Whoever is connected to your microcell, it seems uses YOUR minutes (not 100% verified).


You can start a call on the microcell AND TRAVEL OFF OF IT TO A CELL TOWER... BUT YOU CANNOT START A CALL ON A CELL TOWER AND TRAVEL INTO THE MICROCELL.

That's about it... any other questions just ask.

Oh yeah, it freaking rocks, I get 5 bar 3G service over about 5000 square feet.

If a friend is connected to my microcell, it does NOT use MY minutes. It uses HIS. Plus that person has to be authorized before the phone will even connect.

 

[millerb7]

If a friend is connected to my microcell, it does NOT use MY minutes. It uses HIS. Plus that person has to be authorized before the phone will even connect.

I mentioned the authorized part... as far as the minute usage, I had checked my bill yet... so thanks for clearing that up.

 

[tivoboy]

reason

I think the reason that AT&T is going to charge 3G DATA usage over the microcell to ones minutes, is because currently it isn't enabled for them to TRACK which is coming over the microcell and which isn't. It will probably be in a future software update the ability to categorize 3G minutes as over the cellular 3G network OR the Microcell, OR over WIFI. Probably in io4, it will be better enabled but not universally so across phones on the microcell, so they make the disclaimer that at least NOW it will use add to your data usage monthly.

 

[cmcclure16]

Two questions:

1) Will the Microcell work in locations where there is absolutely NO signal or cell towers? I live out in the Napa Valley and there are no cell towers out here.

2) Are there limitations/requirements for the internet that it's connected to? I have a 3 Mbps connection currently.

 

[jeremy.king]

Two questions:

1) Will the Microcell work in locations where there is absolutely NO signal or cell towers? I live out in the Napa Valley and there are no cell towers out here.

2) Are there limitations/requirements for the internet that it's connected to? I have a 3 Mbps connection currently.

Yes, that's the whole point

and

The faster the better. They require minimum of 1.5mbps d/l and 256kbps u/l

 

[cmcclure16]

I just picked up a MicroCell and had it up and running in 20 minutes. Working great so far.

 

[RaceTripper]

I just got one. Set it up in 30 mins. or so with activation. I made one call that got dropped while connected through it and it hasn't worked since. It's going back.

 

[AbSoluTc]

Picked my MicroCell up today. It's currently activating. I do have a question that I forgot to ask the AT&T rep. I understand this thing needs a GPS lock during setup so it needs to be near a window. However, after setup does it still need to be near a window? Can I move it more toward the middle of my house?

Thanks!

 

[cmcclure16]

Picked my MicroCell up today. It's currently activating. I do have a question that I forgot to ask the AT&T rep. I understand this thing needs a GPS lock during setup so it needs to be near a window. However, after setup does it still need to be near a window? Can I move it more toward the middle of my house?

Thanks!

Once it's activated you can move it, but I believe I read that it only maintains the GPS lock for 10 minutes so do it fast otherwise you'll need to set it up again.

 

[AbSoluTc]

Once it's activated you can move it, but I believe I read that it only maintains the GPS lock for 10 minutes so do it fast otherwise you'll need to set it up again.

I moved it to two different places. One was in the middle of the house downstairs - no go. The other was opposite of that spot within 12 feet of a window - no go. Either that or I did not give it long enough. I waited 20 minutes each time.

So I tried it on top of my computer which is 3 feet from a window. Worked fine. However it was at the far end of the house. This created issues with getting full signal at the opposite end. Lol. So I moved near the middle again, sitting right under a window. No issues. I have an ethernet cable run there for right now. Don't notice it. Just until I get an external GPS antenna to hook up. That will allow me to put it where I really want it.

So far, no issues. When its next to the window, GPS lock in about 2 minutes or less. Coverage is 5 bars through the house and call quality is superb. It's nice being downstairs and getting 5 bars - Same with upstairs.

Other than at home, I don't have any issues with AT&T. They say I get a $50 dollar rebate as well which is nice!