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The AT&T 3G MicroCell Owner's Thread

I see that you have Verizon FIOS and all should be good with your Internet connection - however, I wouldn't summarily rule out the connection without a few more specific tests. I used to have a cable service that had great speeds, but they had an issue where speeds would slowly degrade with larger (or constant) file transfers. This just taught me to look at all aspects of the situation. You've had an identical experience with two M-Cells, perhaps you should again look outside the box? (so to speak...).

Try some speed tests and/or different diagnostics to really rule out your FIOS connection. If possible, take your M-Cell over to a friend's house and see what your results are -- couldn't hurt.

I've only had my M-Cell for a few days (w/ iPhone 4), and while I live in the middle of LA, the signal from outside is weaker than that from my M-cell, so I have pretty good luck defaulting to the M-cell when originating calls. I have experienced the "bumpy road" thing a couple of times now and suspected a QOS setting (i.e., my Outlook e-mail checks for mail every 15 minutes and I suspected that I needed to use the GAMEFUEL feature of my router to prioritize the M-CELL data traffic).

Don't give up, but be patient with AT&T as they can only help you if you keep them engaged and on your side. I know it can be frustrating, but you sound technically competent and up to the challenge. If nothing else, you'll have great advice from your experience to share with others on the forum.

Good luck!
 
I was able to aleviate the speed bump calls by putting the microcell in priority mode.

Instructions for priority mode can be found here.

http://www.wireless.att.com/support...documents/1252584282478.UserManual_090409.pdf

priority mode is on page 11

On At&t forums there is a discussion going on about M-Cell and FIOS. It seems that enableing different ports on the router helps.

Here is a link to the M-Cell FIOS thread.

http://forums.wireless.att.com/t5/A...-T-3G-Microcell-and-Verizon-FIOS/td-p/1922755
 
AbSoluTc: very nice investigative work ... that makes alot of sense ... would anyone else be able to test his theory on a 3gs to see if it operates differently?
 
All page 11 says is to turn on the microcell before you turn on your wifi router ... not sure how that would enable "priority mode" ... for me my fios router is the modem ...
 
I apologize, I did not know that with FIOS the router and the modem are the same device. I have a seperate modem and router.

What I did was run a ethernet cable from the back of the routers internet port to the back of the microcell to the computer port. Then from the ethernet port on the microcell to the ethernet port on your modem . Then power on the devices in the following order.

1 Modem
2 Microcell
3 Router

My Wifi is still as fast as it was prior to the reconfig and I have not had any speed bump calls since configuring this way.


Hope this Helps someone.
 
I don't think it's FIOS/Router/Modem at all honestly. We have never had an issue. I also can't put the Mcell ahead of the modem either. I have checked to make sure all the ports and stuff are open and all seems fine in that respect.

I went around and surprise busted into every room. Nobody is watching porn. ;)

I am going to get a new sim card today and see if that makes any difference. AT&T did advise me to try that and honestly, what can it hurt? So I am going to do that.

I have also been following the threads on the AT&T forums about some of the issues as well.
 
Fant said:
AbSoluTc: very nice investigative work ... that makes alot of sense ... would anyone else be able to test his theory on a 3gs to see if it operates differently?
Click to expand...

It would be nice to know if anyone can duplicate this.
 
I've had a Microcell for some time now and I've noticed since purchasing an iPhone 4, there are times when I need to be within 5 or so feet of the Microcell for it to work. Well, it works from a greater distance but the call is choppy and not really understandable.

So, my sense is that for whatever reason, the Microcell struggles to broadcast beyond 5 feet...at times.
 
skinnylegs said:
I've had a Microcell for some time now and I've noticed since purchasing an iPhone 4, there are times when I need to be within 5 or so feet of the Microcell for it to work. Well, it works from a greater distance but the call is choppy and not really understandable.

So, my sense is that for whatever reason, the Microcell struggles to broadcast beyond 5 feet...at times.
Click to expand...

I mostly have the choppy problem when I hold the phone the wrong way. If I hold it with my fingers rather then cupping the phone it seems to work ok, still only about 10 feet before seeing it fade though.
 
djrobsd said:
I mostly have the choppy problem when I hold the phone the wrong way. If I hold it with my fingers rather then cupping the phone it seems to work ok, still only about 10 feet before seeing it fade though.
Click to expand...
Interesting. I'll have to try that. I did get a bumper pad but I don't use it a lot because the car charger I have won't connect to it properly with the bumper pad on.
 
I was able to aleviate the speed bump/stuttering calls by putting the microcell in priority mode.

Instructions for priority mode can be found here.

http://www.wireless.att.com/support_...ual_090409.pdf

priority mode is on page 11

What I did was run a ethernet cable from the back of the routers internet port to the back of the microcell to the computer port. Then from the ethernet port on the microcell to the ethernet port on your modem . Then power on the devices in the following order.

1 Modem
2 Microcell
3 Router

My Wifi is still as fast as it was prior to the reconfig and I have not had any speed bump calls since configuring this way.

I figured I would repost this information here.

Hope this Helps someone.. .

Edit>>> Just spoke with my wife, she was on the M-Cell and on her end I was stuttering briefly. I think this is because she has not powered her phone off then back on since I changed the M-Cell to Priority Mode. She restarting her Iphone now... I will keep everyone posted.
 
RMXO said:
I called AT&T and spoke to a CS rep and failed at trying to get a free Microcell. She wasn't able to get me anything for free. She kept apologizing for me having crappy reception & pointed me to the nearest AT&T store to buy a microcell.

She did say she will transfer me or point me to another tower but that didn't help at all. I live with a bunch of roommates who have the same issue but are too cheap to pitch in on getting a Microcell.

Guess, I continue to work on my tan while making all my phone calls out on the parking lot.
Click to expand...

I was able to get a $50 credit applied to my account when I called AT&T prior to buying my MCell after complaining about no signal at home
 
Per AT&T, I had my sim replaced today. It did not help. Problems are still present.
 
Per AT&T, I had my sim replaced today. It did not help. Problems are still present.
 
AbSoluTc said:
Do you think it was just a coincidence? I might give this a try. I was on the phone with AT&T for about an hour and a half today. My phone dropped the call twice so I had to get my brothers phone (iPhone 4). It was also doing the same thing with the garbled nonsense over and over again. It was terrible. They opened a ticket for engineering and they are going to go from there. This problem is horrible.

While on the phone, it had full 5 bars and then towards the end, it dropped to none. As soon as I hung up, it went to searching, no signal and then came back to showing no bars and NO mcell. Few seconds later, it was back on mcell and full 5 bars.

Makes no damn sense.
Click to expand...
That didn't work...
I am on my 2nd microcell and my second iphone 4 (1st iphone 4 had many problems) and still the problem with the robotic-garbled audio persists. Restore did not fix the issue after all. My iphone 3g and my palm treo are not affected. I have a case number with apple care and also a trouble ticket with AT&T on the matter. AT&T rep had heard of this issue. He also reads these forums and was informed.
 
AbSoluTc
I am with you on this 100%. Exactly what mine is doing. 2nd microcell, 2nd iphone 4...no change. Other phones are fine.
 
A friend says that, in short, he can leave home and have his microcell call handed off to a tower without a problem, but when he drives back home, as soon as the microcell tries to pick up the call, it's dropped. Happens every time without fail.

Personally, I'd love a microcell since I have almost no reception at home but it's STILL not available here (I guess I'm not part of the "nation") and, according to AT&T, won't be until October at the earliest. From all the problems I've seen, that might be a blessing. Now I'm thinking of saying the hell with it and getting a repeater with a directional antenna and putting it on the roof.
 
audiomixer said:
AbSoluTc
I am with you on this 100%. Exactly what mine is doing. 2nd microcell, 2nd iphone 4...no change. Other phones are fine.
Click to expand...

It sucks doesn't it? I swear it's the towers trying to take over my phone while it's connected to the Mcell. Not sure what can prevent that though. :(

There are threads over on Apple forums, AT&T forums and here with people having the same problems.

mgamber said:
A friend says that, in short, he can leave home and have his microcell call handed off to a tower without a problem, but when he drives back home, as soon as the microcell tries to pick up the call, it's dropped. Happens every time without fail.

Personally, I'd love a microcell since I have almost no reception at home but it's STILL not available here (I guess I'm not part of the "nation") and, according to AT&T, won't be until October at the earliest. From all the problems I've seen, that might be a blessing. Now I'm thinking of saying the hell with it and getting a repeater with a directional antenna and putting it on the roof.
Click to expand...

I hear it will hand off if you are leaving but not hand off coming back.
 
Exact same problems here, OP. I purchased a Microcell last week. First, it took four days to get working because the backend systems at AT&T were down. When I finally got it working, I experienced the "speed bump" distortion you talked about. I would hear one word out of three, if I was lucky. This is when I was literally 10 feet from the tower, on a business-class Road Runner connection-- plenty of bandwidth.

But, what finally forced me to return it was the lag. When talking on the phone, there was a 1-2 second delay between when I stopped talking, and when the other person heard me. It made for some really awkward conversations...

In the end, the only conclusion I can draw is that the unit is not worth the $150 I paid for it. The setup was a pain (temporary problem in my case), and the performance simply wasn't up to par.
 
Only had a problem with the Microcell the weekend after the iphone 4 was launched because their activation servers were down. Not a single problem since. I have two iphone 4's and one ipad connected to the microcell with no problems at all. BTW, I'm using a Verizon Fios modem/router connected to a Time Capsule Wifi.
 
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