3G MicroCell

Vic_C

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I just picked one up and all I can say is Thank You AT&T!!! For I and others that can't get or get poor reception at home this is WONDERFUL!!! Took 15 minutes to set up and get 5 bars in my house where I usually got no service except near a window in my home office where i would get maybe 1 - 2 bars. It cost $100 less than what Verizon has to offer. It did not opt for the $20/mo unlimited plan due to our family plan having so many roll-over minutes. If you get the unlimited plan you get a $100 rebate from AT&T so the MicroCell will only cost you $50 for the hardware. Now I can get rid of my home phone thru my cable co. and save $25 a month!! So in 6 months the MicroCell will have paid for itself!! Very Nice!!! :D
 

miked#IM

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So, if I understand this right, the MicroCell plugs into your router, and then any calls from cell phones in your house go through the MicroCell onto the Internet; is that right?

Questions:

1) So if you don't buy the unlimited plan, minutes are taken off your normal phone plan (as if you weren't connecting thru the MicroCell), and you don't pay anything extra for the Microcell capability but for the device itself?

2) What happens if your MicroCell is in range with your neighbors' phones -- will your neighbors phone calls go onto your Internet, too?
 

Vic_C

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1) Yes and No. It is not VoIP. It still goes over the AT&T network. You do use your regular minutes if you choose not to get the unlim plan.

2) No. You have to program in which Cell numbers can access the MicroCell so people cannot hack off your signal.

So far I have had no problems. Sound quality has been excellent while walking around in and out of my house while on my iPhone. It has a 5000 sf reach so I can go out back and still stay connected. I am very pleased with it!!!
 
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jhamilton3

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I still find it overpriced and feel like AT&T should give them away for dirt cheap or free because its their problem that their network is crap.
 

whmurray

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When is this going to be available in other parts of the U.S.? I really need this in Wisconsin.
This is one more instance of AT&T and their games. I am afraid that this trial has reset the clock. 2009 may or may not happen now. By rolling it out in one market, AT&T has covered themselves.

However, I seriously doubt that the server can tell or cares where in the Internet the microcell is. One can fly to Charlotte, pick one up, and take it to Wisconsin.
 

jhamilton3

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This is one more instance of AT&T and their games. I am afraid that this trial has reset the clock. 2009 may or may not happen now. By rolling it out in one market, AT&T has covered themselves.

However, I seriously doubt that the server can tell or cares where in the Internet the microcell is. One can fly to Charlotte, pick one up, and take it to Wisconsin.

LOL - thats a good idea
 

whmurray

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1) Yes and No. It is not VoIP. ...........
Well, yes it really is. By definition, the part of the path between the micro-cell and the AT&T Server, is voice over Internet Protocol. As with any cell, how this cell is connected to the PSTN is "transparent" to the phone. However, all of the switching, metering, and call completion is in the public switched telephone network. To your cell phone this cell looks just like any other cell.


.
 

DaPeeps

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This is one more instance of AT&T and their games. I am afraid that this trial has reset the clock. 2009 may or may not happen now. By rolling it out in one market, AT&T has covered themselves.

However, I seriously doubt that the server can tell or cares where in the Internet the microcell is. One can fly to Charlotte, pick one up, and take it to Wisconsin.

Actually, they CAN tell where its being used. The microcell uses an external GPS device that hooks up to it, and AT&T can control precisely where it can and cant be used. Sprint's is the same way...I used to use their version of it. This is done so that you cant take it with you and use it overseas or internationally. Theoretically, they could use it to block you from using it in certain parts of the USA as well, which they may very well be doing during the rollout. I am not sure if they ARE...just saying they very well could.

And no, the device will not work without the GPS connected and locked on...so theres no fooling it.
 

whmurray

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Actually, they CAN tell where its being used. The microcell uses an external GPS device that hooks up to it, and AT&T can control precisely where it can and cant be used. Sprint's is the same way...I used to use their version of it. This is done so that you cant take it with you and use it overseas or internationally. Theoretically, they could use it to block you from using it in certain parts of the USA as well, which they may very well be doing during the rollout. I am not sure if they ARE...just saying they very well could.

And no, the device will not work without the GPS connected and locked on...so theres no fooling it.
God, no wonder it is taking them so long to make it work.

How say you, Vic_C? Do you have an external GPS?
 

Vic_C

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Negative. It has the ability to screw an external antenna into the back of it but I am not using it. The internal antenna is picking up my location just fine. When I was hooking it up the instructions stated it could take as long as 90 minutes to lock on to a GPS signal. It took mine less than 10. I live in a very heavily wooded area and I just set it next to the window on top of my bookcase in my home office. We had the Verizon Network Extender with our Storms but it would fight over which one would connect up to it and forget about my daughters Curve....it was so unreliable. So far all 3 of our iPhones have had no problems connecting and the voice quality is outstanding!!
 

DaPeeps

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Ahh thats right...I forgot it has an internal GPS as well. The Sprint unit did too....and I forgot about it because I had to use the external on mine....wouldnt get a lock where I had it. The cord on the external is so damn long that I was able to run it under the carpet and up to the window.

Either way, you need the GPS lock for the unit to work.
 

whmurray

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Well, 2009 has come and gone. The microcell is still not available in most markets. It is more needed now than ever because service is so bad in so many areas. The trials have "reset the clock" and there are no new announcements. If this were rocket science, their competitors would not have been able to do it either. It would really be nice if they just kept quiet instead of making promises that they are not able to keep.
 
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whmurray

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Don't you have a monthly fee.....
No, because it is just another cell. It consumes the minutes of the phone that is using it. In fact, AT&T should pay you for operating a cell on their network.

Since the product is not generally available, it is moot anyway.
 

whmurray

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No, because it is just another cell. It consumes the minutes of the phone that is using it. In fact, AT&T should pay you for operating a cell on their network.

Since the product is not generally available, it is moot anyway.

Now that I think about it, why would one do that. If one is home, one could just use Skype or TruPhone. Perhaps not quite as seamless as the mythical magical microcell but available and cheap. Hardly anything is as good as "magical." If one merely wants to talk about it, magical wins every time.
 

flyingember

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No, because it is just another cell. It consumes the minutes of the phone that is using it. In fact, AT&T should pay you for operating a cell on their network.

Since the product is not generally available, it is moot anyway.

I believe you have to pay for the device at a minimum
 

matthew23

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I am waiting for this as well as I get no service in my apartment (not at&t's fault - perfect service outside the window but when shut it blocks everything). Everyday I check availability and google for updates. It is so frustrating. I really hope Verizon gets the iPhone (verizon and sprint work pretty well - must be a bandwidth frequency thing). I am giving AT&T until the iPhone comes out on Veirzon to get with it or I am gone! (Take that AT&T!!!)
 

whmurray

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I believe you have to pay for the device at a minimum
That is my understanding. The microcell operator pays for the cell and for the Internet access. The phone owner pays according to his plan, usually "minutes."

However, since it is not offered in most markets, including mine, I know only what the media have reported. AT&T will only tell me "not available in your market." Price is what someone is willing to sell it for and someone else is willing to pay. AT&T is not willing to sell to me at any price.
 
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