Comments on: Review: AT&T 3G MicroCell

By: Paul Stamatiou

Paul Stamatiou — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 22:08:15 +0000

You can consult with AT&T for the official answer but it *looks* like an MMCX (maybe RP) or MC-CARD jack – commonly used for laptop wi-fi connections too.

By: Kent

Kent — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:25:13 +0000

I agree. The unit is fabulous. I recently installed it in San Diego and it took care of all of my home reception woes. The one question I do have…does anyone know the ‘type’ of GPS antenna this needs? I see the connection and I want to use a small antenna so I can hide the unit a bit, but I can’t seem to verify what the name or type of the connection is. I’m sure it is pretty standard, but if you, or anyone else, knows where to find one, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

By: Steven Georges

Steven Georges — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 03:23:50 +0000

Yes it is frustrating waiting – forever – for AT&T to finish testing their MicroCell, just finish it already -
But then again, Apple has been taken 8 years to finish their tablet.

Oh, helpful article, thanks!

By: Paul Stamatiou

Paul Stamatiou — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:28:20 +0000

I actually had the personal YX300 — myself and many of my readers live in a leased property with which they are not allowed to mount outdoor antennas or even make holes in the wall inside, so the YX510 wasn’t an option for me.

That being said compared to the YX300 I am much happier with the femtocell – for one I have a range better than 6 feet.. so I get 5 bars all the way in my bedroom and bathroom! Not just the office. Also the phone has no problem switching from femtocell to the regular network – with the repeater that felt a bit more irregular.

As for switching networks.. well I have been with the same provider for over 6 years, switching networks isn’t something I will exactly be doing every couple of months.

Thanks for the comment!

By: Nicholas

Nicholas — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:22:29 +0000

I don’t really like the way with a femtocell you are locking yourself further into your contract with your network. I got the YX510 repeater (same one you referred) and prefer it because it works with all cell phone networks so it works for my wife’s Verizon also.

In the future if I want to switch networks I know that I am covered and won’t have to purchase multiple femtocells.

Nick

By: David

David — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:55:33 +0000

The way I made it work with Google Voice is email everyone that I had a new # and changed my cell phone number so that people couldn’t reach me on it anymore. If you’re going to switch to Google Voice, what’s the point of others having your actual cell phone #? I have a few friends & family on AT&T that know it just for the free minutes, but only those that I wouldn’t normally screen anyway.

By: joe812

joe812 — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:24:12 +0000

I have an iPhone and get terrrible AT&T reception in my condo (because of construction). This might be a solution for me; however, I fail to see why AT&T needs to provide hardware for me to make a call that will go out over my Comcast broadband connection. I wish there was an option to send/receive VOIP calls using my AT&T number without additional hardware. I use Skype with the iPhone on occasion but the problem there is receiving incoming calls if the Skype app isnt open. $150 for this device would pay for itself in 5 months by canceling my Comcast voice service. Any thoughts on why AT&T doesn’t have a VOIP option? or does it come down to their “net neutrality” stance?

By: Paul Stamatiou

Paul Stamatiou — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:07:05 +0000

If the ethernet ports in your house are connected to the router then it’s the same as connecting to the router and you can just connect the MicroCell to that port. The only issue I might see is if the ethernet cable in the wall going to the router is over ~100 feet long. At that point there is some signal loss and some devices might act up. But I doubt you’ll run into that issue.

Best,
Paul

By: Patricia Brown

Patricia Brown — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:41:47 +0000

I’m in the middle of installing my AT&T microcell and have a question. The installation booklet instructs that you must connect the device directly to an open port of my router–but can’t I just connect it to any open ethernet port in my house? I have an 8 port router with all ports connected to ethernet outlets in various rooms. Can’t I just plug the microcell into an open ethernet connection in a room (otherwise I have to remove the plug that connects to that room from the router and then plug the microcell into that port on the router).

By: John Barker

John Barker — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:36:15 +0000

Forgot to mention .. my issue was like yours. Step outside the house and I have full 3G signal, just inside my house is where the problems lie. Was surprised they gave it to me free of charge since it’s not really their issue.

By: John Barker

John Barker — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:31:18 +0000

I have the same problem here in San Francisco with Sprint. I talked to someone in the retention department and they gave me a picocell for free plus a $10 discount on my account for the next two years for my troubles.

Before they shipped the airave they sent out a technician to the house (only two days after my call) to measure signal levels from the towers and to determine if I qualified for the airave. Talk about customer service!

By: Daniel Choi

Daniel Choi — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:35:09 +0000

In South Korea, if you repeatedly call your cell phone company due to lack of signal/call fails, they will set up a portable cell tower near your house. US is huge and AT&T will be bleeding money if they do that.

I don’t mind paying $150 to get full bars and be privileged to use an iPhone.

By: Paul Stamatiou

Paul Stamatiou — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:55:00 +0000

yeah the big issue is that it ignores threading on those sites. Trying to see if I can separate them out (they are already at the bottom after regular comments) by network and then thread within those networks where applicable. Using the BackType plugin

By: Vassilis

Vassilis — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:40:03 +0000

Am I the only one thinking how ridiculous is this merge of comments from all different locations, like Twitter and Hacker News? You can get a pretty good headache if you try to follow what’s being said.

Stammy I know it’s good to see 106 (and counting) comments under your post, but I prefer a smaller number of more readable posts than this chaos…

By: Femtocell market update for week of 2 November 2009 « 3G In The Home

Femtocell market update for week of 2 November 2009 « 3G In The Home — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:24:37 +0000

[...] 3G MicroCell gets 9.5 out of 10 Stammys! [...]

By: Paul Stamatiou

Paul Stamatiou — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:39:26 +0000

Thanks for the clarification Andy, that makes a lot more sense! I wondered why it would need GPS for timing when it could just get that online.

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:35:30 +0000

That’s so other people can’t make calls that use your broadband connection (unless you want them to).

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:30:20 +0000

Actually it does have everything to do with location and nothing to do with timing sync. The location fix is required for E911 service to comply with FCC regulations, and to ensure that the device is in an area where AT&T has a license to use spectrum. Timing sync for femtocells is achieved by scanning nearby macrocell signals (if there are any) and/or pinging NTP servers via the Internet.

By: Neeraj Kumar

Neeraj Kumar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:14:29 +0000

Great Review (:

By: links for 2009-11-06

links for 2009-11-06 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:18:44 +0000

[...] Review: AT&T 3G MicroCell (Paul Stamatiou) [...]

By: John O'Shaughnessy

John O'Shaughnessy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:15:46 +0000

Nice review (as per usual)!

In my house, cell coverage on first and second floor is pretty good, but lousy in the basement. I wonder if the costs will come down on this at all? I know that Sprint has discounted their Airave units for folks able to demonstrate poor reception. Something under $100 would be nice.

By: Paul Stamatiou

Paul Stamatiou — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:05:41 +0000

Dear 67.86.112.232/ool-435670e8.dyn.optonline.net,

If you read this article in full, you would know that my reason for purchasing the MicroCell is not for AT&T network issues. I get 5 bars just feet outside of my apartment, but nothing inside due to the way it’s constructed… yay rebar,concrete & stucco!

Best,
Paul

By: Aaron Myers

Aaron Myers — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:17:09 +0000

This is why UMA available from T-Mobile, I’ve been able to walk into anyone of my friends house where NO SERVICE was available at all, and use WiFi to create my own signal, no hardware or fancy online setup needed.

In my opinion, I think this is a better service than having to buy new equipment to create your own. Either way, glad you’ve finally got 5 bars at your pad. Hope you’re enjoying it!

By: links for 2009-11-05

links for 2009-11-05 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:05:53 +0000

[...] Review: AT&T 3G MicroCell (Paul Stamatiou) [...]

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:36:40 +0000

So let me get this right… AT&T has a horrible network, and now they make a piece of equipment that you have to buy in order to use their service? And this makes you happy? WTF!!!???