AT&T Microcell Signal Booster

[WartHog]

We get poor signal in our home and was considering buying a Cisco/AT&T Microcell Signal Booster used off CL for $50. Anyone have experience using one? Do they work decent or would I be wasting my time/$?

[WartHog]

Well, according to this web posting, the Microcells have been discontinued by AT&T and eventually will no longer work once support is dropped, if it hasn't been already. https://forums.att.com/t5/3G-MicroCe...D/td-p/5367808

[Robotron2k84]

Do you have the ability to do WiFi calling with your phone?

It just utilizes a VOIP connection over your internet service and works identically except the call is routed over the internet instead of your nearest cell tower.

All the cell providers support it now.

[Misterclick]

You need WiFi to support the microcell (Femto cell). It mimics cell tower and converts it onto internet connection. You can do the same thing easier but connecting phone to WiFi and enable WiFi calling.

[wpage]

Wont ATT provide one for free if you have poor reception?

[bigbearbear]

I still use the AT&T Microcell at home, have used it for a VERY long time prior to them introducing WiFi based calling.

It does work well, essentially a mini cell tower at home and you can register multiple phones to work with it.

If your phone is capable of Wifi calling, use that instead because it'll be one less piece of tech to deal with.

[tnlrat37]

[WartHog]

Do you have the ability to do WiFi calling with your phone?

It just utilizes a VOIP connection over your internet service and works identically except the call is routed over the internet instead of your nearest cell tower.

All the cell providers support it now.

I'm still rocking a Lumia 640 Windows Phone that doesn't support WiFi Calling.

Wont ATT provide one for free if you have poor reception?

Only if you were on a Contract - AT&T Prepaid customers, formerly Gophone, don't qualify for a free Microcell which is BS.

As per the article I linked to, they've been discontinued and the service is due to be shutdown in the near future so unless I can buy a working unit for cheap or get one free, it won't be worth doing.

[vino68]

Never heard of that particular device. I have had to deal with Metrocell for AT&T and they suck. The reps seem to always think the issue is with the wiring, power or GPS window placement. Sometimes it is not having a clear path for the GPS. Mostly it is that they suck. And the Wi-Fi calling, I have played with AT&T and Sprint's solutions. Both are poor excuses for s h i t coverage. Especially Sprint. Who's Magic Box solution is a joke.

[bigbearbear]

I'm still rocking a Lumia 640 Windows Phone that doesn't support WiFi Calling.

It is probably easier and cheaper to go pick up a relatively cheap Motorola G phone and use it with your AT&T GoPhone service and enable Wifi calling with it.

[Robotron2k84]

I'm still rocking a Lumia 640 Windows Phone that doesn't support WiFi Calling.

I'm not saying I know for certain, but on T-Mobile the 640 could do WiFi calling. Have you checked to make sure it doesn't already support it? A few threads say it was enabled on all builds, but may not have been able to connect based on which firmware was used from the carrier. Possible that AT&T stripped it out, though.

[Jimvh2]

Do you have the ability to do WiFi calling with your phone?

It just utilizes a VOIP connection over your internet service and works identically except the call is routed over the internet instead of your nearest cell tower.

All the cell providers support it now.

Exactly this. I have T-mobile and it's terrible at my house (and most places I travel). Wifi calling works great.

[DaveInOroValley]

Had them prior to the enable calls over wi-fi feature that I didn't know about until someone mentioned it on our iPhones. Best thing ever since the micro cells had a bad habit of failing for us.

[WartHog]

I'm not saying I know for certain, but on T-Mobile the 640 could do WiFi calling. Have you checked to make sure it doesn't already support it? A few threads say it was enabled on all builds, but may not have been able to connect based on which firmware was used from the carrier. Possible that AT&T stripped it out, though.

Unfortunately, only the T-Mobile 640's had WFC enabled.

[Robotron2k84]