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For existing Microcell users: call quality?

T

thebubbatex

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 8, 2010
102
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Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7E18 Safari/528.16)

Now that the Microcell is finally rolling out nationwide, I am interested in getting one for my home office. Since calls are routed via your broadband connection, how is the overall call quality? Is it clear or does it have that muffled/VoIP like quality (like Skype)?
 
I just set up mine today and so far it is just like my call quality when I have good signal. No noticeable delay or other issues. So far I'm a happy camper

Donald :)
 
I've had mine for a couple months and call quality had been perfect for me. Every once in a while it will randomly drop a call, that's my only complaint thus far.
 
off topic abit

like many I have a hard time with cell signal in my own house. (frustrating) But I have AT&T Cell I have to Pay $150 for the micro cell then I use my DSL which is Also AT&T I will use my minutes if I don't pay $20 a month but for $25 bucks I can update my 450 minute plan to unlimited! which I am not using all my minutes now! the Micro cell is Wacky! AT&T should offer a lease program as well say $10 a month many would pay it vs putting out $150 bucks! I honestly like AT&T but paying them for thhis to me just seems whacked! I have AT&T for Home, Cell and Internet how about a break here! :mad:
 
labman said:
like many I have a hard time with cell signal in my own house. (frustrating) But I have AT&T Cell I have to Pay $150 for the micro cell then I use my DSL which is Also AT&T I will use my minutes if I don't pay $20 a month but for $25 bucks I can update my 450 minute plan to unlimited! which I am not using all my minutes now! the Micro cell is Wacky! AT&T should offer a lease program as well say $10 a month many would pay it vs putting out $150 bucks! I honestly like AT&T but paying them for thhis to me just seems whacked! I have AT&T for Home, Cell and Internet how about a break here! :mad:
Click to expand...

So instead of a one time $150 fee you would want to keep paying $10 a month?
If you plan on keepin it for a while its worth to pay it off and not have to worry about an additional monthly fee.
 
labman said:
which I am not using all my minutes now!
Click to expand...

So you're complaining that it uses your minutes even though you never use all your minutes.

So the problem here is... Nope. Sorry. I'm just not seeing the problem.

labman said:
AT&T should offer a lease program as well say $10 a month many would pay it vs putting out $150 bucks!
Click to expand...

So over the life of an iPhone contract you'd rather pay $240 instead of paying $150? I'm guessing AT&T doesn't offer that because they never guessed someone would actually take them up on it.
 
labman said:
like many I have a hard time with cell signal in my own house. (frustrating) But I have AT&T Cell I have to Pay $150 for the micro cell then I use my DSL which is Also AT&T I will use my minutes if I don't pay $20 a month but for $25 bucks I can update my 450 minute plan to unlimited! which I am not using all my minutes now! the Micro cell is Wacky! AT&T should offer a lease program as well say $10 a month many would pay it vs putting out $150 bucks! I honestly like AT&T but paying them for thhis to me just seems whacked! I have AT&T for Home, Cell and Internet how about a break here! :mad:
Click to expand...

You do know if you bother looking at more than the surface if you have Home, Cell and internet you get unlimited calling from your Microcell for free right?
 
I just can't get over the idea that AT&T is using my internet connection to make voip calls and then taking minutes off of my plan.
 
Damn - I should have put this in my original post - PLEASE don't get off topic here. I am sick of those bashing this product and/or the price and ATT for offering it. Please go here if you want to discuss something other than my question: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/882947/

I am getting one as soon as I can. I have ATT DSL, so having what is practically a mini-tower in my house for $150 is a no-brainer to me. If others see it different then move along - move to another carrier - but quit biotching about what you think ATT owes you.

Man, made me rant bit.....
 
terraphantm said:
Because AT&T is using *my* bandwidth to lighten the load on their network. We're doing them a favor by using the microcell, it's an insult to make us pay to do that.
Click to expand...

Noone is forcing anyone to pay for one.
The one time fee to purchase the device is not that unreasonable I think.
Someone has to pay for the hardware and I dont think wireless companys are going to start giving them away for free or going thru the hassle of where and who qualifys for them.
 
terraphantm said:
Because AT&T is using *my* bandwidth to lighten the load on their network. We're doing them a favor by using the microcell, it's an insult to make us pay to do that.
Click to expand...

"Your" bandwidth? Do you own an IP business? Don't pay, move to Verizon because they are apparently perfect.
 
thebubbatex said:
"Your" bandwidth? Do you own an IP business? Don't pay, move to Verizon because they are apparently perfect.
Click to expand...

I'm paying my ISP a monthly fee in exchange for internet service and bandwidth, so yes, my bandwidth. I'm okay with the fee for the device itself, that's fair, but voice and data through the microcell should be unlimited without a monthly fee of any sort.

And don't get me wrong, I like AT&T more than VZW, I've had both. I'm not one of those that puts down AT&T any chance I get (although their service in some parts of long island is atrocious). I do believe that they mismanaged the increased load caused by the iPhone, but I don't believe VZW would've done much better if they were in AT&T's shoes.
 
Didn't think my questions warranted their own thread so sorry for hijacking this one.

Is the microcell something anyone can purchase from ATT and can then set up using their home cable/dsl internet modem to act as a mini cell tower and give coverage where there was none before?

I live in the Appalachian Mountains in NC and so there is absolutely ZERO signal from ATT at my house, but when I'm in town for work or just whatever I have fine coverage full bars all the time (edge mind you, not 3g).

If I were to purchase one of these microcells and install it in my home would I then have edge coverage around my house and be able to send and receive calls normally? How about text messages?

I used to live in Houston Tx with great 3G coverage. So I fell in love with the iPhone and still refuse to give it up even after not having service in my own house here in NC. Unfortunately I also found out Verizon has perfect coverage of my house as my friend's cells all work fine when they are here. I'm praying the microcell would be my solution as I do not want to leave ATT or my beloved iPhone.
 
sdlevi27 said:
Get over it. Verizon does the same thing with their femtocell.
Click to expand...
....and that makes it right? Its totally disgusting what these carriers do. This device should have been sold to the consumer at least at near cost price, or even free.
 
ArmyMirage said:
Didn't think my questions warranted their own thread so sorry for hijacking this one.

Is the microcell something anyone can purchase from ATT and can then set up using their home cable/dsl internet modem to act as a mini cell tower and give coverage where there was none before?
YES

I live in the Appalachian Mountains in NC and so there is absolutely ZERO signal from ATT at my house, but when I'm in town for work or just whatever I have fine coverage full bars all the time (edge mind you, not 3g).

If I were to purchase one of these microcells and install it in my home would I then have edge coverage around my house and be able to send and receive calls normally? How about text messages?
PERFECT SOLUTION FOR YOU - YES, IT IS IN ESSENCE A MINI-TOWER THAT ALLOWS YOU ALL OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE PHONE - CALLS, DATA AND TEXT MSGS.

I used to live in Houston Tx with great 3G coverage. So I fell in love with the iPhone and still refuse to give it up even after not having service in my own house here in NC. Unfortunately I also found out Verizon has perfect coverage of my house as my friend's cells all work fine when they are here. I'm praying the microcell would be my solution as I do not want to leave ATT or my beloved iPhone.
VERIZON SEEMS TO HAVE THE NC MOUNTAINS THING FIGURED OUT. WHEN I WAS THERE, I HAD SPRINT AND ALWAYS ROAMED ON VERIZON. ATT'S COVERAGE IN THE ROCKIES IS SIMILAR - NOT AS GOOD AS VERIZONS
Click to expand...

See comments in BOLD CAPS above.
 
Ab10la said:
....and that makes it right? Its totally disgusting what these carriers do. This device should have been sold to the consumer at least at near cost price, or even free.
Click to expand...

You can get one for $50 after rebate. That's pretty darn cheap. Do I think it's right they still take your minutes? Yes, because AT&T is a private company and can do as it chooses. If you don't like their policy you can take your business elsewere. Eventually the 4 big carriers will compete in the femtocell market and one day minutes may be free from the microcell. Also everyone seems to be neglecting that while the transport back to AT&T is via yor ISP there is still a significant amount of infrastructure on the AT&T side to support the microcell. Minutes are slowly becoming obsolete so I have no problem with AT&T's policy with the microcell.
 
sdlevi27 said:
You can get one for $50 after rebate. That's pretty darn cheap. Do I think it's right they still take your minutes? Yes, because AT&T is a private company and can do as it chooses. If you don't like their policy you can take your business elsewere. Eventually the 4 big carriers will compete in the femtocell market and one day minutes may be free from the microcell. Also everyone seems to be neglecting that while the transport back to AT&T is via yor ISP there is still a significant amount of infrastructure on the AT&T side to support the microcell. Minutes are slowly becoming obsolete so I have no problem with AT&T's policy with the microcell.
Click to expand...

But the rebate is based on buying either the $20/mo unlimited minutes or DSL service or both, so you have to weigh those factors out against just paying the $150.

Also - agree on your infrastructure comment. Most people simply don't understand the capital required to build/operate a telco or wireless carrier. Particularly in a large country like the US. And ATT and Verizon have sunk a lot of money into their respective pipes. Obviously they are not interested in giving that away for free.
 
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