AT&T 3G MicroCell and iPhone: 5 Bars of Coverage All The Time in Seattle
July 7, 2010
By: Sam DeBord
Author's Website: http://seattlehome.com/
I tried out AT&T’s new 3G MicroCell this week. It’s basically a router-sized station that plugs into your internet connection and creates a mini cellular network in your home or office.
I’ll start by saying that I’m no fan of AT&T’s coverage. I’m a real estate broker, and I take about half of my business calls from my home office. I currently live in Wallingford, just about five miles North of downtown Seattle. This should be a major metro area with great coverage, but it’s a dead zone. I’ve been running my iPhone on the old Edge network for almost a year, because all of my calls drop when I try to use the 3G network at home. The speed of the Edge network when using apps is not pretty.
Grudges aside, I figured it was time to step up and see if I could get my SeattleHome.com office better connected. The 3G MicroCell cost $149 from the AT&T store, with a $100 rebate if you sign up for unlimited home service ($20/mo). This means that any call you make from home, that originates on your MicroCell network, doesn’t count against your minutes. There’s no annual contract, so if you decide you don’t need the minutes, you can cancel.
The results? I have 5 bars at all times. My emails download in milliseconds. My apps load very quickly. I should be overwhelmed at the new coverage, but I keep telling myself that I should be getting this coverage standard. Either way, it’s a great piece of equipment so far. The install is quick, the hardware requirements are minimal, and the AT&T rep tells me that it puts out less radiation than a standard wireless router (should I believe him?). Whenever you’re connected to your MicroCell network, your iPhone displays in the upper left corner, “AT&T M-Cell” for the network. I’ll have to try leaving home while on a call and seeing how it transfers between networks.
If you’re fed up with your AT&T coverage, and you must have an iPhone, you owe it to Steve Jobs to pick up a 3G MicroCell and send him the bill.
- Stumble it!
- Categories: Gadgets
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Sam DeBord, SeattleHome.com on July 7, 2010 8:40 am
Of course, I forgot to point out that your new coverage is based on your cable feed being stable, which it usually is…but it died out on me one day after I hooked up the Microcell. TV cable went bad, internet connection, and microcell. Coincidence? Cable is working fine after a reset without the microcell, so I'm hooking it back up and we'll see.
Info on July 7, 2010 9:23 am
I'd never heard of this thing… and read about it on someone's blog. Got it a couple of weeks ago! WOW! I've never had cell service in my home (from ANY carrier! – it's just a dead area).
I was told by ATT to sign up for the $20 a month plan, get the rebate, then cancel… End result? Five bars all the time for $50. Not bad.
The rebate lasts through July sometime….
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[...] AT&T 3G MicroCell and iPhone: 5 Bars of Coverage All The Time in … [...]
Sam DeBord, SeattleHome.com on July 7, 2010 3:40 pm
Of course, I forgot to point out that your new coverage is based on your cable feed being stable, which it usually is…but it died out on me one day after I hooked up the Microcell. TV cable went bad, internet connection, and microcell. Coincidence? Cable is working fine after a reset without the microcell, so I'm hooking it back up and we'll see.
Info on July 7, 2010 4:23 pm
I'd never heard of this thing… and read about it on someone's blog. Got it a couple of weeks ago! WOW! I've never had cell service in my home (from ANY carrier! – it's just a dead area).
I was told by ATT to sign up for the $20 a month plan, get the rebate, then cancel… End result? Five bars all the time for $50. Not bad.
The rebate lasts through July sometime….
David Harris on July 8, 2010 12:56 pm
Sam, Thanks for your post, I just moved into a new home where I have to step outside to make calls on my iPhone, I will definitely check this out!
David.
Sam DeBord, SeattleHome.com on July 15, 2010 10:14 pm
Why are my calls dropping now? My apps download fast, I'm connected to the M-cell network, but the call quality seems to be almost as poor as it was before this gadget. I've reset this sucker 10 times and my calls are still dropping. My review is getting significantly more negative.
Diwarden on August 14, 2010 4:52 am
Mine is set up in our office. If I leave the office with my iphone the call becomes all garbled and I have to go back in the office to talk.
Not that great.