For those who missed the torrent of
3G MicroCell news yesterday, here's the long and short of it: the Cisco-built device is now on sale, but
only in Charlotte, North Carolina. One fortunate Charlottean managed to scoop one up, but rather than keeping the experience to himself, he decided to bang out a full review for the rest of the world to see. By and large, Jason's experience with the femtocell mirrored our own with Sprint's
AIRAVE. Installation and setup was a breeze, and once it was booted up and operational, it worked like a charm. Before picking this up, he was seeing one bar of EDGE (if he was lucky); afterwards, his entire house was blanketed with five bars of 3G. Not surprisingly, he noted that the before and after difference when fielding calls was "night and day," but he
did take the opportunity to bark at the lofty $150 price tag. But hey, those desperate enough will cough up anything to actually use their phone, right?
posted September 22nd 2009 12:08PM
It's the same market-speak as TMobile's UMA technology, except that this MicroCell box from AT&T emits a cellular signal and does all of the cellular -> TCP conversion so any phone is capable of connecting to it within 5k sq ft, whereas UMA requires a chip in the phone to do that and a WiFi signal, which is usually much more limited in range. So it's a totally different technology. Don't let market-speak invade your mind, it's bad for you.
Kind of like how you let 5k sq. feet invade your mind? That's not nearly as big as it sounds.
James, UMA that's the one. I couldn't remember the acronym.
This, UMA, technology seems to make much more sense. If you already have wifi surely it makes much more sense to just upgrade the phone. If you don't have wifi... spend the $150 on that and have the convenience of wifi internet too.
T-mobile should encourage subscribers to open their wifi networks as hotspots. Perhaps offering a discount on their plans so long as the hotspot are used x times per month or at least once by another user??
Never mind that his thing shouldn't even be necessary. There's no excuse for spotty coverage, from any carrier, if you live in a metropolitan area. Cell phone carriers in the U.S. = FAIL
Ahh, so it improves your reception that was not originally there, not only for you but everyone in your house that has the service (and others?)
But, you have to pay that much for the box, and you can't do unlimited calling (If not on your current plan).
I can see the need and want for this, but the price is crazy high for the box, and the no unlimited calling for free or cheaper price is enough for me to say "No thanks".
I'm not in the market for one of these (my reception is fine, and I'm not on AT&T anyway - not even in the same country as AT&T) - but I'm curious. Is there any sort of access restriction on these? If I set one up in an apartment, would my neighbour's cell phone see this unit instead of the tower and start using my internet connection? I would NOT be impressed if that were the case, especially when they make you pay for the damn thing in the first place!
You program the device with a list of allowed phone numbers. Unless you put your neighbors phone number on that list, they can't get on your device.
That is kind of what I am wondering. Does it actually broadcast a 3G signal on the 1900/2100 frequencies that people can find then connect calls to? So essentially it's just a small version of their tower? Plus why would data be important on these things don't most people have wifi anyways what's the point of running a 3G speedtest like he did in the review don't most iphone owners, me included, just have the phone to auto switch over to their home network when in range?
I've been waiting for the microcell to drop because like a lot of people today, my cell phone is my only phone. Since I've moved, I have great coverage almost where I go, except for when I walk inside. The data part I could care less about because I have wi-fi; it's the actual voice/phone call part I need the most.
You program the device with a list of allowed phone numbers. Unless you put your neighbors phone number on that list, they can't get on your device.
Unauthorized phones CAN see the 3G signal, but will not attach or use the 3G signal from the femto unless their phone number is authorized.
I'm sure this guy's neighbors appreciate his purchase.
Why? His neighbors will see the signal, but unless he programs their phone numbers in the device they can't use it.
Seems to me these devices should be 50$, like a wireless router, and be carrier agnostic so anyone can just buy one, plug it into their router and then anyone in the house can use their cell phones.
But that would make too much sense, so, no I guess they won't do that.
Actually that would be T Mobile's @Home HiPort Wireless Router. It has two SIM card slots that basically turn your cell line into a land line. It's made by Cisco/Linksys and could be used by any carrier (they have to support it on the back end). I use a third line for 9.99 mo. to give me a dedicated land line. not as cheap as Magic Jack but I don't need to tie it to my PC either. Of course it doesn't do data on your cell but I'm sure Cisco has one designed to just in case a carrier would like to have it.
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/Cell-Phone-Detail.aspx?cell-phone=T-Mobile-@Home-HiPort-Wireless-Router
How far does this thing reach?
Is the range about the same as a wifi router?
Stay tuned in 5 years or so for one of these from Rogers, still the full $150 or more, so that I can finally get GSM service in the worthless little Nova Scotian town I live in (which, it's a safe bet, will not ever get an actual tower, even though there's CDMA service here).
So I can pay $150 to AT&T to fix the lack of signal in my house and still have no signal anywhere in my neighborhood or I can pay $175 to get out of my damn contract and move to VZN who have 5 bars coverage everywhere in the area. AT&T FAIL.
I love how AT&T claims this device can hand off calls to cellular network - if I had network coverage I wouldn't need the damn device in the first place!!!!!
I understand charging for the hardware but only making it available for people with unlimited plans, and not giving a discount for using their own internet, is Bullsh*t.
I pay at&t for cell service because I use their network and their cell towers. On top of the monthly plan I have to pay an a**raping of fees for crap I've never even heard of.
now they make a device that I have to pay for, and it piggy backs on my internet, and i need a certain plan for this? they should either charge for this and make all calls through it minute free, like t-mobile does, or don't charge and let anyone use it regardless of their plan.
I work in midtown nyc and get in and out of 1 bar Edge and i sit by a window. at home I get 5 3G bars but constantly get call faded errors and no ring to voicemail.
This is a poor decision on at&t's part. last time i checked they paid cell tower owners for using them, now they're charging!
also, any note on the bandwidth per call or if 3G data is true 3G speed when plugged into a high speed isp?
Let me know when they make one that covers a 20 mile radius around my house. No GSM reception here.
CDMA reception here is actually getting worse. I used to only get dropped calls in valleys and tunnels, now it drops whenever. I'm using a Nokia through Tracfone, and it seems to utilize U.S. Cellular's network. It was about $20, no camera, no custom ringtones, text messaging barely works, but $20 every 3 months is a lot better than $60 a month.
Does it help the reception of those living next door?
no
It is completely up to the owner of the device. Each phone that uses the signal has to be programmed into the device as an accepting source.
It can. You sign-on on AT&T Wireless's MicroCell website and add the phone numbers you want to be able to use your MicroCell. So you can theoretically sublet your MicroCell.
Education is needed for some of us on UMTS. In the UMTS standards there is a macro-cell, micro-cell and pico-cell. Macro-cells are what we use and see along the road sides. These provide mobility, we can drive down the road and use the phone most of the time. It is shared access for everyone driving down the same road using the same towers for same carrier. The microcell isn't fixing coverage problems you have. Macro-cells are by definition not suppose to provide the utopia coverage. This is why we have micro-cells and pico-cells. I doubt that we will actually ever see a pico-cell because the micro-cell will handle for our needs. Most city governments and home owners associations have put limits on cell towers in housing areas. The micro-cell and femtocell provided by sprint is one of the best ways to provide home owners and most likely down the road business owners with better coverage. If you have bad coverage with one carrier, change. Don't trash the AT&T micro-cell offering because you don't understand the limits that carrier have to work with. And by the way, it's a business and they should make some money down the road on their investment.
They can see the signal, but unless their phone number is programmed as authorized, their phone will not use it.
If I buy a unit, can i use it anywhere in the states (need one in Illinois?) or will the GPS trigger it to not work anywhere else but in the trial area?
The GPS will be used to ensure the device is only used in market areas where the product has launched.
Gawd have you people ever heard of voice over IP? get skype for gawd sakes $2 a month..
This is zero dollars a month and allows you to use one device with one phone number and still send SMS,MMS, and check email. It's totally different. If VoIP would work for my purposes, I'd be using it, but it doesn't, hence I need this kind of device.
Hmmm my bad I thought there was a monthly fee involved.
2 words... BRAIN CANCER!!
Reminds me of my girlfriends house I get 1 bar sometimes in or around her house, but if i walk like 500 feet away from her house I get 3-4 Bars, WTF? AT&T cant fix like a 500 ft radius around my Gf's house?
Sorry, dude, but AT&T doesn't care about your girlfriend. They only care about market density. Maybe if about a thousand other people all moved in with your girlfriend, they'd start to care, but aside from that...
You don't have a girl friend.... Troll
I see the purpose for this. Where I spend a large part of my day, there is little-to-no cell coverage, thanks to the several large metal rooms and the building being built into the side of a hill. This would be incredibly useful.
Can we get a rollout calendar - need this in Chicago - yesterday
I will gladly pay $150 for the device. Service on all providers around my house is patchy at best. I will finally be able to play games and watch football in my basement on my projector!
Maybe AT&T should put some of these on telephone poles, and increase the coverage.
There was a torrent of the news?!
If the problem is poor signal, the solution may not be to force people to buy micro-towers. The soultion might be, a) more cell towers b) more UMA capable cell phones.
I can say right now that when it comes to Chicago, I will be buying one. It has nothing to do with a lack of reception in my area. It has to deal with the fact that I live in a brick apartment building, and the living room is in the center. I get no reception. The second I step out the door it's perfect though. I don't blame AT&T for that.
Considering I don't want to or need to pay for a land line, I'm willing to fork over $150 one time to have flawless reception in my own home.
If 10 of my neighbours get these is it going to interfere with my already CRAPPY coverage in my house?
Has anyone from Canada been notified yet?
Well good, I'm glad that we're putting even more CANCER RAYS directly into our home.
I'm not joking either, there's already pretty hefty evidence connecting cell connections and cancer. This is seriously a bad idea. Too bad ATT probably bribes the news outlets to keep that as low as they have.
I can't waitto getone of these and block out my neighbors phones with it. Gonna be great!
I have one of this units. I did marketing research for AT&T and got one for free. If anyone wants one hit me up and we can work out a deal. From my experience it worked great but I have full coverage in my house and have no use for it. We actually use a different model for the testing then after they got all the bugs worked out they shipped us the one pictured here. I've never even plugged it in.
masonriddoch, I'd be interested in maybe buying that from you.
I just "spoke" with a tech from AT&T this evening who told me about this device. Unfortunately I am in Greensboro, NC so I do not have the option yet for it. I have had very few problems with AT&T in the six years that I have had their service but I recently moved to a townhome where I have to go a quarter of a mile from my house to not drop a call. It is increasingly irritating but it is what it is. While I agree that I should have the privilege of service in my home, that is not always the reality. The only provider who has good service at this location is Verizon. So I could either pay a $175 termination fee to AT&T and sign up with Verizon ($35 activation fee) and potentially lose my phone number that everyone on the planet that I love has OR I could pay for the MicroCell device ($150), not have to switch service and still get ample coverage everywhere else I go. Yeah, I would rather shell out $150 and let that be the only hassle. The customer service I have received up to and including this issue has been good enough to keep me around.