Motorola Atrix 2 and Microcell not playing nice.

[Rapidturtle]

This Microcell is doing the same thing, and then some. I had a terrible time getting it to connect to the system, and after it finally did, it does the same old thing. Really haven't ruled anything out yet though. (Thanks Nancy Whitehead) This is exactly what the tech wanted to rule out by having me pick up a brand new one. Instead I get a refurb that was shipped out and packed by a 2 year old.

I have well over 10 hours invested in this thing, and it still isn't any better. I am so disgusted with the Microcell, and AT&T for what I've had to deal with,  I really feel like throwing my phones out in the foot of snow I just got. I haven't heard from your internet team yet, and have refrained from calling in and dealing with any customer service, as I am about to blow a gasket. I think my next move will be seeing what the ETF's are for the account and just getting the heck out. This just isn't worth the aggrivation. 

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

It would be nice if the MicroCell played well with all mfrs phones and their iterations but apparently that's not the case with the Moto Atrix 2. You said your other phones work just fine (iPhone and a Samsung I think) so it's not really the MicroCell per se, it's how the Moto connects to it. I can certainly understand your frustration and in fact submitted a complaint on your behalf to customer support. I don't know if a brand new unit would be any different, especially if your other phones are working fine. Do you know anybody else who has an AT&T phone (other than an iPhone or Samsung) that you could put on your guest list and see if they can connect. If they can, then that further points to the Moto. Sucks I know, and I wish I could be of more help to you.

[Rapidturtle]

Sister n law was here for Thanksgiving with her I-phone and it worked fine with the Microcell. I also think it has something to do with the moto phones. None of the techs seem to have heard of the Moto's having the problem though. I'll see what they suggest after the weekend. Right now the moto's are connected to the Microcell. Once they connect, they usually stay that way for the day, and then disconnect overnight for some reason. 

Thanks for all of your help, and reporting my issues. I do appreciate your insight on the problem. 

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

I'm wondering if there was a bad production run of your particular Moto Atrix (grasping at straws I know). Maybe it has something to do with checking for a connection and if there isn't any activity on the line (like overnight), then it just can't re-establish itself without turning off and then on. Have you tried to turn off the phone at night (like when you go to bed) and then back on in the morning? Maybe that's the workaroud for your phone. If it works fine away from the MicroCell then there's no real reason to dump the phone and you just have to turn it off at bedtime and back on during the day. Just a thought.

[Rapidturtle]

Good theory on the production run Otto, but one was replaced for a refurb about 6 months ago for not being able to connect to the Micro Cell at all. These phones have always had the issues, but one of them just wouldn't connect at all. Even after a factory reset, so they sent me a refurb. 

Like I said they have always had the issues, but I have had some time recently to call in and try and figure them out. 

I'll try turning one off tonight, and leaving the other one on to see what happens. They have actually stay connected all day. We got slammed with snow last night, so we haven't left the house today.

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

Ok. Let us know what happens. And stay dry!

[Rapidturtle]

Ok, left one phone on and turned the other one off overnight. The phone left on stay connected, and the phone I turned off connected this morining when I turned it on. Ok so I'm thinking this is good. I went to the store this morining with my phone, and now that I am home, I can't get it to reconnect to the Microcell. Tried airplane mode, restart, and even a battery pull. My wifes phone is still connected, so I figure I will try and restart the microcell. Now of course neither phone will connect. Oh well, I really don't feel like dealing with it today. I'm going to call customer service tomorrow to see about my treatment last week, and then I guess on to tech support again. Rethink Possible !!!!

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

Would you consider getting another phone if that's a possibility? There just seems to be something about the Moto and the MicroCell that it doesn't like, or vice versa.

[Rapidturtle]

They are sending me a different replacement phone now. The replacement microcell has seemed better, but still not right. The phones have been connecting for 2 days straight, but this morning, we can't get them to connect. I'll let you know if the different phone works.

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

Thanks for the update.

[Rapidturtle]

Replaced one Atrix 2 with a Samsung Galaxy S3 and got the Samsung yesterday. I turned on the Galaxy phone, and it went right to the Microcell. I left the house several times, and each time I cam home and looked at the Galaxy, it was already connected to the Microcell. 

So this is how the Microcell is supposed to work. They are calling me back on Monday, and if it keeps working, they are going to replace my wife's phone also. I will keep you posted. 

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

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Rapidturtle wrote:

Replaced one Atrix 2 with a Samsung Galaxy S3 and got the Samsung yesterday. I turned on the Galaxy phone, and it went right to the Microcell. I left the house several times, and each time I cam home and looked at the Galaxy, it was already connected to the Microcell. 

So this is how the Microcell is supposed to work. They are calling me back on Monday, and if it keeps working, they are going to replace my wife's phone also. I will keep you posted. 

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That is excellent news! There must be something different about the Atrix OS that it either doesn't like the MicroCell or vice versa. Let us know how it goes.

[Rapidturtle]

Samusng phone has been working without a hitch. The Wifes Atrix2 still isn't playing nice. They decided to replace my wife's phone with another Atrix 2. I will see how it goes with the replacement, but I am betting it won't turn out good. Like I had said earlier, they swapped mine out 6 months ago, and still always had the problem. It will be interesting to see if a refurb works though. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. 

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

Ok. Let us know how they go. Was there an update recently to the Atrix phones? Just a thought.

[Rapidturtle]

Got the replacement Atrix 2. Haven't been able to connect today, but when it was connected, my wife was trying to send a picture in a text, and it wouldn't go through. The samsung is able to send them just fine. Is this a known issue with any phones?

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

You just can't seem to get a break! There have been reports of various phone types (iPhone came to mind) having issues with sending pics. Resetting the iPhone Network Settings corrected that for the iPhone but I don't remember about the others. Trying to keep it all straight, one of the Atrix phones was replaced with a Samsung and it works just fine. The other Atrix replacement phone was with another Atrix and it doesn't work, correct? Sounds like what ever the deal is with the Atrix, it's not going to work reliably with the MicroCell, and you'd be better off (and probably stress free) if you just dumped the Atrix and got another Samsung.

[Rapidturtle]

Thats what I am hoping for Otto. I can't even get the Atrix to connect at all tonight. I've only tried restarting twice, I am pretty much throwing in towel with the phone Hopefully they will replace it on Monday when they call back. If not, I will just sell it on Ebay and grab a different brand of phone on ebay and hope for the best. I really wish they would have just given my wife a different model to start.. They said that because the troubleshooting was originally done with my phone, they had to do the proper steps in troubleshooting my wife's phone. The same agent originally said swap one of the phones, and if it worked, they would swap the other one, with a different model also. 

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

Wish I could be of more help but I'm stumped with what's going on with the Moto. If you can't get another Samsung replacement, PM CustomerCare (the link in my sig) with what's happened and what you hope AT&T will do (that is, authorize another Samsung as a replacement).

[Rapidturtle]

Talked to AT&T yesterday, and they are going to replace the other Moto with a different phone. I just have to wait until they receive replacement moto that I mailed back to them. Couldn't get the Moto to connect all day Saturday or Sunday morning. Picked the phone up Sunday afternoon, and it was connected to the Microcell. I'm just glad this will be over. I've had to go through quite a bit of troubleshooting, and spend quite a bit of time on this, but at least AT&T is taking care of the problem in the end.

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

Keeping fingers crossed.

[Rapidturtle]

Finally got the replacement Samsung phone, and all is well with the Microcell now. Both phones are connecting without any problems. Thanks for the all of the help. 

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

That's good to hear!  It must be some design or hardware incompatibility with the Moto's.