Contributor
•
2 Messages
Is 3G Micro Cell is still free?
We have been custormer with AT&T for a long time. Last year we moved into a new apartment complex and due to its location we experience horrible signal inside our house. Not just getting tire of stepping out side to make a call but what worst is that we have been missing a lot of phone calls from other people. I heard that AT&T gave out this unit one time in the past but are they still giving it to their loyal customers anymore?
HeresSheryl
Contributor
•
1 Message
9 years ago
I understand this question is answered, but I'm adding this in case someone comes along late, like I did, wanting more answers.
I have been an AT&T customer for 5 years. Last year we moved to a new house. The AT&T map shows that we should have voice coverage. We have had issues for the past year. Not only do we miss calls and VM but often, even when we're in an area with good coverage, we do not start getting them again until we reboot our phones. The biggest issue is that we don't know they aren't working until we try to use them.
I have contacted AT&T several times about the issue.
Today, they finally offered me a free microcell. After a year of contacting them. I don't know if it is because it is an ongoing issue or if I finally just talked to the right person. Since someone mentioned there is no way to corroborate our stories, I've added a screenshot of the email they sent me showing the free microcell. I hope this helps someone else.
1 Attachment
AT&T.PNG
0
0
OttoPylot
ACE - Expert
•
23.9K Messages
9 years ago
Thanks for the info but that just verifies what we've been saying all along. It is not AT&T Corporate policy to provide free MicroCells to who ever requests them. If you are in an area of known issues as far as coverage goes, AT&T may decide to send you a MicroCell for free once they can establish the coverage issue. It is not automatic.
Coverage maps, for any provider, are very misleading. They basically indicate where the signal will reach, they do not indicate quality of service. So just because you can get a signal at your house doesn't mean that the quality of service is going to be acceptable.
Unfortunately the type of phone may also have something to do with the reliability of your services via the MicroCell.
0
0
AustinMabe
Contributor
•
1 Message
8 years ago
0
0
OttoPylot
ACE - Expert
•
23.9K Messages
8 years ago
Years ago, as part of a promotional campaign, AT&T gave away MicroCells to select people. That campaign is no longer active. It's possibe, but not likely, that you could find a corporate store manager somewhere who would give you one if you are in a documented area of poor coverage. It is certainly not corporate policy though so it would be completly at the discretion of the store manager.
AT&T would probably give you a discount on a new one if you called support, again if you are in an area of documented poor coverage, but that's about the best you could do. You would also need to have a post paid cellular account.
If you choose to go the eBay/Craigs List route, I would suggest reading the section in the Tech Guide (link in my sig) about purchasing a second hand MicroCell first.
0
0
atkinsww
Tutor
•
5 Messages
8 years ago
I called yesterday to discuss my ongoing issue of missing calls while in my home, sitting near a window. Our calls don't drop or have poor reception once started, but I regularly have a VM pop up with no call registered. So AT&T agreed to seem me the microcell for $75 with a $75 rebate.
0
0
OttoPylot
ACE - Expert
•
23.9K Messages
8 years ago
We've been saying this for a long time whenever the free MicroCell question comes up. It is not corporate policy anymore, and hasn't been so for years, to give away the MicroCell. The best you can do, and this is not a guarantee either, is get one at a discount. Every now and then a free MicroCell report pops up but that is certainly an extremely rare, and isolated instance, if it is even true.
0
0
Avedis53
Professor
•
2.2K Messages
8 years ago
So, $75 now for a Mcell? They use to be $200. I think AT&T is trying to get rid of as many Mcells as they can before they become worthless due to WiFi-C. I better sell mine before no one wants them anymore.
Hey Otto! Have I got a deal for you since you have a collection of Mcells! Make you a real good deal too!
0
0
OttoPylot
ACE - Expert
•
23.9K Messages
8 years ago
Thanks pal! But I get mine free
On an entirely different note, AT&T is starting some test locations in rural areas where they put a transciver on your roof for fixed wireless LTE using the 20Mhz band (10x10Mhz paired uplink/downlink) for 10-30 Mbps speeds. They are even paying the households $100 per month to test and give feedback. So this should be interesting to see how this will play out over time with WiFi-C and LTE in general.
0
0
Jodes89
Contributor
•
1 Message
8 years ago
0
0
OttoPylot
ACE - Expert
•
23.9K Messages
8 years ago
AT&T does not have, as a corporate policy, to hand out free MicroCells to anyone who wants them. However, given your circumstances, with Hurricane Sandy (which was in 2012), I'm glad that AT&T came thru.
My guess is that AT&T looked up the circumstances in which you were given a MicroCell and did the right thing. The upgrade fee is the discounted cost of a brand new one.
Thanks for the post.
0
0