Why does it take 15 seconds for my AT&T cell phone/MicroCell to connect clearly?

@vmscsprings - Unfortunately, AT&Ts Support seems to think that a new MicroCell is the fix, but it's not. I think what they are doing is shipping the new DPH-154 out in hopes that it will appease the customer somewhat until they can figure out what the problem is. There is no communication between phone Support and the Network Engineers, so no matter what they tell you, it's a guess at best.

It's not uncommon to have no problems at all with your internet connectivity but experience VoIP issues. Different set of protocols. If you have iPhone 6's then I would suggest switching to WiFi-C (WiFi Calling) if you don't need the MicroCell for non-WiFi-C capable phones (what I call a mixed environment). I much prefer WiFi-C because the call quality and reliability is much better. However, we are a mixed environment so I need to keep using the MicroCell. WiFi-C does use 2 of the same 4 ports that the MicroCell uses so if issue develop with those ports, that may affect WiFi-C. However, most everyone that I've talked to is very pleased with WiFi-C in general. If you do need to keep the MicroCell enabled, and want to use WiFi-C, you'll need to put your phones in Airplane Mode to disable the cellular radio because the phones will preferentially seek a cellular signal over a WiFi signal.

The problem is a very difficult one for AT&T to nail down. The reason is that it is not network wide, affects different, but not all ISPs, and is not phone specific. I have three MicroCell's and have not experienced any of the issues that are currently causing problems (garbled incoming calls, loss of connectivity, or call waiting/conference calling).

Nobody of import is at home at AT&T until after the holidays and everyone is back and all caught up with their emails. I have a long list of items to go over with the Admins next week so we'll see what happens. The folks that I have access to are just as frustrated as the affected customers but they can only do so much until the "suits" review priorities and reassign. AT&T is having issues right now and the MicroCell customer base (which is small in comparison) is just one of many.

Hang in there. I'll keep pushing.

I am in Estes Park, CO and am having the exact same problem. I am "glad" to know it's not just my phone and very unhappy to know that there is no apparent remedy. My boyfriend's Verizon cell (obviously on a different microcell) does not have the same problem. It would be easy to blame it on the microcell, but when I go into town where I get a strong signal, the problem still occurs although not 100% of the time. So, if it is not a microell problem, not a particular model/brand of cell problem, then what is the fix?

MicroCell is essentially an outdated tech now that WiFi-Calling is available. Phones as old as the Galaxy S5 got it with the Marshmallow update.

@David606 - that is the type of answer that makes AT&T support look lame. True that WiFi-C is the way to go, but there are lots of folks who can't upgrade their phones, or have phones that can't be upgraded, or are in a mixed environment. Yes, the MicroCell is outdated technology but until AT&T comes up with a plan for those who are in fringe areas, the MicroCell will still need to be supported.

You really should restrict your comments to areas that you are comfortable with.

@MCC3EP - your post is a bit confusing. The MicroCell only works within range of the unit, which is basically around your residence. Your boyfriends Verizon cell has nothing to do with the MicroCell.

Hello again - I'm the one from Estes Park. Apparently I wasn't clear in my previous posting. 

1 - Verizon cell phones do not have this problem.

2 - Verizon cell phones on a microcell do not have this problem. 

Ok - I get it, I am talking about ATT - the above 2 statements are meant to point out that a competing carrier does NOT have this problem. This is an ATT specific problem. 

3 - I did not have the 15 sec lag problem until the Oct-Nov timeframe. I have been running a microcell for over 4 years. 

4 - When I go into town (Estes Park) and am running on "pure" cell signal, no microcell involved at all, I still have the problem about 90% of the time. (By the way - no kidding that a microcell only works within about a 30' range - anyone who runs a microcell knows that.)

This is not a microcell problem - the problem didn't exist before fall of 2016 and it still happens WHEN NOT ON A MICROCELL. 

5 - To access WiFi calling, I have to turn off the cell signal. Oh yeah, and then I'm supposed to remember to turn the cell signal back on whenever I leave the house (and am out of WiFi range) and am driving around ? Or, be sure to turn it on again if I think I might be near some unsecured general WiFi signal from a local store? WiFi calling doesn't work without a WiFi signal and I rely on my cell phone for my job which is mobile.

So, back to items 1 and 2 - tell me why I should stay with ATT??????

@MCC3EP - the incoming call problem is not specific to AT&T nor any particular brand of phone. That is why the incoming call problem is difficult to isolate and fix. We have iPhones and have never had any of the recently reported issues, and we don't have any of the issues you describe whether we are using the MicroCell or are out and about.  If it was network wide and affecting all carriers and all phones it might be easier to figure out. AT&T is aware of the issues but just doesn't have enough complaints to elevate the priority. Please read my post: https://forums.att.com/t5/3G-MicroCell/MICROCELL-ISSUES-UPDATE/td-p/5031109#

I don't recall this particular problem being posted when not within range of the MicroCell. If your issue happens all over town then yeah, that's an overall AT&T problem and has nothing to do, directly, with the MicroCell. Do you know of anyone else who has AT&T as their carrier and are experiencing the same problems when driving around town?

 Otto Pylot - thank you for your responses - they have been meaningful. 

I have not formally complained to ATT so I will do that next. I guess I had thought that Customer Support would monitor the forum and hence there was no need. I have endured the problem for months because I kept hoping it would clear up/go away. 

While traveling through southern Colorado and into Arizona, I did not have the problem. 

Since I own my microcell (don't rent it), and given that I don't think the garbled problem is microcell related for the reasons stated previously, if Customer Support comes back and says I have to buy a new microcell and hope that works, I won't be doing that. Ditto for the phone. I could spend $1000 ($250 for the microcell and $750 for the phone) and be out the money without being any closer to a solution. That's not a gamble I'm willing to take. 

The one friend around who does have ATT has iPhones and does not have the problem. 

I know you said the problem does not seem to be carrier specific, but no one I know who is on Verizon is having this problem. This either speaks to it being a carrier problem or pretty random. If it is truly random, I get it that it will be very hard to isolate and hence find a solution. :<  

I tried to get on the WiFi calling last night but it didn't work. I'll look into that farther and call ATT if I need to. If I can get that to work, if nothing else, it will be a differential. From what I've read, I will have to load/unload my cell number from my microcell list online in order to deactivate/activate the WiFi. That will be untenable as a solution, but again, in the short term, it can be useful as a differential for the problem. 

I really have had no problem with ATT for years until this garbled 15 sec problem started. This is potentially a "loyalty" breaker if a solution can't be identified. 

@MCC3EP - We have had reports of the same problem from Verizon, Charter/TWC/Spectrum, AT&T and other carriers as well as Android-based and iOS-based phones. Keep in mind that this is when connected to the MicroCell. If you are outside of the MicroCell range that your phone is registed to, and are still having garbled incoming calls, that's an entirely different problem in that virtually all of the complaints we are seeing is when customers are connected to a MicroCell. I have no problems at all with my MicroCell or my iPhone when not at home so this is truly a difficult problem to  fix.

To use WiFi-C on a phone that is registered to, and within range of a MicroCell, you need to put your phone in Airplane Mode, which turns off the cellular radio. The phone will preferentially connect to a cellular signal so you need to disable the radio on the phone. Alternatively, you can either disable the MicroCell (turn off the power) or remove your phone number from the MicroCell. For mixed envirornments, phones that are and are not capable of WiFi-C, using Airplane Mode is the best option. There is no way to force the phone to pick WiFi over celluar. It's either/or. If you can't successfully connect to your WiFi for WiFi-C on a WiFi-C capable phone, then I'd look at your phone (recent updates?) or your WiFi connection. I much prefere WiFi-C over the MicroCell but we are a mixed environment.

A new MicroCel will probably not solve the problem nor de-regsitering/ re-registering your MicroCell account. That seems to be Supports go-to fixes which rarely work.

Please do send a PM to CustomerCare as I suggested.

Problem resolved a couple of weeks ago. I have changed nothing on my end so I'm guessing AT&T found the ghost and got rid of it. Thanks! It so nice to not have the problem !!!!!