What is happening with 3G?
WhitePine's profile

Contributor

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2 Messages

Sunday, January 3rd, 2016 9:59 PM

3G Microcell Light Blinking

My Microcell has worked for several years now. All of the sudden, about a week ago, the 3G Light started blinking. I've tried everything I can think of to get it to reconnect but nothing works. I've tried:

1. Power cycling

2. Disconnecting power to everything (Modem, router, microcell)

3. Checking ports

4. Alternate connections

5. Hard reset button on the back

6. De-registering it and attempting to activate it again.

 

After all this. It fails on Step 4: Activation of the activation process. It gives the following message:

 

FTC101: MicroCell was unable to connect to the AT&T network through your broadband connection. Please power cycle your modem, router and the 3G MicroCell (Unplug the power adapter from the wall outlet, wait 10 seconds, then plug it back in). If the 3G light on the Microcell does not turn solid green after 30 minutes, please change your MicroCell configuration to the Alternate Connection (if applicable). To view this configuration, refer to page 17 in your 3G MicroCell User Manual. Wait 30 minutes for the 3G light to turn solid green. If problem persists, visit http://www.att.com/MicroCell-Help for advanced troubleshooting steps or call AT&T Customer Service at 1-800-331-0500.

 

Following these steps doesn't fix the issue. And my internet connection is fine. 

Accepted Solution

Official Solution

Community Support

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15.2K Messages

8 years ago

Hello @WhitePine and Community!

 

One of the most common topics we see on the forums is regarding the Microcell.  Specifically, how to identify and understand the differences between the LED light indicators on the device as well as troubleshooting steps to resolve any issues.

 

The information contained below is a combination of the great community content, as well as information provided by our Advanced Technical Support team that supports the Microcell every day.

 

MicroCell LED Guide

 

Power LED

  • Off– No power to MicroCell.
  • Solid Green– Microcell has power.
  • Solid Red– MicroCell is either still powering up or is in an error state. Please unplug the MicroCell from power and plug it back in. If the LED remains red, please try an alternate power outlet or alternate power cable. You can also test the ac adapter with a voltmeter. It should read 16VDC ± 0.5. If not, replace the adapter with one of the exact same power rating.

 

Ethernet LED

  • Off– No Ethernet cable connected. Please make sure both sides of the Ethernet cable are firmly attached. One side should be plugged into the Ethernet port on the MicroCell and one side should be plugged into an Ethernet port on the modem or router. Ethernet cables should click when inserted into an Ethernet port. If the LED does not light when both sides are firmly attached, please try an alternate Ethernet cable. The MicroCell has been tested and works with Ethernet cables up to 15 feet long.
  • Solid Green– The Ethernet cable is connected and the MicroCell has been assigned a valid IP address.
  • Flashing Green– The Ethernet cable is connected but the MicroCell has not been assigned a valid IP address. Please power cycle the modem, then router, then MicroCell in that order. If the Ethernet LED continues to flash, please ensure DHCP is enabled on the modem or router. The MicroCell requires DHCP to work.

 

GPS LED

  • Off– No location check is being performed at this time. The MicroCell is either unplugged or is going through activation.
  • Flashing Green– The MicroCell is performing a location check. It is scanning both for GPS satellites and for local cell sites.
  • Solid Green– The MicroCell has completed the location check.

 

Computer LED (only on white model MicroCells)

  • Off– Nothing is plugged into the computer port.
  • Flashing Green– Traffic is passing through the MicroCell.
  • Solid Green– No traffic is passing through the MicroCell.
  • If continued issues occur, it is recommended to not use the Computer Port because of potential issues with the connected computer’s internet settings.

 

Network or 3G LED

  • Off– The MicroCell is not activated. It is either powered off or going through activation.
  • Flashing Green– The MicroCell is not activated. It is going through activation or is experiencing a connectivity issue. Please wait 90 minutes after registration. If the 3G LED continues to flash after 90 minutes, please review the Firewall & Router settingsand make sure the modem or router are appropriately configured for use with a MicroCell.
  • Flashing Red– The MicroCell has failed the location check. Please ensure the MicroCell is registered to the correct address. Please power cycle the MicroCell to trigger a new location check. It may also help to relocate the MicroCell to a location with a clear view of the sky. If the MicroCell fails the second location check, please contact AT&T Customer Care.
  • Solid Green– The MicroCell is fully activated and is broadcasting signal.

 

We also have comprehensive Video content to help you navigate any issues you might be having:

 

Note: A failing AC adapter can affect any of the LED lights so it’s always a good idea to check the adapter with a voltmeter, especially if the MicroCell is a few years old or you have experienced numerous or unexpected power outages.

 

You can also find a full list of Microcell support by visiting our Microcell support site

 

Thanks again for all your fantastic questions and support, and please comment below if there is anything we’ve missed!

 

Katie, Community Specialist

 

ACE - Expert

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23.9K Messages

8 years ago

Is the 3G light blinking green or red? If the light is blinking green, you have lost connectivity to the AT&T Mobility Servers. If the light is blinking red, that could indicate either a hardware failure or an update that didn't reset properly and the MicroCell "thinks" it is a hardware failure.Your internet can be fine but something is preventing the MicroCell from connecting.

 

I would check the ac adapter with a voltmeter. It should read 16VDC with no load. If it doesn't, it could be the ac adapter is starting to fail. We see all kinds of odd issues when the adapter starts to fail. If you need to replace the adapter, replace it with one of the exact same power rating. The MicroCell is finicky with its power requirements.

 

The hard reset needs to be done a specific way for it to really be effective. Just pushing in the button for a few seconds is not sufficient. You need to power off the MicrCell, push in the reset button, and then restore power while holding in the button for an additional 30 seconds or so and then releasing the button.

Contributor

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1 Message

8 years ago

We are having the same problem with our Microcell.  We have moved to a different building and we have a Managed IP system instead of the DSL connection from the same provider.  The 3G green light blinks slowing.  We have tried for 2 weeks making sure the ports are open and the set up matches AT&Ts instructions.  I can take the unit back to out old office and hook it up to the DSL and within a couple of minutes, it is completly connected.   

ACE - Expert

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23.9K Messages

8 years ago

It sounds like it has something to do then with  your Managed IP system because something in your system is preventing the MicroCell from connecting to the AT&T Mobility Servers. You've proven that the MicroCell works by setting it up with your old system, so it's not the unit or AT&T. Managed systems can play havoc with the MicroCell because the MicroCell needs to maintain an uninterrupted 24x7 secure VPN connection to the AT&T Mobility Servers.

 

You might want to consider port forwarding to a statically assigned IP address for the MicroCell based on the MicroCell's MAC address.

Contributor

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2 Messages

8 years ago

I did all of the suggestions you gave. After de-registering and starting the activation process again, it got hung up on the last step. However, after two days of blinking green, I suddenly got an email from AT&T indicating that the Microcell was activated and it started working. Perhaps it just went down for a week due to server outages?

ACE - Expert

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23.9K Messages

8 years ago

I had sent a message to the Admins to see if they could find out anything on their end. They didn't get a repsonse (which is not surprising) but if it all of a sudden started working again then it sounds like something was done on the AT&T side to get it up and running. Engineering/IT is really tight about letting us know so it's anybody's guess as to what was done. Hopefully that took care of your issues.

Professor

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2.2K Messages

8 years ago

Katie,

 

I see that you are pasting the same information into several threads here and then claiming that to be the solution to the OP's problems, even though your "solution" doesn't really pertain to the issues.

 

If your intent is to insure that posts have solutions because of some AT&T directive, I get that, but what you are posting doesn't help the OP's here and is already part of Otto's Technical Guide for the Microcell.

 

I see you posted 4 solutions in about 30 minutes.  Did you actually read the entire thread in each case before pasting your "solution"?

 

ACE - Expert

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23.9K Messages

8 years ago

@Avedis53

 

I've sent a message to the Admins asking the very same question but so far there's been no response. Some of the "Accepted Solutions" are for posts that are months, if not years old. I think she's just marking everything that has "blinking 3G light" in the post with Tim's LED Light Guide as an Accepted Solution. If that's the case, then we should be able to blanket mark any issue as an Accepted Solution with the Tech Guide.

 

I think the LED Light Guide is a good idea as a guide, much like my Tech Guide, but not as a reference document for Accepted Solutions.

Professor

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2.2K Messages

8 years ago

I just remember what happened to the last Community Specialist that did the same thing.....

 

Whatever the reason for this cut and paste effort by AT&T, it is counter-productive IMHO and cheapens the Solution selection process.

 

 

ACE - Expert

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23.9K Messages

8 years ago

I agree. I've just sent another message to the Admins about this. If we can reference the entire Tech Guide as an accepted solution that would make our volunteer jobs so much easier. Just reference it as Accepted and move on to the next problem, whether it actually corrects the issue or not.

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