MicroCell Recycling/Resetting

[cbobcreson]

I've been having issues for nearly a week.  Light's ALL go solid green for about three seconds but then the tower appears to reset (top light goes red) and the process starts over.  Trips to an AT&T Corporate store where I was prepared to replace the tower but the talk on the phone from there w/tech support convinced me more troubleshooting was called for; second call from home to tech support when they derigisted and reregiatered the tower; third call I was told, "be patient" because they think my issue is related to a recent software update sent to all towers (the technicial claims she got the email either late Thursday or early Friday of last week).  She said the new update should take care of the issue.  Nothing yet.  Has anyone heard of this?

[OttoPylot]

Not yet. Updates can either be to the macrocell (tower) or to the MicroCell but support rarely knows when the updates are pushed or what they are for. If your power light goes red, as well as the other lights, and then the MicroCell appears to reset itself that doesn't sound like an update. I would check the ac adapter because it sounds like the adapter is failing (power light going red). If it feels hotter than the top of the MicroCell (where the vents are) that could be an indicator. I would try to find another ac adapter with the exact same power rating and polarity as the one you have. An example is given in the Tech Guide (see link in my sig).

When AT&T does push an update to the MicroCell, it's usually in the middle of the night when it is least likely to be used and then the 3G light usually just blinks green until the MicroCell resets itself.

[Avedis53]

Is this a new Mcell or one that you've had for a while?  Has it worked properly in the past?

[cbobcreson]

The unit worked fine for over two years before the issues started.
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[cbobcreson]

I started eliminating things (replaced the internet cable, reset the unit, tried another adapter (close to original specs but not exactly the same). The old adapter was doing the same thing to the unit.
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[OttoPylot · Accepted solution]

The adapter needs to meet at least the minimum specs. It is possible that the MicroCell is dying. The power light turning red is most bothersome. The MicroCell can't be repaired so you'll have to work something out with support. BTW, it's best not to post personal contact info in the forum. You could attempt a hard reset in case something got reset improperly if there was an update that got pushed. Hold in the reset button on the back of the unit (you'll need a paperclip), turn off the power to it and then restore power holding in the reset button for about 30 seconds. The MicroCell should go thru the entire Initial Activation sequence which will include downloading any updates if they are available.

[cbobcreson]

The issue was the ac adapter. SOLVED.

[edited for privacy – please do not post personal information]
 

[Avedis53]

Ah....those pesky AC adapters!  Glad to hear you're back up and running!

[OttoPylot]

If a new adapter fixed the issue, please see my post above and Accept As Solution. If makes it so much easier for folks if they use Search above for similar problems.

[Deeboreebo]

I completed a hard reset and all lights returned to green and no flashing. But microcell function has not returned to iPhone. All was well day before then went dark today. Restarting didn't help so went to reset.

[OttoPylot]

Can you please post your exact problem? I'm assuming it's the same as the OP but there could be other issues. Similar problems can have different causes. Usually a hard reset corrects some issues but not all. After the hard reset did you turn off and then on again your iPhone? Sometimes that's necessary for the phone to register to the MicroCell especially if the MicroCell has undergone the Initial Activation sequence which is what happens after a hard reset because the MicroCell has been reset to factory defaults.

[rpenn57]

Experienced similar problem - Microcell worked fine for years then started dropping out. Called AT&T walked through some tests with tech. Determined that the AC adapter was dying and they sent out a new Microcell - next day delivery.  Do not bother to go to the AT&T as it is out of their area of expertise.

[OttoPylot]

Not sure what you mean. Is it AT&T support that hasn't a clue or is it the info you find here? Did you check out the Tech Guide (link in my sig)?

[rpenn57]

My oversight meant to say do not go to the AT&T "Store". They did not have any experience or knowledge of the microcell other than knowing they were out in the field and what they did.

That one word changes the whole meaning of the message. Is there a way to edit my response?

[Cynthiajoy]

Yes! But the only light that was ever going read was the bottom one that indicates the Internet modem signal. So I reset that and of course the microcell tower began it's resetting cycle, (Green lights blinking from the top down etc) and everything will be fine and I will have five bars on my iPhone seven for a minute or two and then all of a sudden the microcell tower starts all over again with the lights going off and then coming on one at a time from top to the bottom-During which time I have no service. This is ridiculous because this is been going on for over an hour today. If I had an important phone call I wouldn't be able to take it, and I certainly can't make any right now. I live in the mountains and absolutely depend on this microcell tower and is why I pay for the expense of Comcast cable to give it broadband signals to convert to usable cell signal for my phone.