Delay when placing calls

[nsayer]

The baseband live in the phone. It's effectively the device driver for the modem chip and SIM. The SIM is the keeper of the ICCID and its associated private key, as well as storage for various caches of provider network data, text messages and contacts.

It's possible that the only adjustments to be made are in the code in the SIM that manages the caches of provider network data. Personally, I think that's less likely than it's the baseband.

It's also entirely possible that chunks of the baseband are provided to Apple by AT&T. That, I would say, would actually be much more likely. But that means distribution via iTunes rather than over the air. It's possible that AT&T and Apple's relationship gives AT&T the ability to push out baseband updates at their pleasure.

It's also possible that the fix is already in the newer baseband code in iOS 5, but requires corresponding changes to the Microcell that we do not yet have.

[nsayer]

Well, we spent almost a week comparing the iPhone to an LG Android, but it's time for the Android to be turned in. All in all, I would have to support the hypothesis that the problems we are having manifest themselves only with iPhones. I bought a crappy old LG Vu off eBay, and it works properly too.

[nsayer]

I've had an opportunity to visit my parents' house this weekend. They live in San Diego and have a Microcell, but they live on a hill where they can "see" a lot of cells, but the coverage is still rather poor. I suspect the phones just get confused.

Still, the Vu can place calls normally on the Microcell while the iPhones struggle. The range of the Microcell seems poor to me - it doesn't cover the downstairs part of their house, which is not that far away or through much more than a floor/ceiling, but it's the same for both the iPhone and Vu.

[Tangbone]

I have experimented with this problem and found the following repeatable behaviors.  Equipment (Microcell 3g, iPhone 3GS, AtlanticBB cable in Western PA)

1.  The delay seems to occur whenever I return home and enter the MicroCell range.

2.  The first call to any number does not connect and ends in a call failed message.

3.  Immediately repeating the call, it will go through.

This behavior is very repeatable and seems like the sort of thing ATT would be able to act on.

[nategold]

For me, the delay now seems better.  Often the call goes through in about 10 seconds.  Before, it would often time out on the iPhone 4 and connect when I hit call back.  Are others seeing this as well?  Weird.

And my 3G light has been solid for days.  Maybe something has been fixed.  Feedback appreciated.

[disco13]

Definitely still experiencing a 25+ second delay... I hope they fix this as you have noted, nategold.  Thanks for sharing your info w/ us.

[aedencalvin]

I have been having the exact same problems, with 3 iPhone4's all different Wireless Accounts and using Time Warner Cable in Eastlake, Ohio, however after the call fail, when I retry it normally goes through but with a 10-30 second delay again.

I phoned At&t MicroCell support and they have opened a case that is still open because I haven't received the case closed text message. If I find out I will let you know, if you find a fix, please let me know.

Thanks

Chase {Personal content removed for your safety}

[nsayer]

I routinely have my cases closed on me without getting any sort of notification whatsoever. You pretty much have to poll them weekly to make sure the ticket hasn't just been thrown away.

[southerndoc]

Add me to the list of people experiencing the same problem.  Me and my fiancee both have iPhone 4's and our first call times out.  We can call without delay after the initial failure.  Wait a few hours and it does it again.

I've opened up the suggested TCP/UDP ports and given the MicroCell a dedicated IP on my Apple AirPort Extreme.  Still no luck.

Will try to put the MicroCell directly to cable modem to see if that helps.

I hope AT&T fixes this soon.  It's really a major pain.  I'm considering purchasing a 3G repeater to see if that works better, but they're expensive.  This seems like a great way to fix bad coverage areas if only the calls were better quality and there weren't any delays when placing calls.

[chasd]

nategold, no improvement here in the Bay Area. I have seen it get better for a day or so during the last year but the problem always returns. Is yours still better?

And, I will second the motion that you have to stay on top of AT&T regarding any trouble ticket about this problem. I have opened one twice and never heard back, ever. It is their strategy to maintain their lowest-ranking customer satisfaction rating.

[nsayer]

From my understanding, there's nothing you can do to your Internet connection or firewall to ameliorate this problem. At the exact same moment an iPhone was struggling to place a call, I've seen other 3G phones make phone calls perfectly. It's not a connectivity issue, it's an iPhone specific bug in the RF side of the Microcell that will only go away when AT&T/Cisco/Apple fixes it.

[chasd]

I have a friend who is on the Beta test team for the iPhone OS5 coming later this year. The problem is still there so he reported it as a bug. Maybe that will help.

[southerndoc]

After adding UDP/TCP ports and putting the MicroCell on a dedicated IP, I decided to try one other thing:

I enabled IPv6 mode (tunnel mode), left incoming connections blocked, configured it automatically, and allowed IPSec authentication in my IPv6 firewall on my Apple AirPort Extreme.

This seems to have done the trick.  After rebooting the modem, router, and MicroCell, I can make calls the past few days with only about a 5 second delay.

Here's hoping the problem is fixed!

[nategold]

southerndoc, I would not assume that it is what you have done that fixed it.  Sometimes for me the delays are short, sometimes long.

[AnClar]

Yeah...I've got to say I consistently have this problem with my iPhones.  We're currently using an iPhone4 and a 3gs, both running iOS 4.3.3.  Any time the iPhones have been disconnected from the MCell in any way...ie. reboot, leaving the house and coming back, etc the first time I try to make a call through the MCell, I always get a 25 - 30 second delay and a call failed message.  If I attempt the call again it works fine.  Even after being a MCell user for 14 months now, I continue to be amazed and disgusted by the lack of concern/communication from AT&T regarding MCell issues.  There are enough people using iPhones that this should be a priority fix for AT&T/Cisco/Apple but if past experience with the MCell is any guide, I don't expect this issue will ever be fixed, and, if by some miracle it is, we'll have to find out about it ourselves because AT&T ain't going to bother to tell us.

[southerndoc]

I've been testing the MicroCell everytime I leave the house and come back.  Since making the adjustments, the longest I've waited was 15 seconds and that was one time only.  I've made probably 50 calls to test it and every one has gone through within 5 or 6 seconds.  Granted I'm not doing a scientific analysis here, but I would say the adjustments have improved (if not corrected) the problems I was having.

Here's hoping that it stays that way!

[nategold]

southerndoc, I have a setup similar to yours except with a Time Capsule.  I made the ipv6 changes, rebooted everything, and the microcell was still the same.  There may be some subtle thing that makes your setup work, but since I have had days when dialing was fast my money says that yours will get slow again sometimes.

[JFizDaWiz]

its actually a known issue that is going to be patched with a software update and it may take a few months to pass this update to all microcells across the country.

[Otto Pylot ACE - Czar]

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JFizDaWiz wrote:
its actually a known issue that is going to be patched with a software update and it may take a few months to pass this update to all microcells across the country.

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I certainly hope that this update goes better than the last update.

[nsayer]

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JFizDaWiz wrote:
its actually a known issue that is going to be patched with a software update and it may take a few months to pass this update to all microcells across the country.

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AT&T should find a way for those of us who have suffered with unbelievably poor Microcell service for nearly a year and a half now to be at the front of the queue for this update.

The sooner my Microcell stops being a nearly worthless boat anchor the sooner I stop beating the drum here and elsewhere about it.

[mjmsr]

Well, I am not as smart as all of you experts here, but I wanted to add myself to the list of concerned M Cell users.

I love the MicroCell because before I purchased it, I hardly was able to make/receive any calls.  I live in a small apartment and even had trouble while standing onmy balcony.  Since I installed the MicroCell last year, I get 5 bars anywhere in my small apartment, and rarely (if any) dropped calls.  It is a blessing in that regard.

There was always a small lag time, however, over the last 6 months, I have had an increasing lag time, many times it will time out and I will have to make another attempt; which usually goes through, usually....most of the time.

We have iPhones - Iphone 3 and Iphone 4 with latest updates.  Both phones experience the same problems.  I have my set up as Modem, Netgear, MicroCell.  I have the MicroCell about 1 foot from my balcony door and all signals look great.  I do have all my electgrical stuff (modem, router, TV and more) all on the same TV stand.

My concern is the safety issue with using the MicroCell in an emergency.  With a lag time, very often over 30 seconds, placing an emergency call could be costly - which is why I am afraid to cancel my landline. 

I have no solutions, not a clue.  I'd love to experiment but not at the cost of "messing up" my set up.

I sincerely appreciate reading these forums, all of you are superb in my book and deserve a free lunch for helping AT&T solve their problems, or at least narrow them down. 

Hats off to all of you.....

Mike

[E the P]

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JFizDaWiz wrote:
its actually a known issue that is going to be patched with a software update and it may take a few months to pass this update to all microcells across the country.

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I'm interested in learning more about this issue.  Is there more information you can share about this bug?

[nsayer]

If he does, then it will literally be the first information publicly disclosed by any AT&T employee about the problems with the Microcell. Ever.

I'm not going to hold my breath.

[nategold]

Folks, look on p 11 of this thread at my post.  I had a conversation with a support guy at AT&T who knew a lot.  The problem is known and involves a fix from both Cisco and AT&T.  It is in the works.

[nsayer]

Perhaps, but it still doesn't count as a public comment by AT&T.

Apple's handling of antenna-gate is the paragon of openness by comparison.

[pfbz]

I've had this problem forever as well, but it had gotten bad enough lately (25+ seconds on pretty much every call) that I finally started digging in to it. Not sure if I'm happy or sad that it is such a prevalent problem!

At any rate, iPhone 4, Airport Express, long dial delays.

Tried blipping 3G off then on again, forces a drop to the MCell and re-acquisition, and sure enough, it put me back at 8 seconds or so to connect.

Not sure how long it will last, but certainly easier and faster than running upstairs and rebooting the microcell.

[nsayer]

It won't last. I've tried all sorts of things, and the behavior is random.

[gjlieber]

There is a new iPhone iOS4 release today on iTunes,  4.3.5, that may have the fix in it to the delay issue.  I just installed it, and now my iPhone 4 connects to our Microcell in less than 5 sec.

[nategold]

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gjlieber wrote:

There is a new iPhone iOS4 release today on iTunes,  4.3.5, that may have the fix in it to the delay issue.  I just installed it, and now my iPhone 4 connects to our Microcell in less than 5 sec.

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Have no fear, the problem with return.  It was quick one time for me then got slow again.  It is pretty random.  4.3.5 was just a security issue and had nothing to do with this problem.

[E the P]

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gjlieber wrote:

There is a new iPhone iOS4 release today on iTunes,  4.3.5, that may have the fix in it to the delay issue.  I just installed it, and now my iPhone 4 connects to our Microcell in less than 5 sec.

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I happy for you, but I installed the 4.3.5 last night and still had to wait 20-25 seconds for the phone to finally start ringing at the other end using the Microcell.