MicroCell Availability

[Planet-Ed ACE - Geek]

Don't go off of the Find a Store.  Just because its listed at a store doesn't necessesarily mean its available for where you live.  Be sure to verify your ZIP Code here by clicking on Availability and entering your ZIP:

http://www.wireless.att.com:80/learn/why/3gmicrocell/

[Schenz]

Go ahead and cancel your account.  Even is the MicroCell is available, AT&T will charge you 200 for the device, then $20.00/month for service, and you have to pay your broadband costs on top of that.  

You have to pay three times just to get cell service in your house? YES!

If I was not already locked into a contract, I would probably cancel and get a service that ACTUALLY WORKED!!!

[davidchsw]

You can buy the microcell outright for $150 or use the $100 rebate if you pay $20 per month for unlimited minutes while on the microcell. If the service is so bad I can't see how it wouldn't be worth it to pay the ETF and switch to another carrier and have perfect service. You would be done with all the aggravation.

[roadhunter]

Some people are in areas where they get no coverage from ANY cell phone provider, so doing this is not an option. 

[roadhunter]

I have my new microcell, which was listed as being available in my area, and purchased at a local ATT store.  When I attempt to activate it, I get the error: FTC122 : The location provided for the AT&T 3G MicroCell device does not appear to be within an area AT&T is authorized to provide service. Re-enter the address to ensure it is correct, or please relocate the device.  ATT Tech Support can't figure this out, but the guy did say his boss had the same problem, and overcame it by using a neighbor's address.  Well, no addresses in Tulsa work.  So, I used an address from a small town, and it registered.  Problem is, the device won't allow the phone to communicate to it, because it has a GPS receiver in it, and knows that the device is located probable 200 miles from where the address is located, which causes it to error out in ATT's system.

Anyone else having this issue?

[flybriz]

Hi roadhunter,

I live in Tulsa (61 and Harvard area, horrible 3G coverage) and am having the same exact problem.  I checked the 3G Microcell site on Friday and found that the MicroCell was available for ZIP 74136.  I promptly picked one up at the AT&T store and attempted to register the device online with my address and have been getting the FTC122 error.  I tried a few other addresses (even my work address about 5 miles away in another ZIPcode) and still get the error.  I've had a ticket open with AT&T for a couple days now.  They are still looking into it with no ETA.  Very frustrating - I don't think they were prepared for this rollout, much like they weren't prepared for the iPhone 4 pre-orders a couple weeks ago.  I'll let you know if anything changes for me but right now I'm the proud owner of a $150 orange and white brick!

[roadhunter]

I appreciate your confirmation of my suspicion.  I've had a ticket open with them since Saturday myself.  I just got back from the AT&T store at 95th and Riverside.  They were clueless as well, but had come up with their own reason: "You have to have AT&T for high speed internet for it to work."  Ha!  I argued it for a moment with one fool there who didn't understand networking, then I just showed him their own pamphlet that says it works on any broadband service.

While reading that pamphlet, though, I noticed it said that the rollout is phased, and that it's going on a county by county basis.  Of course, 74136 only covers Tulsa county, so that's not a good excuse.  I imagine somoene from Sapulpa could come to Tulsa to by a MicroCell, though.  Also according to this store pamphlet, if they cannot activate the device for you in the store, that means it WILL NOT WORK for you.

I know it's just a matter of time, so I did not return my device.  I have 30 days to do that (probably more if it's not able to register by then).  I'm making sure they don't start billing me for my unlimited MicroCell service until it's registered, too.

I posted about this on my blog at http://roadhunter.blogspot.com/,and this would be a good place to be able to send a message from if you hear more.  Leave a comment, and I'll have your info as well.  I'll also update things here as I learn more.

Oh, and if you're interested, the store at 95th and Riverside has 27 iPhone 4s in stock.  5 are reserved for managers, so when the line forms in the morning, if you're not in the first 22, there's no need to stick around.

[roadhunter]

Also, flybriz, I live within a mile of 61st and Harvard.  Right up on top of a very steep hill.  I can see the ATT tower at 71st and Lewis from the roof of my house and there is another tower at 81st and Lewis which ATT has confirmed to be theirs.  That's two towers within two miles.  Still, the reception is basically non-existent, even though it shows as excellent on their map.  They are supposedly sending a tech out to drive the area and report on the signal issues, but I know he's just going to attirbute it to the tree cover.  Being in the Southern Hills area, we do have a LOT of big trees, but I'm up above a lot of them.  Oddly, I can also get better reception INSIDE the house than OUTSIDE!  Best of luck to you.

[flybriz]

That's pretty funny...  I think we're very close.  I'm at the bottom of that Harvard hill around 63rd and Indianapolis.  The signal is just crap in this little valley.  I, like you, am going to hang onto the microcell for a few weeks to see what happens.  Apparently today they told me that they were going to have to "manually provision" it but I don't know if and when that will actually happen.  Thanks for the tip on the iPhones - My wife and I got ours during the preorder so I'm all set.  I do love the phone, and haven't had any problems in other areas of Tulsa, so I'm hopeful that you and I can get some resolution with the microcells soon.  If I hear anything new, I will let you know.

[MartyB3000]

Picked up my Microcell last Thursday, took about an hour for it to finish activation.

Works phenomenally well.  I've got 5 bars throughout my faraday cage of a house, even in the basement.  And no providers have evern worked in my basement.

Worth the $150 I spent on it.  Definitely worth more than what I paid for the WiEx Z-boost repeater I've got which never seemed to do its job.

To the detractors, yes, I'm using my bandwidth for AT&Ts backhaul.  But since its for my own cell phone (now working) I don't really care.  It's a drop in the bandwidth bucket on my broadband.  Well, AT&T needs to improve their coverage.  Unless they put a tower on every corner, no provider will ever provide perfect coverage.  One provider may rock in your area, when another one sucks.  That's just the way it is.

[roadhunter]

@flybriz: I got a call from AT&T today from a woman saying she'd been told to call me about my Microcell, but that it appeared I no longer had one!  Explained the problem, and she told me my address was "in their system" which I don't think was a lie.  I think she was simply clueless.  If I don't have a resolution by Saturday morning, I'm taking mine out to a friend's house in Skiatook.  His address works fine in the registration process.  The GPS is supposedly only used during the initial registration to confirm the location is correct, so if I register it with his address while the unit has GPS signal and is physically at his location, I am told I could then unplug it, bring it back here, and just put it in an area where it won't be able to communicate with the GPS to publish its new location.  Then, once AT&T gets their act together and starts allowing Tulsa addresses to register, I could change it.

FYI, Sapulpa and Skiatook are the only Tulsa suburbs I know of that work with the Microcell as of today.  Owasso, Collinsville, Jenks, and BA definitely will not let you register an address.

[flybriz]

Thanks!  I have someone in Sapulpa that I could use to help me out with the registration.  I'll give them a couple more days to figure it out first.

[cmatthes1]

I live in Jenks and am having the FTC122 error that my address isn't supported.  I waited 5 days for tech support to get back to me.  I didn't answer the phone so they closed the ticket.  They didn't even do anything to fix it.  Then when I called back they opened the ticket and started asking me all the questions about the error code, etc.  I told them it was already in the ticket that they didn't do anything on.  So now I have to wait 5 more days for somebody else to get back to me.

[jmatero]

For anyone thinking of purchasing a MicroCell right now..... even if you had one, you couldn't use it. (As I and zillions of others are finding out....)

Read this:

http://forums.wireless.att.com/t5/AT-T-3G-MicroCell/ACTIVATION-SYSTEM-IS-THE-PROBLEM-NEW-MICROCELL-O...

[roadhunter]

@matthes1, and the rest of you in Tulsa County, I just got off the phone with ATT, and got their latest BS answer.  They claim Tulsa County has not yet implemented E911!  That's why the device won't register in Jenks (Tulsa County) but will in Sapulpa (Creek) and Skiatook (Osage).  After doing a little research, I found that E911 came online for Tulsa County in September of 2009, and AT&T was the FIRST cellular provider to begin supporting it!  So, if anyone at AT&T tells you Tulsa County doesn't have E911, tell them where they can stick their Microcell!

[cmatthes1]

This makes sense, as it is failing on the "E911" activation portion.  They do something in the store, I figure they just go do the zip code lookup and see if it is available.  I went into 2 AT&T corporate stores in Tulsa and they haven't heard there was any issue (which obviously about 95% of the people who bought the microcell in their stores can't use it).  They are all pretty much clueless.  E911 or not, AT&T Microcell division doesn't know its enabled or it isn't marked in their system.  Some id10t probably just needs to change a 0 to a 1 and everybody will work. 

[d00mz]

Just because E911 for regular AT&T wireless in any particular county is turned on, doesn't mean that it has been tested/configured/working for the 3G MicroCell customers in that county.

E911 calls for a handset camping on a 3G MicroCell are handled a little differently than a handset on the macro network.

[flybriz]

I really feel like Jonah Hill in 40 Year Old Virgin where he's trying to buy those shoes from the "sell on eBay store"... Me:"Yeah, so I'd really like to give you $150 and you give me a Microcell so I can make calls from my house.". AT&T: "I'm so sorry... I know it seems like we should be able to do that, but it just doesn't work that way.". Me: "So, I really would just like to give you some money right now, and you give me the Microcell and let me take it home and use it..."

[roadhunter]

>Just because E911 for regular AT&T wireless in any particular county is turned on, doesn't mean that it has been tested/configured/working for the 3G >MicroCell customers in that county. E911 calls for a handset camping on a 3G MicroCell are handled a little differently than a handset on the macro network.

Not being an expert on this technology, I can't argue with that, but I thought the device was converting the 3G signal to VoIP, and that's been working here for a year or more.  It just doesn't seem that complicated.  I did confirm with our 911 service that they do, indeed, take advantage of GPS with some mobile phones, so it makes sense the GPS might be used for E911 in them MicroCell, though others had said previously it was only to prevent the device being used overseas.

Still, releasing the units for a zip code before the county that contains that zip code was ready is inexcusable.  Not telling their store employees this was the case is laughable.  The guys at the store at 95th and Riverside are telling people they can't use the device on Cox Cable internet, and they have to buy AT&T DSL to get it to work.  Well, at least one of them is.  Another rep confided in me that he refuses to sell the MicroCell because he's so tired of being embarrassed by AT&T with not only this device, but the whole UVerse deal, too.  He said AT&T makes him look like an eedeeot (AT&T censors the correct spelling of that scientific term) by saying things work when they don't.

E911 for cell phones is designed to be able to track you down when you are not in a known location, whether they have GPS or not.  AT&Ts registration process allows me to input the address for my MicroCell, hence E911 is set up when I do.  My Packet 8 phone takes my word for it when I input my address.  Why won't the MicroCell?

I still say this is total BS from AT&T.  They've simply been overloaded once again.  They knew their coverage was crappy.  Apparently, they didn't know just how crappy it really was.  People are begging for the MicroCell to work so they can just use the phones they are paying a monthly fee to use!  Can anyone say "Class Action Lawsuit"?

[d00mz]

---

roadhunter wrote:

>Just because E911 for regular AT&T wireless in any particular county is turned on, doesn't mean that it has been tested/configured/working for the 3G >MicroCell customers in that county. E911 calls for a handset camping on a 3G MicroCell are handled a little differently than a handset on the macro network.

Not being an expert on this technology, I can't argue with that, but I thought the device was converting the 3G signal to VoIP, and that's been working here for a year or more.  It just doesn't seem that complicated.  I did confirm with our 911 service that they do, indeed, take advantage of GPS with some mobile phones, so it makes sense the GPS might be used for E911 in them MicroCell, though others had said previously it was only to prevent the device being used overseas.

---

No, it's not converting the 3G signal to VoIP.  The GPS in the MicroCell is used to confirm location for both E911 services as well as verifying the device is being used in authorized AT&T footprint. 

Also, just because one VoIP carrier like Vonage or Packet 8 uses E911 in your county, doesnn't mean they all do.  Each provider must establish their own links to the PSAPs in that county.

---

roadhunter wrote: 

Still, releasing the units for a zip code before the county that contains that zip code was ready is inexcusable.  Not telling their store employees this was the case is laughable.  The guys at the store at 95th and Riverside are telling people they can't use the device on Cox Cable internet, and they have to buy AT&T DSL to get it to work.  Well, at least one of them is.  Another rep confided in me that he refuses to sell the MicroCell because he's so tired of being embarrassed by AT&T with not only this device, but the whole UVerse deal, too.  He said AT&T makes him look like an eedeeot (AT&T censors the correct spelling of that scientific term) by saying things work when they don't.

---

 I agree, the practices you encountered at the store were bad.  Unfortunately, it seems like some people will do anything to make a sale.  My understanding was that the rep in the store was supposed to register the device FOR YOU at the address on your account.  Had you rep done that, they would have known right away that something was wrong with your county.  When I bought my MicroCell, the rep registered the device to my address, and all I had to do was go home and activate it.

---

roadhunter wrote:

E911 for cell phones is designed to be able to track you down when you are not in a known location, whether they have GPS or not.  AT&Ts registration process allows me to input the address for my MicroCell, hence E911 is set up when I do.  My Packet 8 phone takes my word for it when I input my address.  Why won't the MicroCell?

---

The MicroCell does take your word for it.  Unfortunately, the connections on the back end to the PSAP for the MicroCell network haven't been completed (for some reason).  This means if you called 911 while camped, the call wouldn't go to your local PSAP, but to a genenric 911 center which would redirect you once they figured out where you were.  Because E911 is so important, AT&T will not let you activate a MicroCell in an area that hasn't completed the full E911 solution for MicroCel.

---

roadhunter wrote:

I still say this is total BS from AT&T.  They've simply been overloaded once again.  They knew their coverage was crappy.  Apparently, they didn't know just how crappy it really was.  People are begging for the MicroCell to work so they can just use the phones they are paying a monthly fee to use!  Can anyone say "Class Action Lawsuit"?

---

 You are certainly welcome to your opinion.

[Tusansformicroc…]

Odd why the "Availability Checker" says Microcell is available for a Tulsa zip code, but no address in that zip code is accepted.

[SilasGreenback]

I am seeing the same FTC122 Error and I have been struggling with this one for two weeks.

I live at 101st and Memorial in Tulsa, with two corporate stores within a three mile radius. So I know I am in an AT&T serviced area.

Even though I have a case number. I am still required to start the troubleshooting from the beginning every time I call.

• Are you sure it's not a PO Box - it's a big brick house
• Are you sure it's not a new neighborhood - Been here 5+ years
• How long have you lived at this address - Lived here 5 years
• Do you get mail at this address - yep, sure do - including my AT&T bill
• Does it show up on google maps, google earth, bing, etc - yep. That's my Mini in the driveway on g-maps.

So I started putting other addresses in - Tulsa (74105 and several other zips) - no go, Jenks - no go, Broken Arrow - no go, Bixby - no go, Coweta (an old address) - bingo - it worked. I knew I would not get a GPS match at that address, but just happy that something worked.

I called back expecting to demonstrate all of this and at least let AT&T hard code the proper lat/long position in for my billing address so that I could finally get this to work, but was told to wait several more days for some sort of event to happen and it would magically work.

Was promised escalation, call-backs , supervisor and manager involvement, and then was dismissed again (call number 12)

I can understand difficulties on the carrier side with new product rollouts - I worked on many GSM and CDMA rollout projects with Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, TIM, 02, Orange, Vodaphone, NTT-Docomo, VoiceStream, etc.

With that understanding in mind, I do have to consider what I believe to be the facts:

• Tulsa/OKC was one of the first MTAs to test AT&Ts new GSM offering. I was one of the first in line. I wanted a GSM phone so I could travel with it and not be locked into VoiceStream.
• The E-911 work for Tulsa and the other jurisdictions in INCOG was implemented by AT&T at the end of 09.

TW Article

"Tulsa is expected to have the testing from 16 wireless providers completed within the next 60 to 90 days. AT&T, the area's largest wireless provider, finished its testing last week and is the first to be fully online with the enhanced 911 system. " - This was from 9/27/2009

At that time - AT&T had around 600 towers in the Tulsa area and was able to complete testing on their side along with US Cellular. 

So with a long standing relationship with with Tulsa and AT&T Wireless in its many forms and a E-911 service installed by AT&T and tested and online with AT&T wireless in 2009 - why can't Tulsa residents activate their MCs???

[roadhunter]

I can verify that the Microcells cannot yet be registered in Tulsa County, but can be registered in surrounding counties.  However, I believe AT&T's E911 excuse is bogus.  The Microcell pamphlet in the AT&T stores clearly states this is a phased rollout, that will go on a county by county basis.  I think they decided to give it to some of the more rural counties first.  However, I have verified addresses in Oklahoma County, home to OKC, our largest metro area, is also working.

I spoke directly with the E911 coordinator for INCOG, and she confirmed the information you posted, as well as that which I posted before.  AT&T was the very first cellular company to work with E911 in Tulsa.  AT&T claims this is somehow "different", which is BS, since it's just VoIP once the signal is translated.

[cmatthes1]

Still waiting for my second 5 day waiting for a callback so they can tell me they don't know what is wrong.  I got an iphone 4 today and don't even get 3g in my house any more.

[flybriz]

Yeah, this is really a shame.  I love everything about the iPhone 4 except I can't make calls from my house.  My 1G, 3G, and 3GS were always low in signal but I could still always make a call.  Now I have to use Skype or my house phone (thank goodness I still have one)...

[cmatthes1]

I am going to give up and return it, today is day 5 of my 2nd "we will call you back in 5 days" cycle.  I haven't gotten a call yet but I know they won't do anything (I mean c'mon its a microcell "engineer").  I give them about a 5% chance to tell me properly what is wrong.  It should be obvious given the error message (its pretty fun the first line of tech support say that nothing comes up under FCC 122, I mean, who makes up this code that they don't have it documented)

[roadhunter]

@cmatthes1: Looks like I'll be returning my MicroCell as well.  I've been lied to enough by AT&T.  I also think that if AT&T sees a bunch of returns, they'll be more likly to pay attention to their problem.  I can always go pick up another one in a week or a month...whenever they get them working in Tulsa County.  I have recorded my device's serial number, so I'll be able to go online and attempt to register it until it finally works, then I'll know it's safe to go back and buy another one.  I know this won't work if they happen to sell my returned device to someone else who registers it successfully, but the odds of that are pretty slim.  And, of course, if I get the registration to take, all I have to do is back up one screen and cancel, so I won't inconvenience the person who eventually winds up with the device I return today.

[d00mz]

---

roadhunter wrote:

I can verify that the Microcells cannot yet be registered in Tulsa County, but can be registered in surrounding counties.  However, I believe AT&T's E911 excuse is bogus.  The Microcell pamphlet in the AT&T stores clearly states this is a phased rollout, that will go on a county by county basis.  I think they decided to give it to some of the more rural counties first.  However, I have verified addresses in Oklahoma County, home to OKC, our largest metro area, is also working.

I spoke directly with the E911 coordinator for INCOG, and she confirmed the information you posted, as well as that which I posted before.  AT&T was the very first cellular company to work with E911 in Tulsa.  AT&T claims this is somehow "different", which is BS, since it's just VoIP once the signal is translated.

---

What's so difficult to understand? 

Why do you believe the E911 excuse is bogus?

Did you read above where I said that E911 for VoIP was different than for the MicroCell?

[flybriz]

d00mz, I share roadhunter's frustration.  Being an AT&T employee, you likely do not have to jump through the same hoops that personal and small business customers (like myself and roadhunter) have to go through every time we call AT&T for assistance.  I, like RH, have called multiple times in order to find out why I cannot register my MicroCell.  I have been given a different answer every time, though many times the answer is that they don't know what's going on, will open a ticket, and someone will call me back.  I have not once received a call back from an AT&T rep or tech.  The 3GMicroCell website indicates that the MicroCell is available in every Tulsa ZIPCode we have entered.  The AT&T brick and mortar stores have sold us Microcell units.  We are getting the run-around and inconsistent answers from AT&T support.  With that kind of track record, I think roadhunter has every right to doubt the validity of any information he has been given.  You are an AT&T employee and are no doubt very intelligent and well-versed on E911, so if you think that this is the problem, I trust you.  But why are these things being sold when they won't work?  Why does the website show our ZIPCodes as eligible?  Inconsistencies such as this will quickly erode consumer confidence.

[d00mz]

---

flybriz wrote:

d00mz, I share roadhunter's frustration.  Being an AT&T employee, you likely do not have to jump through the same hoops that personal and small business customers (like myself and roadhunter) have to go through every time we call AT&T for assistance.  I, like RH, have called multiple times in order to find out why I cannot register my MicroCell.  I have been given a different answer every time, though many times the answer is that they don't know what's going on, will open a ticket, and someone will call me back.  I have not once received a call back from an AT&T rep or tech.  The 3GMicroCell website indicates that the MicroCell is available in every Tulsa ZIPCode we have entered.  The AT&T brick and mortar stores have sold us Microcell units.  We are getting the run-around and inconsistent answers from AT&T support.  With that kind of track record, I think roadhunter has every right to doubt the validity of any information he has been given.  You are an AT&T employee and are no doubt very intelligent and well-versed on E911, so if you think that this is the problem, I trust you.  But why are these things being sold when they won't work?  Why does the website show our ZIPCodes as eligible?  Inconsistencies such as this will quickly erode consumer confidence.

---

I agree the runaround has to be annoying. As I mentioned above, the sales rep in the stores are supposed to be registering the device for you.  If they were doing that, they would be able to get the registration errors addressed and get you an answer as to what the error is.

I also understand the care/callback issue. I wish I could help with that one, I really do.  The only thing I can suggest is to get the case number and call them every day.

It's not just the E911, I've been working on MicroCell for two years now.  I lurk here on my own free time, trying to assist where I can.  I can tell you for a fact that the E911 solution for MicroCell is different than the E911 solution used on the Macro network.  Unfortunately, some counties are taking longer to complete the MicroCell E911 solution than others.