Why does the Red Light keep coming on!!!?

[guitarian]

My Microcell worked fine for the first 9 months, then one day the red light started coming on. I have returned 2 and I'm on my third. It works well for a few days and then for no apparent reason the red light comes on. 

ATT, what the heck is the problem? Why is this not addressed by ATT? Do you have any idea what the problem is? Would you share that with us please?

[jamileh]

Here's a good troubleshooting guide for the Microcell: http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB109369&cv=820#fbid=JksbCLIT7p8 (basically, try unplugging it & plugging it back in)

Did the two you had before have the same issue? 

[Otto Pylot ACE - Czar]

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jamileh wrote:

Here's a good troubleshooting guide for the Microcell: http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB109369&cv=820#fbid=JksbCLIT7p8 (basically, try unplugging it & plugging it back in)

Did the two you had before have the same issue? 

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Serioulsy Jam, that's your help? That's nothing more than the script that Level 1 customer support reads from. We were hoping that you Community Support Managers, who pop by occassionally, would be a little better informed with a bit more info. A red flashing 3G light usually means a hardware failure or an update that didn't reset properly.

[jamileh]

The first troubleshooting step for a red light on the Microcell is resetting the device, which unplugging it/plugging it in does.

I can't offer more advice without additional information so I hope OP will respond with more details so we can figure out what's going on. 

Thanks for your feedback. It sounds like you're well informed so maybe we can work together to get OP taken care of.

[diablo135]

Same thing here. It has been working pretty much fine up untilt the last few days. Now I can't get the 3GS symbol to turn green at all.

[guitarian]

Hi Jamileh

 I have unplugged, reset, turned off, rebooted, disconnected, reconnected, changed cables, reset modem, reset router, and said a few hundred curse words. I have done this with all three Microcells. I was "assured" by tech support that the only reason the red light comes on is because the Microcell is defective. Either that is incorrect (which I happen to believe) or you guys have given me 3 defective pieces. Either way, that is unacceptable. But I guess I have to accept it. 

As I wrote previously, my first one worked fine for several months and then started going red intermittently. They all have done (and currently do) that. It is doing it right now. WHY????

No one at ATT has told me what is actually wrong. ATT changed something in November and I'm convinced that is the problem. Can you give me a real answer? BTW, the warranty is now conveniently over.

Thanks for letting me vent.

David

[guitarian]

Also, the only reason I have a Microcell is that ATT didn't want me to switch to Verizon. ATT has lousy coverage where I live, but Verizon has a nice strong signal. Is it time for me to say goodbye to ATT and hello to Verizon?

[guitarian]

Green light was on all week and then I wake up today to the red light. What's up ATT?

[Otto Pylot ACE - Czar]

AT&T probably did an update in the middle of the night (which is when they do their updates because of low usage at that time) and the MicroCell didn't reset properly. Power cycle a few times and see if that clears it. Worked for me.

[ToolMan61]

Have had the same problem with two of these things  ATT no help.. They keep blaming  ISP  have  3 friends on the same ISP no problems at all....I have 5.5 ,Megs dowm and 512kb up.. Hooked up in priority same old  crap .. I noticed it always goes red around 3am.... I finally put a time on it to to a power down at 3:15 am and power back on 15 minutes later so far itw working that way.. BUT I shouldn't have to do this  WHAT'S  UP ATT wake up and send a fix for the MICRO CEll

[Otto Pylot ACE - Czar]

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ToolMan61 wrote:

Have had the same problem with two of these things  ATT no help.. They keep blaming  ISP  have  3 friends on the same ISP no problems at all....I have 5.5 ,Megs dowm and 512kb up.. Hooked up in priority same old  crap .. I noticed it always goes red around 3am.... I finally put a time on it to to a power down at 3:15 am and power back on 15 minutes later so far itw working that way.. BUT I shouldn't have to do this  WHAT'S  UP ATT wake up and send a fix for the MICRO CEll

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3am sounds like the middle of the night time when AT&T does their updates. My guess is that for some reason your MicroCell did not properly reset after the update so it thinks its a malfunction. Power cycling usually corrects the reset issue.

[ToolMan61]

Does it every day....I went as far as to un register and re register device  same old crap...I think ATT has too much load on the servers JMO..Power cycled several times Just FUBAR on ATT's part

[Otto Pylot ACE - Czar]

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ToolMan61 wrote:

Does it every day....I went as far as to un register and re register device  same old crap...I think ATT has too much load on the servers JMO..Power cycled several times Just FUBAR on ATT's part

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You may be correct about the AT&T servers because the severity of some problems certainly seems to be service area related (down to your individual neighborhood). We rarely have any of the issues that are most commonly reported here. I had one major outage around March of last year but got it straightened out and the MicroCell has been fine ever since (even with iPhone 3Gs and iPhone 4s). That sill doesn't get AT&T off of the hook for having a totally clueless and less-than-helpful customer support.

[ToolMan61]

It  has been glowing red all day on the 3g signal light but still works... I have ordered a external gps antenna for it I live between  2 very close mountians . It takes a verrrrrryyy long time to get a gps lock may not help but worth a shot...

[ToolMan61]

Well  got the  external GPS antenna hooked it up as soon as i powered up the micro cell got a gps lock in 1 minute..Had been taking 30 mins to get a gps lock.. Deactivated the MC reactivated and only took 10 minutes to get it all going again ..It took over 90 without the external gps antenna ..This may cure my problems I hope  It's worh a shot..will post again after it runs a while with results as to wheter or not it cures the 3g light........HOPING for the best  LOL

[Otto Pylot ACE - Czar]

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ToolMan61 wrote:

Well  got the  external GPS antenna hooked it up as soon as i powered up the micro cell got a gps lock in 1 minute..Had been taking 30 mins to get a gps lock.. Deactivated the MC reactivated and only took 10 minutes to get it all going again ..It took over 90 without the external gps antenna ..This may cure my problems I hope  It's worh a shot..will post again after it runs a while with results as to wheter or not it cures the 3g light........HOPING for the best  LOL

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That's good to hear. Which GPS antenna did you get? That may help others in similar situations or if someone wants to move their MicroCell away from the window for better aesthetics.

[ToolMan61]

I found it on Amazon . Came from  Mount Guys in NJ... 30.00 plus frt.. had it in 2 days.has a 25 ft cable and the correct plug for the MC.. I have  a metal roof on my house so it worked great it has a magnetict base. Made it really simple they do suggest a piece of metal under it for a gound plane.. Sorta  made my whole hose a giant GPS antenna ..LOL

[guitarian]

It might be that the issue is the updates, but why didn't this happen for the first 8 months? Were there no updates until November?

[ToolMan61]

Just got mine 2 weeks ago .. Started  happening as soon as i hooked it up.. Got the GPS antenna hooked up yesterday been running 24hrs no flashing light.. I really  think it has to have a constant gps signal to  work  JMO.. This is the longest it has worked since I have had it..Time will tell...

[mcellreally]

ToolMan, is your Microcell still working well?  Have you seen the blinking red light again?

[ToolMan61]

Been working fine since I added the externa; GPS antenna....NO Problems at ALL...Sorry I am late at posting hadn't had a chance to check the board...

[guitarian]

I finally found a solution. I switched to Verizon and have 3-4 bars at my home now with no Microcell. As a bonus, the phone gets a much better signal at school.

[Otto Pylot ACE - Czar]

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guitarian wrote:

I finally found a solution. I switched to Verizon and have 3-4 bars at my home now with no Microcell. As a bonus, the phone gets a much better signal at school.

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Well that's good then. In your post from earlier this year you stated that Verizon had much better coverage in your area than AT&T. That would explain a lot of your connection issues with the MicroCell and your area. Coverage maps for any carrier can be misleading because coverage doesn't always equate to a stong signal, especially in-doors.

[bff426]

I have had the exact same problem. Had the unit for years, no problems. Suddenly, in the last month, three different times, I'll look at my phone, and have either no service, or one bar. Look at the M cell, and have a red light flashing. Unplugged the unit, plugged it back in, wait an hour, and it comes back. Today, it didn't come back. To think that I left Verizon to get the iPhone. Grrrr! I used to have three bars here at my house with Verizon. Next call is to find out how much longer my contract is. May be worth it to break it. If only the **** teenagers didn't keep dropping their phones in the toilets.

[word filter avoidance]

[Otto Pylot ACE - Czar]

As has been pointed out before, the red flashing 3G light is either due to an update by AT&T, and the unit didn't properly reset itself, or there is a hardware failure. Usually a hard reset (holding in the reset button on the back for about 30 seconds) will clear the MicroCell if the flashing red 3G is due to an update. If that doesn't work, it may be a hardware failure. You did say that you've had it for a few years so it's possible that it has, or is, giving up the ghost. If Verizon offers you better coverage (so that you don't have to use a femtocell in the house which, btw, Verizon also offers for the same reason), then maybe you can transfer your iPhone to VZ if AT&T will let you out of your contract. My kids have a tendency to drop their phones on the sidewalk

[guitarian]

I called Customer Service again a couple of weeks ago. On this call the agent told me something I've never heard or read before. He said the reason I kept getting the red light was because the microcell "wasn't able to get a signal from the tower". My response was "If I could get a signal, why would I need a Microcell?!"  

If his info is correct, why did no one from AT&T EVER mention that little detail? And once again I have to ask, why did it work fine for the first few months? 

I called to find out how much it would cost to get out of my contract. $295. But I get an unlocked phone and they are selling used on ebay for over $600. So in reality, it cost me almost nothing to make the change.

It is such a good feeling to pick up the phone in my house and see 3-4 bars. All the time. And I never have to look at that stupid Microcell again (until I put it on ebay where they are going for $75-100.)

As a bonus I found out yesterday that I can use my phone on motorcycle trips in towns where before there was no service.

[Otto Pylot ACE - Czar]

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guitarian wrote:

I called Customer Service again a couple of weeks ago. On this call the agent told me something I've never heard or read before. He said the reason I kept getting the red light was because the microcell "wasn't able to get a signal from the tower". My response was "If I could get a signal, why would I need a Microcell?!"  

If his info is correct, why did no one from AT&T EVER mention that little detail? And once again I have to ask, why did it work fine for the first few months? 

I called to find out how much it would cost to get out of my contract. $295. But I get an unlocked phone and they are selling used on ebay for over $600. So in reality, it cost me almost nothing to make the change.

It is such a good feeling to pick up the phone in my house and see 3-4 bars. All the time. And I never have to look at that stupid Microcell again (until I put it on ebay where they are going for $75-100.)

As a bonus I found out yesterday that I can use my phone on motorcycle trips in towns where before there was no service.

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I can understand your frustration and have certainly been there before myself (that's sort of why I'm here now). The MicroCell is not a VOIP service. It still needs to connect to a local tower which is usually via your internet connection for calls and to check service area. I'm glad you were able to get out of your contract and got a nice deal in the progress. Good luck with Verizon and have a happy holiday.