AT&T Microcell

<p>We just bought the new AT&T 3G Microcell for son to use in the dorm. Based on D's experience for 4 years with AT&T we know service is virtually non-existent in the dorms, so decided to take a chance on this. Their computer supposedly verified that it will work in Barrett dorm. (Clerk used a map of W&M to find street address of Barrett dorm and plugged that into their computer system.) We'll see; I'll believe it when it actually works. It cost $150 with a $100 rebate if you sign up for the $20 monthly service which you supposedly can cancel anytime (clerk suggested cancellling after we get the rebate). Apparently if you have plenty of minutes you don't need the $20 service--it gives you unlimited minutes through the microcell. I'll let you all know how it goes. They assured us that we can return it for a complete refund if it doesn't work.</p>

<p>Get the refund application ready.</p>

<p>W&M buildings are prime examples of why the MicroCell was invented. I would expect a greatly improved experience - BUT: you shouldn’t expect to plug in the MicroCell and have it work immediately. Every device plugged into the network requires authentication. Authentication is easy for laptops or other computers because the first time you open a browser it redirects you to a page where you sign in with your username and password to authenticate the device for the duration of the school year. For any other devices that don’t have browsers such as printers, game consoles, or the MicroCell, you will have to fill out the device authentication form (pretty much just need to know the device’s MAC address) and have IT manually authenticate it.</p>

<p>The information on network authentication is here:
[William</a> & Mary -*Annual Network Authentication](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/offices/it/a-z/networkauthentication/index.php]William”>http://www.wm.edu/offices/it/a-z/networkauthentication/index.php)</p>

<p>The form itself is here:
<a href=“http://web.wm.edu/it/deviceauthform.php[/url]”>http://web.wm.edu/it/deviceauthform.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>So don’t despair if you plug it in and it doesn’t work immediately. Make sure you do the authentication.</p>

<p>If you don’t want to deal with IT, you can spoof the MAC address on your computer to whatever the devices MAC address is and then go through the normal verification procedures. That’s how I got my Wii working.</p>

<p>Thank you both for the advice. I would have plugged it in & assumed it didn’t work.</p>

<p>I just moved my brother in to his dorm at Richmond. I’ve recently graduated and have dealt with network authentication plenty. We bought a microcell for his room and it went through all the steps without a problem until the most important step which is providing the 3G signal. I’m confused because the device recognized that it was connected to the Ethernet port and had an Internet signal which made me think that maybe I didn’t need to go through the network authentication process. I’m still not entirely comfortable with the intricacies of the device, so is it possible that even if it shows it has an Internet connection it will not provide a 3G signal until being authenticated by IT?</p>

<p>The ATT signal or the lack of it is already driving me crazy. Mine called back saying he has not signal whatsoever from ATT inside his dorm. So I will have to now get into the business of getting him a microcell and what not. I need to first figure out if they even have a network port inside the room or is it only wireless so that I can connect the Microcell device.</p>

<p>There are ethernet ports in all of the rooms and wireless everywhere on campus.</p>

<p>Here’s the update on the Microcell we hooked up in son’s dorm—Microcell is still not operational. </p>

<p>We went through W&M IT to authenticate the device and they were very quick; no issues there. Thanks for the advice as to how to accomplish that. So, we thought device would now work. However, it does not.</p>

<p>We found out that AT&T has technical support for Microcell if you wade through enough menu items when you call the main number. The person verified that the device is registered but said it has no GPS signal. I don’t understand this device at all, but this apparently is a major problem. Using Google maps we found out that the address we had used for the dorm was slightly off. Person on phone said it might have been enough to throw off the device. Now we have corrected the address, so hopefully when son gets done with orientation stuff and can get back to the room to unplug the device for 10 seconds it will reset, GPS will work & all will be right with the world. Keeping fingers crossed.</p>

<p>Thanks Bayberry. Waiting to hear your update. I dont understand the need for this GPS thingy in the device - is it something to synchronize signal between the real tower and the microcell or is it a purely security precaution to prevent spoofing and such. Some reading and research is required. Hopefully you will have success and then I will follow your trail. Thanks for keeping us informed.</p>

<p>DD had no signal inside her freshman dorm, but it was fine if she went to the lobby or outside, so she just did that. We didn’t have texting then. She had a very weak signal the next year, but texts went through fine. She could go downstairs in that dorm and also have a perfect signal. The dorm where she lived last year and is living now has great perfect reception throughout the building.</p>

<p>We never messed with the microcell or anything else since she said she could just go downstairs for phone calls. She usually makes most of her calls while walking to class, etc anyway.</p>

<p>Son unplugged/replugged microcell per instructions from AT&T, but device is still not operational. Today’s piece of advice from AT&T is that he’s missing the connection from microcell to computer. Son has microcell plugged into Ethernet port on wall, as directed by last customer service rep., but apparently microcell must also be plugged into his laptop. If this doesn’t work S will have to call AT&T when he has time to trouble shoot–check which lights are lit, etc. Setting this up in a dorm is clearly not something customer service has experience with and the setup doesn’t match the scenarios they have instructions for. Getting less optimistic, but still hoping the issues will get resolved and that S will be able to use his phone in the room.</p>

<p>@cap - My DD made it through 4 yrs. at W&M with virtually no service in any of her dorm rooms, but we were hoping this new device would alleviate the inconvenience of standing outside to talk on the phone. You’re DD is lucky she has good service now.</p>

<p>We tried to tame the beast, but the beast won. We went from being skeptical, to hopeful, to frustrated, to resigned. I’ve dealt with customer service enough to see that we aren’t going to resolve the installation problem by phone and neither son nor I have technical expertise to untangle the problem on our own. At this point, son has given up. Someone with more understanding of the technology might be able to get the microcell to work in the dorm, but it has beaten us. Talked to a colleague who is having wonderful results with microcell in a home setting, so the device can work, but apparently not in the dorm.</p>

<p>That’s too bad. W&M buildings are exactly why the MicroCell was invented. It sounds like customer support was giving you the run around. The MicroCell doesn’t have to be plugged into the laptop, only to the network. It only needs the laptop if the MicroCell isn’t plugged into the network. My guess is that you never got a GPS fix, which for some reason is required to get that stupid thing to work (E911 reasons). AT&T will waive the GPS fix requirements if you tell them you’re having trouble but you have to kind of push them to do so.</p>

<p>I just heard about someone who got it working in a dorm, so apparently it is possible. I don’t know the details, however.</p>

<p>That’s encouraging news. We’ll work on it again over parents’ weekend. Son is out of patience with it.</p>