MicroCell not working after download of ios5

Ok. If it's not too much trouble, will others who have been in this coversation about the finicky microcell connect, and who have done the 5.1 upgrade, please weigh in: better, worse, the same episodic "searching" that reconnects when phone is cycled or call is made? I haven't yet done the new upgrade.

Same

Similar problems exist in the iOS 5.1 update. My 3G and MicroCell worked like clockwork. When I pulled up in the driveway, it connected to my iPhone faster then Sparky could fetch my slippers. Using the iPhone 4S, starting in iOS 5.0. It connects for what seems like the first call and never comes back.

I'm telling you now folks, after being on the phone with AT&T Support numberous times with this issue. Apple is not going to come to your rescue. I've waited several times when the AT&T rep called Apple Support, and they would just come back with "It's an AT&T issue" and their only way to solve it to to reset your Network Services. This actually does something for about a day.

There are a lot of positve posts of folks having no issues with their M-Cell and iOS 5, my guess would be they have newer towers. Mine is dated March 2010, which is an early version. I bet the old ones have out of date firmware (denyed by AT&T).

AT&T are blaming each other for this problem. I don't sense there will be a solution.

This may be a red herring... but here are two things to try. My connection seems to be better now, but I'm not sure which of these steps improved it. Perhaps someone else on this forum can try only one to see if we can determine which helps.

1. After updating to 5.1, try "reset network settings". This will reset your ATT settings and erase any WiFi networks that you've saved, but will not remove any data or applications.

2. Go into ATT's microcell managment page and disable "Automatic Hand-out". This disables the ability to transfer an active call from the Microcell to the public tower network. Which for me is not an issue because the closest public tower signal is 4 miles away.

Follow up...

Looks like #2 above doesn't work. Tried it on a different phone.

Re-testing reset network settings on 5.1 now.

FWIW, I can say this problem is not universal. Was at my mother's house yesterday. My wife has a 4 on 5.1 and I have a 4S on 5.1. We both connected to the micro-cell fine and had no problems while we were there. She had AT&T set it up for her quite some time ago when my wife and I both had 3G's with 4.2.1 and it has not been changed since then. The only phones allowed to connect to it are my mother and her husband and my wife and I.

Was wondering if option #1 improved your reception.

I have an iPhone 4, running 5.1. I've had the microcell for about 3 weeks now. As mentioned in a previous post, my "searching" seems to be cosmetic as calls usually go through, but I do think the "searching" is draining my battery.

It appeared to help for a while, but ultimately, my phone went back to searching mode.

Regarding your observation, yes, I to seem to be able to make calls. The action of dialing out somehow triggers the phone to link to the microcell, and once it does, it stays fine for the duration of the call.

However, when on seaching mode I have confirmed that inbound calls go direclty to voicemail and I do not receive inbound SMS. I'm on WiFi, so iMessages do get through. BUt I do have friends that don't have iPhones, so can't use iMessage.

This is the same for me. Calls out change from "searching" and work fine. When "searching", incoming calls often go to voice mail. Since there are occasional posts that say there are no issues with 5.1 while most of the posts here say there are (and many of those are with relatively new microcells (that work fine with non-iPhones), which would probably have any newer firmware), it's got to do with the proximity of cell towers and what I understand (from stuff i've read about iphone 4s) is the 5.1 software's looking for the best of multiple signals because the iPhone 4s has two antennas.

Perhaps those following this post could confirm that, if they have the "searching" issue (after doing the 5.1 update), they do have a regular cell tower somewhere near them (but with spotty connectivity).

Recap. Chicago market, on the fringe of a large park where there "was" zero cell service by any carrier. I bought the Mi-Cell when AT&T was "giving it away". I believe it was $150.00 and AT&T sent me a Visa gift card rebate for $150.00. So, I have an introductory model and had an iPhone 3G. They worked together freakisly brilliant.

I purchaced the iPhone 4S loaded with iOS5, and not so good. The phone would connect at boot up and would loose the signal within 20-30 minutes. If I rebooted my phone, I would have the same results, better get those calls in quickly.

I never saw the extended Searching that others have. In my case it would just go to No Service. I made frequent calls to AT&T, reset the Network, they reset my Network and so on. Still no better.

Now, here comes iOS5.1. The Mi-Cell doesn't improve, but the AT&T network improved. They, allegedly, upgraded the Chicago market to 4G LTE. I travel alot, so I wasn't too annoyed, until I suffered a back injury and had to stay and work from home flat on my back. I thought I would never be able to use my iPhone. Even though the Mi-Cell connection is still heavily flawed, the overall improvement in the network was noticable.

I read posts where folks with iOS 5.0 & 5.1 have no problems connecting to their Mi-Cells. I still say mine is original and over two years old and needs a firmware upgrade. AT&T says "no" and they won't replace it because it is "out of warranty".

Same problem here. I've actually replaced my iPhone 4 under warranty and I bought a new microcell, after explaining the problem to Apple genius desk on Market st San Francisco and AT&T in Oakland.

Apparently both stores and companies are completely unaware that this is happening.

The wife's iPhone 3s never drops the microcell and never drops a call in this dead zone of Oakland that I live in.

I'd be very surprised if they didn't know about it. Several of us on this thread have opened cases about it.

That being said, I'm not surprised that the first level support staff have not been told about it. You know how Apple likes to kee things quiet.

At this point, none of my attepts at fixing it have worked. I'm pretty close to jumping ship and going to Verizon on an iPhone 4s (I have a 4 now). But I was really planning to skip the 4S and wait for the next version.

If anyone on this thread has a recently purchased iPhone, or one still under AppleCare, I'd recommend that you call in and open a case with Apple. Make it clear that you've tried everything in your power to fix it, and that non-iPhones and iPhones pre-IOS5 have no issues with the same Microcell. Reference this thread if needed, but get them to open and escalate a case for you.

The more cases we get open, the more likely Apple is to fix it.

i also have not had reliable cell service with or without a at&t 3g microcell. after being fed up trying to degister and reregister the microcell. i called at&t. they told me to try and get a new sim card replaced. that didn't seem to fix the problem. i wrote tim cook an emal and i got a call back from exutive relations. they wanted to come to the house, but i said no because i have a dog. A lady call me and she put me with an applecare representive. he emailed me the telephony diagnostics profile. i ran the profile for 3 days and i had a 33 mb log in my library directory for baseband. so he had me send him everything in crash reporter for the iphone including the telephony log. they said they would be in contact in the future.

when i called at&t , they told me they were aware of an issue and they have been working with apple to fix it and they have no solutions for the problem

Hey, pass the email contact or phone number to me. They can come visit my home and see for themseves.

I'll bake them cookies.