No signal in my house, drop call and straight to voicemail

@cwillimyles - if you have a WiFi-C (WiFi Calling) capable phone then you don't need a MicroCell. Your exact address (needs to match your GPS coordinates) is needed for either the MicroCell or WiFi-C because that is an FCC E911 requirement. If your physical address is in a brand new division, or is rural (route number, etc) then the information may not be uploaded yet so that the AT&T Locational Database has it.

The fact that you don't have a local tower (according to what AT&T told you) is problematic because while the MicroCell does not need the local tower to make/receive calls it needs to be detected by the MicroCell so that the MicroCell can adjust its power output, timing, and other FCC requirements. That may also hold true to WiFI-C initialization. I would try to setup WiFi-C in another location and then see if that works at home.

The MicroCell is not free but you may be able to get one for a discount. However, without a tower within range, and your location issues, it's doubtful that you would be able to register and activate it. Other than WiFi-C, your only other option is to either invest in a cellular booster (CelFi or Wilson), which work very well and can be carrier independent but are expensive, or change carriers that have better coverage in your area.

Tower assignments are not up to the carrier but the FCC and local municipalities. It can also take up to 5 years to get a new tower approved, built, and activated.

@cwillimyles - if you can get your GPS coordinates for your local address from your local E911 AT&T can do what is called a GPS Bypass which is basically "manually" putting your coordinates in for  your physical location. However, that is only temporary and will only work until AT&T does maintenance at night. Part of the maintenance is verifying the physical address of where the MicroCell is at. If AT&T can't get those coordinates from what is sent via the GPS radio, it will coordinate that with the closest tower. However, being as you don't have a local tower, that won't work. The address is, like I said, an FCC requirement and  is more involved than just updating a database.

A cell booster that is not specific to a carrier may be your best option as long as there is a detectable cellular signal.

@Andreindallas - thanks for the useful post.

Lol... I pay monthly (highest rates in the business)...

[Please keep it courteous.]

@Andreindallas - I have no idea what your problems are with the MicroCell, nor do I care what you pay. I'm not an AT&T employee, if you bothered to read my sig line, and am just a customer with lots of experience with the MicroCell.

@cwillimyles

If you have zero signal, a Booster will not help you.  A booster only amplifies an existing signal.  

What is this "or just tell me to change to Verizon or Sprint!" ????

 No one is stopping you.  If you want to switch, then do so.  It is unlikely you have any financial obligation to ATT that they won't reimburse.  

It is up to you to determine if another carrier will provide better service.  

Signal is not guaranteed. It's written in the terms and conditions. So no, it's not the carrier's responsibility to do anything. Reception is what it is. If it's low that means you're too far from the towers. Indoor coverage, definitely not guaranteed at all.

I understand the frustration but the wireless customer agreement even states your ability to call emergency services is not ensured and that nowhere will they guarantee coverage. Voting with your wallet may be the only option.

@lizdance40 

@David606

Thanks for stepping in.

FYI cwillimiles........We're all customers of AT&T in this forum, not AT&T employees so getting bent here isn't doing you or us any good.

Since you state you've tried WiFi-C but AT&T wouldn't accept your address.  Are you using a street address or PO Box?  PO Boxes are not allowed for E911, nor are rural route numbers.

Another thing to look at is the USPS website.  Go there and input your address and see what address it comes back with.  It may format the address differently in such a way that is accepted for the E911 address. If it does come back different, try that address instead.

One thing I've read is that when inputting an address for WiFi-C E911, the system doesn't like the (-) character.  So, for example, if your address is 55-5555 Street Name and you enter it with the hyphen it won't accept it.  If you leave out the hyphen, (555555) the website will respond with "did you mean 55-5555 Street Name", adding the hyphen back and then it will accept the entry.

Reviewing the cell towers around Irvine, CA, it would appear that there are 9 AT&T cell towers around Irvine but they are all located on the I-5, I-405 and Hwy 55 corridors.  Sprint has fewer towers and Verizon a few more, but after reading the comments from Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint users in the Irvine area, they all stink.  So YMMV regardless of who you use.

@Otto - From my understanding of WiFi-C, no GPS is used for address verification, at least I can't find that anywhere from my research online.  All you do is type in your physical street address (iPhone anyway) on the WiFi-Calling page under "Update Emergency Address".