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Whitelist AT&T Nokia cell phone booster
When I first received this booster to replace my 3G, I was pretty satisfied, and it worked great! For a while, and not too long.
And initially I could not connect in my head why calls started going directly to voicemail and in my first call to AT&T, someone put me on hold and came back and said some local updates were being done and things should settle down in about a month.
Never happened!
There just are a bunch of calls that I want to be able to hear my phone ring as they are important.
I went through every possible Setting feature to assure I was not the one blocking calls but then again blocked calls would not go to voicemail. I finally got on this Forum and found "it is a requirements document problem between AT&T and Nokia on being able to select who can use or have calls passed through the new AT&T cell booster.
And from what I am reading, first off, I am in sight of the Tower my calls go thru and it is less than a mile by distance, and if the booster is not on, I am normally not in range and really have 1 bar or less. It appears I may need a different carrier and a carrier that does not utilize the Nokia solution for cell boosters. Anyone have a techie solution other than mine?
Accepted Solution
OttoPylot
ACE - Expert
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24.9K Messages
1 month ago
@super34city When I was testing the Cell Booster for AT&T, I had no issues at all with WiFi-C (WiFi Calling) with our iPhones (various models and iOS's) while connected to the Cell Booster (WiFi Calling enabled, WiFi enabled, and the phone set to LTE Only). We can also send/receive SMS/MMS messages to our Android friends as well. I don't use the Cell Booster anymore because WiFi-C works just fine in our home. The only time I enable the Cell Booster now is every few months for about 2 weeks to keep my CB account active and to receive any updates/maintenance that may be available.
The inability to not whitelist phone numbers was purposely disabled with the Nokia Cell Booster and there is no way to enable it. That feature was reserved for the more expensive Cell Booster Pro. And, as I mentioned above, it doesn't really work well on that model.
The weaker the incoming cellular signal the more reliable the Cell Booster is. However, location of the Cell Booster within your home is important as well. It should be elevated somewhat (not on the floor for example), sort of like a router and open to the environment (not stuffed in a bookcase).
You ISP is also very important as long as your wired connection is stable AND the minimum router requirements are met at all times. Some ISPs work better with the Cell Booster than others. That's an ISP problem not a Cell Booster problem.
Lastly, while the Cell Booster does work with WiFi-C enabled, it's a good idea to disable WiFi-C if you are using the Cell Booster. Remember, your phone will automatically connect to the strongest signal and if you have a minimal in-coming cellular signal, WiFi-C enabled, and the Cell Booster broadcasting an LTE signal in your home the phone is going to get confused as to which signal is strongest (especially as you walk around your home) and which signal to connect to and stay connected to. As I mentioned, WiFi-C in our home works extremely well, much more reliable than the Cell Booster, so that's why our connection of choice for in-home cellular calls. I just leave my iPhone on WiFi-C enabled, WiFi enabled (important), and 5G Auto. That way I don't have to make any changes to my phone when I'm at home or out and about.
ATTHelp will more than likely be of little real help.
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Accepted Solution
73blazer
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77 Messages
1 month ago
I have some insight on this issue. I can't be positive, but I've documented the cases where it happens. I believe it's something to do with a phone have some but very low signal and the booster having zero signal to a tower. Yes the boosters do talk to the towers if they see them so they can adjust their power output accordingly to not interfere.
I have three of these boosters in three different buildings. This issue happens on only one of the cell boosters. The one in the all metal building where it literally gets zero comms with a tower but if the door is open or your just outside, your phone might have a very low signal to a tower. Yes, I've switched them out to confirm, if it's in the metal building, that's where the issue occurs. I have one in a building in a rural area where there is literally no signal at all even outside for miles, and it does not occur there.
Additionally it only happens if your phone IS getting a tower signal, but of course not enough, so it connects to the booster. For instance, if the door on the metal building is open, and your just inside this building with your phone, the booster still can't get any tower signal but the phone can, this is when it happens. We leave this door open alot in the summer for ventilation. This never happens with the other two boosters, I believe, because one has while very very limited, at least some comms with a tower and the other is in an area with no signal for miles so your phone & booster have no chance at a tower signal and the booster works fine in this situation as well. And it never happens if your in the closed metal building where your phone and your booster have zero chance at a tower signal.
And it only affects calls, txt's always come thru. And I can mitigate the situation by cycling airplane mode on the phone. And it doesn't happen all the time.
So the cases are:
Booster with zero tower signal, phone with zero signal: OK
Booster with zero tower signal, phone with some but very low signal: SOMETIMES NO CALLS UNTIL you cycle airplane mode on/off
Booster with some tower signal, phone with zero signal: OK
Booster with some tower signal, phone with some but very low signal: OK
It won't solve your problem but I think it helps to know the conditions which make it occur. It may help to try to relocate your booster so it can see at least some tower signal.
--- Keep in mind when I say "signal" It may not be enough on your phone for an actual call or a bar on your phone, but just some, I don't think it takes much for the booster.
(some phones have a debug mode to see the tower signal in db even if your phone isn't showing a bar, this is what I used)
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Accepted Solution
OttoPylot
ACE - Expert
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24.9K Messages
1 month ago
@super34city FWIW, I did extensive testing with the original MicroCell (3G) up thru and including the last model released (I still have all of them in the closet). My home at the time had a metal roof but the MicroCell always worked, even before WiFi-C was a thing and after it was introduced. The Cell Booster, in our present home works but imo is not as robust or reliable as the Cisco MicroCell. The biggest issue that I found with the Cell Booster was connecting and staying connected to the phone. With the MicroCell, I could walk into the house and my phone would immediately connect to the MicroCell (ATT Microcell alpha tag displayed). With the Cell Booster that isn't always the case. If my phone read LTE, I could assume that it was connected to the Cell Booster but not always. And it appears that any level of cellular signal may cause the Cell Booster to lose connectivity. The signal strength bars on your phone are not very accurate indicators of actual signal strength so one bar may be a bit stronger than it seems.
Turning off the cellular radio (Airplane Mode) is a temporary workaround but is a pain in the ***. I should probably set mine up again and see if there are any improvements in connectivity but my guess is that there isn't. Bottom line, for me the Cell Booster is an improvement but is not as reliable as the MicroCell (3G) was. WiFi-C, is much more stable and reliable, but that depends on how good WiFi is in your home. And, in the OP's case, I would not leave WiFi-C enabled if he wants to use the Cell Booster as his primary source of connectivity. However, if he has family and friends who do not have WiFi-C capability (for WiFi-C) or AT&T accounts (Cell Booster) that's a problem.
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formerlyknownas
ACE - Sage
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118.4K Messages
1 month ago
I can't imagine what that has to do with the new misnamed cell booster, which is an LTE microcell. The purpose of having the LTE microcell is so that you can complete voice calls and send text messages via the internet connection at your home when cellular is not available. Certainly, when a tower is down, that is the definition of 'cellular is not available'.
? Typo?
Do you have active armor set up on your phone. That might be the first thing you want to delete.
With microcell working, your phone should show five bars of cellular service. Yes? No?
Are you able to make calls via the microcell? Yes ? No?
There is no such limit or whitelist like the 3g microcell
Any AT&T phone within range of the misnomered AT&T cellular booster (LTE microcell) will process through that device.
However, there has been problems with some internet service providers, speaking to your internet service provider may be able to open the ports required for the microscale to do its job
I'll let @OttoPylot jump in. Once it gets past the basic function, into the very technical, he's the expert, and I have very little understanding of the true technical aspects
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OttoPylot
ACE - Expert
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24.9K Messages
1 month ago
@super34city Read my AT&T Cell Booster Technical Guide for all things Cell Booster related. It is the first link in my sig line.
There is no way to whitelist phone numbers on the Cell Booster like there was for the MicroCell. The Cell Booster Pro is supposed to have that feature but it does not work reliably. AT&T Support really doesn't have a clue as to how the Cell Booster works and just reads off of a script that is not in a lot of ways accurate.
The Cell Booster, just like the MicroCell did, does not really need the local tower to send/receive calls. It's all done thru your wired internet connection. The local tower is used for location verification, handing off, maintenance, and periodic updates (which are rare). The Cell Booster GPS antenna needs to remain attached to the unit at all times and either on the window or window sill with an unobstructed view of the sky. The CB should be at least 2' away from the router and firmly connected directly to the router.
If you are only receiving one to two bars of in-home cellular signal then the Cell Booster (which is still a femtocell, not an actual cellular booster) should work just fine as long as your phone is set to LTE only. It will not work with 3G (obviously) nor 5G.
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super34city
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6 Messages
1 month ago
Basically, in reading a bit more right after I put up this post, @OttoPylot has a lot of info on the problems with the newer Nokia Cell booster. @OttoPylot has published some good stuff on the problems with this Nokia device. As it turns out it is a known problem, that basically is not being addressed by AT&T. And as I googled around, it appears there are others not part of this forum, who have exactly the same problems I am having, and I have gone thru all the possible solutions on my iPhone settings. TY for reading and trying to help! At present, what I did discover is my wifi calling was turned off and I have great internet from our local electric company over fibre! Our internet is hot and very reliable, so far! Will write more if wifi calling can put a bandaid on the Nokia booster and my phone starts ringing on all calls.
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ATTHelp
Community Support
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232.9K Messages
1 month ago
Hello @super34city, we hear you and understand the importance of connectivity. Let's get the help need!
The Community Forums are a public support option where other users, and AT&T, will try and assist with high level support needs. This means we won’t be able to look into account specific concerns. To get the help you need for your unique issue, please review our Contact Us page (https://www.att.com/support/contact-us/), and choose the best option to reach out to us. You can call, chat, or reach out via social media and we can review your specific issue and provide you support. If you feel your issue isn’t account specific, and can be answered generally, please let us know and we’ll be happy to help.
Thank you for contacting AT&T Community & Forums,
Ken, AT&T Community Specialist
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super34city
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6 Messages
1 month ago
AutoPylot,
Have been around cell service as an central office engineer in St Louis that worked on some original trials by the labs. The very first phone were a hoot. With that said, I also have a wireless extension to my garage about 300 ft air space.
I took the Nokia Booster to the garage and hooked it up and it worked the same as in the home. My wife has a business office in the garage and it is a metal building and same lack of signal from our AT&T tower, (that we can see out the garage window). We made a driving trip from Mo to Anchorage and wanted the best cell coverage for the trip and got a mobile WeBoost and it really did the trick but, $$$$$$ Knowing that WeBoost works for my wife I had to bite the bullet for her and installed the full home WeBoost and aimed the outdoor antenna at the tower. 5 Bars! This is an expensive process to just stick with AT&T. Being an ole Western Electric guy, it may be time to move on. And you are right on in your post about help from Techies from the company. It is either a subject they have not been made aware or a subject with no solution. TY for your knowledgeable messages! And when in the garage, my phone gets all calls.
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super34city
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6 Messages
1 month ago
73blazer
TY for your feedback. With all the knowledge and testing you and AutoPylot, the information you share from my history is what Bell Labs did to prove in a solution. But the Labs did much better than workarounds. Western electric and Bell labs in the early days blew off Dr. Deming's approach to quality, but then came around to it and I was part of it. But it appears, that ain't the case any more and purchasing solution from Nokia, as a business solution that does not work right, I guess the best is this Forum. I have shared what I have done for my wife's business in the garage in my other post to AutoPylot. An expensive fix!
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OttoPylot
ACE - Expert
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24.9K Messages
1 month ago
@super34city Purchasing and installing a cellular booster was going to be my next suggestion. The second link in my sig line is about cellular boosters. Some of the information may be a bit dated but the basics are the same. WeBoost is one of the suggested cellular booster mfrs. You are correct in that they are expensive but they do work, very well in most cases. If you can install them by yourself that's great. In difficult situations it's a good idea to have them professionally installed because they have the equipment to determine bands, frequencies, directionality, etc to optimize your connection.
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