Friday, May 14, 2010

Your Own AT&T 3G Tower for $150

OK, so it's not actually a cell tower, but if you have a broadband Internet connection, the AT&T MicroCell allows up to four simultaneous users to make 3G data or phone calls within a 40 foot radius.

So if you are one of those people who says, "I can't get a signal on my iPhone inside my house/office," this might be just what you need. You just plug it into your network, register the device online, and you've effectively extended the AT&T 3G cell network to a 5,000 square-foot bubble around the MicroCell.

Though the device is portable and can be relocated, note that the AT&T website recommends "Installing your device near a window is strongly recommended to ensure access to Global Positioning System (GPS). A GPS link is needed to verify the device location during the initial startup."

Why does it need GPS? Based on the next quote from the AT&T site, I'm guessing that there are probably FCC restrictions about using these transceivers outside a geographical area in which AT&T is licensed for radio transmissions: "The device may be moved, provided the new location is within the AT&T authorized service area and properly registered online."

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