‎Copy of AT&T 4G/LTE Cell Booster™ Informational Document

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Copy of AT&T 4G/LTE Cell Booster™ Informational Document

Updated

1 year ago

Table of contents

Introduction

The information in this document is an update from the previous MicroCell

Technical Guide to reflect the changes in the new femtocell. AT&T calls the SS2F11 a

Cell Booster, and SB4IBN the Cell Booster Pro, but both are actually femtocells, the

same as the previous models. This is a marketing decision by AT&T because the

term cell booster is better understood by the customer base than the term femtocell,

even though the term "Cell Booster" implies "Cellular Booster". The term Cell

Booster/Cell Booster Pro may be used interchangeably with CB/CB Pro throughout

this document to distinguish them from their predecessor, the MicroCell.

The AT&T Cell Booster is a very useful device when in-home cellular coverage is

lacking or non-existent. However, its predecessor developed a love/hate

relationship with some customers. The purpose of this document is to hopefully

explain some of the technical workings of the Cell Booster which may help to explain

why some customers may have problems with their Cell Booster's or their phones

when attempting to connect.

The basic premise of the Cell Booster is that the device broadcasts a 4G/LTE signal

inside your home that your phone connects to, just like a cellular tower, only the

strength and propagation is very limited in comparison to a tower. That cellular

signal then uses your wired internet connection to reach the AT&T Mobility Servers.

There is no additional cost using the Cell Booster so your data usage would be the

same as if you were connected to a cellular tower.

The Cell Booster (CB) will be a 4G/LTE release, with the Cell Booster Pro (CB Pro),

being released shortly thereafter. That model will have 5G capability, wider range,

and allow more connections. The Cell Booster Pro will be intended for Enterprise

and First Responders (FirstNet). The Cell Boosters have a larger footprint than the

MicroCell (but are square and flat), a WAN and LAN port, an external antenna port

(for GPS location), and will include the antennas. There are also holes on the back

for hanging on a wall for the Cell Booster and there may be a wall mounting kit

available for the Cell Booster Pro. Otherwise, as of this writing, the new models

function similarly as the previous version, the DPH-154. The Cell Booster/Cell

Booster Pro is manufactured by Nokia. At one time the Cell Booster was called the

Nokia Smart Node and I think that's why AT&T chose Nokia for their secondgeneration femtocell.

The AT&T Cell Booster (CB) offers LTE coverage of up to 3,000 sq. ft. The AT&T Cell

Booster Pro (CB Pro), offers LTE with coverage of up to 15,000 sq. ft. This document

will focus primarily on the Cell Booster, but will be applicable to the Cell Booster Pro

for most of its operational and functional ability. The minimum bandwidth

requirement will be 5Mbps down/1Mbps up for the Cell Booster and 25Mbps down/5Mbps up for the Cell Booster Pro. However, the recommended bandwidths

for the Cell Booster will be 100Mbps/5Mbps and for the Cell Booster Pro it will be

150Mbps/20Mbps. Those numbers will vary so if the minimum can be met reliably,

and depending on what else is sharing bandwidth on your home network, you

should be fine.

The download/upload speeds for the Cell Booster will be 150Mbps/75Mbps and for

the Cell Booster Pro 300Mbps/150Mbps.

The maximum allowable users at any one time for the CB will be 8, and for the CB

Pro, 65.

The Cell Booster will allow any AT&T postpaid or prepaid phone, and IoT device to

connect if within range. There will be no Approved Users List or allowing access via an

AT&T phone number like there was with the MicroCell. And there will be no way, at

least as of this writing, to know who is using your Cell Booster. Communication

between the Cell Booster and AT&T is accomplished thru a secure encrypted

connection. However, data usage will be counted against the account of the connected

device, not the Cell Booster itself.

NOTE: Both devices have a consumer warning that you should be no closer than 20cm

(8") and for no longer than one minute, including areas of short-term duration such as,

but not limited to, a light, light switch, thermostat, HVAC unit or vent, electrical

outlet, and signs.

The Cell Booster Pro in intended for Enterprise and First Responders (FirstNet)

because of the increased RF coverage, 5G, the number of users allowed, and the bands

used. There will also be a separate portal for Cell Booster Pro management and

possibly a professional installation offered.

The Cell Booster is a totally closed system so there is no access to modify or change

settings like you can with a router. Only AT&T can modify the system and does so on

occasion with updates automatically pushed to the unit (usually in the middle of the

night to avoid service interruption). There are no announcements of what the

updates are for or when they will be pushed out.

The Cell Booster is primarily for voice. You can use it for data, but the speeds will be

slower even though it uses 4G/LTE for throughput. Voice doesn’t have the same

bandwidth requirements that data does so if your download speeds are terrible on

the Cell Booster and Cell Booster Pro, voice should still be fine. That’s why the

recommendation is to leave WiFi on if you plan to use data as well. That way, data

will be downloaded via WiFi and voice will be handled by the Cell Booster. Your data usage will also not go against your data plan if you use WiFi.

NOTE: Once the 3G network shutdown, AT&T ran a process that disabled the 3G

radio in the MicroCell.

The Cell Booster and Cell Booster Pro will both have an anti-tamper

mechanism that will display an alert in the Cell Booster app and will

permanently disable the unit if there is an attempt made to open the device.

The initial cost of the Cell Booster will be $229 and for the Cell Booster Pro $699.