M1 (MR1100) needs battery to update firmware

winger13

No clue... I called up AT&T with the issues I was having. They didn't even have the replacement batteries for the MR1100s in stock, as running the device full time with the battery installed will eventually leave the battery in a condition of permanently discharged (As in, it cannot be recharged). Happened to me on two devices in a row, so I called them up to ask for batteries... I was able to talk some shop with the AT&T CSR, and they have nothing setup to support these devices really. No firmware, no batteries... no particular special training (Why would they? AT&T has enough devices to support as-is, on top of network issues). I did mention a lot of the issues that this has and he said he'd be taking it up to his boss to let him know what we're running into, but I wouldn't expect firmware notes anytime soon. AT&T isn't a company known for its transparency... that and the problem of this being treated like yet another cell phone when this is really a networking device. Automatic OTA firmware updates and lack of changelog is not acceptable for this kind of device just because it happens to be a cellular device.

Quite frankly this arrangement that Netgear has setup with the Cellular Service Providers is a bit baffling. Pretty sure it's not AT&T engineers who are generating these firmware. Maybe they have input on it, but they're not doing all the work on these firmware patches. I'm not sure if Netgear did this arrangement to reduce the core price that the Cellular Service Provider has to pay by not having to deal with any returns related to it, but either way, this arrangement is pretty bad, and I think it reflects poorly on Netgear, even if it is the Cellular Service Provider who made an agreement and didn't follow up on the support requirements. I also let Netgear know that AT&T doesn't have any MR1100 batteries in stock too, so hopefully that'll have been rectified by now, or will be rectified soon.