Don't want to leave AT&T, but might have to...

The booster ATT sells is actually a microcell, not a signal booster. I’m pretty sure the reason you can’t use your booster is it requires a wired internet connection and won’t work over your wireless router. However, @OttoPylot is the resident booster expert. Hopefully he can clarify. Why do you think you need a booster? If your cellular signal is strong enough for your wireless router, it should be strong enough for phones. If your cellular signal has degraded and you are trying to boost that, I’m pretty sure you got the wrong device. What you are looking for ATT does not sell.

@JanetSK  The MF279 uses a cellular connection to supply WiFi and internet access to your home. The Cell Booster is an LTE device only and it requires a direct ethernet connection to a router for land-based (DSL, cable, or fiber) internet service. It is not designed for wireless broadband and that may be your issue.

Did you receive an email/text message from AT&T saying that you had successfully registered and connected to AT&T so you should be good to go?

Support is pretty much useless when it comes to things regarding the Cell Booster.

So, what does the light pattern look like on the Cell Booster?

Does your cell phone meet AT&T post-3G cellular requirements?

What does your cell phone indicate as a cellular signal?

What kind of cell phone do you have?

As far as your portable phones go (not cellular phones) the Cell Booster won't work with them because you need an LTE-capable cell phone (that is provisioned for HD Voice) to connect to the Cell Booster.

As far as cell phones go, are you able to do WiFi-C (WiFi Calling) if you still have a WiFi signal via the MF279?

Please explain in a bit more detail what you have and how it is setup? It may be that you won't be able to use the Cell Booster and you may have to consider a cellular booster, which the AT&T Cell Booster is not even tho the name is similar. The Cell Booster is a femtocell, just like its predecessor the MicroCell. They broadcast a cellular signal that your cell phone connects to and then uses your land-based internet connection to reach the AT&T Mobility servers.

Read my Cell Booster Technical Guide, link is in my sig line for all you'll ever want to know about AT&T's Cell Booster.

EDIT: I just read your response to @formerlyknownas . You need a cell phone as I mentioned, and I would highly recommend you read the two Guides that are linked in my signature line. With regards to cellular boosters, there are all kinds so you need to do some research as to which one will work best for you, AFTER you get a cell phone.

Thank you for your answer.  I will try and explain my situation. About three years ago, an ATT rep came to my house.  He said we could go wireless and save money.  So, we signed up for unlimited wireless home phone and internet 4g lte.  He told us what telephones we would need (ATT portable answering system)  we do not have a cell phone.  Instead, I have a Homepage for my wireless internet.  It has all settings, information on connected devices, call log, etc.  In the upper right corner  the 4 g symbol is displayed.

     The light pattern on the booster has  two that  are active.  The power one is white, the Internet one is orange.  Both continuously blink. I did receive email from ATT saying my registration was successful.  Also, an agent said it should take about an hour for service to begin.  That was about 8 hours ago.

     This whole thing started with my having to restart mf279 every few days.  This was when I was told I need cell booster from ATT store.  Janet

You need a real booster.  A real booster only requires electricity.  

The at&t device using cellular to amplify cellular just does not work.

Would that be from somewhere like Best Buy?  How would I know which one to buy?   Sorry, for what is probably dumb question, but I just don't know much about this subject at all...janet

@JanetSK  Ok, that's helpful. Even tho you've registered the Cell Booster with AT&T but there is no connection. You should've received a notice that not only were you registered with AT&T, your connection was good and ready to go. The email you received is an automatic one that just confirms that the serial number is valid. Once your location is verified via GPS and that your CELLULAR phone number matches your account and location, you'd receive another email saying that all is well and all of the lights on the Cell Booster would be a solid white.

Without a post paid cellular account, you can't and won't be able to use the Cell Booster or WiFi Calling. In fact, without a cell phone, you won't be able to use a cellular booster either because that detects the incoming cellular signal and "boosts" it so that is strong enough for you to use your cell phone. The cellular requirements and router requirements are given in my Cell Booster Tech Guide.

So, without a land-based internet service, which is DSL, cable, or fiber, you won't be able to use the Cell Booster. And, without a cell phone, you wouldn't be able to connect to the Cell Booster anyway or be able to connect to a cellular booster. I also have a Cellular Booster Technical Guide as well in my sig line for a primer on cellular boosters.

It's unfortunate but you were apparently given erroneous information as to what you would need to improve your in-home phone service. Either the person at AT&T that you talked to didn't understand your setup or was just clueless.

It would appear then that to improve your in-home phone service you will need to purchase a cell phone and try to use the Cell Booster via the MF279, WiFi Calling, or purchase a cellular booster.

Last question if you don't mind.  I have tried to read your cellular guides, but it is way above my head.  So,  since I am satisfied with my mf 279 service, is it possible  to buy the cellular booster and still be able to make phone calls and access the Internet  like I have been doing as long as the mf279 is working?  We are due to get 5g soon.  So, I would like to be able to wait until it is available before I switch service.  Plus, this is just about the only option available in my area other  than cable.  Again, thank you for taking the time to answer. Janet

@JanetSK  The sole purpose of the Cell Booster is to improve poor in-home cellular coverage. The same for WiFi Calling (WiFi-C). It is not an internet tool per se and will only work with appropriate cell phones.

You need a cellular phone to use a cellular booster.

You need a cellular phone that meets AT&T's cellular requirements to use the Cell Booster for calls and internet access via your cell phone.

The Cell Booster is not a device to connect to the internet, unless you have a cellular phone. It is not a router.

5G has nothing to do with the Cell Booster. The Cell Booster will only allow cell phones that have LTE capability to connect. A 5G phone will be able to connect to the Cell Booster if you have it set (the phone) to LTE. I do that with my 5G capable cell phone.

You may be able to connect the Cell Booster to the MF279 (I'd have to check my notes) but you would still need an LTE cell phone to connect to the Cell Booster.

I wouldn't hold my breath for AT&T to extend 5G coverage to your area. Coverage just means that the signal can be detected and received in a specific area. It does not mean that you will have reliable 5G cellular service. 5G is available in our area but it is not reliable so we just set our phones to LTE and forget it.

From what you describe, you'd be best off to stay with what you have (the Cell Booster will do you no good at this point in time) and consider getting cable internet. Depending on who the cable provider is in your are (who is it by the way?) and their equipment, you should then be able to use the Cell Booster with your cell phone or use WiFi-C if you choose not to use the Cell Booster.

Do not confuse AT&T's Cell Booster (which is a femtocell) with a cellular booster. They are not the same thing.

Just to clarify:  is your service poor, or non existent? 

Poor service can be amplified.  But a good booster is several hundred dollars. 

 Cable internet isn't the devil.  

@formerlyknownas It sounds like the OP has issues with the MF279 service and does not have a cell phone, which makes the use of the Cell Booster and a cellular booster out of the question. I think it was suggested that she get the Cell Booster by AT&T who didn't understand the type of phone service she has.