[Q] Using a Hotspot under Straight Talk - Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Im currently waiting for my Nexus 4 to use under Straight Talk and was led to believe i can go into Settings and configure a mobile hotspot natively without the use of any 3rd party apps being possible under ST's no restriction on doing so.
However, i got a reply to a past comment i left on Youtube from somebody claiming to be "Sara from Straight Talk" (Username: SaraST8) saying:
"Hi Jürgen, this is Sara from Straight Talk. Unfortunately, Straight Talk does not allow the use of the service as a hotspot since it consumes too much data. A person engaged in such prohibited use may have his/her service terminated without notice or a refund. Please read our Terms and Conditions under Sections six and seven for you to be aware of the restrictions. Email us at [email protected]*.com if you have further questions. Thank you."
Is this true?

Related

Caught wifi sharing

As of tonight I have been getting an sms from t-mo U.S. everytime i start up the wifi sharing. This is the message "Free T-Mobile Msg: Phone Tethering & Wi-Fi Sharing access has been blocked. Please add a Phone Tethering & Wi-Fi......."
I never used it much so its not the end of the world, nor am I here to discuss wether or not it is. I am more interested in simply understanding how it is that they determine I was using the data on my laptop as opposed to my phone. Im sure others have discussed how this could be done in the past but I specifically curious how T-MO US detects this.
Because your phone turns into a NAT router and a major carrier's proxy server is not exactly monitored by one fat slob in a basement.
The moment you open the browser on your laptop you give the game away. Each request for a web page carries information on the browser you are using. If the browser is non-mobile then they know you are tethered.
You say you never used it much but I spoke at length with an AT&T tech regarding tethering and he told me that they don't actively look for non-mobile browsers but rather they look at the data usage. Mobile browsers tend to request the mobile friendly pages with less data so large chunks of data trigger a flag.
I have been with T-MOUS tech for the better part of the day, apparently my apps that are not working are being recognized as tethering activity by the network. No one at TMO at this point understands why but they can tell that certain applications that access data are triggering the tethering notification, rendering them unable to gain network access. I have had trouble getting F.IM last.fm, internet explorer (at times) yet opera browser and slacker radio work just fine. To prove to T-MO it wasn't my device we initially tested all this again on other SIM Cards and all was well. It sounds to me like they are blocking internet 80 but they assure me that is not the way they prevent tethering. They said that the new system for blocking tethering went up in the last few days at the same time they cut our throttling pt from 10gig to 5gig. I am the first to have this problem or anything similar according to tech. I must add they have been very kind and understanding, they believe me when I tell them I know something and they don't make me hard reset the device or replace battery when I told them I already did that myself. ATT never believed me and always made me repeat myself and processes.
I'm not entirely sure but I think most of the major providers just changed to the "unlimited" plan that is limited as standard so changing provider might not be a good option.
There have to be a bazillion unprotected WAP's near where ever you are...
I've experienced the same in the last 2 days. Now, when I do try to tether, it routes me to a T-Mobile site offering their tethering option for 15 bucks.
Tried the hotspot about an hour ago. so far so good
I was sharing with my zune hd, not a laptop, so that might make a difference. logged into msn messenger and sent some messages, used the FB app, and dl a song. so far no nasty-gram texts from T-mo. I'll let you know if one comes later.
Airborne Aircrew said:
The moment you open the browser on your laptop you give the game away. Each request for a web page carries information on the browser you are using. If the browser is non-mobile then they know you are tethered.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's a bit of a broad method. i have opera set to present the FireFox useragent, to bypass mobile sites, are you saying i wouldn't be allowed to do this on t mo us? surely that's illegal? i mean its not like you have to hack opera to make it do it, its a user setting.
what if you wrote your own browser? surely they can't be allowed topresume you are tethering on such flimsy evidence.it would be a bit like doing you for downloading music just because you have some speakers and a computer.
the easy way to test of course is to set your pc useragent to opera.
samsamuel said:
that's a bit of a broad method. i have opera set to present the FireFox useragent, to bypass mobile sites, are you saying i wouldn't be allowed to do this on t mo us? surely that's illegal? i mean its not like you have to hack opera to make it do it, its a user setting.
what if you wrote your own browser? surely they can't be allowed topresume you are tethering on such flimsy evidence.it would be a bit like doing you for downloading music just because you have some speakers and a computer.
the easy way to test of course is to set your pc useragent to opera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
barring online privacy acts and what-have-you, they could easily read your header and determine that the client/laptop/tethering device does not contain mobile protocol and with reasonable doubt that traffic is getting moved fairly quickly (amount of data relay, TTL, etc) on a "mobile" device, they'll flag the activity. Changing user-agent isn't a problem when they have other concrete methods to track you by.
Like airborne aircrew said, the OP must've sent a huge amount of traffic when he's tethering. That's like saying I only tether once a month, but when I do, I download 4GB torrent...
Its not when I use my PC browser because the message comes as soon as I launch the wi-fi sharing app. If I USB tether then I get a message on my desktop browser.
I called t-mo us
Now apparently my threshold is 5g a month instead of the 10g when I signed up. Also since this tether block several apps can't get online via 3g on my HD2 such as F.IM Facebook instant messenger. (This all stinks because the reason I went to T-MO U.S. is because they never removed usb tether from winmo, and they had the threshold for speed throttling at 10 gigs. Now they have lowered my throttle to 5 gigs and expect me to pay an additional 15 to access those same 5 gigs with my laptop.)
Im not trying to start a debate on their policies or anything just after all that my HD2 itself can't access that value raped service with some apps.
***I added the Wi-Fi Internet sharing app to the phone my self. This is why its so puzzling that they message me as soon as I launch the app.
hecatombercm said:
Now they have lowered my throttle to 5 gigs and expect me to pay an additional 15 to access those same 5 gigs with my laptop.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll need to do some digging on local state laws but down under if you've signed a term contract the carrier can only upgrade your plan (e.g. 10G to 15G) not downgrade your service until the contract expires. With tactics like that I'd be looking at another carrier and port your phone number across.
visser said:
You'll need to do some digging on local state laws but down under if you've signed a term contract the carrier can only upgrade your plan (e.g. 10G to 15G) not downgrade your service until the contract expires. With tactics like that I'd be looking at another carrier and port your phone number across.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep same here - in my T&C it said that if they change your plan and give you less, you have the right to get out of it there and then.
Very interesting cause the customer service rep admits that I had a 10g throttle point that is now 5g and also admits that the sales rep would have told me I'm allowed to use the built in tethering app modestly. This was my first attempt to tether in several months, and the one time I reached the 10g throttle point I didn't own a laptop so it was all done through the handset. I imagine I'll easily hit the new throttle point now even if I never utilize tethering. Heres and interesting thread over on the t-mo us forums. Someone talks a little bit about how T-Mo determines someone is tethering. http://forums.t-mobile.com/t5/myTouch-4G/tethering/m-p/551487/highlight/false#M5025

[Q] I want 3g voice not VOIP

Hi I have just asked my provider to help make my tab work as a "phone" and was told I couldn't unless I enabled VOIP for $10 P/M
I'm not too happy about this and told them so!!!
They have come to an arrangement with me but I'm still not happy because It still sounds like VOIP to me and over 3g it drops out.
Is there a way to prove this traffic is actually data/voip
my interface shows up as SVNET0 I can capture the the UDP protocol by using OSMonitor but I don't think that is detailed enough.....
cheers for any help
PS I am running stock FROYO
First off. Who is your carrier? If you're in the US no carrier will give you voice service only data. In order to enable voice for a Tab in the US you will need to root it and then do some homework by searching through XDA. In other countries that do allow voice and data on the Tab, your mobile plan should be like any other smart phone.
cheers
Well first off I'm with Optus, and the girl tried to offer me an add on voip service to allow phone calls.
anyhow I was watching my data interfaces and sure enough they do move while on a "Voice/3g" call so although all digital transmissions could be data, these ones are UDP in particular which points to VOIP...
just need more details.....
cheers anyways

nexus 7 LTE on Verizon- How to swap sim without missing calls

Hello all. Im pretty excited about my nexus 7 lte so i figured i would help grow this currently small section on it. Having verizon and knowing how people have complained about not being able to activate their tablet on it, I came up with a pretty good way to swap your sim card into it without missing phone calls. I made a youtube video about it but I will also explain it briefly here.
you tube (dot) com (forwardslash) watch?v=GFkIR1elWug
Here are the apps you need on your phone:
Google voice
simple call forwarding (optional but the included widget makes life so much easier)
The apps needed for your tablet:
GrooveIP (or talkatone, I have both but prefer grooveIP) {Check Autostart in the App settings}
RFRSH- Refresh for Android (optional, but the autostart makes the dialer your first screen if you want to make a call)
(Root and bootloader unlocking NOT needed on either)
Basically, you set up google voice on your phone with a number.
then you set up simple call forwarding by selecting your carrier and the google voice number.
add the included widget to your homescreen and click on it to toggle it on.
the widget will place a brief call resulting in all mobile calls being forwarded to your google voice number.
An icon will show in the top left corner reminding you that call forwarding is on. You can power off your phone.
Remove microsim from phone and place into sim tray of nexus 7 using included sim tray key.
Power on tablet.
Set up grooveIP to use your googlevoice number to make calls. Try calling your house to verify it is working. It will also handle
text messages but they are only from your google voice number. {Use Verizon Messages app on your tablet to send sms.}
(Using the latest cyanogenmod builds on your phone include voice+ which allows you to text through any app with your google voice number.
This is a good incentive to ditch your text messaging plan and use google voice for all your texting anyway.)
Launch refresh for android. In the launcher tab, add grooveIP to the list so it autostarts at every boot up.
Reboot your tablet to verify it worked. It might take a few seconds but it should automatically load grooveip. This ensures you
never miss a call since call forwarding is on and you never forget to load the app since it autostarts.
To deactivate when youre done with your tablet-
Power off tablet. remove microsim and place in phone.
Power on phone. Once booted up, click on simple call forwarding widget to toggle of call forwarding.
It will place a brief call to turn off call forwading. Once it is off, you are back to normal!
I hope this has helped a few people. It works great so far. Let me know if you have a better way to do it. I am still working on the SMS part of it.:laugh:
~sigh~ dude really?
There's so much wrong with this post that its impressive.
1-No you do not need to use RFRSH to make GrooveIP auto-start, you just have to set GrooveIP to autostart in its settings
2-What does activating a SIM in a phone have to do with anything?
3-Using a Verizon phone SIM card means you're using a "phone" plan as opposed to a data only plan. This will cost a lot more money and is forbidden by the Verizon terms of use in the contract you signed when you got your phone plan. Gotta love wasting moneys!
4-None of this Google Voice-related information is new and none of it is specific to the Nexus 7 in any capacity.
5-This is a DEVELOPER forum and, as it explains at the top of the forum, not a place for you to be posting this sort of thing, especially when this is literally your first XDA post, and in the first paragraph of said post you ask people to go check out your YouTube page.
Maybe go troll for traffic somewhere else?
Well, I think he is just very proud that he got it working.
But...there is a simpler way.
Verizon provides free call forwarding at this web page:
https://wbillpay.verizonwireless.com/vzw/secure/services/CallForward.action
You can forward only if no answer, or forward immediately.
I use forward if no answer, and my tapatalk app starts ringing on the 4th or 5th ring.
Verizon also provides a free texting app which can be used on PC or tablets.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.verizon.messaging.vzmsgs&hl=en
Once it is setup you can even power off your phone and still send and receive texts from PC or tablet.
So, I don't need to make a uTube video of it.
And yes, this probably belongs in the General forum.
HowardZ said:
Well, I think he is just very proud that he got it working.
But...there is a simpler way.
Verizon provides free call forwarding at this web page:
https://wbillpay.verizonwireless.com/vzw/secure/services/CallForward.action
You can forward only if no answer, or forward immediately.
I use forward if no answer, and my tapatalk app starts ringing on the 4th or 5th ring.
Verizon also provides a free texting app which can be used on PC or tablets.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.verizon.messaging.vzmsgs&hl=en
Once it is setup you can even power off your phone and still send and receive texts from PC or tablet.
So, I don't need to make a uTube video of it.
And yes, this probably belongs in the General forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
correct me if i'm wrong but doesn't verizon charge like $0.10 per minute per forwarded call regardless whether it's nights and weekend or the minutes or you have in your plan?
diablofreak said:
correct me if i'm wrong but doesn't verizon charge like $0.10 per minute per forwarded call regardless whether it's nights and weekend or the minutes or you have in your plan?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://support.verizonwireless.com/support/features/calling_features/call_forwarding.html
Call Forwarding is automatically included with new activations, and there are no subscription fees for the service. However, airtime charges apply to all forwarded calls according to your calling plan, even when forwarding to a landline.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not think there is any method of forwarding calls from Verizon without it using your plan's minutes. So it is best to tell people your google voice telephone number, and use tapatalk/grooveIP on both phone and tablet.
Regards
P. S. Call forwarding during nights and weekends
https://community.verizonwireless.com/thread/794117
http://www.howardforums.com/printthread.php?t=172532&styleid=46
DivinityCycle said:
~sigh~ dude really?
There's so much wrong with this post that its impressive.
1-No you do not need to use RFRSH to make GrooveIP auto-start, you just have to set GrooveIP to autostart in its settings
2-What does activating a SIM in a phone have to do with anything?
3-Using a Verizon phone SIM card means you're using a "phone" plan as opposed to a data only plan. This will cost a lot more money and is forbidden by the Verizon terms of use in the contract you signed when you got your phone plan. Gotta love wasting moneys!
4-None of this Google Voice-related information is new and none of it is specific to the Nexus 7 in any capacity.
5-This is a DEVELOPER forum and, as it explains at the top of the forum, not a place for you to be posting this sort of thing, especially when this is literally your first XDA post, and in the first paragraph of said post you ask people to go check out your YouTube page.
Maybe go troll for traffic somewhere else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
~sigh~ You probably felt the same way I felt after reading your post- surprised and annoyed.
I'm glad you are impressed. It was my first post, after all.
1- You are correct. I bought GrooveIP a long time ago and the version either did not have the autostart option or I missed it. Either way, you did provide this shred of beneficial information in your post. For that I thanK YOU.
2- Verizon will NOT allow you to activate the Nexus 7 LTE on their network even though it works fine. I'd post a youtube link with more information, but you might mistake it for trolling so I'll just tell you to GOOGLE it.
3- If you want to whine about the terms of Verizon's contract then do it somewhere else because you're preaching to deaf ears. This is a forum for people to use rooting and roms and tethering and plenty of other things Verizon doesn't want us to do yet here we are exploring options and learning new things. Those of us grandfathered on the unlimited data plan are not wasting money- this is who benefits from this. I guess you weren't that lucky. Don't worry, its ok.
4- I never said nor implied the Goole Voice information is new. When you think of it, just about everything on the web is recycled. This IS specific to the Nexus 7 LTE. Try to find another tablet that works on Verizon's LTE network that they WILL NOT let you activate. There are no others. This is a solution to help people who bought the tablet for Verizon and can't use it.
5- I did not see what you are mentioning at the top of the forum but I did find the forum rules. Here is Rule 2.3 for YOU
"2.3 Flaming / Lack of respect: XDA is about sharing which does not involve virtual yelling (flaming) or rudeness. Flaming or posting with a lack of respect is not acceptable. Treat new members the way you would like to have been treated when you were a new member. When dealing with any member, provide them with guidance, advice and instruction when you can, showing respect and courtesy. Never post in a demanding, argumentative, disrespectful or self-righteous manner." If a moderator could kindly move this thread to the General section, I'd appreciate it.
I never asked anyone to check out my youtube video. I mentioned that I made a video. People can check it out for clarification if they want to.
I wrote my intentions in the beginning- "i would help grow this currently small section". This is not trolling.
I used to belong to a different forum for a few years until I got fed up when it became a bloodbath of the veterans picking on the newbies. See Rule 2.3 again, dude.
(HowardZ, you have been thanked.)
Linked your link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFkIR1elWug
Good stuff. Thanks for the information. I've always wanted to dabble with GrooveIP and my Google Voice number. I have a good setup now, but it would be cool to play around to see if I could benefit from any of it.
Ok, the thread has been moved to the proper section. I also updated the Youtube video to explain how to autostart GrooveIP in its settings tab and to use Verizon Messages app to send sms on your tablet.
nexus7lte said:
Ok, the thread has been moved to the proper section. I also updated the Youtube video to explain how to autostart GrooveIP in its settings tab and to use Verizon Messages app to send sms on your tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been finding that whether I use GrooveIP (paid version) or Talkatone (free version), that sometimes the tablet does not receive incoming calls, and the calls instead go to Google Voice voice-mail.
I have moved the microSIM card back to my phone, because I do not want to miss calls.
Reliability is more important.
So, currently I keep the SIM in my Samsung Galaxy S4 running Cyanogenmod with WiFi teather turned ON all the time. Then on my tablet (stock rooted) I use the "WIFI Prioritizer" free app so that the tablet will only auto connect to the S4 Wifi hotspot as the last resort - the last choice among all other WiFi hotspots stored in the phone. So I carry the S4 in a holster on my hip and will only use it for phone calls. For texts I use the Verizon messaging app on the tablet, and of course email and anything for the internet looks much better on the tablet.
I'd prefer to do everything on the Nexus 7 LTE and leave the phone powered off. But any VOIP solution must answer all phone calls - it needs to be rock solid reliable.
HowardZ said:
I have been finding that whether I use GrooveIP (paid version) or Talkatone (free version), that sometimes the tablet does not receive incoming calls, and the calls instead go to Google Voice voice-mail.
I have moved the microSIM card back to my phone, because I do not want to miss calls.
Reliability is more important.
So, currently I keep the SIM in my Samsung Galaxy S4 running Cyanogenmod with WiFi teather turned ON all the time. Then on my tablet (stock rooted) I use the "WIFI Prioritizer" free app so that the tablet will only auto connect to the S4 Wifi hotspot as the last resort - the last choice among all other WiFi hotspots stored in the phone. So I carry the S4 in a holster on my hip and will only use it for phone calls. For texts I use the Verizon messaging app on the tablet, and of course email and anything for the internet looks much better on the tablet.
I'd prefer to do everything on the Nexus 7 LTE and leave the phone powered off. But any VOIP solution must answer all phone calls - it needs to be rock solid reliable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is your battery after leaving wifi tether on all the time? Does tasker have a profile to use it only at certain times? i guess it must be a lot better than mine- the galaxy nexus i just replaced ran out of juice too quickly for that to be an option. With my new moto x, that may be an option i will try, especially since they use different size sim cards- need adapter.
nexus7lte said:
How is your battery after leaving wifi tether on all the time? Does tasker have a profile to use it only at certain times? i guess it must be a lot better than mine- the galaxy nexus i just replaced ran out of juice too quickly for that to be an option. With my new moto x, that may be an option i will try, especially since they use different size sim cards- need adapter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Short answer: 5% to 10% per hour battery consumption on the Samsung Galaxy S4 (verizon) using the latest Cyanogenmod 10.2
The phone consumed 18% battery for the last 3 hours 7 minutes. However the entire time I have been in a WiFi area, so the N7LTE is not WiFi connected to the phone. The phone's WiFi hotspot is ON, but I suspect its LTE radio will use more battery power if it actually has data to transmit on behalf of the tablet.
I do not use Tasker.
It is nice that the N7LTE tablet and my Samsung Galaxy S4 (verizon) use the same size SIM card.
However, you should consider the following:
1. The vast majority of the time I am in a WiFi area. This means the N7LTE tablet is not WiFi connected to the phone. This is assured by using the free "WiFi Prioritizer" app. Minimizing use of the phone's Wifi hotspot assures lower plan data usage (I do not have unlimited data).
2. The phone is only touched for phone calls, so at some point I think it goes to deep sleep which reduces battery usage. Or perhaps Wifi Hotspot being on will not allow it to go to sleep?
3. Texts are handled by the free Verizon Messaging app running on the tablet - because all apps look and operate nicer on a tablet.
4. Phone is only used for actual voice cell phone calls.
There are other alternatives I can use, but they will modestly increase the monthly costs. For example I can move the phone's verizon microSIM card back into the N7LTE and:
1. Pay Skype $5 per month for a SKYPE phone number and $3 per month for unlimited calling to USA real phone numbers. Skype has a reputation of working very well - unlike google voice. This is back to carrying around only the N7LTE tablet, but paying for Skype because Google Voice is not reliable for me. OR,
2. Activate one of my old verizon dumb-phones for $10 per month and use that for actual phone calls. In this scenario the tablet gets its DATA via the verizon microSIM card inside it via LTE. A dumb phone is much smaller and lighter than a smart phone, and the battery charge lasts much much longer.

[Q] Will my carrier know if i am tethering?

I am unsure if this is the correct area to post this question as i am new to xda...
I am a Sprint user with a Nexus 5. I rooted it in order to enable my wifi hotspot on my phone.
Now i know that Sprint could theoretically check logs and see what type of traffic is going to my line, and see that it is not just mobile data, but instead data going to my desktop. But my question is, do they have any automatic checks in place, to automatically bill me or send warning letters... anything like that? Have any of you done this and encountered any issues? I guess what i'm asking is if Sprint cares?
I did a few Google searches and found similar questions but none that were recent. I know that in 2014 the FCC and other parties starting cracking down on carriers because they were cutting users short on their "unlimited plans".
ryan4888 said:
I am unsure if this is the correct area to post this question as i am new to xda...
I am a Sprint user with a Nexus 5. I rooted it in order to enable my wifi hotspot on my phone.
Now i know that Sprint could theoretically check logs and see what type of traffic is going to my line, and see that it is not just mobile data, but instead data going to my desktop. But my question is, do they have any automatic checks in place, to automatically bill me or send warning letters... anything like that? Have any of you done this and encountered any issues? I guess what i'm asking is if Sprint cares?
I did a few Google searches and found similar questions but none that were recent. I know that in 2014 the FCC and other parties starting cracking down on carriers because they were cutting users short on their "unlimited plans".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been using my Sprint Galaxy S4 as a wifi hotspot for 18 months. Haven't had any issues however I've never gone over maybe 8GB or so per month.
Not exactly an answer to your question but just my experience.
reb1995 said:
I have been using my Sprint Galaxy S4 as a wifi hotspot for 18 months. Haven't had any issues however I've never gone over maybe 8GB or so per month.
Not exactly an answer to your question but just my experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I've read i think you'll be fine as long as you aren't roaming. If you're roaming it throws a lot of red flags for the carrier to start looking into logs and whatnot. And obviously don't exceed your data limit if you're not an unlimited customer.
I never heard of anyone getting "caught" for tethering so you should be safe. Even if they do detect you, they'll probably send a warning letter theyll never bill you.
No, Traffic is traffic, if you send a lot of data they might complain for example p2p, excessive downloading on an unlimited data plan, If your phone is running stock the tethering capability is spoiled and bloated with useless software that checks with your carrier and let the servers now you activated tethering, that's why you should tether with a different app besides the stock one, also it's better that you use a custom rom or root the stock one and unbloat the phone's software.
They could know as you phone most likly has 2 APN one is Provide LTE and LTE Tethering
I have deleted LTE tethering ( I have 6 GB tethering anyways included )
It depended on how you report traffic, but in general they can only analyze your data usage and profile you accordingly. If you turn your phone in to a wifi hotspot or use P2P through your LTE connection it is going to be very obvious that your making NAT based request or running applications that people do not normally run directly on the phone, but if you stick to web traffic and IMs your not likely to be noticed let alone trigger any alarms. People run Netflix and Pandora almost 24/7 over there phones now so its not even a matter of total consumption as the type of it.

[DISCUSSION] Verizon Prepaid and OnePlus 6T

Greetings,
Although there are already a few threads here on XDA about the experiences and difficulties of getting a Oneplus 6T fully functional on Verizon Wireless, the reason for creating THIS thread is the lack of information currently out there for Verizon Wireless PREPAID customers.
To sum up, simply popping a Verizon SIM into a 6T will often yield a phone that cannot receive SMS/MMS messages, despite the OnePlus 6T being Verizon- certified. There are a few ways to fix this, such as getting a savvy Verizon Tier2 customer service rep to enable or provision CDMA_Less on your account for that SIM.
What is currently not clear is whether such methods apply to Verizon PREPAID customers, who appear to be afterthoughts to Verizon customer care from my reading of many nightmare experience posted online.
This thread is for people who want to use the OnePlus 6T with Verizon Prepaid. To help others who are in the same Big Red boat, please post your experiences -- what worked, what didn't, etc.
The following links are for reference on this circumstance:
https://www.reddit.com/r/verizon/comments/9uizn1/oneplus_6t_activation_help_employees_help/
https://www.reddit.com/r/verizon/comments/9ur5mj/help_verizon_prepaid_oneplus_6t/
The process overall was a bit more difficult than Postpaid as I was told by the store rep that they had the option to enable CDMA-less on their end whereas with Prepaid it had to be done either via chat or through phone. Chat did not go anywhere for me.
Was chatting with the Verizon rep for 1+ hours and she tried to turn ON the CDMA-less feature which she did, but did not turn ON the HD-Voice. This made my calls not to go through but texts were working.
Went to the store and put in a brand new Verizon Prepaid SIM card, and was back to the same issue. No texts, only calls.
Called Verizon prepaid customer care and finally one knowledgable rep, tried and resolved the issue for me. He worked with me for about an hour. As per him, he did exactly what the chat rep did, except that he turned ON both the CDMA-less and HD-Voice feature. Also, since it kept showing both the SIM and the device were incompatible, he tried to associate the SIM/IMEI to a dummy and then turned ON CDMA-less + HD-Voice and then associated the actual SIM with the actual device IMEI. Throughout this whole process I had another phone with active line and the rep was on this line.
All in all, not a good experience. I'd think a device manufacturer would ensure such basic functionality of texting and calling would work perfectly fine with approved networks before shipping out the device. I guess not. Other than this issue, I'm happy with the device so far.
satpakCA said:
As per him, he did exactly what the chat rep did, except that he turned ON both the CDMA-less and HD-Voice feature. Also, since it kept showing both the SIM and the device were incompatible, he tried to associate the SIM/IMEI to a dummy and then turned ON CDMA-less + HD-Voice and then associated the actual SIM with the actual device IMEI.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for taking the time to post this....
Your experience in successfully activating Verizon Prepaid seems to correspond with one of the experiences linked in the OP wherein:
- The OP 6T IMEI was found "not compatible".
- Verizon Prepaid Care could NOT add the IMEI directly (unlike regular, postpaid Verizon care which could contact Engineering, sometimes 2-4 days, but sometimes immediately).
HERE'S THE ESSENTIAL WORKAROUND:
- The requirement of ANOTHER device (like a Pixel) IMEI that could be provisioned with CDMA_Less and HD-Voice. Once these features were successfully turned on for thisSIM
- The SIM could be added/associated with the OP 6T IMEI and then everything worked on Verizon Prepaid.
Out of curiosity, would you mind specifying the color, RAM, and storage capacity of your 6T? (It appears that different models of the 6T show up in Verizon's IMEI database)
reaper000 said:
Out of curiosity, would you mind specifying the color, RAM, and storage capacity of your 6T? (It appears that different models of the 6T show up in Verizon's IMEI database)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries. Midnight Black/8GB/128gb. MyVerizon app shows it as 8/256GB version and I did ask Verizon Rep to change it and he said he will try, but was happy that he got the texting working for me. So I left it there.
hmmm feels like joining AA meeting.
hi, my name is akmsr and i am a verizon prepaid customer with oneplus 6T. its been 3 days without working sms/mms even after three sessions of calls/chats. the crushing feeling of being the second step-child is worsening........
I have a Nexus 6P that I am upgrading. Could they add the CDMA less and HD voice to it and then I can just swap the SIMs and activate the OP6T?
ybbad? said:
I have a Nexus 6P that I am upgrading. Could they add the CDMA less and HD voice to it and then I can just swap the SIMs and activate the OP6T?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would absolutely try that!
I'm about to try the same thing with an even older Nexus 6.
So If I were in your position, this is what I would do:
Once you have your Oneplus 6T in hand, ask Verizon Care to turn on CDMA-less and HD-Voice. You might have to walk into a corporate Verizon store or keep calling Care until you get someone knowledgeable. (I wouldn't do it before having the 6T in hand because it may be screw up service on your Nexus)
Or you try and do it yourself -- assuming as a Prepaid customer you have the same access to your account online that a Postpaid/regular Verizon customer does, per
https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-6t/help/verizon-to-to-sms-t3863352/post78089729
Note: nothing mentioned about HD-Voice, which may be on by default for Postpaid customers.
Once CDMA-less and HD-Voice are turned on, then switch out the SIM to your 6T. If it works fully (calls, data, send AND receive text), great!
If it doesn't work fully, then call Verizon Care again to associate the SIM with your 6T IMEI.
Hope it works out for you, and let us know...
akmsr said:
hmmm feels like joining AA meeting.
hi, my name is akmsr and i am a verizon prepaid customer with oneplus 6T. its been 3 days without working sms/mms even after three sessions of calls/chats. the crushing feeling of being the second step-child is worsening........
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Shouldn't need a support group, right?
But my experience with Verizon is that Prepaid customers are treated like unwanted stepchildren.
So support group it is.
akmsr said:
hmmm feels like joining AA meeting.
hi, my name is akmsr and i am a verizon prepaid customer with oneplus 6T. its been 3 days without working sms/mms even after three sessions of calls/chats. the crushing feeling of being the second step-child is worsening........
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately,right or wrong (definitely wrong) that's life w/pre-paid service:
1st to feel the effects of network prioritization & little to no meaningful customer care.
reaper000 said:
assuming as a Prepaid customer you have the same access to your account online
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't. The online options are different. There's a "Change Device" option but if you try to switch online, you get an error message about an incompatibility between SIM and phone. You can switch using the automated prepaid customer support line but the texting problem occurs. Between the agents at the prepaid customer support calling center and online customer support chat, I have spent over five hours in the last 2 days trying to get it to work. I've explained that both CDMA_LESS and HDVOICE calling features need to be enabled. Either they fixed incoming SMS and ruined voice calling or reenabled voice calls but ruined incoming SMS.
I switched back to my old phone and SIM. Since my old phone is a Samsung S5 that takes a micro-SIM, I will try looking for the extra plastic I disposed of around the nano-SIM to make it a micro-SIM, re-enable the new SIM in the old phone, transfer the new SIM to Oneplus and see if that fixes it.
Nsane457 said:
You don't. The online options are different. There's a "Change Device" option but if you try to switch online, you get an error message about an incompatibility between SIM and phone.
...
I switched back to my old phone and SIM. Since my old phone is a Samsung S5 that takes a micro-SIM, I will try looking for the extra plastic I disposed of around the nano-SIM to make it a micro-SIM, re-enable the new SIM in the old phone, transfer the new SIM to Oneplus and see if that fixes it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the information, please let us know if your S5 (another device) workaround does the trick...
Good luck!
reaper000 said:
I would absolutely try that!
I'm about to try the same thing with an even older Nexus 6.
So If I were in your position, this is what I would do:
Once you have your Oneplus 6T in hand, ask Verizon Care to turn on CDMA-less and HD-Voice. You might have to walk into a corporate Verizon store or keep calling Care until you get someone knowledgeable. (I wouldn't do it before having the 6T in hand because it may be screw up service on your Nexus)
Or you try and do it yourself -- assuming as a Prepaid customer you have the same access to your account online that a Postpaid/regular Verizon customer does, per
https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-6t/help/verizon-to-to-sms-t3863352/post78089729
Note: nothing mentioned about HD-Voice, which may be on by default for Postpaid customers.
Once CDMA-less and HD-Voice are turned on, then switch out the SIM to your 6T. If it works fully (calls, data, send AND receive text), great!
If it doesn't work fully, then call Verizon Care again to associate the SIM with your 6T IMEI.
Hope it works out for you, and let us know...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
reaper000 said:
Thanks for the information, please let us know if your S5 (another device) workaround does the trick...
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. I'm done with Verizon. Switching in the next few days.
Verizon: Thank you for contacting the Verizon Wireless Chat Team. To better assist you please enter your question below.
You: Activate device
Verizon: All Chat reps are currently helping other customers. You'll be connected as soon as possible.
Marcus: Hi there! This is Marcus here, gladly chatting with you
Marcus: Thank you for contacting Verizon Prepaid Wireless Care!
Marcus: You reached the right person to help with the activation. I know how important this can be for you.
Marcus: Could you please confirm the phone number we are working on?
You: ***-***-****
You: Over the last 3 days I've talked to Verizon reps to get my Oneplus 6T to work with voice and incoming text messages. The only thing to try is to switch a new sim to my Samsung S5, enable CDMA_ROAM and HDVOICE, and then move the SIM to my Oneplus 6T.
Marcus: I see.
Marcus: Don't you worry, you reached the right person to check on the device and help getting it activated. I know how important this can be for you.
Marcus: For security purposes, would you please verify Account Security Code on file?
You: ****
Marcus: Thank you very much.
Marcus: May I please have the device ID (IMEI) and the SIM card number (ICCID) from the phone you would like activated. The IMEI and ICCID numbers can be found on the phone under Settings > About > Status.
Marcus: Nice phone by the way.
Marcus: I'm sorry. I haven't heard from you.
You: The IMEI of the Samsung is **************. SIM # is *****************.
Marcus: Thank you for that information.
Marcus: Just to confirm, you want to activate the 1+ 6T or the Samsung?
You: I want to activate the Samsung S5 with CDMA_LESS and HDVOICE features added. Then I want to move the SIM to the Oneplus 6T and see if Voice and SMS works.
Marcus: In this case, would it be better to provide me with the Oneplus 6T IMEI to add it on the account and confirm how the activation goes instead?
You: I have done that at least 8 times in the last 3 days, so no. First the S5.
Marcus: At your command.
Marcus: On it now.
Marcus: In the meantime, how is everything going today?
You: Ok.
Marcus: Glad to know that.
Marcus: You can turn the Samsung off and back on to activate it with the new sim card.
You: OK. Give me 2 minutes.
Marcus: Sure.
Marcus: I'm still with you.
You: It worked in my S%. Moved the sim to my OnePlus. Voice works but incoming sms still doesn't. I can give you my OnePlus IMEI if you want but I have no luck.
Marcus: Sure, in the meantime, you can go to settings, to do a reset network settings.
Marcus: For previous android version this is found under backup and reset. For recent ones it's under general management, then click on reset.
You: I don't see it. I'm using Android version 9 I believe.
Marcus: Bear with me a moment, please.
Marcus: When you go to settings, what is the first option you see.
You: I've restored default APN settings. I don't know if thats the same thing.
Marcus: Is it Connection or Air plane mode?
You: ok. Ive turned Air Plane mode off and on.
Marcus: I wanted to know what the first option is.
Marcus:
Marcus: Could you please confirm what the first option you see when you open your Oneplus 6T is?
Marcus: For me know to have a better idea.
You: Wi-Fi & internet
Marcus: Please scroll down and let me know if you see backup & reset.
You: No. There is a Backup option under the "Google" setting but no backup & reset setting.
Marcus: Please go back to settings, then let me know if you see an option named general management.
You: no.
Marcus: When you scroll down to the bottom, what is the last option do you see?
You: Why don't you call the Verizon contract customer service agents to help you since this is a known easily fixed issue with Onepus 6T that prepaid agents are still struggling with? The last option is "About phone".
Marcus: In my department I can only chat, besides we don't have this phone on our system yet. In other words, even though you would call over the phone, you would still be our eyes.
Marcus: Please bear with till we figure this out.
Marcus: Could you please turn the phone off then turn it back on?
You: OK. Voice still works, incoming messages still don't.
Marcus: Now, let's go back to settings and confirm the first 4 options you see.
Marcus: Before you tap on any other button*
You: "Wi-Fi & internet", "Bluetooth & device connection", "Display", "Apps & notifications"
Marcus: Thank you for that information.
Marcus: Allow me to provide you with a link that may have the instructions on how to do a reset network setting on the phone
Marcus: By the way, would that be ok doing a factory reset as well?
You: Sure.
Marcus: Great!
Marcus: Please Click Here to check on the reset.
Marcus: Please let me know if it was helpful.
You: That didn't help but I searched for the option "reset" on the phone and found "Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & bluetooth". I reset.
Marcus: Wonderful!
Marcus: That's the one.
Marcus: You can and and follow the prompts.
Marcus: Is there another one that says reset settings as well?
You: "Reset Wi-Fi, mobile $ bluetooth" , "Reset app preferences" and "Erase-all preferences"
You: Erase all data I mean
Marcus: Let's just erase all to do the factory reset. Is there anything on the phone that you didn't want to lose?
You: No. It's new.
You: OK. Erasing everything.
Marcus: Perfect!
Marcus: I really appreciate your time and patience working on it.
Marcus: You can setup the language and country, then you google account. After that select, set as new.
Marcus: The other options will be optional and will allow you to skip or do later.
You: OK. Dame problem. I have voice and data but no incoming messages. I know that the voice needs to connect through CDMA LTE with HDVOICE and the SMS messaging needs CDMA_LESS provisioning and can't go through CDMA. If that's set up and it doesn't work then there is nothing that can be done and I'll have to leave Verizon.
You: *Same
Marcus: What application do you use to send and receive texts?
Marcus: We will try different options.
You: Basic android messaging. Because your asking me that, it shows that you're not familiar with the issue specific to the device. It is a provisioning problem on your end.
Marcus: What happens is that there is many apps you can use to texts and one of them is our messaging app named message+.
Marcus: I'm confident that every is good on our end and will do everything possible to help you get a resolution. Could you please go to play store, download message+ and try to send a text again?
You: I have a phone that is certified to work with Verizon. It is new. It is unlocked and not carrier branded. I don't want Message+. I bought this phone so I could avoid your branded apps.
Marcus: And I respect that, I believe that is your phone and you have the right to do what you would like on it.
You: I'm confident that everything is not good on your end. I'm confident because of how many users with contract have this issue fixed and how many with prepaid don't.
Marcus: However, I would like to make check all the possible option to help you send and receive text. Another good option is to install facebook messenger on your phone and set it as your default message app like the regular message app the phone came with. Is that better for you?
You: Messenger+ is designed to use wifi when available so I don't want that. I want incoming sms fixed. Not a bandaid.
Marcus: How you feel right now is totally understandable, I understand that you may have had a negative interaction with one of our agents that could create this feeling. Right now, I'm focus on getting a resolution to help you. The facebook messenger can be used without Wi-Fi when you set it up as default messaging app.
You: Is it that you don't understand that the Facebook messenger app, like messenger+, uses wifi when available? I don't want that.
Marcus: I have use them myself just a few weeks ago.
Marcus: Used*
Marcus: It happens sometimes that the regular message app the phone came with experience some difficulties to work, trying a different message app can be helpful in that sense. There is more than 10 messaging apps on play store that you can use, like hangouts or tango.
You: Installing google messenger now, instead of Oneplus stock.
Marcus: You meant Facebook messenger?
You: I'm not installing anything from Facebook. Switched sms to the new app. Nothing.
Marcus: What error did you get when you try to send the text?
You: No error. Outgoin works. When someone tries to send to me they also get no error but I don't get the message.
Marcus: I sent 2 texts to your number did you get them?
You: No. I've been sending to myself but no messages. When an agent enables CDMA_LESS and it works, I suddenly get all messages but then voice doesn't work.
Marcus: Do you get the same issue when you use the Samsung phone?
You: No. This is my problem https://www.droid-life.com/2018/11/06/oneplus-6t-verizon-sms-issues/ https://www.androidauthority.com/verizon-oneplus-6t-how-to-922365/ . All solutions seem to work for contract customers but not prepaid customers.
Marcus: I see.
Marcus: This can be because prepaid and regular plans (postpaid) works on a different network. When a phone is just recently released it is available for our regular plans first then the prepaid version is built.
Marcus: As you can see I'm the 4th agent to work on this with you and the issue still persist while you don't have the same with the samsung phone.
Marcus: It's the phone that is not yet compatible with our prepaid network.
You: Thank you for your time. I'm receiving a SIM card from Unreal Mobile for $10 a month in the next few days. Until then I'll have to put the sim in my Samsung and leave Verizon in a few days.
Marcus: What you could do is wait till we have this phone available on our prepaid network to do a trade in. Basically changing it for a prepaid version when available as we don't have this phone yet on our network. Or you can change to a postpaid plan, the bright side is that being a prepaid customer already you can have a postpaid plan with no contracts attached.
You: No thanks. Bye.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, @Nsane457, thank you for posting the entire transcript -- outstanding to have all that info. But wow....
That. Was. HIDEOUS.
Totally horrendous (but unfortunately, completely believable) that Verizon "certifies" a phone... but for ONLY their postpaid customers.
You'd think that Verizon's vaunted certification (which a OnePlus executive said took a year to get for the 6T) applies to ALL the plans Verizon offers so unabashedly on their website.
Would you mind sharing what model of 6T you have (color, ram, storage)? Still trying to see if that makes a difference in successful Vzw activation...
reaper000 said:
First, @Nsane457, thank you for posting the entire transcript -- outstanding to have all that info. But wow....
That. Was. HIDEOUS.
Totally horrendous (but unfortunately, completely believable) that Verizon "certifies" a phone... but for ONLY their postpaid customers.
You'd think that Verizon's vaunted certification (which a OnePlus executive said took a year to get for the 6T) applies to ALL the plans Verizon offers so unabashedly on their website.
Would you mind sharing what model of 6T you have (color, ram, storage)? Still trying to see if that makes a difference in successful Vzw activation...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OnePlus 6T Midnight Black 8GB RAM + 128GB Storage
Nsane457 said:
You don't. The online options are different. There's a "Change Device" option but if you try to switch online, you get an error message about an incompatibility between SIM and phone. You can switch using the automated prepaid customer support line but the texting problem occurs. Between the agents at the prepaid customer support calling center and online customer support chat, I have spent over five hours in the last 2 days trying to get it to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is correct, in a change device option. you get to input new verizon device id (imei for android) and reason for switch. then you get the unspecified compatibility error. so it seems only the phones that verizon sells are allowed for switch.
has anyone tried installing my verizon and verizons version of messaging app to see if it works? just saying.....
[probably solved] verizon prepaid and oneplus 6T fiasco
hi fellow members,
the fiasco of no sms/mms is probably solved without calling/chatting with useless prepaid tech support( not knocking the hard working helpful people, just the retarded greedy mofo company they work for for limiting tech's ability to heal us). at least its working for me for the last half hour. i made several phone calls back and forth with 2 different friends, multiple texts also back and forth and mms too. as a matter of fact i turned on the hotspot, tethered my laptop and writing this post from laptop. also received 2 phonecalls and called back while writing this.
8gb/256gb version, used sim1 (furthest from the handle).
sent myself couple of text and one picture. as usual nothing. asked a friend for text, also nothing. went to dialer---- *#*#4636#*#* that took me to phone info. i changed the preferred network to lte/td-scdma within couple of seconds it got signal and some spaces started filling in with data. showed my phone number imei etc. showed voice is connected but data was disconnected. so with trial and error i figured out that the usual menu option in android (3 dots in upper right corner) has option to enable data. boom data is connected, signal shows lte and volte. there is a button to run ping test. after clicking all three tests passed. at the bottom left of the page there was a career provisioning something. i hit it for good measure :laugh::laugh: 2 options were on automatically, but voice over wifi was greyed out, backed out of that page and all texts images poured in. i called and exchanged texts since then success.
so why probably in the title?
1. you guys should try it and see if it works for you.
2. i was so happy i wanted to share first. i have not rebooted the phone since, dont know if it is going to stick
good luck to us all.
---------- Post added at 08:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:59 PM ----------
success for me. i rebooted, sent myself 1 text. 1 image, worked. tethering again and posting this.
@reaper000
if it works for you could you please change the title of thread so other people can notice thanks.
I tried my wife's Verizon prepaid sim card and volte and SMS works in my phone. Didn't do anything just popped the Sim in. Though voice over WiFi didn't work.
Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk
How about adding another layer to this stinky onion. I'm on TotalWireless, a Verizon prepaid MVNO.
I cannot get anywhere with support. I spent 5 hours troubleshooting this yesterday and another 3 today. I've been on the phone and in chats with some of the most incompetent people I've ever had the opportunity of encountering. I tried with every ounce of my being to be civil and amicable with them, but they have managed to get me to the verge of a blind rage.
They are now rufusing to help me for 72 hours because "you have called in too many times about this issue and it's not fixed so we have made a note on your account to wait 72 hours to see if it is resolved." When I called in the last time the agent gave me the silent treatment, when I then asked to speak with a representative about canceling the account because of how bad the experience has been she said to please wait and I listened to call center background noises and typing while she continued to give me the silent treatment for 5 minutes. Then I hung up.
This is a serious issue with Verizon not having their crap together with LTE only unlocked devices, but I also think this is partly on OnePlus, because being on an MVNO I'm locked out of creating a APN in OxygenOS when Verizon is the defualt APN on the SIM. I had to unlock my bootloader, root, and use a third party tool to create the APN. I can also pop my SIM into my wife's Essential PH-1 and not have an issue, so OnePlus is missing some programming somewhere I think that makes this much harder than it has to be.
SamClem said:
How about adding another layer to this stinky onion. I'm on TotalWireless, a Verizon prepaid MVNO.
I cannot get anywhere with support. I spent 5 hours troubleshooting this yesterday and another 3 today. I've been on the phone and in chats with some of the most incompetent people I've ever had the opportunity of encountering. I tried with every ounce of my being to be civil and amicable with them, but they have managed to get me to the verge of a blind rage.
They are now rufusing to help me for 72 hours because "you have called in too many times about this issue and it's not fixed so we have made a note on your account to wait 72 hours to see if it is resolved." When I called in the last time the agent gave me the silent treatment, when I then asked to speak with a representative about canceling the account because of how bad the experience has been she said to please wait and I listened to call center background noises and typing while she continued to give me the silent treatment for 5 minutes. Then I hung up.
This is a serious issue with Verizon not having their crap together with LTE only unlocked devices, but I also think this is partly on OnePlus, because being on an MVNO I'm locked out of creating a APN in OxygenOS when Verizon is the defualt APN on the SIM. I had to unlock my bootloader, root, and use a third party tool to create the APN. I can also pop my SIM into my wife's Essential PH-1 and not have an issue, so OnePlus is missing some programming somewhere I think that makes this much harder than it has to be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are not alone...im a Verizon user even it not a pre-pair i cant even get verizon work property on my device while other got it work property...i experience that first day i received device pop verizon sim on it everything work then a day later completely gone no signal nothing...so i swap my sim to slot 2 and services come back...but today nah both of them gone cant make either,slot,work...went to verizon store,got new,sim...but didn't work out either...seem like Verizon block my sim but when i swap,to,my old device,everything work...kinda weird...but imma return the device tomorrow cant be more frustrating...hope everything work out for,you!

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