Can't get voice to work on Total Wireless - Essential Phone Questions & Answers

I've had my Essential phone for about a month. I can't get voice to work on my cell carrier Total Wireless. It has a new SIM from them in it and all I can get working is data, which works fine. I've used this same SIM on my Moto X Pure Edition, Moto G5 Plus, iPhone 6 Plus and Acaltel A30. It works fine on all of them. Voice & Data. 4G LTE.
I've contacted Total Wireless Tech support, a waste of time. And Essential Tech Support, another waste of time. I've got something like 36-38 emails with them, none of them are helpful. Any ideas anyone? I like the phone, but it's useless without voice.
Vince

VinnyM said:
I've had my Essential phone for about a month. I can't get voice to work on my cell carrier Total Wireless. It has a new SIM from them in it and all I can get working is data, which works fine. I've used this same SIM on my Moto X Pure Edition, Moto G5 Plus, iPhone 6 Plus and Acaltel A30. It works fine on all of them. Voice & Data. 4G LTE.
I've contacted Total Wireless Tech support, a waste of time. And Essential Tech Support, another waste of time. I've got something like 36-38 emails with them, none of them are helpful. Any ideas anyone? I like the phone, but it's useless without voice.
Vince
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Click to collapse
You never said, so I'm going to ask, but did you reset your network settings? Reset your APN to default? Verify the APN was correct? Don't think you can change it on stock but maybe you could on a custom ROM if that's the issue. Reset the whole phone? If you've done all that maybe try a custom ROM. If that doesn't work, maybe you've got a bad Mic? Can you hear others if they call or can you not make/receive phone calls at all?

My Essential is completely stock. Also to clarify Total Wireless runs on Verizon's network.

Also I have done a complete reset of the phone. It's not the mic, because I can't even connect to the network. Data works great, but when I try to make a call it immediately drops my LTE connection. No chance to even test the mic. I'm not getting that far.

VinnyM said:
Also I have done a complete reset of the phone. It's not the mic, because I can't even connect to the network. Data works great, but when I try to make a call it immediately drops my LTE connection. No chance to even test the mic. I'm not getting that far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What does your APN say? Is it this: TRACFONE.VZWENTP?
Have you tried changing your preferred network type to see if anything changes?
Global, LTE, LTE/CDMA
Here's a link: https://bestmvno.com/apn-settings/total-wireless-apn-settings/

VinnyM said:
Also I have done a complete reset of the phone. It's not the mic, because I can't even connect to the network. Data works great, but when I try to make a call it immediately drops my LTE connection. No chance to even test the mic. I'm not getting that far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you didn't try it yet and you have the option, disable Enhanced 4G LTE Mode in Network Settings. If this fixes the issue for you, please report it to Essential using their beta feedback site.
https://www.essential.com/developer/beta-feedback

Total wireless customer myself. The only way I could get it to work was to buy a total wireless branded cell phone that has VOLTE capabilities. I bought a samsung galaxy sky and activated it then put the sim that came with it into my essential phone. The sim cards that come with these "special" phones seem to be the only ones that can have VoLTE on total wireless since technically they don't support it.
I wish I had better news but so far this is the only way I could get it to work. If you do decide to buy a total wireless phone just leave it in a drawer somewhere. If you activate it with another sim or return it to the store you bought it from, it will deactivate the special sim that came with the phone.

sasquatch23 said:
Total wireless customer myself. The only way I could get it to work was to buy a total wireless branded cell phone that has VOLTE capabilities. I bought a samsung galaxy sky and activated it then put the sim that came with it into my essential phone. The sim cards that come with these "special" phones seem to be the only ones that can have VoLTE on total wireless since technically they don't support it.
I wish I had better news but so far this is the only way I could get it to work. If you do decide to buy a total wireless phone just leave it in a drawer somewhere. If you activate it with another sim or return it to the store you bought it from, it will deactivate the special sim that came with the phone.
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Click to collapse
Ok, this is what I was looking for. A TW customer with an Essential phone. Thank you your response! I assume that I have to do a network reset on my phone first. Where did you buy your Samsung Sky? Online with Total Wireless or at Walmart or somewhere else? The reason I ask is I have a Walmart in town with Total Wireless phones, but the staff are a bunch of idiots.
Thanks again.

Also I'm wondering if I could buy the Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro S327VL 4G LTE phone from TW instead. It's about half the price of the Sky.

VinnyM said:
Also I'm wondering if I could buy the Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro S327VL 4G LTE phone from TW instead. It's about half the price of the Sky.
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Click to collapse
I bought mine online about a year ago when I had an HTC phone with the same problem so I'm not sure if the phone is available for purchase anymore. I do know that a Total wireless branded Iphone SE will work as well. I'm sure there are other phones that will work but couldn't tell you which ones they are. the big thing is to look for a phone that has VoLTE (voice over LTE) enabled by default or one that is VoLTE only and has no CDMA radio in it. I wish I could tell you for sure which current ones would work but I have not had to look for a compatible phone for a year now.
The APN settings from the link a few posts up works for me. Just make sure when you activate your total wireless phone only enter IMEI number for that phone. If I log into my total wireless account it shows my line as having the galaxy sky even though I'm using my essential phone.
Here is a good place to learn what the current best method is

Ok, I got a cheap Total Wireless phone over the weekend. Following the above advice I authorized the phone on the Total Wireless web site and then turned on the phone and let it do it's setup and recognition with Total Wireless. All went well. I powered off the phone and put it's SIM in my Essential phone. All seems to be working. Voice, Data and also VoLTE. Calls going through and voicemail is set up. All is good so far.
Thanks sasquatch23 for your help.

Glad to help. Just curious, what type of phone did you end up buying in case anyone else has this problem?

sasquatch23 said:
Glad to help. Just curious, what type of phone did you end up buying in case anyone else has this problem?
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Click to collapse
I got a Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro from Walmart. It was $29.95 I think. Cheapest one that I could find there that looked like it would work and it did. Thanks again.

Related

Fall From VOIP Heaven

I fulfilled my quest to get a data only plan on the Atrix by buying an AT&T mifi and just putting the SIM card in my atrix. This required creating a new APN for isp.cingular, and for about 4 months this worked great with a pure voip setup.
A few days ago something happened. My Atrix seems to be stuck on EDGE. It will no longer connect to HSPA in the same locations that it used to be H+ 24 hours a day.
The basics have been covered: power cycling, airplane mode cycling. No use. The SIM itself seems okay since I tried putting it back in the mifi unit, and it got 3G like normal. That also rules out a tower problem.
Anyone have any ideas? I feel like an ass now since I bought the mifi on contract.
You can call At&t and switch it to a voice plan with an hspa data plan so you can use your atrix.
Kind of admitting defeat though.
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium
Perhaps try flashing a different radio on the atrix. It could be an Incompatibility issue ? Worth a shot I would say
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium
So, I tried flashing different radios. No luck. After that I thought maybe some fresh ROMs might do it some good. No luck on Alien, and then I installed CM7 and noticed something interesting. The "Use only 2g networks" setting is stuck on. I turn it off, go back, and soon as I look again it's on. Is there something special you have to do to save it, or could this be pointing to an underlying problem?
nalorite said:
So, I tried flashing different radios. No luck. After that I thought maybe some fresh ROMs might do it some good. No luck on Alien, and then I installed CM7 and noticed something interesting. The "Use only 2g networks" setting is stuck on. I turn it off, go back, and soon as I look again it's on. Is there something special you have to do to save it, or could this be pointing to an underlying problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing special is needed to save it. It could be throttling by AT&T do to your imei being that of an Atrix vs a mifi.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
try another at&t sim on your Atrix
cesierra said:
try another at&t sim on your Atrix
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suspect att has caught you with imei check and you should try with other sim card.
but i suspect it may not work.
why not use it with MiFi only?
drpratik said:
I suspect att has caught you with imei check and you should try with other sim card.
but i suspect it may not work.
why not use it with MiFi only?
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Click to collapse
The problem with the mifi is its terrible battery life. It only gets 4 hours in hotspot mode. If it could last as long as my phone, I wouldn't even mind carrying around two devices, but it doesn't.
Anyway, great news. After listening to everyone's suggestions I took the SIM out of my phone and noticed that I was then able to properly disable "Use only 2G networks". So, I ordered a new AT&T SIM online, called and had it activated, and now 3G and H are working properly again. And along the way I fell in love with CyanogenMod.
I expect I'll probably have to repeat this process every few months if they continue to slap down my SIM cards, but I consider it worth it for not having to pay for a voice/text plan. I am still on contract, but to anyone who is considering doing something like me, T-mobile recently started offering a $30 a month plan that gets you 5 GB of data, 100 minutes, and unlimited text, and it's for phones! The only hitch is that it's a month by month thing (no contract) and it's promotional, so who knows when they'll decide to cut it. But personally, I'm hoping it's a sign that carriers are finally moving in the right direction.
nalorite said:
The problem with the mifi is its terrible battery life. It only gets 4 hours in hotspot mode. If it could last as long as my phone, I wouldn't even mind carrying around two devices, but it doesn't.
Anyway, great news. After listening to everyone's suggestions I took the SIM out of my phone and noticed that I was then able to properly disable "Use only 2G networks". So, I ordered a new AT&T SIM online, called and had it activated, and now 3G and H are working properly again. And along the way I fell in love with CyanogenMod.
I expect I'll probably have to repeat this process every few months if they continue to slap down my SIM cards, but I consider it worth it for not having to pay for a voice/text plan. I am still on contract, but to anyone who is considering doing something like me, T-mobile recently started offering a $30 a month plan that gets you 5 GB of data, 100 minutes, and unlimited text, and it's for phones! The only hitch is that it's a month by month thing (no contract) and it's promotional, so who knows when they'll decide to cut it. But personally, I'm hoping it's a sign that carriers are finally moving in the right direction.
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Click to collapse
what do you use for voip?
xxgmon3yxx said:
what do you use for voip?
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Click to collapse
I setup a google voice enabled PBX with pbxes.org, back when they let you make them for free. I know for a while they stopped doing that; not sure what the current policy is.
Basically the pbx pretends to be a google talk client, so when someone calls my google voice number it goes to the pbx. Then I have an extension on the pbx that I register on my phone with the native android SIP client, which on CM7 works like a dream. Seriously far smoother and more reliable than sipdroid or csipsimple.
Oh and this does work for outgoing too, but if you're using a solution that doesn't (like google voice -> sipgate/ipkall -> pbxes.org), you can get around it with an app called Google Voice Callback. And it's still all free.
nalorite said:
I setup a google voice enabled PBX with pbxes.org, back when they let you make them for free. I know for a while they stopped doing that; not sure what the current policy is.
Basically the pbx pretends to be a google talk client, so when someone calls my google voice number it goes to the pbx. Then I have an extension on the pbx that I register on my phone with the native android SIP client, which on CM7 works like a dream. Seriously far smoother and more reliable than sipdroid or csipsimple.
Oh and this does work for outgoing too, but if you're using a solution that doesn't (like google voice -> sipgate/ipkall -> pbxes.org), you can get around it with an app called Google Voice Callback. And it's still all free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is the native android SIP client? May I know the app?
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
anupash said:
What is the native android SIP client? May I know the app?
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In 2.3 they added SIP calling to the android OS. It's not an app. Of course, in stock android it only works on wifi. Cyanogen unlocks its true potential by letting you use it on cellular too.
In my experience, on stock ROM SIP is an epic fail, both native and via apps (tried acrobits, sipdroid, csipsimple, sipagent). There is something funny about moto's audio routing stack, its not a network or settings issue.
Same settings and SIP providers - yes I tried two lol - , same apps, same network i.e. home Wifi, 100% perfect with nexus one. So I'm sure its Atrix specific. This happened on both stock 2.2 and 2.3 AT&T.
Custom ROM fixes this, CM7 native SIP works perfectly.
Can't remember for other ROMs, but they seemed to get apps working if not native SIP.
YMMV

Possible phone use on Verizon 7.7

Let me note: I am not a dev nor programmer.
With the similiarities of the P6800 and the Verizon 7.7, I threw together a rom w/ stock SCH-I815 samsung/verizon kernel using the P6800 frameworks and apps into the Verizon 7.7 and removed most bloat. The LTE/Verizon antennas aren't recognized by the device at all but everything else was working.
Now, you can't swap the phone.apk's around without the framework's else you'll experience FCs. So obviously I'll need to use the base stock apps and frameworks and go through the 2 framework files hunting about.
Has anyone else with the Verizon 7.7 taken a look into this?
I'm curious if you've made any progress on this?
Not yet, probably be a week before I even look through the files again. But I believe it's fully possible to get phone use
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
i think you will need to find samsung modem for verzon networks, does verizon have a galaxy note or sgs2?
although your modem firmware probably has voice disabled, may have to find modem manufacturer and try to flash custom firmware.
good luck, wish you the best.
I'm happy enough using GrooveIP for google voice calling. What I'd really like is if we could activate the phone profile in bluetooth (or will that just come with enabling the proper phone part in the 7.7?).
As of now i can use GrooveIP and bluetooth to listen and speak, but it won't let the bluetooth device answer/hang up/transfer address book/show caller ID (on the Verizon LTE 7.7)
Doesn't verizon require some sort of signed telephony to work properly on their network
ph00ny said:
Doesn't verizon require some sort of signed telephony to work properly on their network
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got no idea but with the other packs it didn't detect the radio at all. This is keeping the vzw radio partition stock. I like the ideas and really wish the note was verizon as that'd help figure things out.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
just to confirm does this a sim slot? i thought someone said it did.
chrisrotolo said:
just to confirm does this a sim slot? i thought someone said it did.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does for LTE but cdma service doesn't use sim
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA
Seeing as your data account won't have any provisioning for voice usage, even if you DID get a working modem and a modified framework to allow for phone functionality on the device, I doubt that you'd actually be able to made or receive a phone call due to Verizon's limitations at the account and provisioning level anyway.
Point is, it's a CDMA device, and thus your service is attached to the device itself, not the SIM card (except for LTE data). Basically, you can't just provision service to the SIM card alone, and then simply swap it into a different device. So if you got the modem and the framework working, and you called in to Verizon customer service and asked to provision your line for voice, they'll just be like "Umm, no... We never INTENDED for you to use that device as a phone, so no... You want a phone? Buy a phone. You want a tablet? Buy a tablet. You want to do both in one device? We won't allow that because that loses us money that we would be getting by having you either subscribe to two lines, or charge you extra to tether..."
There is a much simpler solution however.
Ditch ANY CDMA carrier in favour of a GSM carrier instead, preferably one that uses the same compatible frequencies adopted by the rest of the world, like AT&T (and MVNO's based off of AT&T's network), and buy the P6800.
The moral of this story is this: if you want the latest devices, with the best features, you're NOT going to find them in the north American market, EVER, at all, period; you're just going to find watered-down, gimped, bloated, and locked-down versions of the international models. You HAVE to import. If you're going to import, you HAVE to use a GSM service provider... That's just the way it is. It sucks, I know, but it is what it is.
I would have to agree, the GSM version would be best. It would be near impossible to make this happen. Of course if I was stick with one, I would try everything I could as well. I'd probably fail miserably and go for something like GrooveIP.
Jade Eyed Wolf said:
Seeing as your data account won't have any provisioning for voice usage, even if you DID get a working modem and a modified framework to allow for phone functionality on the device, I doubt that you'd actually be able to made or receive a phone call due to Verizon's limitations at the account and provisioning level anyway.
Point is, it's a CDMA device, and thus your service is attached to the device itself, not the SIM card (except for LTE data). Basically, you can't just provision service to the SIM card alone, and then simply swap it into a different device. So if you got the modem and the framework working, and you called in to Verizon customer service and asked to provision your line for voice, they'll just be like "Umm, no... We never INTENDED for you to use that device as a phone, so no... You want a phone? Buy a phone. You want a tablet? Buy a tablet. You want to do both in one device? We won't allow that because that loses us money that we would be getting by having you either subscribe to two lines, or charge you extra to tether..."
There is a much simpler solution however.
Ditch ANY CDMA carrier in favour of a GSM carrier instead, preferably one that uses the same compatible frequencies adopted by the rest of the world, like AT&T (and MVNO's based off of AT&T's network), and buy the P6800.
The moral of this story is this: if you want the latest devices, with the best features, you're NOT going to find them in the north American market, EVER, at all, period; you're just going to find watered-down, gimped, bloated, and locked-down versions of the international models. You HAVE to import. If you're going to import, you HAVE to use a GSM service provider... That's just the way it is. It sucks, I know, but it is what it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I move my SIM between devices all the time and have never needed to call VZ to provision the new device. Voice and data just work.
miiike said:
I move my SIM between devices all the time and have never needed to call VZ to provision the new device. Voice and data just work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can CONFIRM the following:
I have a VZ tab 7.7 with 5GB data plan and I have a VZ Razr with voice/unlimited data plan.
Both are LTE devices and hence use (micro) SIM cards. In "My Verizon" even the tab has a phone number assigned to it's "line". A call to that number just rings but obviously nothing on the tab.
BUT...
Put the tab sim in the phone and YES it will ring if you call that number! Even TXT in/out works! I assume they will just charge me per txt and per min phone use BUT IT WORKS in a PHONE.
And the kicker is, the unlimited PHONE SIM also works in the TAB! I immediately get LTE data and can surf with the tab. Of course at that point calls and texts to that phone number are "ignored" by the tab's neutered modem.
Lesson learned:
IF there was a way to flash a modem, say for example from the Samsung Galaxy Nexus to the VZ 7.7 TAB, we would have a full supersized phone in our hand. Only downside, no earpiece. So only speakerphone or BT calls I guess.
Anyway, after a little more research I also found this very interesting article:
http://www.phonenews.com/verizon-affirms-unlimited-smartphone-sim-card-usage-in-hotspots-tablets-lte-ipad-20053/
Hope this helps bring a little light into the messy CDMA/LTE darkness
I have swapped my Galaxy Nexus SIM in my VZW LTE 7.7 numerous times. It works. I'd love to have voice on the VZW LTE 7.7, then I could possibly do it all on my tab. I'm no developer tho ;p

Those of you who got it already and are on VZW

Those of you who already got their X Pure and are using Verizon.
Q1: What does your device show on my Verizon?
Q2: Are you able to use Advanced Calling 1.0 aka VolTE?
Q3: Can you post LTE Discovery Screenshot?
that's it.. no one can give me any of these answers. While I wait for mine.
Oh and Q4: did you cut your sim,get new sim from vzw?
Still waiting.. But cut my sim in my G3. Using my G3 with adapter and sim still works great. Used sim cutter i got off eBay about a year ago. Worked perfect to get ready. Last time i ordered a new sim from Verizon they tried to take my unlimited away. Kept in the end, but was real hassle.
1. It shows as, Non-VZW Device.
2. It's turned on in settings, but I'm currently at home, where we don't get LTE, so I'll answer tomorrow from work.
3. See answer #2
4. Cut my card after the pompous ass at my local Verizon store told me that it wasn't authorized by Verizon, and they wouldn't activate it.
2. VoLTE works perfectly.
3.
You da man! no one wanted to give me answers lol it was so hard.
Do you have anyone you could call to test out HD Voice? also in My-Verizon under features,under your line does it show compaptible or active? for Advanced Calling.
Once again thanks a lot! on moto forums I wrote couple times and was ignored lol.
Also I saw in another screenshot that there is some sort of settings and it says Enhanced 4G LTE maybe that could be VolTE/Advanced Calling.
Cheers bro!
spotmark is on it already he provided some info
HD Voice works as well.
Sweet this is what I was looking for thanks again. I hope dev's will be able to implement it into CM roms later on.
@spotmark
Do you have the "More Everything" plan with the $25 "Month2Month" discount for not having an Edge device payment? If so, do you still show the discount in your plan?
No, I still have unlimited data.
Lucky!
Thanks for the response. I'm a little worried because it shows up as a "Non-VZW Device". That's exactly how they looked with the Nexus 6 prior to being white listed. We'll see, I guess.
Actually have three lines with unlimited data, unlimited texts, and 2000 minutes. $60/mo. for each line.
Has anyone activated a new sim on this phone with Verizon. My current phone (droid 1) does not have a sim and so I will need to get one in order to move from my current phone to my new one.
@spotmark Are you able to change to video chats with HD Voice? I doubt it.
Nope
zeroibis i would suggest any device that uses nano sim if you can get one simply activate that phone then swap sim. I think I will go to a cell store and cut down mine.
any limits when using this phone on vzw or it is it the same as when you use a vzw phone?

Anyone successfully activate device in US

I received my launch day one plus 8 pro, model IN2025. I am currently with sprint but they refuse to activate the device. They insist it is carrier locked and they can't activate it. I have put my sim in there and it works for a few minutes until I get a sim locked error, then it doesn't work. I wanted to switch to tmobile but, for whatever reason, my BYOD order was flagged as potential fraud and I am required to go into a store to complete my order - which isn't really possible as there are only 3 stores in my state that are still open, none of which are near where I live. I have checked AT&T and Verizon and their sites both say the phone isn't compatible. I have a google fi sim on the way but I am curious if anyone in the states has successfully activated an 8 pro and if so, what carrier they have.
Thanks!
CA, T Mobile, no error at all
samyuan9826 said:
CA, T Mobile, no error at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that gives me some hope. This is why I wanted to move back to tmoblie but there is literally nothing I can do. I have spent hours upon hours on the phone, chat, and even on DM with their twitter support. The only way for me to activate service is to go into a store which is impossible. There are no stores open in a 75 mile radius of me and I don't think it is wise to be driving all over for what is definitely not an essential service. I guess I will hold out hope for Google Fi because Sprint is just awful.
Tmobile here too no issues. Works perfect
berdo said:
Well that gives me some hope. This is why I wanted to move back to tmoblie but there is literally nothing I can do. I have spent hours upon hours on the phone, chat, and even on DM with their twitter support. The only way for me to activate service is to go into a store which is impossible. There are no stores open in a 75 mile radius of me and I don't think it is wise to be driving all over for what is definitely not an essential service. I guess I will hold out hope for Google Fi because Sprint is just awful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could it be they are merging at the moment?
samyuan9826 said:
Could it be they are merging at the moment?
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Click to collapse
If it is, then you would have thought one of the 8 or so people I spoke with would have said something. I do know that Sprint told me they could not activate the phone because it was carrier locked and even after I had a chat with One Plus support per Sprint's request and copied and pasted one plus's response that the phone was not carrier locked and compatible with sprint, the sprint rep from the advanced support team still insisted the phone was carrier locked and that I should return the phone.
I have no idea what the issue is with T-Mobile. They ran my credit, took my payment, setup my order and then a bot automatically canceled my order and booted me off the chat. The canned message said I couldn't complete the order over chat or the phone, that I would have to go to store. After 3+ hours on chat and phone last night I finally gave up. The rep on twitter event sent me a DM basically saying that my best option was to use screen shots of our conversation and dispute my credit and try again once I can actually go to a store.
It is just one giant cluster F.
berdo said:
If it is, then you would have thought one of the 8 or so people I spoke with would have said something. I do know that Sprint told me they could not activate the phone because it was carrier locked and even after I had a chat with One Plus support per Sprint's request and copied and pasted one plus's response that the phone was not carrier locked and compatible with sprint, the sprint rep from the advanced support team still insisted the phone was carrier locked and that I should return the phone.
I have no idea what the issue is with T-Mobile. They ran my credit, took my payment, setup my order and then a bot automatically canceled my order and booted me off the chat. The canned message said I couldn't complete the order over chat or the phone, that I would have to go to store. After 3+ hours on chat and phone last night I finally gave up. The rep on twitter event sent me a DM basically saying that my best option was to use screen shots of our conversation and dispute my credit and try again once I can actually go to a store.
It is just one giant cluster F.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RIP - my order was from OnePlus.com back to the launch day - I really don't think they have any kind of carrier locks. I would say returning/exchange the phone is the best option
Mine Activated fine on T-Mobile
https://www.androidheadlines.com/2020/04/oneplus-8-5g-networks-compatibility
"Sprint users are basically completely out of luck. As the OnePlus 8 doesn't support its 5G network, nor its 4G LTE or its voice (CDMA) network."
I just got mine today and works perfect with Tmobile prepaid, wifi calling and everything works
T-Mobile Ohio with no issues here.
Sent from my IN2025 using Tapatalk
I grabbed a Google Fi card today and so far so good. I'm connected to LTE with speeds that were comparable when I had TMobile. Pretty pumped to be living that 120hz life and not using Samsung's garbage skin.
It's funny, there is a mod to turn on WiFi and VoLTE which 100% works fine on Sprint. I can normal service for about 5 minutes and then Sprint shuts it down. I could reboot and work again, and then they'd shut me down again. So yeah, no CDMA but VoLTE worked just fine.
I'm on T Mobleand it was a snap. No issues at sll
anyone activate on verizon in us?
TIA
bkrickles said:
anyone activate on verizon in us?
TIA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes i activated mine on verizon and had no issues at all. The one problem im running into is we dont have an option for wifi calling. Benn on chat with verizon and oneplus, verizon tried to get it to work for 2 hours where oneplus said its something wrong on verizon end because wifi calling is a default feature....
berdo said:
I received my launch day one plus 8 pro, model IN2025. I am currently with sprint but they refuse to activate the device. They insist it is carrier locked and they can't activate it. I have put my sim in there and it works for a few minutes until I get a sim locked error, then it doesn't work. I wanted to switch to tmobile but, for whatever reason, my BYOD order was flagged as potential fraud and I am required to go into a store to complete my order - which isn't really possible as there are only 3 stores in my state that are still open, none of which are near where I live. I have checked AT&T and Verizon and their sites both say the phone isn't compatible. I have a google fi sim on the way but I am curious if anyone in the states has successfully activated an 8 pro and if so, what carrier they have.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint is a PITA with unlocked devices. They have different SIM cards for different unlocked devices and you can’t use one SIM in every device normally. I had that issue as well and they always sent me SIMs based on the phone. I have T-Mobile now and use my SIM in Pixels, iPhones, and my OnePlus with no issues. Always had to call sprint to switch between my devices as well it was terrible. T-Mobile you just switch the SIM and it’s good.
The OnePlus model sold by OnePlus should have worked good on US TMo.
However, has anyone over here gotten a global model from banggood to work on TMo ? Their posted frequencies look like 41 and 71 are missing, and possibly some others.
kng60ft said:
Yes i activated mine on verizon and had no issues at all. The one problem im running into is we dont have an option for wifi calling. Benn on chat with verizon and oneplus, verizon tried to get it to work for 2 hours where oneplus said its something wrong on verizon end because wifi calling is a default feature....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried enabling the switch via logkit?
1. Dial *#800#
2. Go to Oneplus logkit
3. Go to function switch
4. Check on Vowifi switch
5. Reboot your phone
6. go to settings -- wifi & internet -- sim & network
7. Turn on WIFI Calling
8. Reboot your phone
berdo said:
Have you tried enabling the switch via logkit?
1. Dial *#800#
2. Go to Oneplus logkit
3. Go to function switch
4. Check on Vowifi switch
5. Reboot your phone
6. go to settings -- wifi & internet -- sim & network
7. Turn on WIFI Calling
8. Reboot your phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I followed those steps and when I select function switch, there is nothing on the screen that says VoWIFI.
Has anyone got it working with AT&T? Mine arrives tomorrow, hoping to just switch my sim card from my Pixel 3 XL into 8 Pro seemlessly.

AT&T forcing me to abandon my Galaxy S8!

Hello,
I am new to this site, and have a burning question I am trying to find an answer for.
So AT&T has been my carrier since about 2014. In July of 2019, I purchased an unlocked S8 from Amazon for about $350 Description says it is: Samsung Galaxy S8 64GB Factory Unlocked Smartphone - US Version (Midnight Black) - US Warranty - [SM-G950UZKAXAA]. In the settings, the model number is listed as: SM-G950U1.
Recently, I received a message from AT&T saying that they are shutting down their 3G network in February of 2022, and that my phone will no longer work on their network. I went into one of their stores and showed them that my phone operates on LTE, but I was told that is for data only and voice operates on 3G. I could not remember the VoLTE name at the time, but mentioned that my phone had the capability to operate on LTE. They refused to go thru settings with me, and told me that my phone will stop working in February. Period. End of story. Also, I was told the same thing that the message states, that they are sending me a new phone and will be deactivating my phone after 30 days.
Now some of my friends are laughing at me saying, "Dang free phones!" But I do not want a 5G phone (which is obviously what they are sending). I have my reasons and this is not what I wish to discuss here.
The issue is... I love my telephone!! It does exactly what I want, and I don't need anything new. Not to mention that I paid for it entirely, with no subsidy from AT&T. I specifically bought it unlocked with intentions of avoiding contracts and having the ability to switch carriers if I so choose.
I am pretty sure that I saw VoLTE mentioned in my settings a while back. But now a search on my phone finds nothing. I assume a firmware update hid this info from me.
So... what gives? Does anybody here know if this particular device can make/receive voice calls using VoLTE - on AT&T (or any other carriers) - simply by changing settings in the phone? Do I have any options to make my phone continue to operate as intended? With any carrier?
Sorry for the long post. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Steve
willnotbecontrolled said:
Hello,
I am new to this site, and have a burning question I am trying to find an answer for.
So AT&T has been my carrier since about 2014. In July of 2019, I purchased an unlocked S8 from Amazon for about $350 Description says it is: Samsung Galaxy S8 64GB Factory Unlocked Smartphone - US Version (Midnight Black) - US Warranty - [SM-G950UZKAXAA]. In the settings, the model number is listed as: SM-G950U1.
Recently, I received a message from AT&T saying that they are shutting down their 3G network in February of 2022, and that my phone will no longer work on their network. I went into one of their stores and showed them that my phone operates on LTE, but I was told that is for data only and voice operates on 3G. I could not remember the VoLTE name at the time, but mentioned that my phone had the capability to operate on LTE. They refused to go thru settings with me, and told me that my phone will stop working in February. Period. End of story. Also, I was told the same thing that the message states, that they are sending me a new phone and will be deactivating my phone after 30 days.
Now some of my friends are laughing at me saying, "Dang free phones!" But I do not want a 5G phone (which is obviously what they are sending). I have my reasons and this is not what I wish to discuss here.
The issue is... I love my telephone!! It does exactly what I want, and I don't need anything new. Not to mention that I paid for it entirely, with no subsidy from AT&T. I specifically bought it unlocked with intentions of avoiding contracts and having the ability to switch carriers if I so choose.
I am pretty sure that I saw VoLTE mentioned in my settings a while back. But now a search on my phone finds nothing. I assume a firmware update hid this info from me.
So... what gives? Does anybody here know if this particular device can make/receive voice calls using VoLTE - on AT&T (or any other carriers) - simply by changing settings in the phone? Do I have any options to make my phone continue to operate as intended? With any carrier?
Sorry for the long post. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Steve
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same issue with crickett (att).
got that txt msg, recently maybe december there was a firmware update that greyed out my network settings and hid some items.
i cant even change my prefered network, 3g 4g lte etc, its locked..
I have the 950u1 also
HOWEVER I have a s8 950U that I think has all these unlocked.
Im going to backup and odin flash the U firmware to the UI and see if it works.
Thats bull**** about doing this. greedy ****s..
I go with somone else if I have to.
willnotbecontrolled said:
Hello,
I am new to this site, and have a burning question I am trying to find an answer for.
So AT&T has been my carrier since about 2014. In July of 2019, I purchased an unlocked S8 from Amazon for about $350 Description says it is: Samsung Galaxy S8 64GB Factory Unlocked Smartphone - US Version (Midnight Black) - US Warranty - [SM-G950UZKAXAA]. In the settings, the model number is listed as: SM-G950U1.
Recently, I received a message from AT&T saying that they are shutting down their 3G network in February of 2022, and that my phone will no longer work on their network. I went into one of their stores and showed them that my phone operates on LTE, but I was told that is for data only and voice operates on 3G. I could not remember the VoLTE name at the time, but mentioned that my phone had the capability to operate on LTE. They refused to go thru settings with me, and told me that my phone will stop working in February. Period. End of story. Also, I was told the same thing that the message states, that they are sending me a new phone and will be deactivating my phone after 30 days.
Now some of my friends are laughing at me saying, "Dang free phones!" But I do not want a 5G phone (which is obviously what they are sending). I have my reasons and this is not what I wish to discuss here.
The issue is... I love my telephone!! It does exactly what I want, and I don't need anything new. Not to mention that I paid for it entirely, with no subsidy from AT&T. I specifically bought it unlocked with intentions of avoiding contracts and having the ability to switch carriers if I so choose.
I am pretty sure that I saw VoLTE mentioned in my settings a while back. But now a search on my phone finds nothing. I assume a firmware update hid this info from me.
So... what gives? Does anybody here know if this particular device can make/receive voice calls using VoLTE - on AT&T (or any other carriers) - simply by changing settings in the phone? Do I have any options to make my phone continue to operate as intended? With any carrier?
Sorry for the long post. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Steve
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
press phone icon, then top right corner hit the 3 vertical dots.
select settings and it should be in there if you havent updated lately... they ****ed us and locked out network and volte settings.
djmdesign said:
Same issue with crickett (att).
got that txt msg, recently maybe december there was a firmware update that greyed out my network settings and hid some items.
i cant even change my prefered network, 3g 4g lte etc, its locked..
I have the 950u1 also
HOWEVER I have a s8 950U that I think has all these unlocked.
Im going to backup and odin flash the U firmware to the UI and see if it works.
Thats bull**** about doing this. greedy ****s..
I go with somone else if I have to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please let me know if this works. I thought about doing the same thing, but have not gotten around to trying it. In theory, it sounds like a solid plan. But I have a couple of concerns.
During a recent phone call, AT&T told me their system has flagged my IMEI and that my phone will stop working very soon. So, if the system flagged an IMEI as an unsupported device, will it even matter which firmware is installed? Or will their system just deactivate the phone at some point?
Second, if you install the 950U firmware in place of the 950U1, will the device become carrier locked at this point? That would really suck if it did.
BTW, I was able to lock preferred network to “LTE only” by dialing *#*#4636#*#* and entering Device information screen. Unfortunately, my phone would not complete a call when using LTE only setting. VoLTE provisioned toggle is greyed out, along with others. Seems to me that if a guy could self provision VoLTE, this would solve the issue.
I called AT&T tech support and spent 45 minutes trying to get them to provision VoLTE, but they could not, or would not do it. At first, they kept telling me that my phone is a 3G phone. I argued that I could change the radio to “LTE only” and that my sim card status showed LTE for “mobile voice network type”, which proves that the phone is indeed LTE capable for voice calls - but that it will not complete a call because it is not provisioned to do so. Eventually they told me that their system would not allow them to provision VoLTE for me, since it is flagged as an unsupported device. Which leads back to the first part of this post.
I also found some stuff on reddit about putting the phone into “engineering mode” and something about a Samsung tool that unlocks additional dialer codes. Have not tried this, tho.
At this point, I am just completely fed up with AT&T for this whole S8 situation, as well as other unrelated issues. I will most likely switch carriers for principle’s sake, even though I know other carriers play similar games.
Anyway, I am interested in whether or not you find a solution and would very much like to hear about it. Thank you for the response!!
willnotbecontrolled said:
Please let me know if this works. I thought about doing the same thing, but have not gotten around to trying it. In theory, it sounds like a solid plan. But I have a couple of concerns.
During a recent phone call, AT&T told me their system has flagged my IMEI and that my phone will stop working very soon. So, if the system flagged an IMEI as an unsupported device, will it even matter which firmware is installed? Or will their system just deactivate the phone at some point?
Second, if you install the 950U firmware in place of the 950U1, will the device become carrier locked at this point? That would really suck if it did.
BTW, I was able to lock preferred network to “LTE only” by dialing *#*#4636#*#* and entering Device information screen. Unfortunately, my phone would not complete a call when using LTE only setting. VoLTE provisioned toggle is greyed out, along with others. Seems to me that if a guy could self provision VoLTE, this would solve the issue.
I called AT&T tech support and spent 45 minutes trying to get them to provision VoLTE, but they could not, or would not do it. At first, they kept telling me that my phone is a 3G phone. I argued that I could change the radio to “LTE only” and that my sim card status showed LTE for “mobile voice network type”, which proves that the phone is indeed LTE capable for voice calls - but that it will not complete a call because it is not provisioned to do so. Eventually they told me that their system would not allow them to provision VoLTE for me, since it is flagged as an unsupported device. Which leads back to the first part of this post.
I also found some stuff on reddit about putting the phone into “engineering mode” and something about a Samsung tool that unlocks additional dialer codes. Have not tried this, tho.
At this point, I am just completely fed up with AT&T for this whole S8 situation, as well as other unrelated issues. I will most likely switch carriers for principle’s sake, even though I know other carriers play similar games.
Anyway, I am interested in whether or not you find a solution and would very much like to hear about it. Thank you for the response!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I'm Newbie around here. I'd like to share my experience with ATT and my beloved S8+ this past few months:
Much like you and many others I started receiving texts from ATT by mid 2021 saying my phone would not work after Feb '22. Yes, every time they suspended my line I wasted 30~ 40 mins on the phone, listening how they would insist my S8+ was a 3G phone. It didn't matter that I offered to send them screenshots of my device showing the "VoLTE option" and "4G LTE" while both in the USA and Mexico. Thing is, they only based their saying on a st....id whitelist and all the reps are just talking heads.
I use an S8+ international version which is NOT on the dreaded list. and I am on the 300/year prepaid plan which allows roaming between Mexico and USA with no 50/50 usage limit.
I bought this phone on amazon for 350-ish bucks a couple of years ago and I love it!
I have to cross the Mexico/USA border very frequently and I need two separate numbers one on each country for business reasons so dual sim is a must. On the other hand, I receive lots and lots of phone calls while driving, this made me crave for android 8.1 when call recording was allowed by google, not the case anymore. None of these 2 features are available on the S8/S9 US based phones. I do not need 5G, I do not use social media nor watch videos on my phone but do get to use Pandora, Spotify, MLB radio and so on......... Enter SM-G955F/DS. I was able to change Samsung's CSC code to Israel so call recording is active for all those notes I cannot write down while driving and I get to carry just one device with 2 separate numbers thanks to a dual sim.
Ok, so back to my phone not being on the f... list :
Around Feb 10th, I got yet another email and SMS telling me it was my last opportunity to change or I MAY be disconnected after 2/22/22 ( funny choice of date huh?). I noticed that words on email and text messages had been changed from WILL NOT on Jul/2021 to MAY NOT work on Feb/2022. Since I know for a fact that my phone is VoLTE capable, I figured my S8+ would work as long as AT&T did not intentionally disconnected my line.
So, I took a crappy phoenix ATT phone and updated it's IMEI on my account via the ATT prepaid webpage. After getting "approval" from ATT's system, I put the SIM card in and used it for a full weekend. After that, I put the SIM card back to my S8+ and it is still going strong to date.
Today is March 1st, and I have been weary of ATT sneaking me out of their system but fortunately it has not happened yet. Needless to say, I have not updated my S8's IMEI on ATT's webpage and do not intend to do so.
Now, This "proves" that my phone is indeed capable of using VoLTE and HD , and all those things ATT said it would not do is just plain B.S.. if they disconnect me down the road I would definitely move to T Mobile although I would have some issues with the 50/50 international roaming and I still have 8 months left on my prepaid annual plan with ATT so, keeping my fingers crossed.
AT&T just wants to make more money out of selling new 5G devices while getting rid of their stocked 4G phones.
I wouldn't mind if they just plain out stated " If you do not buy from ATT then ATT will not support your device and will not sell service to you" then again, it would probably be a PR nightmare for them although they do that for WIFI calling anyways.
Ain't it funny how 2/22/22 is coincidentally a paycheck's time ( 2 weeks) after a new flagship phone (S22) was made available for purchase ?
Anyways, enough for ranting and conspiracy theories lol...
I have taken out and put back to my S8+ the SIM card two times in the past 9 days after 2/22/22 and my service is still in good standing.
Maybe if you got a new replacement phone that you don't like, you may swap back your SIM card and it MAY work just like mine is even if it is NOT ON THE INFAMOUS WHITE LIST.
Oldschoolguy said:
Hi, I'm Newbie around here. I'd like to share my experience with ATT and my beloved S8+ this past few months:
Much like you and many others I started receiving texts from ATT by mid 2021 saying my phone would not work after Feb '22. Yes, every time they suspended my line I wasted 30~ 40 mins on the phone, listening how they would insist my S8+ was a 3G phone. It didn't matter that I offered to send them screenshots of my device showing the "VoLTE option" and "4G LTE" while both in the USA and Mexico. Thing is, they only based their saying on a st....id whitelist and all the reps are just talking heads.
I use an S8+ international version which is NOT on the dreaded list. and I am on the 300/year prepaid plan which allows roaming between Mexico and USA with no 50/50 usage limit.
I bought this phone on amazon for 350-ish bucks a couple of years ago and I love it!
I have to cross the Mexico/USA border very frequently and I need two separate numbers one on each country for business reasons so dual sim is a must. On the other hand, I receive lots and lots of phone calls while driving, this made me crave for android 8.1 when call recording was allowed by google, not the case anymore. None of these 2 features are available on the S8/S9 US based phones. I do not need 5G, I do not use social media nor watch videos on my phone but do get to use Pandora, Spotify, MLB radio and so on......... Enter SM-G955F/DS. I was able to change Samsung's CSC code to Israel so call recording is active for all those notes I cannot write down while driving and I get to carry just one device with 2 separate numbers thanks to a dual sim.
Ok, so back to my phone not being on the f... list :
Around Feb 10th, I got yet another email and SMS telling me it was my last opportunity to change or I MAY be disconnected after 2/22/22 ( funny choice of date huh?). I noticed that words on email and text messages had been changed from WILL NOT on Jul/2021 to MAY NOT work on Feb/2022. Since I know for a fact that my phone is VoLTE capable, I figured my S8+ would work as long as AT&T did not intentionally disconnected my line.
So, I took a crappy phoenix ATT phone and updated it's IMEI on my account via the ATT prepaid webpage. After getting "approval" from ATT's system, I put the SIM card in and used it for a full weekend. After that, I put the SIM card back to my S8+ and it is still going strong to date.
Today is March 1st, and I have been weary of ATT sneaking me out of their system but fortunately it has not happened yet. Needless to say, I have not updated my S8's IMEI on ATT's webpage and do not intend to do so.
Now, This "proves" that my phone is indeed capable of using VoLTE and HD , and all those things ATT said it would not do is just plain B.S.. if they disconnect me down the road I would definitely move to T Mobile although I would have some issues with the 50/50 international roaming and I still have 8 months left on my prepaid annual plan with ATT so, keeping my fingers crossed.
AT&T just wants to make more money out of selling new 5G devices while getting rid of their stocked 4G phones.
I wouldn't mind if they just plain out stated " If you do not buy from ATT then ATT will not support your device and will not sell service to you" then again, it would probably be a PR nightmare for them although they do that for WIFI calling anyways.
Ain't it funny how 2/22/22 is coincidentally a paycheck's time ( 2 weeks) after a new flagship phone (S22) was made available for purchase ?
Anyways, enough for ranting and conspiracy theories lol...
I have taken out and put back to my S8+ the SIM card two times in the past 9 days after 2/22/22 and my service is still in good standing.
Maybe if you got a new replacement phone that you don't like, you may swap back your SIM card and it MAY work just like mine is even if it is NOT ON THE INFAMOUS WHITE LIST.
View attachment 5549949View attachment 5549951View attachment 5549953View attachment 5549955
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep... AT&T is full of it. I got sick of wasting my time and energy trying to fight this. I eventually just switched over to TMo, and I have been running around with my S8's radio set to LTE only. No issues whatsoever. Great cell service, $30 bucks a month cheaper, all fees included in the flat rate, and a free Netflix account, to boot.
See ya AT&T!!! I hope some group with the the gumption and time takes you to court for your deceptive trade practices. I hope you lose lots of customers, time, and money for your douchery!!!
Has anyone looked into potentially using ODIN to use AT&T's firmware on the unbranded G950U1 without rooting to see if it adds the VoLTE software feature? Does anyone know if that flashing will disable (permanently break) samsung pay? I don't want any rooting since that will permanently break samsung pay on the hardware.

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