Question Android phones set to wifi calling are not using wifi -- they are using (terrible) cell tower connection instead.

[MMM]

Been having a nightmare for years because my community has terrible Verizon/Spectrum cell reception (1 bar if you're lucky) and phones don't work, nor does laptop, translator, etc. After five other Spectrum people came over over the past few months, a supervisor was here today for four hours and did endless testing to try to figure out what's happening. Although there is some interference with the wi-fi network, there was no way to detect what was causing it. New routers/modems were used, things were moved around -- didn't make a difference. I can only make and receive a phone call if I'm 25 feet away from the router/modem standing in a two-foot by two-foot spot. What seems to be happening is that when you set your Android phone to "wi-fi calling," it doesn't go to the 2.4 GHz network through the router. It continues to use the (non-existent) cell signal. Even though it's showing a powerful wi-fi signal (the Spectrum cable signal strength to my unit is very strong).

The only way to actually connect to the wi-fi is to put phones on "airplane mode" in order to "force" them to not go to the cell signal (which doesn't work), but to go to the wi-fi instead. This does not happen with iPhones -- only to Androids, and we've tested many of them, all different vintages. The iPhones have no trouble connecting and working here using wi-fi. Every single Android phone refused to switch to wi-fi calling even though the phones were set to default to wi-fi, and the phones informed you that you were connected to wif-fi. The lousy reception you were getting was the lousy cell service from Spectrum or Verizon (they use the same cell towers).

Has anyone ever heard of this, because nobody at Spectrum had encountered it, and it was only discovered after every other possibility was ruled out? Also, there's no way to know what sort of interference the router might be getting. At first they thought it might be speaker wire or all my CDs reflecting signals, but when things were moved around, the lack of a good signal remained the same. Only "airplane mode" forcing the phone to actually use the wi-fi setting you think you're already on has made a difference. That means when you leave your wi-fi (leave your home) you will have to turn off airplane mode so you can use your cell service, and when you return home you will have to turn airplane mode on again. But if I can make phone calls without disconnecting that might be worth it. Don't ask me what Android I'm using. We've tested endless ones, and Spectrum people used the latest and greatest. The two iPhones we tested were the only ones that actually used the wi-fi signal without having to turn on "airplane mode."

 

[Laura Knotek]

Is there a reason why you aren't using the 5GHz WiFi network?

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Which Android phones have you tried? On my Pixel 7 Pro, there's an option in the Wi-Fi Calling menu for Calling Preference. There, I can select to prefer wi-fi or mobile. I set it to prefer Mobile, because the wi-fi at my work is notoriously terrible. In your case, you can try setting the preference to Wi-fi.

Different phones will have different menus, so where I see this option may be different on your phone. Search in the system settings for "Wi-fi Calling", and see if there's an option for Calling Preference there.

 

[mustang7757]

Is your router capable of 5ghz?
I would check the settings B. Diddy described otherwise something not correct with your WiFi , you typically want use 2.4 the further your away from the router and 5ghz when your close.