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]

Three phones (two Androids and an iPhone), one tablet, and a translator that is almost always off. It doesn't matter where I am. I am sitting three feet away from the router and modem most of the time, but reception was no better or worse than if I'm 30 feet away from them and hiding in a closet. That's because it's using the non-existent cell service instead of the (selected) wifi. Once you put on airplane mode, the phone will work everywhere and anywhere because it's actually using the router, and it will work everywhere. So there are no problems with the router so long as you can force the phones/devices to use it. I don't know what channels I'm using. How do you find that out? Spectrum analyzed everything for hours and hours and checked the channels, etc., and everything seemed to be working the way it should. I looked it up on some other groups and some other people have had a similar problem, but nobody was ever able to figure out why. It's as if the connection to cell service is what is causing none of the phones to go to wi-fi.

In order to check the channels you need to know exactly what router you have. You'll need to log in to the router, and what the LAN IP address is will vary depending on the manufacturer. It will be 192.168.x.x (not actually x's but some numbers). Mine is 192.168.0.1

If you give us the brand and model number we can look up the LAN IP address.

 

[MMM]

It's a Spectrum 6E Router, but the same problem happened with the previous Spectrum router. The router is IPv4 Address 192.168.1.195 and Default Gateway 192.168.1.1

 

[Laura Knotek]

It's a Spectrum 6E Router, but the same problem happened with the previous Spectrum router. The router is IPv4 Address 192.168.1.195 and Default Gateway 192.168.1.1

OK. You'll need to put 192.168.1.1 in the address bar of a browser. Then you'll enter the username and password for your router. Once there, in settings you'll find what is all connected to your wireless network, and what frequency and channel your router uses.

 

[MMM]

Thanks. I did it, and the only info it provided was for:

Cloud Status
IPv4
IPv6
MAC
Serial Number
Model
SAX2V1S
FW Version
Connected Pods S/N

I am a whiz at recording/engineering/producing, but clueless when it comes to router.

 

[Laura Knotek]

Thanks. I did it, and the only info it provided was for:

Cloud Status
IPv4
IPv6
MAC
Serial Number
Model
SAX2V1S
FW Version
Connected Pods S/N

I am a whiz at recording/engineering/producing, but clueless when it comes to router.

OK. That's good. Have a look at this website from Spectrum for your model number. There is a manual on their site. https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/modems-routers-wireless-adapters

You have a good router that supports the newest WiFi protocol 6e, so it should work.

 

[ULWdroid]

Are you still dealing with this issue, or have you found a solution?

Here's my take: it sounds to me that this issue might be caused by strong interference which is affecting the priority of network selection of the android phones. Interference does not have to be intentional at all (whether jamming or legitimate radio use). Oftentimes a lot of broad signal-Interference comes from unrelated appliance usage, or especially from hot-neutral or hot-ground (also known as bleeding-to-neutral/bleeding to ground) electrical issues in your residence.

Because of the fact that this issue is widespread in your complex, I would be worried that some unit has some sketchy wiring issues which are causing current to short-circuit to the neutral or the ground line. But this can also be caused by something as simple as a faulty old appliance plugged into a wall outlet. Either way, an electrician should be able to check and see if this is the case. Good luck!

 

[MMM]

Are you still dealing with this issue, or have you found a solution?

Here's my take: it sounds to me that this issue might be caused by strong interference which is affecting the priority of network selection of the android phones. Interference does not have to be intentional at all (whether jamming or legitimate radio use). Oftentimes a lot of broad signal-Interference comes from unrelated appliance usage, or especially from hot-neutral or hot-ground (also known as bleeding-to-neutral/bleeding to ground) electrical issues in your residence.

Because of the fact that this issue is widespread in your complex, I would be worried that some unit has some sketchy wiring issues which are causing current to short-circuit to the neutral or the ground line. But this can also be caused by something as simple as a faulty old appliance plugged into a wall outlet. Either way, an electrician should be able to check and see if this is the case. Good luck

Thanks for writing. This "complex" is a bunch of buildings spread out in a wide area, and the buildings aren't connected. Spectrum said they want to come over and investigate this further, because they don't understand it. Right now I am just using airplane mode when I'm home, turning it off when I leave, and back on when I return. It works, and if I don't do it, nobody will be able to have a phone conversation with me at home. So right now I'm happy having it work rather than Spectrum coming over, messing with things, and maybe they'll screw everything up. Everything started when they put in a new cell tower (Verizon) a few years ago, and we ceased getting good cell reception all over this part of town, forcing us to depend upon wi-fi.

 

[Dennis Jay]

Not all carriers support Wi-Fi Calling on all devices, and even when they do, the feature might not be enabled by default. Some carriers require specific device configurations or software updates to activate Wi-Fi Calling. It's advisable to contact your carrier to confirm whether your device is provisioned correctly for Wi-Fi Calling.


While most modern Android devices support Wi-Fi Calling, some may have this feature disabled or hidden in the settings. To ensure it's enabled, navigate to:

Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Network > Advanced > Wi-Fi Calling
Help Desk Geek

If you don't see the option, your device might not support it, or it may require a carrier-specific firmware update.

Even with a strong Wi-Fi signal, certain network configurations or interferences can prevent Android devices from utilizing Wi-Fi Calling effectively. Ensure that your router's firmware is up to date and that there are no settings blocking VoIP traffic. Additionally, consider testing with a different router to rule out hardware-specific issues.

As you've discovered, enabling Airplane Mode and then manually turning on Wi-Fi can force the device to use Wi-Fi Calling. While this is a workaround, it's not a permanent fix. It's essential to address the underlying configuration or compatibility issues for a seamless experience.

 

[MMM]

Not all carriers support Wi-Fi Calling on all devices, and even when they do, the feature might not be enabled by default. Some carriers require specific device configurations or software updates to activate Wi-Fi Calling. It's advisable to contact your carrier to confirm whether your device is provisioned correctly for Wi-Fi Calling.


While most modern Android devices support Wi-Fi Calling, some may have this feature disabled or hidden in the settings. To ensure it's enabled, navigate to:

Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Network > Advanced > Wi-Fi Calling
Help Desk Geek

If you don't see the option, your device might not support it, or it may require a carrier-specific firmware update.

Even with a strong Wi-Fi signal, certain network configurations or interferences can prevent Android devices from utilizing Wi-Fi Calling effectively. Ensure that your router's firmware is up to date and that there are no settings blocking VoIP traffic. Additionally, consider testing with a different router to rule out hardware-specific issues.

As you've discovered, enabling Airplane Mode and then manually turning on Wi-Fi can force the device to use Wi-Fi Calling. While this is a workaround, it's not a permanent fix. It's essential to address the underlying configuration or compatibility issues for a seamless experience.

Yes, it is a permanent fix. It solved the problem. Nothing that you stated is relevant to this situation. Everything was set properly, verified by the Spectrum Supervisors who came out here. It's the newest equipment and the newest phones, and we all know how to use them. Thanks for your suggestions, but they have nothing to do with any of this. It is affecting EVERY Android phone that anyone has tried. And affected NO iPhones at all.