Fi automatically picking Sprint 3G over T-Mo LTE

[violetspirits]

Hi all,

Been on Project Fi for a few days, and I've noticed that my N6 often picked Sprint 3G network over everything else.

First of all my N6 never seems to pick up Sprint's LTE, despite the fact that Sprint's coverage map shows decent to strong LTE coverage in my home and work areas. But since I have no experiences with Sprint's LTE (and no friends using Sprint either), maybe this is simply because Sprint LTE is weak/non-exsitent where I am.

The more concerning issue is that N6 would often take Sprint 3G over T-Mobile LTE. I came from T-Mobile prepaid so I know T-Mo's LTE is quite strong here (in northern NJ); usually I could get full-bar LTE on T-mo in my house. So the last couple days I had to use dialer codes and force-switch to T-Mo LTE manually. I think this sort of defeats one of the main draws of Project Fi, which is having better/combined coverage.

My N6 is running T-Mobile's 5.1.1. build (LYZ28E,) but I have no ideas if it affects anything. I've talked to Project Fi support and the rep didn't have an answer either. I am wondering if the official project fi build (LVY47H) might potentially work better? But at this point I am not sure if I want to flash it without knowing more first.

If anyone would shed some light on your experiences, I'd really appreciate it.

 

[shamelin73]

I would call FI support. May have a setting off or need an APN added.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[shamelin73]

Did you get this figured out

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[TofuTwit]

Don't know if it will make a difference, but did you try clearing the cache on the Fi app and/or the phone cache?

 

[violetspirits]

First of all thanks for the replies; appreciated it. Anyway, I thought I'll provide some update, even though I haven't really figured out much... lol

I did contact the support. The rep was very kind but she didn't provide much help. In short I was told to give it a few more days and see what happens.

Then today the situation seemed to have been corrected somehow - my N6 was able to connect to T-Mo's LTE automatically. The odd thing is that today even when I used the dialer-code to try to force-switch to Sprint (I was just curious), Fi would put me right back onto T-Mo's network. So perhaps there's something else going on here that I don't know about. lol

It'd be nice to know a bit more about how Fi works I guess, but T-Mo's signal is pretty strong here so I have no complaints now.

 

[booboolala2000]

We will probably find out more inba few months when the Nexus lineup arrives. I'm sure there will be done kind of tie in.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[atuarre]

Fi Support is of no help. My phone is selecting Sprint over T-Mobile and the signal is barely there. It comes and goes. I contacted support today and said I'm not getting calls, texts, or data because Sprint has no signal. Was told that there was nothing they could do and that a server some where determines who has the best signal in what area. I said that I thought the device picked the best network and she reiterated that the server chooses the best network.......

 

[david279]

Fi Support is of no help. My phone is selecting Sprint over T-Mobile and the signal is barely there. It comes and goes. I contacted support today and said I'm not getting calls, texts, or data because Sprint has no signal. Was told that there was nothing they could do and that a server some where determines who has the best signal in what area. I said that I thought the device picked the best network and she reiterated that the server chooses the best network.......

*#*#342777#*#* to swap to Sprint
*#*#342866#*#* to swap to T-mobile
*#*#342886#*#* to go back to autoswitching

Don't forget to think me

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[ptScott]

*#*#34777#*#* to swap to Sprint
*#*#34866#*#* to swap to T-mobile
*#*#34886#*#* to go back to autoswitching

Don't forget to think me

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Your autoswitching is missing a digit:

*#*#342886#*#*

 

[david279]

Your autoswitching is missing a digit:

*#*#342886#*#*

Oops

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[AlexMadarasz]

First of all thanks for the replies; appreciated it. Anyway, I thought I'll provide some update, even though I haven't really figured out much... lol

I did contact the support. The rep was very kind but she didn't provide much help. In short I was told to give it a few more days and see what happens.

Then today the situation seemed to have been corrected somehow - my N6 was able to connect to T-Mo's LTE automatically. ...

One of the things they tell folks who've just activated on Fi is to give the phone (and the Fi system) a few days to "learn" your signal environment before you should expect it to make "good" decisions about which network it chooses - which appears to have been your experience. And yes, the Fi folks have heard of the many issues with this and say they are working to "tweak" the algorithms for better, more predictable, behavior.

BTW, the [private, but you should have an invitation] official Project Fi Community on Google+ has a lot of info on (and other users who have experienced) these types of issues.

--
Alex

 

[W4LNY]

I had a lot of the same issues and just flashed my phone from the T-Mobile build to the Fi build and although not perfect I would say it is 80% better and more stable now.