Turbo 2 WiFi calling issue

[T79phoenix]

Hey guys,

I've had my Turbo 2 for a while now but I'm coming across an issue with my Wifi calling and texting.

I have Verizon and my Advanced calling and HD Voice is on and activated and I also have the Verizon Messages which comes with WiFi Calling and texting built into it. Nowhere in my phone does it give me an option to turn on WiFi calling or texting but I've heard that once Advanced Calling is activated and HD Voice is on, it should give me an option to toggle on/off WiFi calling.

Besides that, going with the assumption that WiFi calling is automatically activated once HD Voice is on (which is what I've also heard), I can't seem to make or receive calls or texts through the Verizon Messages app when I'm connected to WiFi with absolutely no mobile network. Since I don't have access to the mobile network, I put my phone in airplane mode but as soon as I go to make a call, it says I can't make calls in airplane mode. So I turn it off and then it says I can't make a phone call without a mobile network. Which from my understanding, WiFi should take over at that point and make the call anyway. Very frustrating!

Any help would be great!

 

[sydneycooper1979]

Has your wifi calling worked in the past or is this something you are recently trying to use for the first time?

 

[T79phoenix]

I think it has always been this way. The only way WiFi calling seems to work is if I take it out of airplane mode and have some sort of VZ network signal even if it's just bars without 1x, 3G, or 4G LTE. Even then I cant even call that WiFi calling because it's then using the network.

 

[T79phoenix]

To make a correction, my wifi TEXTING does work like normal with WiFi on, airplane mode on, and with no mobile network.

 

[sydneycooper1979]

Huh. You may have to take it to Verizon. Have you tried doing a factory reset? I know they are a pain, but if it's a problem in the software, a reset can help.

 

[T79phoenix]

I hate doing FR's. That's the last thing I wanna do right now. I wanna see if there's any other options or opinions before I resort to that.

 

[T79phoenix]

So after going through technical support, I was informed that Verizon Messages WiFi calling only works through tablets, computers, or smart watches. But the WiFi texting works with all devices. She then informed me that the Turbo 2 does not have WiFi capability yet but may be soon. There are apparently legal permissions that need to be worked out before rolling it out to all devices.

The work-around for it is to get an app like Hangouts with Hangouts Dialer to make (but not receive) WiFi calls. In order to know if someone calls when I only have WiFi, I've downloaded PF Voicemail Plus. What that acts as is a free web-based voicemail app that forwards your carrier voicemails to the app's web base and then notifies you via email or notifications directly in the app that you have a new voicemail. Then you can listen to your voicemails via Wifi directly from the app without dialing out.

So then depending on the importance of the voicemail, I can use Hangouts Dialer to call that person back. It's a large workaround but after the initial setup, it's quite simple.

 

[jeffreee]

At the end of July I was told by a Verizon store manager that the turbo 2 was WiFi talk ready, so I purchased it. Bottom line Verizon can't make it work and the manager refuses to replace the phone. Told me that it was WiFi ready when he sold it to me but the Marshmallow update removed that capability so he is not responsible for that. Does this make since to anyone ? Advice?

 

[T79phoenix]

Technically you weren't lied to. It is WiFi "ready" and will work but that is once the permissions to be able to call via WiFi are approved. It's a legality thing with Verizon, Motorola, and a bunch of WiFi network companies from what I've been told. One thing he did get wrong though is Marshmallow did not remove this capability. It was like this even with Lollipop. We just need to wait on the legalities to clear. And I have no clue when that will happen.
Read my prior comment before yours and that is the work around for you to use wifi calling on your phone. It's a pain initially but once it's complete, it's easy.

 

[jeffreee]

Technically you weren't lied to. It is WiFi "ready" and will work but that is once the permissions to be able to call via WiFi are approved. It's a legality thing with Verizon, Motorola, and a bunch of WiFi network companies from what I've been told. One thing he did get wrong though is Marshmallow did not remove this capability. It was like this even with Lollipop. We just need to wait on the legalities to clear. And I have no clue when that will happen.
Read my prior comment before yours and that is the work around for you to use wifi calling on your phone. It's a pain initially but once it's complete, it's easy.

 

[jeffreee]

I really need for the phone to ring when called, but I do like your creative solution. I just wish I had chosen the Samsung S7 I have seen that work perfectly on the Verizon network. Just don't understand why Motorola can't follow along.

 

[T79phoenix]

Yeah that's the one issue is receiving calls with Hangouts. The only two ways you can (if you're willing to) is to directly port your mobile number to Google Voice so all of your calls, and I think SMS/MMS messages, go through Google. Nice thing is you don't have to give everyone a new number to contact you. That's something like a one time $20 porting fee. So you actually would end up not having mobile voice plan through Verizon anymore. I'm not sure of the exact details in terms of cost difference for your mobile plan or how much of a pain it is. But that's something you can call and ask Verizon about.
Other option would be easier and at no cost. And that would be for Google Voice to give you a whole new number for you to give people. When they call that number, it gets forwarded to your current mobile number.
Both above options give you the WiFi capabilities. PLEASE ask all questions to google and your carrier for all the details. It's so confusing for both these options so I know something was missed that I didn't specify.

 

[George Citizen]

I know this is slightly off topic and won't help you much, but I have close to zero bars in my home so I purchased a used femto-tower. It's mounted in my window and allows my phone to work anyplace in my house, including my basement. The call goes via VIOP. There's no data and no texting, just talking. Working fairly well, although I will usually lose a call when I walk from outside to inside. Moving inside to outside is a bit more iffy. About 25% of the time it picks up the cell tower before the Network extender drops the call.

https://forums.androidcentral.com/e....com/products/signal-boosters/&token=HtcwlYpb