Wifi calling and texting

[Rumblee1]

I'm with T-mobile. While I'm home and on wifi, if I turn off data, will I still receive my calls and texts over wifi? If so, I'm going to set up a Bixby routine to automatically turn data off while home, and on when out. Since I'm retired, and am home a lot more, this would save a lot of battery I believe.

 

[mustang7757]

I believe it should , test it with another phone and make a call.

 

[B. Diddy]

I can't speak directly about that phone, but I can confirm that I was able to do that on a Pixel phone on T-Mobile.

 

[Rumblee1]

I tested it with my backup phone. Calls go thru no problem, but texts will not until my data is back on. So I guess I won't do that routine. I definitely need my texts asap. I'm using Google messages.

 

[mustang7757]

I tested it with my backup phone. Calls go thru no problem, but texts will not until my data is back on. So I guess I won't do that routine. I definitely need my texts asap. I'm using Google messages.

Google messages won't go through on WiFi?

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

Google messages won't go through on WiFi?

Not unless you are using rcs

 

[mustang7757]

Not unless you are using rcs

You should be iif your using Google messages , that's the point of it .

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

You should be iif your using Google messages , that's the point of it .

It is but people on the other side who may not being using RCS will still send and receive as SMS and MMS. Most of my friends use RCS but one has not set it up on their phone so when I message them it goes as SMS

 

[wenglish98]

Before RCS, I was under the impression that SMS (and maybe MMS) would work over Wi-Fi calling with mobile data off (for instance when overseas) . Was that not the case, or did Google deprecate that (sending texts via non-RCS) when RCS was introduced?

 

[paridge]

I live in an area with poor wireless coverage. Some parts of my house have no reception. Wi-Fi calling allows me to make and receive calls and texts (Samsung default app) on my AT&T S21 Ultra even when there are no bars (no reception).

 

[J Dubbs]

Thanks guys this is a very informative thread.... I was wondering about trying wifi calling, but good to know I can only text with other RCS contacts (which aren't many, I don't think most people even knows it exists lol). I've also read that some folks have trouble with their phones switching back and forth between wifi and regular calling, which causes dropped calls and other problems.

On a side note, can Volte cause call issues? My pixel 3xl is the first unlocked phone I've had that AT&T has allowed to use Volte, I get the little HD symbol next to some callers, and they sound great on my end, but some people say my connection now momentarily cuts out on their end. Wondering if I should turn it off? I'm not even sure how Volte exactly works..... I know it uses Lte to make the call clearer, but I don't know if it uses my home wifi when I'm home, since my phone's connected to the wifi with no 4GLTE symbol showing? @B. Diddy you'd probably better break it down for me

 

[B. Diddy]

It's been a while since I tried using my phone outside the house in Airplane Mode but with wi-fi (and Wi-fi Calling) turned on. I tried it at work a few years back when their T-Mobile reception was terrible, thus causing my battery to drain more quickly, and I'm pretty sure I could text people (this was before RCS was a thing). So I'm not sure that you can only text other RCS people on wi-fi nowadays. @Kizzy Catwoman, do you know for certain that regular non-RCS SMS won't go through if the phone is on Airplane Mode, but Wi-fi Calling is on?

BTW, the experiment with using wi-fi only at work only lasted a couple of days, because the wi-fi at my work is also lousy, and since I'm constantly roaming around, I'd keep hitting weak or dead spots, which would make my call drop. @J Dubbs, this is probably the reason why some people have issues when using wi-fi calling -- if the wi-fi network is wonky, but the phone is set to prefer calling over wi-fi, then it might encounter issues. There must be a threshold where the phone decides the signal is too poor and switches over to mobile data, but I don't think there's a way to adjust that threshold. So what I do is to turn on wi-fi calling, but I set it to prefer cell signal.

I'm not sure about the VoLTE issue. Do people say that you recurrently cut out, or is it just intermittent? If it's only intermittent, it wouldn't by chance be related to call waiting, would it? I know that AT&T has historically been annoying about compatibility issues with BYOP devices, so this may just be another one of those things. But I think you need to keep VoLTE on, because AT&T has not only shut down its 2G network, but will be shutting down 3G soon as well: https://www.xda-developers.com/t-mobile-att-require-volte-phone-calls-shut-down-3g/

 

[Rumblee1]

I'm definitely using rcs

 

[mustang7757]

It is but people on the other side who may not being using RCS will still send and receive as SMS and MMS. Most of my friends use RCS but one has not set it up on their phone so when I message them it goes as SMS

With chat features on you should be able send over WiFi even though read receipt and typing indicator won't work.

 

[Rumblee1]

Ok, well I just spent an hour figuring this thing out. When I go into Google messages and go to settings then chat, it says "connecting on my s21 ultra, while on my ZTE axon 10 pro it says connected. That was the issue. It seems to be a very wide spread issue that Google doesn't care about. I tried everything under the sun that was listed and nothing worked. BUT I DIDN'T GIVE UP. I SWITCHED FROM GOOGLE MESSAGES TO SAMSUNG MESSAGES AND THAT DID THE TRICK. NOW I CAN SEND AND RECEIVE TEXTS AT HOME ON WIFI WITH DATA SHUT OFF.

 

[mustang7757]

Ok, well I just spent an hour figuring this thing out. When I go into Google messages and go to settings then chat, it says "connecting on my s21 ultra, while on my ZTE axon 10 pro it says connected. That was the issue. It seems to be a very wide spread issue that Google doesn't care about. I tried everything under the sun that was listed and nothing worked. BUT I DIDN'T GIVE UP. I SWITCHED FROM GOOGLE MESSAGES TO SAMSUNG MESSAGES AND THAT DID THE TRICK. NOW I CAN SEND AND RECEIVE TEXTS AT HOME ON WIFI WITH DATA SHUT OFF.

Your Samsung message app is the new Google/Samsung collaboration app?

 

[B. Diddy]

Ok, well I just spent an hour figuring this thing out. When I go into Google messages and go to settings then chat, it says "connecting on my s21 ultra, while on my ZTE axon 10 pro it says connected. That was the issue. It seems to be a very wide spread issue that Google doesn't care about. I tried everything under the sun that was listed and nothing worked. BUT I DIDN'T GIVE UP. I SWITCHED FROM GOOGLE MESSAGES TO SAMSUNG MESSAGES AND THAT DID THE TRICK. NOW I CAN SEND AND RECEIVE TEXTS AT HOME ON WIFI WITH DATA SHUT OFF.

This might have to do with this issue: https://www.howtogeek.com/701714/psa-turn-off-rcs-before-switching-to-a-new-phone/

I think RCS can only be turned on for one specific number and device at a time -- the one with the active SIM. Are you using more than one phone to try to access the same line?

 

[J Dubbs]

It's been a while since I tried using my phone outside the house in Airplane Mode but with wi-fi (and Wi-fi Calling) turned on. I tried it at work a few years back when their T-Mobile reception was terrible, thus causing my battery to drain more quickly, and I'm pretty sure I could text people (this was before RCS was a thing). So I'm not sure that you can only text other RCS people on wi-fi nowadays. @Kizzy Catwoman, do you know for certain that regular non-RCS SMS won't go through if the phone is on Airplane Mode, but Wi-fi Calling is on?

BTW, the experiment with using wi-fi only at work only lasted a couple of days, because the wi-fi at my work is also lousy, and since I'm constantly roaming around, I'd keep hitting weak or dead spots, which would make my call drop. @J Dubbs, this is probably the reason why some people have issues when using wi-fi calling -- if the wi-fi network is wonky, but the phone is set to prefer calling over wi-fi, then it might encounter issues. There must be a threshold where the phone decides the signal is too poor and switches over to mobile data, but I don't think there's a way to adjust that threshold. So what I do is to turn on wi-fi calling, but I set it to prefer cell signal.

I'm not sure about the VoLTE issue. Do people say that you recurrently cut out, or is it just intermittent? If it's only intermittent, it wouldn't by chance be related to call waiting, would it? I know that AT&T has historically been annoying about compatibility issues with BYOP devices, so this may just be another one of those things. But I think you need to keep VoLTE on, because AT&T has not only shut down its 2G network, but will be shutting down 3G soon as well: https://www.xda-developers.com/t-mobile-att-require-volte-phone-calls-shut-down-3g/

Thanks for coming to my rescue That's a good point about AT&T shutting down their 3G the early part of next year, I didn't know it would affect Volte.....it sounds like I should leave it on then. My wife says it sounds like I mute my mic for a second when I cut out. Everything sounds crystal clear on my end, noticeably better than my pixel 1 without Volte enabled. We live more rural, so dropped calls/cutting out etc is par for the course. It seems to be a fairly rare issue, I think it's just our typical stuff. I had an hour and a half talk with my Dad last night who's hard of hearing and he heard me fine...no issues at all

I'm going to be upgrading our internet to a mesh system.... right now we have one wi-fi router covering the whole house, and there are area's where my phone will intermittently switch to data for a moment. Once I get even coverage through the house I'm going to give wi-fi calling a try, I'll take your suggestion and prioritize the cell signal at first... maybe experiment and see if I can get a little more consistent service at home.

Can I just turn on wi-fi calling and leave it on? Is it automatic for my home network? That's a feature I have zero experience with :-\

 

[J Dubbs]

This might have to do with this issue: https://www.howtogeek.com/701714/psa-turn-off-rcs-before-switching-to-a-new-phone/

I think RCS can only be turned on for one specific number and device at a time -- the one with the active SIM. Are you using more than one phone to try to access the same line?

When I switched from my pixel 1 to the 3xl I just left the pixel 1 completely as is, in case I needed to quickly swap to it as a backup. The RCS was left on and working even though I later found out Google recommends turning it off on the old phone..... and when I switched my sim to the 3xl, RCS was on and working by default. To be fair I haven't turned my pixel 1 on since the swap.... I'm a little nervous to now lol, but I need an address out of a text message on it Considering it has no sim I wouldn't think there would be an issue?

It'd be nice if we could sim swap from phone to phone without messing up RCS. So far from my experience it seems like it should be possible?

 

[paridge]

You can leave Wi-Fi calling on all the time. That's what I do. It'll kick in only when needed.