Develop Bugs

[Q] Remove roam tower from list on phone?

When I force roaming on my phone, it is connecting to a Cellular South tower instead of a Verizon tower, which would have a stronger signal. Is it possible to remove that Cellular South tower from the list of known towers on my phone so that it will connect to Verizon?

That'll require a prl edit I believe, which is above my head. But you could swap prls and find the one that works best for you. Check my Sig for a great thread on prl swapping.
What prl are you on now?
Hey... I think this thing makes phone calls too!

I'm on 60671 right now I believe. Do the Verizon PRLs in your signature only contain Verizon towers or is it Sprint towers plus Verizon towers?

Some are hybrid and some are just Verizon. I normally run 01337, and that puts me on Verizon 100%, but that just because there is barely a Sprint signal where I am. IMO, you can't go wrong with 00001 or 01337, just check to see what towers ur on mostly, if ur roaming too much, you can go back.
Hey... I think this thing makes phone calls too!

Oh, also, if you try those prl's, disable data roaming and pick Sprint only.
Hey... I think this thing makes phone calls too!

Once I load one of those PRLs on the phone, so I need to force the phone to roam to use a Verizon tower or does it trick the phone into thinking that the Verizon towers are part of the Home network? Also, should I enable or disable data roaming?
EDIT: Ha, you posted right before me and answered my questions. Thanks!

JTNiggle said:
Oh, also, if you try those prl's, disable data roaming and pick Sprint only.
Hey... I think this thing makes phone calls too!
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what would be the point of this? if you disable data roaming and you're only on verizon towers, would this not disable your data as well since you're always roaming? or am i mistaken?

t3project said:
what would be the point of this? if you disable data roaming and you're only on verizon towers, would this not disable your data as well since you're always roaming? or am i mistaken?
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It's a trick, smoke and mirrors. Ur phone thinks ur on Sprint, but ur using whatever tower has the best signal for you. Instead of using the tower that's cheaper for Sprint. It's awesome as long as it works, some people have issues with lost connections, really depends on ur location.
Hey... I think this thing makes phone calls too!

[Q] Tmo claims foreign wifi calling incurs foreign data chargesi

I just got off the phone with what seemed like a pretty knowledgeable rep and she said that tmobile will charge foreign data fees if you use wifi calling from another country. I asked how this was possible given that I would be connected to my hotel's wifi. She claims they look to see where the ip address is coming from. That sounds petty involved if you ask me, but not impossible. Does anyone know if this is true?

Thats odd, because I talked to a T-Mobile rep yesterday, and he said the exact opposite!
They really need to get this straight...

This stems from a misunderstanding a lot of reps(and even some supervisors) had from an internal communication earlier this year. Some customers had been able to make free international calls(dialing out TO a country besides the US) using UMA while roaming internationally. T-Mobile fixed the bug and sent out a communication that people could no longer make free INTERNATIONAL calls while connected to UMA while roaming internationally. Reps misread this as meaning that we would now be charging roaming even while on UMA/wifi calling and T-Mobile had devised some means for doing so. Not true- all it means is that while connected to UMA/wifi calling it's the same as if you're connected to the regular GSM network in the US. Regular calls to the US will be regular minutes and calls to any other country(even the one you're roaming in) results in international long distance charges. If baffles me that some reps still have this misunderstanding, because there's even a chart dealing with this issue on the internal website.
TL;DR: The rep you spoke to was confused. Don't worry, you can't be charged roaming while connected to UMA/wifi calling. Just remember it will be charged just like making a call from the US.

No data charges for WiFi calls, but does go against minutes...
shinkinrui said:
This stems from a misunderstanding a lot of reps(and even some supervisors) had from an internal communication earlier this year. Some customers had been able to make free international calls(dialing out TO a country besides the US) using UMA while roaming internationally. T-Mobile fixed the bug and sent out a communication that people could no longer make free INTERNATIONAL calls while connected to UMA while roaming internationally. Reps misread this as meaning that we would now be charging roaming even while on UMA/wifi calling and T-Mobile had devised some means for doing so. Not true- all it means is that while connected to UMA/wifi calling it's the same as if you're connected to the regular GSM network in the US. Regular calls to the US will be regular minutes and calls to any other country(even the one you're roaming in) results in international long distance charges. If baffles me that some reps still have this misunderstanding, because there's even a chart dealing with this issue on the internal website.
TL;DR: The rep you spoke to was confused. Don't worry, you can't be charged roaming while connected to UMA/wifi calling. Just remember it will be charged just like making a call from the US.
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I talked with a T-Mo G2 specialist and she basically said the same thing...While calling on WiFi, you will NOT incur ANY charges - however, she did say that the minutes you do use while calling on WiFi will be charged against your minutes. She also made it very clear that if the phone connects to the cellular system, then you will get charged for international roaming...
To prevent that, she even emailed me the sequence for making sure your phone does NOT connect to the foreign cellular provider...
Here it is...
1. From any Home screen, tap the Application Tray.
2. Scroll to and tap Wi-Fi Calling.
3. Tap the Menu key.
4. Tap Settings.
5. Tap Connection preferences.
6. Tap one of the following options:
o Wi-Fi Preferred: All calls go through Wi-Fi when connected to a Wi-Fi network. Calls drop as you leave the Wi-Fi range.
o Cellular Preferred: Calls go over the cellular network, and Wi-Fi Calling is a backup if the cellular network is not available.
o Wi-Fi Only: Calls can be made when connected to a Wi-Fi network. If there is no Wi-Fi network, then your calls cannot connect.
7. Tap OK.
Hope this helps...

laff4fun said:
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I talked with a T-Mo G2 specialist and she basically said the same thing...While calling on WiFi, you will NOT incur ANY charges - however, she did say that the minutes you do use while calling on WiFi will be charged against your minutes. She also made it very clear that if the phone connects to the cellular system, then you will get charged for international roaming...
To prevent that, she even emailed me the sequence for making sure your phone does NOT connect to the foreign cellular provider...
Here it is...
1. From any Home screen, tap the Application Tray.
2. Scroll to and tap Wi-Fi Calling.
3. Tap the Menu key.
4. Tap Settings.
5. Tap Connection preferences.
6. Tap one of the following options:
o Wi-Fi Preferred: All calls go through Wi-Fi when connected to a Wi-Fi network. Calls drop as you leave the Wi-Fi range.
o Cellular Preferred: Calls go over the cellular network, and Wi-Fi Calling is a backup if the cellular network is not available.
o Wi-Fi Only: Calls can be made when connected to a Wi-Fi network. If there is no Wi-Fi network, then your calls cannot connect.
7. Tap OK.
Hope this helps...
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That's odd because I just got off the phone with customer service too and the guy was looking stuff up when I asked him about international wifi calling then told me that they would charge international rates if the IP address of the wifi was outside the US. I hope he's wrong but would still use caution until we have stuff in writing.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App

dystorteddream said:
So unless their billing system has come along by leaps and bounds in the past two years (Which I doubt SAMSON has) then I find it highly unbelievable that they're going to be tracking IP addresses for proper billing. Not to mention the fact that you can use Tor and other apps in order to have your IP change.
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it's quickview now ; )

if your on wifi often enough to use wifi calling why not get magicjack, can use it with csip now.

davebu said:
if your on wifi often enough to use wifi calling why not get magicjack, can use it with csip now.
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Ya my sister-in-law uses it to call us while she is stationed in Italy. It works really well.

Two years ago I was told by TMo customer service that I would not be charged overseas calling if I used WiFi over there (Germany). I would be charged minutes, except I was calling M2M, so that was not to be a problem for those calls.
Got my bill. and there was $200 for overseas calls while I was on WiFI. I got most of it removed ONLY because I had been told it would not happen.
If they are ONLY charging minutes at US rates - that will be an improvement - but be careful. The posts on using magicjack may be the way to go.

Just out of curiosity, which phone did you use when the charges happened? It seems to me that the likely culprit is the phone not actually using UMA for the call. On Blackberry phones, you can tell when UMA is being used because the signal indicator will say "UMA" instead of EDGE or 3G. The post someone made about making sure the wifi calling app is set to ONLY route calls through wifi is a very good idea. It's all about making sure there's no connection happening through the roaming carrier's towers.

I think disabling worldclass (international roaming) can avoid such problem.

That is if you want to completely disable international roaming... When I go overseas, I usually prefer to have an option of making/receiving important calls (and/or communicate through texts) even at worldclass rates, but to avoid leisure calls. If I could use Wi-Fi for those - great.
But if not - those who are not aware, Skype is now available from the market with ability to make skype to skype calls for free over Wi-Fi (but not over mobile network) as well as very cheap skype to phone calls (again over Wi-Fi). Just add a few dollars of credit to your skype account before you go and call anywhere in the US for a couple of cents per minute as opposed to gambling with being hit by a few dollars/minute roaming bill. Putting $5 into your Skype account will give you about 200 minutes of talking vs risk of being billed that much for as little as 1 minute in some countries, or at most 5 minutes in others... Oh, and calling numbers in the country you travel to may be quite cheaper as well.

I'm currently in Japan and have been using the wi-fi calling through my hotel's wifi network. Having checked my bill online I see my minutes being used like I would see it if I were using a standard connection if I was in the states. I am not getting charged anything for data according to their website.
You can definitely set your phone to not connect to any foreign provider and send/receive calls only through wifi. This is obvious on my phone based on it having the normal signal bars grayed out and the wifi calling icon in the corner. Basically, I leave my phone on all the time and then I only get calls and texts when I re-enter my hotel's wifi area.
I don't know for sure, but this method appears like it might keep you from incurring foreign text messaging costs. That last statement is only a guess, I just don't see any charges yet on my phone bill.

Infinitron: Are you using the G2 or a Blackberry? I'm going to Europe this Friday and this would be really helpful.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

This information is posted on t-mobile.com in plain writing.
http://www.t-mobile.com/business/Information.aspx?tp=international_calling
When making a call over a Wi-Fi network while abroad, the call appears to be originating in the US—so calls made to the US are considered domestic calls. Similarly, calls made over Wi-Fi between two countries outside the US are rated as calls from the US, significantly reducing international calling costs.
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gaww said:
Two years ago I was told by TMo customer service that I would not be charged overseas calling if I used WiFi over there (Germany). I would be charged minutes, except I was calling M2M, so that was not to be a problem for those calls.
Got my bill. and there was $200 for overseas calls while I was on WiFI. I got most of it removed ONLY because I had been told it would not happen.
If they are ONLY charging minutes at US rates - that will be an improvement - but be careful. The posts on using magicjack may be the way to go.
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If you call a non-domestic number, while using wifi calling (UMA) anywhere in the world, you will be charged extra.
If you think you are using UMA (WiFi) but actually connect using an overseas mobile carrier, then you will be charged extra. If your call drops from Wifi and connects to local overseas mobile carrier, then you will be charged extra.

Well i think the rep is correct and if you are flying international they will charge you for the roaming calls because you are using phone minutes. Make sure that you use the service at your own risk because it might get you a big bill from T Mobile

[Q] National roaming on Bulletproof MIUI?

as the titles says, is there any way to turn on national roaming on Bulletproof MIUI?
Thanks

I have this option on my rom (meXDroid), and I don't even know what National Roaming is! So I turn it off xD

Haha i didn't know either until i needed it xD is your rom a mexican version of MIUI?

I'm using meXdroid. What DOES it do anyway?? I just keep it off..the word ROAM scares the crap out of me, roaming charges and all...

i thought that too! but it's just an option that makes data enabled on a carriers "borrowed" cell towers. my carrier (3 Denmark) has only 3g cell towers, so they need to borrow towers from other carriers, when there's a poor reception. that means when im in my home country and i get out of range from the 3g towers, i can't use data (i think you understand my problem) that's why i need it

That's what I thought at first, but couldn't find anything on it on Google. I guess I'll turn it on then haha...

Never in my life heard of "national roaming" but you can turn on ROAMING. Settings, system, mobile network, press roaming.
Just beware you do get charged for roaming, and its usually a decent amount of scratch.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

you are completely right that i am going to be charged if i turn on roaming and leaves the country! but it's actually really important for me to turn on national roaming, otherwise my mobilephone thinks im roaming in my home country, in low reception areas. it's a little thing called MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) and it works just as i stated above

bump. anyone?

I told you how. If that doesn't work there is no other way of doing it
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

Q: roaming

Can anyone explain to me how roaming works? I thought if you were roaming you were using another carrier. Whenever I am roaming and I check my ip address using whatismyip I get a sprint ip.

The way Sprint defines their PRL is even if you are roaming with someone else for voice, it still tries to use Sprint for data. Even if you have 0-bar it will still use Sprint for data. Only if there is absolutely no Sprint signal will it try another carrier for data.

Unless it gets miraculously faster when roaming I dont see it happening
sent from my Galaxy S 2 from Sprint on unnamed 2.0.1

I stay roaming on this phone. Thank you Roam Control!

even using roam control,i am on sprint, when i check my usage on my sprit account it does however show data usage while roaming

tensux said:
even using roam control,i am on sprint, when i check my usage on my sprit account it does however show data usage while roaming
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Download the (free) app called Netmonitor.
It will tell you who's tower you are connected to.

Thank you!
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

they do not ever charge you extra either. i recall reading an article on droidlife or talkandroid where sprint's official stance on the matter only concerns those who are consistently on roam. even with those customers there's no outlined "punishment", but attempts to reach out and deal with on a case by case basis. (albeit idk what they would actually do)

husker apollo said:
they do not ever charge you extra either. i recall reading an article on droidlife or talkandroid where sprint's official stance on the matter only concerns those who are consistently on roam. even with those customers there's no outlined "punishment", but attempts to reach out and deal with on a case by case basis. (albeit idk what they would actually do)
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If you consistently roam, and more of your use is roaming instead of Sprint, you'll get a nice letter from Sprint. In the letter Sprint will inform you that they've enjoyed your loyalty, but you gotta go. (not in so many words)
Seriously, happened to me last year. They cancelled my service due to excessive roaming. And if you do move to an area that has better service (so you don't roam), you still have to wait a year before you can get Sprint service again. So watch your roaming, and if you don't have good signal, get an Airave.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

skyline247 said:
If you consistently roam, and more of your use is roaming instead of Sprint, you'll get a nice letter from Sprint. In the letter Sprint will inform you that they've enjoyed your loyalty, but you gotta go. (not in so many words)
Seriously, happened to me last year. They cancelled my service due to excessive roaming. And if you do move to an area that has better service (so you don't roam), you still have to wait a year before you can get Sprint service again. So watch your roaming, and if you don't have good signal, get an Airave.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
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ah. you are in fact correct. upon your post i was interested to look for the article i was referring to:
http://www.talkandroid.com/82385-no-sprint-wont-throttle-your-data-unless-youre-roaming/
"Sprint does have terms and conditions which prohibit certain types of data use that may impair other customers’ usage or harm or interfere with the network. At yesterday’s investor conference, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse was referring to Sprint’s right to terminate service of data abusers who violate Sprint’s terms and conditions. Customers who abuse our network by violating the terms and conditions will be contacted by Sprint in an effort to have the customer change their usage to comply with their subscriber agreement. Customers who do not change their usage and remain in violation of the terms and conditions may be subject to actions reserved by Sprint, including but not limited to termination. Consistent with our advertising, engaging in such uses will not result in throttling for customers on unlimited data-included plans for phones."
weak!!

tensux said:
even using roam control,i am on sprint, when i check my usage on my sprit account it does however show data usage while roaming
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In Roam Control 2.2.0, I added a "view network status" util that will show you the name of the network you are on (sprint, verizon, etc) instead of just the system ID. It seems like every other app I've tried just shows the roaming carrier as blank/unknown.
I also put this on the market as "CDMA Network Status" for fun.

tensux said:
even using roam control,i am on sprint, when i check my usage on my sprit account it does however show data usage while roaming
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You need to download the paid version of roam control, or look for version 1.4. Prated versions don't work.

[Q] Roaming issues

My girlfriend and I have the exact same Epic Touch purchased at the same time from Amazon. Since we began our contract, When we travel to the Eastern suburbs her phone switches to roaming (data) until we travel West back towards Sacramento. Mine has no issues whatsoever.
I have checked the service maps on Sprint.com and they indicate strong 3G service for voice and data in the area that her phone switches to roaming.
Anyone have any similar experiences?

assuming that both phones have updated prl's, its possible that one phone may have roaming guard on while the other doesn't. Sounds like the roaming phone may be hitting a dead zone and staying on stronger roaming signal.

Make sure u turn roaming off. I used to just be switched to roaming in places I could get 4g but then after I disable roaming I got good sprint signal
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

gtuansdiamm said:
Make sure u turn roaming off. I used to just be switched to roaming in places I could get 4g but then after I disable roaming I got good sprint signal
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
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Does turning off roaming affect just data, Voice or both?